How to stream my NES console gameplay on my PC?

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powrie

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Feb 27, 2010
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Hello,

I would like to live stream and/or record Nintendo Entertainment System game play on my PC. I have never used a capture card before. I would like some advice on which cards are compatible with old retro consoles. Do I need to spend a lot of money to get a good capture card or will a cheap capture card work?

I was looking at these two cards. I've heard the El Gato is good, but do I really need that for an NES? $10 compared to $150+ is a big difference
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA93839A0954&cm_re=capture_card-_-9SIA93839A0954-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA93839A0954&cm_re=capture_card-_-9SIA93839A0954-_-Product

 
Solution
nukemaster
More expensive cards may have hardware encoding and HD support.

Since you only linked a single card it looks to work similar to other sticks using software encoding. Sometimes the interlaced video does not work great(this also depends on your decoder). I had noticed this in the past with such cards for capturing TV.

Output on the NES is interlaced either way(as is most analog setups outside of maybe Component video with some devices) so as long as the can deal with that it should not be an issue.

Another option may be emulation(legal grey area, but hey if you own the system and games anyway.). This can be easily captured on the computer.
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nukemaster

nukemaster

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Nov 23, 2004
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More expensive cards may have hardware encoding and HD support.

Since you only linked a single card it looks to work similar to other sticks using software encoding. Sometimes the interlaced video does not work great(this also depends on your decoder). I had noticed this in the past with such cards for capturing TV.

Output on the NES is interlaced either way(as is most analog setups outside of maybe Component video with some devices) so as long as the can deal with that it should not be an issue.

Another option may be emulation(legal grey area, but hey if you own the system and games anyway.). This can be easily captured on the computer.
 
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Solution
P

powrie

Distinguished
Feb 27, 2010
22
0
18,520
I have emulation already, that is not what I am looking to do here. I linked those two capture cards because they were the first ones I came across, but would be open to any capture card or anything that would work in this situation. I just want something that is compatible. The cheaper the better, but I would like it to work well. Willing to spend more money if I need to.
 
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nukemaster

nukemaster

Titan
Nov 23, 2004
19,626
6
74,965
The cheaper card is most likely a software only solution. I have not found them to look quite as well.

The other card is much more expensive, but it has hardware encoding as well as build in live stream ability in the software.

For Nintendo you would have to use the component inputs in the way listed in the manual. This means your Nintendo has to have the 2 RCA outputs on the side(I know the ones I have do).

You will also have an advantage of being able to capture un-protected HD sources as well.

Since I have not used that system I can not comment on how well it works for this, but I have captured allot of non analog game(all with cards made before game streaming became popular) video over the years and have always found hardware encoders to work best.

Some of the capture devices that can do uncompressed would look best, but also have much higher system requirements.

EDIT
Also note that most of these streaming devices add a delay to what is seen on the computer so you will still need your system connected to another monitor or tv.
 
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