Capture Cards & Video Hardware

The hardware that gets a camera, console, or second computer into your streaming PC. For the software that consumes the capture see Live Streaming Software. For software-only capture (virtual cams, NDI Virtual Input) see Virtual Cameras. For the protocols capture cards typically expose (UVC / HDMI / NDI) see Streaming Protocols.

USB capture (1080p)

• ★ Elgato Cam Link 4K — closed; the easy-button USB HDMI capture; UVC class so it works in any streaming app on any OS. ~$130 (2026). Default "use my mirrorless / camcorder as a webcam."
• Elgato HD60 X — closed; 1080p60 HDR passthrough, 4K30 capture; the gamer-favorite USB capture.
• AverMedia Live Gamer Mini / Ultra 2.1 — closed; competitive pricing; UVC.
• Razer Ripsaw HD — closed; legacy alternative.
• Generic Chinese HDMI-USB ($15–30) — closed; "MS2109" chipset; UVC; surprisingly OK at 1080p30 / 720p60; flag: claims of 4K input are usually downsampled. Fine for hobby; don't trust for paid work.
• Mokose / ACASIS HDMI Capture — same MS2109 / similar tier.

USB capture (4K and pro)

• ★ Magewell USB Capture HDMI 4K Plus — closed; the pro USB capture; rock-solid drivers, UVC + DirectShow, ~$400. Default for paid / corporate AV work.
• Magewell USB Capture SDI 4K Plus — same family for SDI.
• Blackmagic UltraStudio Recorder 3G — closed; Thunderbolt-only; pairs with DaVinci Resolve.
• AJA U-TAP HDMI / SDI — closed; broadcast-leaning USB capture.

PCIe capture (lowest latency)

• ★ Elgato 4K X / 4K Pro — closed; 4K60 HDR; PCIe; the streamer's "I have a two-PC setup" upgrade.
• AverMedia Live Gamer 4K (GC573) — closed; PCIe 4K60; cheaper than Elgato.
• Blackmagic DeckLink Mini Recorder 4K / Quad HDMI Recorder / Duo 2 — closed; broadcast-leaning PCIe; the standard Resolve/Premiere ingest cards.
• Magewell Pro Capture HDMI 4K Plus / Quad HDMI — closed; multi-input PCIe pro capture.

SDI / broadcast

• Blackmagic DeckLink family — closed; SDI 3G/6G/12G; Resolve native.
• AJA Kona — closed; pro broadcast SDI.
• Magewell Pro Capture SDI — closed; broadcast SDI PCIe.

HDMI-over-IP / NDI hardware

• ★ NDI soft + Cam Link / OBS Virtual Cam — see Streaming Protocols and Virtual Cameras; free path before buying any capture card.
• Magewell Pro Convert — closed; HDMI ⇄ NDI hardware bridges; the corporate AV staple.
• BirdDog NDI converters — closed; NDI-native cameras and bridges.
• Datavideo NVS-25 / NVS-36 — closed; HDMI-over-IP and broadcast streaming encoders.
• Kiloview — closed; NDI / SRT bridges; budget-friendlier.

Switchers + capture combined

• ★ Blackmagic ATEM Mini / Mini Pro / Mini Pro ISO / Extreme — closed; 4 / 8 HDMI input switcher; UVC class so it shows up as a webcam to OBS / Zoom / Teams. ~$295–$1295 (2026). The cheapest path to a real multi-camera live setup. See Live Production Switchers.
• YoloLiv YoloBox — closed; portable all-in-one switcher + encoder + screen; popular with on-the-go IRL streamers.
• Roland V-1HD / V-8HD — closed; broadcast-grade portable switcher.

Cameras as capture (no card needed)

• ★ UVC webcams — Logitech Brio, Insta360 Link 2, Anker PowerConf C300, Opal Tadpole. Plug-and-play; no capture card; many now hit 4K30.
• iPhone / iPad as webcam — free; macOS Continuity Camera; NDI HX Camera app; Camo (paid free tier).
• Mirrorless "webcam mode" — Sony Imaging Edge Webcam, Canon EOS Webcam Utility, Fujifilm X Webcam, Nikon Webcam Utility — free vendor utilities that turn a USB-connected camera into a UVC source without a capture card.
• ★ NDI HX Camera (iOS) — free; turn an iPhone into an NDI source on the LAN.

What you actually need

• One PC, one camera, indoors: UVC webcam or vendor "webcam mode" — no card.
• One PC, mirrorless / DSLR / camcorder, clean HDMI out: Elgato Cam Link 4K.
• Console capture (PS5/Xbox/Switch): Elgato HD60 X or 4K X.
• Two-PC streaming setup: PCIe Elgato 4K X.
• Multi-camera live, indie budget: Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro (HDMI inputs, USB out as webcam, ATEM Software Control free).
• Corporate AV / paid event: Magewell USB or Pro Convert; Blackmagic UltraStudio for Resolve workflows.
• Going wireless / IP-based: NDI cameras and Pro Convert / BirdDog bridges.

Driver gotchas

• UVC ("USB Video Class") is the magic phrase — it means no driver install, works on Mac/Win/Linux/iPad. Prefer UVC capture devices when in doubt.
• Apple Silicon Mac + Magewell drivers have been good since 2023; verify the model is on Magewell's M-series compatibility list before buying.
• Linux + capture-card vendor utilities are spotty; UVC + v4l2 works; brand bundled software usually doesn't.
• HDR passthrough vs HDR capture are different — Elgato HD60 X passes HDR to your monitor but captures SDR; pro work needs DeckLink/Magewell.

Pick this if…

• One camera over USB, easy: Elgato Cam Link 4K.
• Console streaming: Elgato HD60 X or 4K X.
• Pro / paid USB capture: Magewell USB Capture HDMI 4K Plus.
• Two-PC PCIe pick: Elgato 4K X or Blackmagic DeckLink.
• Multi-camera switcher under $1k: ATEM Mini Pro.
• Wireless / IP-based: NDI bridges (Pro Convert / BirdDog).
• iPhone as a free camera: NDI HX Camera or Continuity Camera.
• Cheap experiment: generic MS2109 USB stick.