If you’ve been thinking of sharing your PS3 gameplay activities on Youtube or Facebook, the cost of a High Definition (HD) capture device may be holding you back. We’re here to tell you that there’s a much cheaper way to do it. Sure, the results won’t be in HD but, hey, this isn’t a wedding video, right?
Back in 2011 we wrote about the Diamond Video Capture device, telling you how to use it to archive your VHS/Beta tapes. The basics in that post still apply so go here to read it: Archive VHS Tapes . The price of this capture unit is less than $50.00. Compare that to the Elgato HD device at $170-$199 and you’ll see why we are suggesting the Diamond unit instead.
How it works:
You probably have your PS3 set up to play through the HDMI connection on your HD TV. Sound and picture all in one cable and the best resolution out there, it doesn’t get better than this. In order to capture the video and sound from your PS3, you have to get the two signals into a computer. It doesn’t matter if you use a laptop or desktop but you will need a newer CPU and lots of RAM to get a good capture.
Both systems mention above, the Diamond and the Elgato, work the same way. You put their devices in line between your PS3 and your computer. The Elgato would use the HDMI out, everything in one cable, while the Diamond needs to make use of the standard definition wires that come with the game console. Those wires do not include an S-Video out but the Diamond has an S-Video in so, to get the best quality, head out to get a set of S-Video connectors from any game supply store. We have an after-market set which will work for both the PS3 and the Xbox 360. If you’ve got both consoles, get something like that to capture gameplay from either one.
The only slightly confusing part of all of this is telling your PS3 which video output to use. First, make sure you’re not in the middle of playing a game. Scroll to the far left, second icon ‘Settings’ and choose Video Output Settings. From that point on, you have to decide which settings to use. For the Diamond card, choose Composite/S Video, as shown in this photo:
Once you choose these settings, and you have to choose your audio out as well, the PS3 will switch from showing on your TV to popping up in the Diamnond Capture window on your computer. Don’t forget to accept the settings by pressing X on your controller or the PS3 will revert back to its previous setting.
Do the video switch first then start the Diamond capture software immediately. Make sure everything is hooked up, obviously, and you’ll be able to see your gaming activity on your computer screen. All the controls will still be as before, you only use your mouse/cursor to start and end the capture.
TIP: We mentioned this in our previous post on the Diamond card but it’s worth repeating. There will be a set of green scan lines across the Diamond window when you first start the software. Look for the tiny X on the bottom left, close the capture window down and start it again. The scan lines will disappear.
Here’s a link to the Sony site which explains the Display settings as well as the various cables you can get, most optional, to carry the signal from your PS3 console to the Diamond Capture connectors: PS3 Video Output Settings
We’d suggest getting the S-Video cable but if you’re only going to do a few simple captures, don’t worry about it. Stick with the AV out/in and things will look just fine. Here’s a link to the first video we created:
This was made using the composite video out/in. We’re going to do more using the S-Video connection to see what difference it makes. Updates as soon as we get them. Have fun! The PS3 is our console of choice and we’ll upgrade it to the Ps4 as soon as it comes out. Can’t wait!
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