Recommended Video Capture Software?

[adahn]

if you don't mind playing I really recommend xsplit simply because of the encoding making the video size much more manageable.

[Massterchef]

Bandicam is imo the best, least costly, easiest to use atm. Barely lowers your FPS and the trial version is about as good as any other software you'd have to pay for.

Xfire is another software of similar quality and also makes uploading relatively simple/fast.

[Shirana]

@Derceto
Idm paying, but I checked it out and that's too much for me over a video recording software when I already have 2 good ones and my new preferred one to use for the time being o;

@adahn
Especially like that one...150$ for a video recording software as the best offer (25 per 3 months...renewing sub like FF lol)? >>;;;;
It's prolly amazing sure but I definitely wouldn't pay a renewing subscription over a video software xD

@Massterchef
Heard of xfire but as far as I knew it was just an Instant Message service and since I used MSN back then (and skype now) I never looked it up before *-*

[Kittra]

if you don't mind playing I really recommend xsplit simply because of the encoding making the video size much more manageable.

Xsplit has a free version that has a limiter on it of 25fps maximum recording which becomes unlocked after you pay the sub.

I actually tried it out for 3 months while OBS was in the early stages of development. If I had to sum it up, I'd say it's a subscription version of OBS with more bells, whistles and a superior (for now) streaming service.

You're basicly paying the subscription for the Streaming service and for live customer support. When it comes to local recording, there are programs out there that do it way better, and most cost a flat, one-time payment.

My Payed Recommendation

If you were to spend money on any recording program (if you really want the customization and freedom to do pretty much anything as far as compressing video while recording), my recommendation would be to get DxTory.

It has the DxTory encoder preloaded, which is like the FRAPs encoder that comes with FRAPs, but you can customize it for slight compression (although the video files still turn out huge if you choose to go this route).

It also has the option to load custom encoders, so if you wanted the performance/quality of an x264 encoder (the same type OBS uses), there's a free download for that somewhere out there. You can also use XVID, DVIX, Lagarith, Huffyuv, UTvideo (my personal favorite lossless codec), and pretty much anything else you can find out there for encoding videos (although some do not play nice if you are recording while encoding).

At about $45 USD, it is more expensive than FRAPs, but just like FRAPs you only pay once, and then you have access to every update to the program from that point going forward. The customizable nature of DxTory is it's main selling point, and I believe it also features a streaming service (At least I know it's planned for the future, I haven't looked at the website in a while).

*EDIT*

Just checked out Mirillis Action!'s website and it looks pretty cool for the price (home edition is cheaper than both FRAPs and DxTory).

I would probably never buy their product though; they have a Commercial license requirement if you want to make money using footage recorded using their program. Meaning, if you use the home edition, and they catch you making money with it, they can sue you... which, to me, is underhanded as I don't know of any other company that does this for recording software, especially with how the Commercial license is more expensive than FRAPS or DxTory. -_-

[Laf]

shadowplay if you have newer nvidia gpu.

[WendyDarling]

im glad this thread popped up! im a complete idiot when it comes to this kind of thing, so i was hoping somebody could help me too.
i noticed the shadowplay thing people were talking about and looked it up, but my gtx570 is just a tad too old i guess
i was wondering if anybody knew of a good recording program that would work with my gtx570/i7960 set up?
sorry, not tryin to hijack ur thread but i didnt wanna make a new thread for this.

[Kittra]

im glad this thread popped up! im a complete idiot when it comes to this kind of thing, so i was hoping somebody could help me too.
i noticed the shadowplay thing people were talking about and looked it up, but my gtx570 is just a tad too old i guess
i was wondering if anybody knew of a good recording program that would work with my gtx570/i7960 set up?
sorry, not tryin to hijack ur thread but i didnt wanna make a new thread for this.

You have a pretty solid CPU and GPU, I think anything listed in this thread would work out well for you depending on how you set it up.

Do you have an external or secondary Hard Drive in that system by chance?

[bonedeaf]

I think ShadowPlay has a 10 minutes limit on recording? I tried it out once, seemed to be the case.

Nope, there's a manual mode that lets you record as much as you want for as long as you like.

[lxSch]

im glad this thread popped up! im a complete idiot when it comes to this kind of thing, so i was hoping somebody could help me too.
i noticed the shadowplay thing people were talking about and looked it up, but my gtx570 is just a tad too old i guess
i was wondering if anybody knew of a good recording program that would work with my gtx570/i7960 set up?
sorry, not tryin to hijack ur thread but i didnt wanna make a new thread for this.

I think no hardware codecs are available for this hardware (which has solid performance though).
But before shadowplay/quicksync people were using software codecs, and keep using them even now for their superior quality.
Most of programs mentioned here should have a good selection of software codecs. Just some basics on how game window -> youtube video process happens.
Game window -> capturing software (OBS, Fraps, Dxtory, etc) -> codec (x264, h264, mjpeg, lagarith, etc) -> uploading (internet channel) -> youtube (x264 codec, 30 fps, 1280*720).
1. If your upload channel is superior (25 mbs+) - go with a lossless codec (lagarith, huffyuv and other yv12-type codecs), so you can upload video over night (in the best possible quality). You can upload it directly after capturing, no other steps are required
2. For 4+ mbs upload channel - better to use a mjpeg codec, which still has a superior to x264 quality and video should be small enough to upload it over night. Again can upload it directly.
3. For a network channel that is below - only good option is x264 codec, which has several modes. Note that "average bitrate" mode is the worst for x264, as it has several features disabled, which leads to bad compression and quality.
For x264 "CRF 16" (constant rate faction, instead of average bitrate) is a much better mode and considered to have a good quality with a fair file size, feel free to reduce it to 14 or even 12 for a slight better quality with increased size, or increase to 18-20 if your network is very slow. "CRF 0" is a lossless compression with a bit lesser file size and higher quality than mjpeg, but still heavy cpu use (same for all other x264 modes).
For #3 variant (x264) you will have to capture and save the video first using a codec from section #1, then compress it using any video editing software (megui, avidemux, virtualdub, etc).