Content creation is at an all-time high, with new creators coming in constantly. All eager to show off their creativity and share their passion for gaming. Whether that be PC gaming or console gaming, there’s something for everyone. But one of the most popular and important sectors of the gaming world right now are those who use the Nintendo Switch. Whether it’s to stream your coolest Super Smash Bros matches or to record and make videos about the newest Nintendo exclusives. So let’s jump right into our list for The Best Capture Card for Nintendo Switch.
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Best Capture Card for Nintendo Switch Guide
The difficult part here is figuring out how to actually take the footage from your switch and display it on your PC to record it. Well the answer to that is pretty simple, capture cards. These are the simplest and easiest ways to record footage from your console and either record or stream the footage for your next creative project. The only real issue is figuring out which capture card to get. Since there’s so much choice out there, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best options for you to choose.
Elgato Game Capture Card HD60S
Our next option on this list is a very popular choice for most content creators going right now. We’ve gone for this Elgato capture card for its ease of use and fantastic capture quality. Elgato is a really reliable brand when it comes to making streaming and recording equipment. So even though a lot of what they make is pretty pricey, you can be sure that the quality is there to match. There’s a reason that a lot of the most popular streamers right now are using a ton of Elgato equipment. This specific capture card outputs at 1080p/60fps which is fairly standard for recording and streaming right now. It’s also nice and small at 4.41” x 2.95” x 0.75” so it should fit nicely wherever you decide to place it.
For those who are afraid of cable management, you’re going to be out of luck here. This card is going to require you to have two HDMI cables as well as a USB 3.0 cable. It does come with a USB 3.0 cable and at least one HDMI cable though so that’s a lot of the work done already. But to be on the safe side, make sure you have access to those cables before purchasing. The main benefit of getting an Elgato capture card is the software that it comes with. It’s also a mandatory thing so if that bothers you, it’s best to look elsewhere. The software has to be downloaded from their site and lets you see a live feed of the game you’re capturing. This capture card is one of the best choices out there for those who are serious about content creation.
Pros:
- 1080p/60fps
- Great Capture Quality
- Great Companion Software
Cons:
- Requires Extra HDMI Cables
- Mandatory Software
Elgato Game Capture 4K60 Pro
For the final option on this list, we’ve gone for a capture card that is directly suited to professionals and experienced content creators. Once again we’ve chosen a product from Elgato, but it’s for good reason. This 4K60 Pro offers a ton of power and high quality captures and is a necessity for those who are avid creators. As the name suggests this card supports 4K/60fps recording. Now, this could be seen as overkill to some but if it’s something you can afford it’s definitely worth getting. You might not get the most out of it when using a Switch but if you do get this card you won’t need an upgrade for a long while.
If there are any downsides to this card it’s going to come down to personal preference and how you want the card to function. This is a very different capture card in comparison to some of the others on this list. It needs to be installed into a PCIe slot inside your computer to work. This means that there are a lot fewer cables to deal with, or at least the cables will be located out of sight behind your computer. But it also means that you might need to be tech-savvy or have a friend that’s good with computers in order to install it.
Once you get past this stage though you won’t have to worry about it and can just focus on making content. Again there is mandatory software here but thankfully it’s really good and useful to have. Though the fact that it is mandatory will probably annoy some. Ultimately this is a fantastic card and if you’re an already established creator, this should be the card that you aim to get a hold of.
Pros:
- 4K/60fps
- Amazing Capture Quality
- Great Companion Software
Cons:
- Requires Technical Know-How
- Mandatory Software
GOODAN Audio Video Capture Card
So one of the main benefits of the switch is its portability so our first choice is something that reflects that. We’ve gone for this really small capture device from GOODAN for its portability and good performance. The way to use this card is really simple, you just plug it into a USB port and plug your HDMI input into the other end. It then outputs the display to whatever software you decide to use for recording or streaming. This ease of use and portability makes it ideal for those who want a capture card that is easy to move from place to place. Perfect for those who might want to record or stream at their friends house or any other situation that would require it.
Unfortunately though there are a few downsides here which might spoil the experience for more serious content creators. This capture card can’t output a refresh rate that is higher than 30fps when outputting with a 1080p resolution. Though it does go up to 60fps when you output at a 720p resolution. Obviously this isn’t really ideal for most recording situations nowadays, but if you have fairly slow internet speeds, you won’t need to stream at 1080p anyway.
It might mean that your footage for any videos you make could be a little blurry if you decide that you want the 60fps over the 30fps. But this is still a great, cheap option for those who are just starting out. Another great positive here is that it doesn’t require multiple HDMI cables or a separate USB cable for extra power. The user experience here is really simple and it’s a fantastic place to start.
Pros:
- Easy to Use
- Small and Light
- Affordable
Cons:
- Can’t Record 1080p/60fps
- Uses USB 2.0
LEADNOVO Audio Video Capture Card
Our next option on this list foregoes some of the portability found within the last option for extra power and quality. We’ve gone for this capture card from LEADNOVO for its crisp capture quality and extra functionality. This is definitely a bit of a step up from some of the lower end cards, with this card supporting 1080p/60fps recording. For those who are a little more serious about content creation, this is a great choice as It also supports 4K in 60fps. For those who want to make a good impression with their content, this is a pretty good place to start. But be careful since this capture card reportedly can get very hot when in use for long periods of time.
