Elgato, a leading brand of audiovisual equipment for content creators and professionals, has revealed its new range of capture cards at Twitchcon, a convention for streamers and gamers. The new capture cards, named 4K X and 4K Pro, will offer HDMI 2.1 input and output, as well as support for up to 8K resolution and high dynamic range (HDR) technology.
4K X: An external capture card with 4K/144 HDR10 capture and passthrough
The 4K X is an external capture card that will be an upgrade over the HD60 X released last year. It will offer 4K/144 HDR10 capture and passthrough, meaning it can record and display video at 4K resolution with 144 frames per second and HDR10 color gamut. HDR10 is a standard that allows for more vivid and realistic colors by increasing the contrast and brightness of the image.
The 4K X will also support up to 1080P/240 high refresh rate capture, which is useful for recording fast-paced games that require smooth motion. The card will offer HDMI 2.1 input and output, which is the latest version of the HDMI standard that enables higher bandwidth and features such as variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM). VRR allows the display to adjust its refresh rate according to the input signal, reducing screen tearing and stuttering. ALLM automatically switches the display to its lowest latency mode when gaming, improving responsiveness and input lag.
The 4K X will be plug and play across Windows, Mac and iPad, making it easy to use with different devices and software platforms. The card will also have a USB-C port for connecting to the computer or tablet.
4K Pro: An internal capture card with 8K/60 HDR passthrough and True 4K/60 HDR capture
The 4K Pro is an internal capture card that will be the successor to the 4K60 Pro Mk.2 that has been around for a few years. It will offer 8K/60 HDR passthrough and True 4K/60 HDR capture, meaning it can record and display video at 8K resolution with 60 frames per second and HDR technology. 8K is a super high resolution that has four times more pixels than 4K, offering more detail and clarity.
The True 4K/60 HDR capture feature means that the card can record video at its native resolution and frame rate, without any scaling or compression. This ensures the highest quality and fidelity of the captured footage. The card will also support VRR and ALLM features via HDMI 2.1 input and output.
The 4K Pro will be an internal card that will require a PCIe slot on the motherboard of the computer. It will also have a fanless design that will reduce noise and heat.
A boon for content creators and streamers
The new capture cards from Elgato are expected to be a boon for content creators and streamers who need to record their gameplay footage while simultaneously streaming it online. The cards will offer impressive upgrades over the existing models, especially in terms of resolution, frame rate, color quality, and latency.
The cards will also work with various software platforms, such as OBS Studio, Streamlabs OBS, Elgato Game Capture HD, Elgato Stream Deck, Elgato Cam Link, Elgato Key Light, Elgato Wave Link, etc. These software tools allow users to customize their streams with overlays, alerts, transitions, filters, audio mixing, etc.
There is no official information on the pricing or release date of the new capture cards from Elgato. However, online speculations suggest that they could be launched in the first half of next year. The cards are likely to be priced at a premium to their respective predecessors.
