Recording console game with miniDV cam

Sisko

Looking to find out what exact cables I'll need to basically use my miniDV cam as a video machine to record gameplay from a 360 or PS3 or both (not at the same time) while displaying the game on a monitor.

The camera is old at this stage in that its not 'HD' but its a good camera for its time, cost me over a grand back when I bought it.

Its a sony dcr pc8 and it take's s-video in and has audio inputs and outputs.

I have a composite to s-video converter, I assume I just need some kinda splitter cables to split the video to go both to the camera and the monitor?

Tallon

Please don't record gameplay with a camera, it makes baby jesus eyes bleed

Buy one of these http://adverts.ie/226959

Sisko

I'm talking about direct feed to the camera not recording from a screen...

This is to be done in a public settings at tournaments and right now using a laptop with a capture device like that is too messy.

The camera takes up little space and the quality would more then likely be better then that device.

Reckoner91

Tallon wrote: »

Please don't record gameplay with a camera, it makes baby jesus eyes bleed

Buy one of these http://adverts.ie/226959

I had one of them Easycaps. Unfortunately, it could only record 360 and PS3 games in black and white. But it could record Wii in colour. Plus it was sub-par quality overall...not sure if this "2.0" fixed that.

Also, directed at Sisko, if you've got the money, I would try get a 'Dazzle' from America.

Tallon

dazzle is the exact same thing

Reckoner91

I personally prefer Dazzle though, but to each their own. Also, you'll probably need something like 'Y' connectors if you're planning to record and keep the console playing on the TV at the same time.

Sisko

I don't have the money, I'm just wondering what cables I need to buy like what splitter cables.

And any input from anyone else that might have used this method.

I've done it from my PC to my cam with success and from my ps3 to my cam (as a test , it was directly into the cam with out coming on the TV too so you couldn't play and record )

Tallon

I don't understand what you mean by "Into the cam"
What slots are on it? Like what plugs into the camera? RCA?

EDIT: Sorry, just re-read the OP

Ok, so what you need is, 2 of these (RCA Female Y splitters) for your sound (One for RED & One for WHITE)



Then you'll need one of these to split the sound to the TV from the camera (RCA Sound cables)



Then you will need one of these to split the S-Video in the exact same way (S-Video Female Y Splitter)



And finally, one of these (S-video Cable)






All these are available anywhere, PC world, maplins, peats... but will be a bit dear.
You can find them all way cheaper on ebay......

HTH

Sisko

s-video , I'm talking about using it like a video machine. The Ps3 or whatever comes up on the cam itself and you record.


Looks like this :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpzNCwLedeI

Which was done on the PC ,using s-video coming from my card to my cam and I had it set to 'clone' so I could still play on my monitor too.

On the ps3 I used a composite to s-video converter to get the ps3 displayed on the cam but I need wires to have it display on both tv and cam you see.

Sisko

**edit** just saw your edited post:


hmmm okay thanks , although I don't think I'd need an s-video splitter would I?

I have a composite to s-video converter so I assume its a composite splitter I'd need. One going into the TV/monitor and the other to the converter which converters to s-video which will then connect to my camera.

I'll ask around in peats and maplin so. I wouldn't mind getting 'em cheaper as I'm broke but theres a tournament on this weekend that I want to get direct feed of so I'll have to look at this this week.

Tallon

Yep, that sounds right

Wheres the tournament? I may have most of these parts lying around that you can use if your stuck. As I said, peats etc, will charge you a lot.

Tallon

How did you get on Sisko?

Sisko

Maplin and peats failed me in terms of buying splitter cables , none had what I needed.

We did a test there over a week ago , recorded a team tournament using a 360 which had that cable that splits the signal anyway.

Worked out great, didn't use a splitter for audio, instead we had the audio go into the camera, then plugged speakers into the camera too thus getting sound.

Only issue was people reporting a little lag on the monitors as a result of the resolution the game had to be played at for it to show on my cam.

Said monitors have lag as it is, this is a big deal for fighting games.

Looks like we'll be using VGA cables to connect to the monitors now. No idea who to split a single from VGA so it'll connect to my camera though.