HD PVR Recommendation

[Fatrat92]

Anyhow, what I am looking to do is Let's Play videos of games on my Xbox 360 and PS3. I have heard that you require a HD PVR so I want to know if there are any that are recommended? That or if there is another method just as effective? I would want to record at a minimum of 720p.
Thank you for any input.

 

[Fat.Clown]

Lucky for you, I already spent hundreds of dollars experimenting with a few devices. here is a quick run down of what I thought of them.

Hauppague HD PVR 1445
Pro:

• you can record with variable bit rate.
• can be used for live streaming.
• H.264 hardware compression - saves space
• can be used with a laptop.

Con:

• must be attached to a computer while recording.
• unit and computer must be powered on for hardware pass-thru even when you don't want to record.
• cannot record in raw.

Hauppague Colossus:
Pro:

• you can record with variable bit rate.
• live stream is possible.
• H.264 hardware compression - saves space.
• can capture from none HDCP protected HDMI source.

Con:

• must be attached to a desktop computer.
• unit and computer must be powered on for hardware pass-thru even when you don't want to record.
• cannot record in raw.

Avermedia Game Capture HD
Pro:

• H.264 hardware compression - saves space.
• can be used without a computer.
• unit can be powered off and hardware pass-thru still works - don't have to unplug cables when you just want to use ps3/xbox 360 as media player.

Con:

• you cannot record with variable bit rate.
• cannot be used for live streaming.
• cannot record in raw.
• live stream is not possible.

Blackmagic Design shuttle:
I have not tested this product myself.
Pro:

• can record in raw.
• can capture form none HDCP protected HDMI source.

Con:

• raw takes up a ton of space - even more than FRAPS.
• must have usb 3.0 port.
• must have a very fast storage medium (RAID or SSD) to capture in raw.

 

[Fatrat92]

This is a very detailed and thorough answer. Thank you so much, this is perfect for what I am looking for.