Capture cards are a great tool for unlocking the potential of your game streams. While many consoles now come with features to natively share or record footage directly from the hardware, many of these come with concessions made as to quality and ease of use. Chances are, if you're an avid stream enjoyer you'll notice that many streamers and content creators do not use the native streaming feature of their consoles and will instead make use of a Capture Card.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get your capture card with a supported console, camera, or mobile device.
Do I need a Capture Card?
The easiest way to answer this question is with another questions:
- Do I have an additional source that I use to play games, such as a game console, mobile device, or another PC?
- Do I have an external camera with an HDMI Output that I'd like to use as a webcam?
- Do I want to play, record, or stream games from that other source to my PC.
If you're playing and recording/streaming from the same PC, a capture card is not going to be necessary. However, if you're looking to record or stream from a game console, mobile device, or a second PC then a Capture Card is going to be the most reliable way to get that signal at the best quality and framerate possible.
What devices are supported with a Capture Card?
You may have noticed in the intro that we used the phrase supported console, camera, or mobile device. This may be a bit concerning at first, but the main thing is to confirm the following:
- Does the source device (console, camera, or mobile device) support the necessary Input connection for my Capture Card?
- Are there any software or hardware limitations on the source device that will prevent the Capture Card from reading it (i.e. HDCP)
We'll cover this in more detail later in the guide, however the main thing to start with is check that your source device uses a connection type and signal that can be read by your capture card. For example, let's take a look at the NZXT Signal HD60. This device supports a maximum input resolution of 3840 x 2160, also known as 4K Resolution at a maximum of 60 Frames Per Second (FPS). This means that so long as the source does not exceed these limits, the Signal HD60 will be able to read the display.
The Signal HD60 can read 4K, but why am is my stream limited to 1080p? Why would I need the NZXT Signal 4K30?
While the Signal HD60 can read and even passthrough a 4K signal, it cannot record or stream this signal to the PC. The Signal HD60 also does not feature High Dynamic Range (HDR) color support which is exclusive to the Signal 4K30. The Signal 4K30 is also capable of recording and streaming at higher FPS on lower resolutions, such as 2560 x 1440p at 144 FPS or 1920 x 1080p @ 240 FPS.
Which NZXT Signal Capture Card should I get?
The big question for many of us is going to be this: which capture card do I need to get started streaming today? For this, you'll need to ask yourself a few questions:
- Do I want to play, stream, or record HDR content?
- Do I want to play at high framerate, such as 120, 144, or even 240 FPS?
- Do I want to record at a higher framerate such as 1080p, 240 FPS for ease when editing smooth, slow motion replays?
- Do I want to record at higher resolutions, such as at 4K Resolution @ 30 FPS?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the NZXT Signal 4K30 is going to be the capture card for you. If you did not answer yes to any of these questions, then the NZXT Signal HD60 will be a great fit for you.
Do I need the NZXT Chat Cable?
The NZXT Chat Cable is a great resource for those who not only want to record their gameplay while using a headset, but also want to get their in game coms into the recording for that more genuine feel. While this is a great product, it's not necessary for all users. To help you decide if the NZXT Chat Cable is necessary for your setup, you'll want to ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I currently use headphones or a headset that is plugged directly into my console or a controller?
- Do I use in-game voice chat through the headset connected to my console/controller, and do I want to record or share it with my stream?
If you answered yes to either of these questions, then the NZXT Chat Cable would be a great addition to your setup. Even if you're not interested in using the chat cable for the built-in mic functionality to pass through your voice and gameplay together to the PC, the Chat Cable can make it easy for you to use your PC's headphones to hear your console's audio and capture that audio for your stream using the Line-In port on your PC.
Setting up your Console with a Capture Card
For most users, you'll need the following hardware to get started:
- PC to stream or record
- Game Console
- Capture Card
- A Microphone or Headset
In addition to this, you may want to use some additional hardware which includes:
- An additional monitor or TV if you are going to use the capture card's low latency/zero-lag passthrough.
- An additional HDMI cable
Finally, if you're using the Chat Cable then you'll want to have this at the ready as well.
Before continuing, you may want to connect your console directly to a monitor or TV and adjust a few settings before continuing. Below we'll be including a few setting examples.
