There are a lot of different methods and devices to record your Xbox 360 gameplay if your computer does not have a built in capture card. You can use external capture cards, USB capture devices, and even your home DVD recorder or camcorder. I will be providing guides and information for some of the easiest and most affordable of these capture methods in one place. You will need to make sure your computer has all the necessary video codecs and hardware specifications to run any software or capture devices before making any purchases. Keep in mind that no guide will ever be 100 percent perfect for everyone. Differences in televisions and computers can make an enormous difference so if your having problems check your owners manual. If you still cannot resolve your problem then do some research online, someone else is likely to have had the same problem before.

Facts Regarding Playing in High Definition and Recording your Game Play at the Same Time

There are capture devices that allow you to play in High Def and record gameplay at the same time, however they are slightly more costly. Note that you can use the standard definition (480p) capture devices on a HDTV, but keep in mind you will not be able to play in High Def and record your gaming at the same time. The reason for this is because most affordable capture devices only have composite RCA audio/video inputs (red,yellow,white) or S video inputs. These devices only accept up to DVD quality input (480p) so if your playing in High Def the capture device cannot transfer the HD (1080p) audio and video to your computer.

I WILL BE LISTING SOME HD RECORDING DEVICES that enable you to play and record in High Def simultaneously later in this article. There are a lot of devices that enable you to record High Definition gameplay now versus just one year ago. However the prices can vary dramatically on these devices. I have listed a few of the most popular and affordable devices that people use to record and play in High Definition at the same time. I will also be listing a device that enables you to record using a mac or macbook laptop.

For Those with Standard Definition Televisions

If you have a standard definition television then not being able to play in High Def and record simultaneously is not an issue for you and it gives you a lot more recording options. The capture devices for standard (420p) televisions are much more affordable for the average person and very easy to set up. Choosing the right hardware and software can be confusing and intimidating to the average gamer. Hopefully by the end of this article gamers will have a better understanding of how to record xbox 360 gameplay.

This method of recording uses the Dazzle Video Creator Plus. For this method you will also need 3 RCA Y-adapters and a set of good composite RCA audio/video cables (red,yellow,white). This capture device comes with Pinnacle Studio video editing software which features one click uploading to YouTube. This device is a good all in one package for recording and editing. There are other Dazzle capture devices on the market but be aware that not all offer Vista compatibilty or Vista 64 bit compatibility. I recommend the Dazzle Video Creator Plus simply because its newer and the drivers have been updated to support all Vista versions.

NOTE! THE DAZZLE VIDEO CREATOR PLUS WILL NOW WORK WITH WINDOWS VISTA 64 BIT. FOR IT TO WORK YOU HAVE TO DOWNLOAD A VISTA 64 BIT DRIVER FROM PINNACLE. GET THE DRIVER HERE. (Right click and open in new tab or window.) VISTA 64 Bit Dazzle Video Creator Plus Driver Link.

This method of recording is recommended to anyone who already owns a home DVD recorder. If you already have a DVD recorder then you have nothing to buy to begin recording your gameplay. If you do not have a DVD recorder then you have to consider that you will be spending a good bit of money on any capture device you choose. So why not get a good DVD player and recorder for just a little more than you would spend on a capture device and cables? Also DVD+RW and DVD-RW discs can be formatted and erased multiple times so you do not have to keep buying discs.

If you do choose to use the DVD Recorder method keep in mind you will have to convert DVD video files to YouTube friendly video formats such as AVI, MPEG-2 or MPEG-4. This is a very very slow process and does take some computer and software knowledge.This is not a recommended method of recording if you are not willing to spend some time learning new software or if you are computer illiterate. There is a lot of free software out there to help you either edit DVD videos or convert the DVD files to another format.

This method of recording uses a typical digital camcorder with audio/video input capabilities. If your digital camcorder does not have a composite RCA audio/video input (red,yellow,white) you will not be able to use this method. A simple way of finding out if you camcorder will work is to check your owners manual. If your camcorder has a AV input then you are good to go. This is a good method for anyone who already has a digital video camera and does not wish to buy any more equipment to record their game footage. This video guide uses a PlayStation 3, but the setup for the Xbox 360 is exactly the same.

