Game Footage and Audio Capture Questions

[voxdan]

Hello! Just built a new PC. i7-7700K, GTX 1080, 16GB, etc. I also have an ASUS PG279Q (1440p/144hz).

I want to be able to:
1) Capture game footage.
2) Capture game audio.
3) Capture my audio commentary.
4) Capture an additional audio source, a soundboard for live sound effects, etc.

Given these goals, what hardware, software, and strategies do you recommend?

I've been Googling for days trying to get a handle on this stuff but was hoping one of you could give me clarity and direction. Key points I believe I need to figure out include:

A) Hardware vs. software capture.
B) Dealing with a 1440p/144hz display and possibly only being able to record at 1080p/60hz (from what I have read).
C) Figuring out how to record, route, and get all three of those audio tracks onto separate tracks for editing (especially my commentary and the sound board).

If you have any ideas, please let me know. Let's pretend money is not much of a barrier for now. I just want to know the best way to do these things first.

Thanks!

 

[Frag Maniac]

The only capture tool I know of that handles two separate audio streams is DxTory. It's a pretty good tool, but not nearly as easy to use or as optimized as ShadowPlay.

You have fairly robust spec though, so you may not have to set it up for better performance, which usually means setting Output to RawCap vs Avi. RawCap mode makes use of more than one drive to simultaneously write the capture file.

In RawCap mode you use the DxTory codec, which writes very large files, even in Med or Low quality mode. You also have to convert the RawCap files to Avi with the built-in converter.

So needless to say there are pluses and minuses with ALL capture tools, but again, you may not have to use RawCap mode with your spec. Here's a guide on how to use DxTory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0KqsTa_HpM

 

[James Mason]

https://obsproject.com/forum/resources/obs-studio-high-quality-recording-and-multiple-audio-tracks.221/

 

[voxdan]

https://obsproject.com/forum/resources/obs-studio-high-quality-recording-and-multiple-audio-tracks.221/

Looks like OBS handles up to four tracks, if I'm understanding that correctly. That would take care of my game audio, commentary, and up to two other sources such as a sound board and/or another commentator and/or TeamSpeak, etc.

At least I think.

Looks like Bandicam and a few others can do two tracks, but OBS may be the best software solution if I want more than that. Thanks.

 

[voxdan]

The only capture tool I know of that handles two separate audio streams is DxTory. It's a pretty good tool, but not nearly as easy to use or as optimized as ShadowPlay...

...So needless to say there are pluses and minuses with ALL capture tools, but again, you may not have to use RawCap mode with your spec. Here's a guide on how to use DxTory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0KqsTa_HpM

Thanks for this recommendation. It looks like Dxtory can handle "two or more audio sources" according to the site. I will research that one further, too.

 

[James Mason]

This is worth a read for you as well, you don't have to buy/follow it to the letter, but it helps broaden your understanding of streaming setups:
http://www.logicalincrements.com/articles/streaming

 

[voxdan]

This is worth a read for you as well, you don't have to buy/follow it to the letter, but it helps broaden your understanding of streaming setups:
http://www.logicalincrements.com/articles/streaming

That looks great. Only a little into it so far, and while I am not looking to stream just yet, I am always looking to learn more--to broaden my understanding--about this stuff and this article looks great. Thanks so much.

 

[Frag Maniac]

I tried OBS and couldn't get it to work. I don't know if it was a compat thing or what, but I did find a lot of Google searches with people having the same trouble I was with it. IMO, even though DxTory is harder to use than say ShadowPlay, ReLive or Fraps, it's much more intuitive than OBS. Of course OBS is free though.

 

[voxdan]

I tried OBS and couldn't get it to work. I don't know if it was a compat thing or what, but I did find a lot of Google searches with people having the same trouble I was with it. IMO, even though DxTory is harder to use than say ShadowPlay ReLive or Fraps, it's much more intuitive than OBS. Of course OBS is free though.

I've read that OBS (and a couple of others) may or may not work as intended depending on the game you are playing. I can imagine how frustrating that would be.

Ya, I need to get a few of them lined up and just work with them and see which one sticks. I just realized I can also use my Zoom H5 to record my commentary and other audio tracks. This means I don't have to rely on the recording software to record more than two tracks. Anyways, thanks again for your thoughts. I just need to get stuck in now.