Nintendo Switch streaming settings
By default the Nintendo Switch will use a smart toggle for HDCP features. This means that while using certain games and applications such as Youtube on the Switch you will not be able to capture from the console while most other games and applications should have no issues.
It is recommend if you're running into detection issues however to make sure that the Switch's TV Settings are adjusted to the following:
- TV Resolution - 1080p
- RGB Range - Automatic
- If you are having detection issues, please try setting this to Limited Range.
Sony Playstation 4/5 streaming settings
By default the Sony Playstation 4/5 will have HDCP enabled, which can result in your Capture Card not properly detecting the video and/or audio signal. To remedy this, you're going to need to make sure that HDCP is Disabled in the settings:
- Open your Playstation Settings, then select the System option.
- Under System, select HDMI and make sure that Enabled HDCP is turned off.
Please note, while HDCP is off, you will not be able to play select games or use streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Youtube directly from the console.
For HDR Support, both the console and monitor being used must support HDR.
Microsoft Xbox Series streaming settings
By default the Microsoft Xbox Series X and S consoles will use a smart toggle for HDCP features. This means that while using certain games and a applications such as Netflix or Youtube on your Xbox, you will not be able to capture from the console while most other games and applications should have no issues.
For HDR Support, both the console and monitor being used must support HDR.
How to connect your Console to your Capture Card and PC
Now that we've got all the hardware sorted out, it's time to get everything connected and ready to go. Start up your PC and download that latest version of your streaming software of choice. For this guide, we'll be using Open Broadcaster Software Studio or OBS Studio which can be found at the link below:
Open Broadcaster Software | OBS
Connecting your Hardware
To start, we're going to want to get everything properly hooked up. For this guide, we'll be using steps set up for the NZXT Signal HD60, however these same steps should apply to most capture cards. For the NZXT Signal series in particular, you will need to plug the included USB cable from the Signal to an open USB 3.2 Gen 1 or higher USB port on the PC. For the correct port, please refer to your motherboard or PC's user's manual.
From here, connect your Console to the HDMI In found on your Capture Card. If you are using a second display and the zero-lag/low latency passthrough found on your Capture Card, connect the second monitor to the HDMI Out on the Capture Card.
If you are using an NZXT Chat Cable, you'll also need to connect the Chat Cable to your console's 3.5mm audio jack or to the 3.5mm audio jack found on your controller, then connect the other end to the Line-in port on your PC.
Lastly, if you are using a dedicated microphone for your stream then make sure it is connected to the PC and is working properly.
For a visual breakdown of these connections, please check out the chart below.
How to connect your Camera or Mobile Device to your Capture Card and PC
Like with the guide above for connecting a Console to your Capture Card, this process is fairly simple and shares quite a bit in common with the exclusion of the controller connection.
Before continuing, it is good to confirm that the device in question will support an HDMI output connection whether natively (as found on some DSLR cameras, usually as a Micro/Mini HDMI to HDMI cable) or with the assistance of a dongle or adapter (common with many USB-C enabled phones).
- PC to stream or record
- Game Console
- Capture Card
- A Microphone or Headset
In addition to the above, you may also want to have the following at the ready as well if you'd like to monitor the device if your Capture Card supports low latency/zero-lag passthrough. As most mobile devices and cameras are going to include a viewfinder or their own dedicated screen this is generally not necessary.
- An additional monitor or TV
- An additional HDMI cable
Finally, if your device supports a 3.5mm audio jack passthrough and you are planning to use headphones with the device then you'll also want to use the NZXT Chat Cable.
Connecting your Hardware
To start, we're going to want to get everything properly hooked up. For this guide, we'll be using steps set up for the NZXT Signal HD60, however these same steps should apply to most capture cards. For the NZXT Signal series in particular, you will need to plug the included USB cable from the Signal to an open USB 3.2 Gen 1 or higher USB port on the PC. For the correct port, please refer to your motherboard or PC's user's manual.
From here, connect your Camera or Mobile Device to the HDMI In found on your Capture Card. If you are using a second display and the zero-lag/low latency passthrough found on your Capture Card, connect the second monitor to the HDMI Out on the Capture Card.
If you are using an NZXT Chat Cable with a mobile device and are planning to use headphones, you'll also need to connect the Chat Cable to your device's 3.5mm audio jack or to the 3.5mm audio jack, then connect the other end to the Line-in port on your PC.
