With the help of HDMI grabbers, content that is sent via the HDMI cable can be recorded and saved on the hard drive. Usually with more resolution than in my picture. ;-)

HDMI Grabber - What do I have to look out for when buying?

The so-called "HDMI Grabber" offer the possibility to record and save the picture and sound signal of the HDMI transmission. But there are also devices that make it possible to stream your games on 1080p. In this post I would like to go into the different HDMI grabbers and their functions in more detail and give you a few tips and tricks for buying them!

A few words about HDMI recorders and grabbers

Many people know the “HDMI Grabber” as well under the name “HDMI Recorder”. As the name suggests, the device is responsible for recording the transmission. Thanks to the USB 3.0 interface, you can easily and smoothly record with this device. The recordings that are made with the device are correspondingly high quality.

However, you should make sure that the device is also state-of-the-art. At some HDMI It is the case with grabbers that they only have a USB 2.0 connection. For us, this means that the recordings can be transferred more slowly and not in the same quality as with a USB 3.0 interface. However, different devices also have different connection options - these should be used as needed and desired. You have to find out for yourself which ones are needed exactly there.

With the help of HDMI grabbers, content that is sent via the HDMI cable can be recorded and saved on the hard drive. Usually with more resolution than in my picture. ;-)
With the help of HDMI grabbers, content that is sent via the HDMI cable can be recorded and saved on the hard drive. Usually with more resolution than in my picture. ;-)

Audio outputs useful for separate sound recordings

You should also make sure that additional audio outputs and the like are available if you want to use them later, for example to process the audio signal separately before you mix it with the video signal. HDMI grabbers with USB 3.0 and HDMI connection are basically able to record picture and sound at the same time, which is why this should not be a problem with current models.

Today every home user can choose from a wide range of HDMI recorders. What they all have in common is that they compress the incoming video data in real time using the H.264 method known from Blu-ray and HDTV, and thus generate manageable data packets that can be saved very conveniently and easily.

Differences in the type of “grabbers”

The recorders are offered as plug-in cards, for example, as boxes for connection to a computer (the recorded video is saved on the hard drive) and as a self-sufficient recording device. Some external models, on the other hand, only pass the video files on to a connected computer or draw them themselves, for example on a memory card, a USB stick or an internal hard drive.

This may all sound a bit difficult for the beginners in this field among you, but with the common models of the HDMI recorder a schematic representation in multi-lingual operating instructions is included - so don't worry about the operation and installation. Make sure, however, that you can connect an external storage medium, as video files eat up a lot of memory - especially if they are first recorded uncompressed by the grabber.

There is later the option of compressing these finished video files with numerous programs on macOS and Windows so that they no longer require as much memory on the hard drive and there is more space for new recordings. However, the H.264 codec (MP4format) generally doesn't have much space, so a 64 GB USB stick is sufficient to start with.

The right device depends on the application

Many HDMI grabbers also offer the option of connecting a headset. This means that you can simultaneously record your voice as a moderator during the recording. Before doing this, you should find out about the areas and purposes for which you need the recorder. You should not only pay attention to the price, but primarily to the technical key data of the device. Because how do you say a clever person: who buys cheap, buys twice.

The best thing to do is to compare the different models yourself and then decide which is right for you. Otherwise, leave a comment here on my page if you don't know exactly which device is suitable for your purposes. My other readers and I will be happy to help you!

Best seller of the HDMI grabber

To make your choice a little easier, I have included a list of the most popular HDMI recorders and grabbers here. It is best to take a look at them in detail so that you know which model meets your requirements.

