5 creative ways to use a PC video capture card

There are many reasons why it makes sense to have a PC video capture card on hand, such as streaming video from an external device like a gaming console. But did you know you can use a capture card in many different (and creative) ways? We’ve summarized five of them:

Digitize old VHS tapes and laser discs

If you have VHS tapes or laser discs, they may become unusable due to the potential failure of older playback devices. You can actually digitize the VHS tapes or laser discs by using a capture card with analogue video inputs.

Modern software helps to remove noise and you can save the content to a hard drive or back it up in a cloud. You can also archive the original medium without putting any additional strain on it. This is useful if the analogue media has never been released for modern formats. Even if a film was later released on DVD or Blu-Ray, it’s usually not the same version.

Better gaming experience

Modern consoles offer good streaming options. However, if you’re using an older console or prefer a more elegant solution, a PC with a capture card is worthwhile. A capture card specially designed for gaming ensures the best gaming experience for you and your viewers.

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Turn a VR headset into a portable monitor

With a Meta Quest 2, 3 or Pro, you can use a USB capture card to transfer the video signal directly into the VR headset and use it as a portable, private 1080p monitor. Please make sure to choose a capture card that is recommended by other Quest users to achieve optimal results.

Turn an iPad into a portable monitor

With the latest version of the iPad OS, a USB-HDMI capture card can be used as a video input source, turning an iPad into a portable monitor. There are apps in the Apple App Store that simplify this process and provide additional signal processing options.

Use a high-quality camera for live feed streaming

Many high-quality cameras have an HDMI output. With a capture card, you can use these cameras as a live feed for streaming. High-quality lenses and an optical zoom will significantly improve your live content at a fraction of the cost of a professional streaming camera.

Capture cards used to cost a fortune and often only offered mediocre quality. Today, even inexpensive capture cards do a good job. All you need is a creative way to use them.