When you are done recording your game footage with this method you just connect the digital camcorder to your computer using the cables that were provided with it. Then you simply just transfer the video over either using Windows Movie Maker or other video editing programs. Most digital camcorders come with their own editing software and drivers for your computer. The best thing about the digital camcorder method is that the video does not need to be converted prior to uploading to a website, it will already be in a YouTube friendly format. Just edit your movie and upload to the site of your choice.

This guide from YouTube shows how to set up a USB capture device to record your Xbox 360 gameplay. There are a number of USB capture devices on the market right now. The problem with most of them is that they do not work for one or both versions of Vista. Be sure what you buy is compatible with your operating system and computer.

EasyCap 2.0 (Windows XP Users)

If you have Windows XP then using an EasyCap 2.0 is a cheap way for you to record your gameplay. Its one of the most affordable capture devices. It is made in the U.K. so the software is set to record in PAL as standard. If you live in a PAL region be sure to buy the EasyCap 2.0 DC60+ as it is the only one that records in PAL 60. The standard EasyCap 2.0 will not work for you it will be in black and white. If you live in the U.S. you can go with the standard version of EasyCap 2.0 because you will be recording in NTSC. You can easily change to NTSC in the settings with one click. Even though a website may say that the EasyCap works for Vista be aware that it does not do so out of the box.

Roxio Video Capture USB (Vista 32 and 64 bit Users)

This is a fairly new capture device from Roxio and it is compatible with XP, Vista 32 bit, and Vista 64 bit straight out of the box. This device costs around the same price range as the Dazzle capture devices but is in a lot smaller package. You can easily hook the Roxio USB Capture up using the same method as shown in the above YouTube video for EasyCap. Buy Roxio Video Capture USB (right click and open in new tab or window) here.

This is a new $99 device designed specifically for capturing video from game systems. This device will allow you to record your game footage in standard definition while playing your games in High Def. This device is a huge plus for anyone with a High Def T.V. For being a new device it is fairly affordable.

There are a few different models of Blitzbox out there so be sure to get the Blitzbox B1-HD if you are interested in this device. They are really having trouble keeping these in stock at the moment. You can buy a Blitzbox B1-HD (right click and open in new tab or window) here.

The Hava is also a new device that allows you to play in High Def and record your Xbox 360 gameplay at the same time. At $60 tp $150 this is a much more expensive device than the BlitzBox B1-HD but it has a lot more uses and capabilities. It is a small price to pay for someone who has paid a few thousand dollars for a HD-TV and wants the full benefit of it while recording their game play. It also will have more use in your home theater system than a game specific device.

You can also use the Hava Platinum HD TV Device to Record and to play your games in High Def. There are a few versions of Hava on the market but theres very limited guides available, Hava's have not been in use by a lot of gamers due to their cost. The Hava Platinum is slightly more affordable than the wireless versions of Hava. I have found a very good text guide for using the Platinum version of Hava to record your 360 gameplay. Your can view the detailed guide (right click and open in new tab or window) here.

Here is a video showing how to setup a Hauppauge HD PVR to record your Xbox 360 or PS3 gameplay. This device captures FULL 720p HD video in M2TS format and is worth the $$$ for anyone interested in capturing their gaming in extremely high quality.

Although this is an excellent device, it does have a few drawbacks if you're not prepared. Please read below for details.

Hauppauge HD PVR System Requirements

• You need AT LEAST a dual core PC with AT LEAST 1 gig of RAM...
• You need AT LEAST a 256 meg Video Card...
• You NEED HD video editing software that will recognize the M2TS files produced by the Hauppauge. (Sony Vegas Pro 8.0c, Pinnacle Studio and Corel Video Studio work)

A lot of people have been looking for a way to play their Xbox 360 in HD and still be able to record gameplay on their Macbook. There used to be no other way to do this than spend thousands of dollars of equipment. Most equipment on the market was and is only compatible with windows computers and devices. Now there is one device on the market that enables Mac users to get in on making game videos affordably and its called the Slingbox HD Pro.

This video tutorial will show users how to record their Xbox 360 gameplay on their Macbook Pro using the Slingbox HD Pro without losing their HD gameplay quality.