“The next generation of game capture is here.” The device addresses needs of real time capture of video signal: offering a pass-through HDMI connection the box provides a video capture sink with USB 3.1 Type C interface and makes the video signal available to video capture applications via standard DirectShow and Media Foundation APIs.
I was interested whether the device implements video compression, H.264 and/or H.265/HEVC in hardware. The technical specifications include:
• Max Pass-Through Resolutions:2160p60 HDR /1440p144 / 1080p240
• Max Record Resolutions:2160p30 / 1440p60 / 1080p120 / 1080p60 HDR
• Supported Resolutions (Video input):2160p, 1440p, 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p, 480p
• Record Format: MPEG 4 (H.264+AAC) or (H.265+AAC)*…
Notes:
*H.265 Compression and HDR are supported by RECentral
So there is a direct mention of video compression, and given the state of the technology and the price of the box it makes sense to have it there. Logitech C930e camera has been offering H.264 video compression onboard for years.
So is it there in the Ultra thing? NO, IT IS NOT. Pathetic…
One could guess this of course from a study of FAQ section in the part of third party software configuration. The software is clearly expected to use external compression capabilities. However popular software is also known to not use the latest stuff, so there was a little chance that hardware codec is still there. I think it would fair to include that right there into technical specification that the product does not offer any encoding capabilities.
The good thing is that the box offers 10-bit video capture up to 2560×1440@30 – there is not so much of inexpensive hardware capable to do such job.
The specification mentions high rate 1920×1080@120 mode but I don’t see it in the effectively advertised capabilities.
Also, video capture capabilities in Media Foundation API suggest that it is possible to capture into video memory bypassing system memory mapping/copy. Even though it is irrelevant to most of the applications, some newer ones including those leveraging UWP video capture API could take advantage (such as, for example, video capture apps running on low power consumption devices).