Lastly, if you are using a dedicated microphone for your stream then make sure it is connected to the PC and is working properly.
For a visual breakdown of these connections, please check out the chart below.
Below you'll find some key callouts for setting up your Camera or Mobile Device with your Capture Card:
For Cameras:
- Make sure your camera's HDMI out is able to provide a clean feed without any text or User Interface (UI) elements present, as these can be distracting.
- Set your camera's resolution and framerate to a fixed mode depending on your desired format. The most common formats used are going to be either 1080p or 720p at 60 FPS.
- Make sure your camera is set to movie mode for the best results.
For Mobile Devices (i.e. phones):
- Depending on the model of phone and its limitations, you may get either a direct feed from the phone screen or you may get a specialized display mode (i.e. Samsung DeX Mode). If the phone gives a direct feed, you should be able to control it as you would natively.
- If your phone supports a 3.5mm audio jack and you are using headphones or a headset connected through this jack, you may need to use the NZXT Chat Cable to properly capture audio.
Preparing OBS Studio
- If you are launching OBS Studio for the first time, you'll be prompted to follow a basic setup to get your system ready to go for streaming and/or recording. It is recommended to follow these steps to make sure that your streaming/recording settings are optimized for your PC.
- Click the + icon found on the Sources panel, then choose Video Capture Device.
<image here> - In the window that pops up, go ahead and give your device a name. For ease of finding it later, let's name it NZXT Signal Capture and click OK.
- Once in the Properties window that is now open, select your Capture Card in the Device dropdown.
- For now, go ahead and leave the Resolution/FPS Type as Device Default and you should be able to see your device's video signal. If you do not have a video signal, you can try setting this manually to match your console's output resolution. Most consoles will be set out of the box for 1920 x 1080 @ 60 FPS, while Cameras and Mobile Devices may have a different variations.
- For the Color Space and Color Range settings, you may need to adjust this on a console-by-console basis. We generally recommend leaving this as default or set Color Space to Rec. 709 and Color Range to Limited to ensure the best compatibility and picture.
- Click OK to save and close the Capture Device's settings.
In some cases, you may run into an issue where the Capture Card audio is not properly passed through to the system. To fix this, you may need to manually set the audio device for the capture card as outlined below:
- In the Properties for the source, scroll down until you see Audio Output Mode setting. Set this setting to Capture Audio Only and make sure that Use Custom Audio Device is click on to expose the Audio Device option.
- In the Audio Device option, select the appropriate device for your Capture Card. In our case, we'll be choosing NZXT Signal HD60 Audio and then click OK to save your settings.
If you followed the automated setup for OBS, your microphone should already be set up and ready to go. If you need to add an additional audio source such as another microphone or the Line-in for the NZXT Chat Cable then you'll need to do the following:
- Click the Settings button in the bottom right corner and choose Audio from the left side of the Settings window.
- Make sure that your primary Microphone is set under Mic/Auxiliary Audio dropdown.
- If you are using the Chat Cable, you'll want to select your PC's Line-in (or the port you connected the Chat Cable to) under any other available Mic/Auxiliary Audio dropdown.
- Click Apply to save your settings, then OK to close the Settings window.
Before going live, it is recommended to check your audio levels and signal to make sure everything is working properly. To do this, hit the Start Recording button on OBS and do a quick 1-2 minute recording with you talking clearly into the microphone while a game is running. If you notice that one of the audio sources is drowning out the other, then adjust them accordingly. Remember, bad audio will drive away viewers faster than bad content.
Wrap up - Ready to Stream
If you've followed through this guide, you should be up and ready to stream. That being said though, your stream may be a bit plain to start off without any specialized streaming elements for your stream such as an overlay, notifications, etc.
There is no catch-all guide that will cover everything, however many online communities exist that can help you fine tune your setup and put your best foot forward as a streamer. Just remember, you can't be a streamer if you don't start streaming so find content and a schedule that works for you and get to it!
Do you have any questions not covered by this guide or need further assistance? Please feel free to reach out to our Customer Support team and one of our friendly support agents will be there to assist you.
Are you looking to keep up on all things NZXT? Go ahead and join the Official NZXT Community Discord to keep up to date on our latest products, upcoming sales, and join in on discussions on everything from PC hardware to gaming.
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