Affordable USB3.0 HDMI Video Capture Card (Wiistar – AliExpress)

USB3.0 HDMI Video Capture Card 1080P@60Hz HDMI Loopout 4K30Hz Game Recording Live Streaming USB3.0 Video Grabber for PS4 Camera

Update about audio operations of device:

There is a description about it in the manual and on web store page. But, what is not clear is how the audio ports marked “MIC” & “Headphones” symbols work.

Headphones

“Headphones” output on this device will “play” audio when I select it for default audio output device, or select it as output in na application that allows custom selecting audio output devices.

This makes this device also an external sound card to connect speakers.

It is independent from the audio capture functionality of connected HDMI to the port labelled “IN”. Unless “Listen to” is enabled in systems sound recording settings for audio capture part of this device.

To use this output to play the audio from connected HDMI, I need to open in Windows settings > System > Sound page. And in “Input” section select “Digital Audio Interface (USB3 Digital Audio)”, than click on link “Device properties” to open that page.

On “Device properties” page in “Related Settings” section I click “Additional device properties” to open “Digital Audio Interface Properties” dialogue.

Here I switch to “Listen” tab, check the “Listen to this device” checkbox. Than in “Playback through this device:” drop-down selection I select “Speakers-Generic USB Audio (USB3 Digital Audio)” and hit “Apply” button, to hear playback through the “Headphones” output on the device. When microphone is connected in “Mic IN” port of device, with above settings applied audio from microphone will play thorough this output

What is playing though this output will not go out through HDMI “OUT” port. “IN” and “OUT” HDMI ports are straight pass trough with no perceivable lag or delay.

Microphone (with headphones)

“Microphone” input on device works like it is described in the manual and on the website. It is not just a microphone input, it supports connecting headphones with microphone with single jack.

So, the idea is to allow capture of microphone input and mix it with HDMI “IN” audio. And at same time play sound from HDMI “IN” on connected headphones (speakers).

For me it worked when I used single jack microphone with headphones from of my NOKIA smartphone. Or when I’m using splitter cable that has male jack with two female inputs separating stereo headphones from microphone. This is just like my use-case for Nintendo Switch.

Since I capture my speech from microphone input on my PC, I’m using only analogue stereo audio output from this connector through splitter cable.


08-2024 Update:

The value for price exceeds my expectation.

It works as advertised (1080p 60fps YUY2) when it’s connected with included cable to proper USB 3.0 port. Colour calibration not required.

Here is the post with links to live action and capture setup video on demand:

Notes from live presentation

This is the link to AliExpress:

USB3.0 HDMI Video Capture Card 1080P@60Hz HDMI Loopout 4K30Hz Game Recording Live Streaming USB3.0 Video Grabber for PS4 Camera

How accurate was the product description? 4stars – My score

I’m very satisfied for price, is my answer.

Basic test confirm it is working. Great for the price it is selling.

I’m using an i5 based PC with USB 3.0 motherboard H81M-K.

USB3 cable too short for tower PC desktop.
Default video colours look good, maybe too saturated on first look.
When I connect to USB 3.0 and set 1080p capture resolution my OBS v.29 is showing in Log 50fps for this device with MJPEG. FPS drops to 10 when using YUY2 (as expected).

It can be used to work over high quality USB extension cable.

Wiistar 4K HD Video Capture USB Video Class (UVC)

Previous version model

This was my first external USB video capture device (“card”). I got it to work in capture mode up to 60 fps in 720p, 50 fps in 1280×960 resolution, and 30 fps higher resolution with MJPG video format. YUY2 frame rate capture and preview is to low for dynamic content and even presentations, except on very low resolutions.

Also I created a custom manual colours calibration in OBS for the device:

Video Proc Amp (Configure Video: Properties)

  • Brightness: -5
  • Contrast: 137
  • Hue: 0 (default)
  • Saturation: 136

Maybe higher quality USB cable and ports on motherboard can allow for better performance. The above results are the best so far I’m getting from this model.

Newer model is two quality grades better in video reproduction quality and in integrated audio subsystem.

Solution for mono sound on Windows

I have previous version model of capture device from Wiistar with audio issue on Windows, not on Linux. That it is playing mono audio on Windows.

Here is the solution:

Mono to stereo” audio utility. Takes a mono input and renders it as if it was an interleaved stereo input. Works on MS2109 capture devices where the audio input is a 96khz mono stream but in actuality is a 48khz stereo…
Read more here: https://github.com/ToadKing/mono-to-stereo/


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