The setup for this capture card is not much more complicated than some of the higher up choices, but it’s still a bit complicated for the uninitiated. You’ll need to have two HDMI cables as well as a USB 3.0 cable (which luckily comes with this capture card) to connect everything together. So already, the setup here is much more involved, but after it’s all done you won’t need to mess with it too much.
This capture card also has a headphone and microphone port which is a little unusual to see with most cards. It allows you to listen to and record audio through the capture card. Making the entire process a little easier since you can check how the audio sounds right then and there. The only real downsides to this capture card are the extra bits of setup you’ll need to do and the fact that you’ll need some extra HDMI cables. Though this is still a great choice if you want a great affordable capture card.
Pros:
- 4K/60fps
- Great Quality
- Uses USB 3.0
Cons:
- Requires Some Set-up
- Requires Extra HDMI Cables
QGeeM HDMI Capture Card
For those who really want the portable aspect this next choice should be right up your street. We’ve gone for this capture card from QGeeM for its ease of use, small size, and great capture quality. This capture card takes the small form factor of other USB based cards and crams a lot of power into it. The bulk of this capture card is in a small 3.15” x 1.97” x 1.18” silver body. This card is really lightweight and doesn’t take up too much space. Which makes it perfect for taking with you wherever you need it to go. This ultimately means that this is a fantastic small card that is still powerful enough to output at 1080p/60fps. You won’t be getting 4K here unfortunately though which might annoy some but for most situations, you won’t really need it.
Overall the quality that you’ll be getting with this card is really great. It gives a crisp and clean image with very little noticeable latency. Which means your streams or your recorded footage is going to sync up a lot better. For those who are worried about dealing with a bunch of cables, this card might prove to be an issue. Thankfully since it’s small it won’t take up too much space, but you’ll still need at least two HDMI cables. You won’t need to get a separate USB 3.0 cable for this though since it’s built into the capture card this time around. It also has three ports for a mic, a mic/earphone, and an earphone. Allowing you to record and monitor the audio straight from the capture card. This card is a great way to step up the quality of your footage.
Pros:
- 1080p/60fps
- Great Capture Quality
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Requires Some Set-up
- Requires Extra HDMI Cables
Buying Guide
If you’ve come this far in the list and you still have no idea which capture card you should get, don’t worry. In this section, we’ll be giving you some extra bits of advice and a few handy tips.
Don’t overspend on what you don’t need
There are a lot of really fancy pieces of tech out there and they all serve a purpose. Specifically, capture cards come in all different shapes and sizes with each of them being good for different levels of content creators. Essentially you shouldn’t be spending a huge amount of money on a capture card that you won’t be using to its full extent.
At that point, it’s just a waste of both money and resources. Instead, you should focus on what you will be using the capture card on. In this case, we’re using a Switch, so a capture card that outputs 4K/60fps isn’t completely necessary. Aiming to get a card that records at 1080p and 60fps will be plenty of power. You could even aim for a card that outputs 1080p and 30fps if the frame rate doesn’t bother you all that much. Ultimately just aim to get a card that fits in with what you need.
Additionally, you should make sure to get a capture card from a place that you trust. A lot of capture cards on the cheaper end can give you a distorted image or severely reduced quality. So be careful with which card you decide to get and be sure to double-check reviews from places you trust. A great way to find out the quality of a capture card is to check out in-depth reviews and videos that are actually using the card. That way you get a very thorough look at what kind of quality you can be expecting.
Getting started with recording and streaming
Once you actually get your hands on a capture card it might be a little confusing to know what to do with it. Especially for cards on the lower end that don’t come with their own software and detailed instructions. But the process is pretty simple and only takes a few steps to get started.
First up, you should know whether you want to stream or record footage for YouTube videos, the software is largely the same for both. The three most popular pieces of software for this are OBS, Streamlabs OBS, and XSplit. Each one is really good and they all come with their own little quirks. For complete beginners to content creation, the best choice here is Streamlabs OBS.
It has the most straightforward user interface and is really easy to work with. Allowing you to customize your scenes with ease and build up your platform. Both OBS and XSplit are in the same boat where they offer you a lot of control over how your streams and recordings look. But they are a little more daunting at first glance. With a user interface that is less colorful and plainer looking. XSplit in particular is a little bit overwhelming at first and can take a little getting used to. Especially if you are used to using Streamlabs OBS. They’re all really good pieces of software though and whichever one you choose will be a good choice.
Buying Tips:
- If you intend to stream or make videos make sure you get some equipment alongside the capture card. Aim to get a good quality microphone and a decent camera too (if you want to film yourself).
- Make sure you have a good enough PC that will let you stream and record without too much lag or slowdown.
- Think about how you use the Switch. If it goes everywhere with you, consider a capture card that can be more portable. Should it never leave its dock, prioritize quality and power over portability.
- If you decide to get an Elgato capture card, the software will be mandatory to get the full use out of the card.
- Check out which capture card your favorite content creators use to figure out which cards are the best.
Verdict – The Best Capture Card for Nintendo Switch
That’s been our list for ‘The Best Capture Card for Nintendo Switch’. If it’s helped you get started with your content creation journey be sure to let us know! Thanks for reading.
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