Bestseller no. 1
TreasLin Screen Capture Recorder, 1080P HDMI to USB Game Recorder, No PC required...
  • √ 【1080P HDMI to USB Recorder Device】 The HDMI screen recorder can be one click game console, TV box, ...
  • √【One-Click Recording】 Easy adjustment without adjustment. Save videos to a USB device...
  • √【USB Device Storage】 A 32G U disk is included. Include directly...
Bestseller no. 2
Newhope Video Capture Card, 4K HDMI to USB C 3.0 , 1080P HD 60fps Live and Record Audio Grabber for...
  • 【3.0 High-Speed ​​capture card】 This Newhope HDMI game capture card uses a newest 3.0 chip , lower latency compared to...
  • 【Real-time preview】The audio and video capture card adopts ultra-low latency technology, allowing you to game live...
  • 【Wide Compatible】This HDMI to USB C 3.0 capture card easily connects DSLR, camcorder, or action...
Bestseller no. 3
4K HDMI Video Capture Card, Audio Video Capture Card, USB3.0 1080P 60FPS Video Recorder for Streaming...
  • 【4K HDMI Video Capture Card】: The video capture card adopts an intelligent high-end chip design with pocket size...
  • 【Full HD 1080p 60fps HDMI LOOP-OUT】: 4K HDMI capture card for Nintendo Switch, USB 3.0 output resolution up to ...
  • 【Widely compatible with multiple systems】: Video capture card is suitable for Windows 7/8/10, Mac OS, Linux and ...
Bestseller no. 4
video capture card, Papeaso 4K HDMI to USB , Full HD 1080p device, for Editing...
  • 【HD 1080P Capture】: Our video HDMI capture card supports input maximum resolution 4K@30Hz, output maximum resolution...
  • 【Plug and Play】: This video capture card can be used without drivers and external power supply. Therefore, you can...
  • 【Real-time Preview】: The audio and video capture card adopts ultra-low latency technology, allowing you to game live...
Bestseller no. 5
Zowietek 4K HDMI Video Encoder/Decoder, NDI|HX3 Converter/Player, Video Recording and Recorder,...
43 reviews
Zowietek 4K HDMI Video Encoder/Decoder, NDI|HX3 Converter/Player, Video Recording and Recorder,...
  • Compact but powerful: ZowieBox, smaller than telephones, with indicator light and LCD screen that...
  • Standalone game streaming: Simply stream via plug-and-play, ZowieBox can stream live games without a PC, without...
  • NDI|HX3 converter: It can encode an HDMI signal into NDI|HX3/HX2/HX. NDI technology enables ZowieBox to...
Bestseller no. 6
Video capture card capture card hdmi USB adapter, 1080P hdmi capture card hdmi video capture USB2.0...
  • ✔Professional video recording: Supports an input resolution range from 1920 × 1080 to 3840 × 2160;...
  • ✔Plug and play and easy to use: plug and play, no additional driver installation required, low ...
  • ✔Real-time preview: Based on USB 2.0 high-speed transmission technology, smooth live video, ...
4,05 EURBestseller no. 7
AVerMedia EZRecorder 330, 4K pass-through and 1080p recording, HDMI recorder, PVR, DVR, switch,...
  • 4k pass-through and 1080p recording: enjoy high quality 4k games while using the ezrecorder 330 ...
  • high efficiency video coding: compared to h.264 coding, h.265 coding offers twice the video compression rate, ...
  • plan your recording: automatically switch on your set-top box with the ir blaster supplied.
Bestseller no. 8
A32DS Video Game Capture Recorder HD Videoaufnahme 1080P professionelle HDMI/AV Rekorder TV, Capture...
  • Full HD quality: Record in Full HD 264p1080 with H.60 hardware encoder
  • Compatible with streaming applications such as XSplit or OBS and broadcasting to YouTube, Twitch, Mixer, Facebook Live,...
  • Stronger compatibility, the gaming camera can work with all HDMI 1080P 720P devices.
Bestseller no. 9
7,80 EURBestseller no. 10
UGREEN Video Capture Card, 4K HDMI auf USB C/A Capture Card, 1080P Video Grabber für Gaming,...
  • HD Auflösung: UGREEN Capture Card unterstützt eine maximale Eingangsauflösung von 4K bei 30 Hz, eine maximale...
  • Treiberfreie Installation: Diese HDMI Capture Card kann ohne Treiber und externe Stromversorgung verwendet werden. Daher...
  • Flüssig anzeigen: Dieser Video Grabber verfügt über eine Technologie mit extrem geringer Latenz, sodass Sie...

The page contains affiliate links / images: Amazon.de

In the Sir Apfelot Blog you will find advice, instructions and reviews on Apple products such as the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, iMac, Mac Pro, Mac Mini and Mac Studio.