View source for Recording

= Console Recording =
At a really high level, recording a speedrun for SDA means that you will try and get the best possible quality video footage from your console to your TV and to a recording device of some kind at the same time.  This can be a little bit complicated, but we'll try and walk you through it step by step.  You're going to need your game console, a television, some kind of recording device, and if you're capturing your run to your computer some kind of capture software.  Before you jump into the fray, it would help to understand a little bit about audio and video signals and cables.  [https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Console_Recording Go here]to get acquainted with some of the stuff that you'll be working with.  Once you're a bit familiar with the basics read on below and we'll cover each of the things that you'll need to record a speedrun in more detail.
<br /><br />
We should mention here, once you've gone through the instructions on this page and collected your equipment, don't start trying to record your speedrun attempts just yet.  You will need to capture some footage as a test.  You will then [https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Processing process]the footage and post a [https://forum.speeddemosarchive.com/post/how_to_post_a_video_quality_test..html quality test] of your finished product in the [https://forum.speeddemosarchive.com/board/tech_support.html Tech Support forum.]  We want to make sure that there isn't anything wrong with your setup/settings before you attempt to record a full speedrun.  We would hate to have to reject a speedrun over A/V quality issues.

== Equipment ==


=== Game Console ===
Which console your game is on will determine the type of equipment you will be using

{{col-begin}}
{| class="wikitable"
|<center>'''Nintendo Systems'''</center>
|-
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/NES_capture NES]
|-
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/SNES_Capture SNES]
|-
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Nintendo_64_capture Nintendo 64]
|-
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Gamecube_Capture GameCube ]
|-
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Wii_capture Wii]
|-
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Wii_U_capture Wii U]
|-
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Game_Boy_Capture Game boy Capture]
|-
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Game_Boy_Advance_Capture Gameboy Advance Capture]
|-
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Test_DS_Capture_page Nintendo DS Capture]
|-
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Test_DS_Capture_page Nintendo 3DS Capture]
|-
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|<center>'''Sega Systems'''</center>
|-
|Genesis / MegaDrive
|-
|Sega Master System / Game Gear
|-
|Sega Saturn
|-
|Dreamcast
|-
|<center>'''Sony Systems'''</center>
|-
|Playstation 1
|-
|Playstation 2
|-
|Playstation 3
|-
|PSP (Playstation Portable)
|-
|Playstation Vita
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|<center>'''Microsoft Systems'''</center>
|-
|Xbox
|-
|Xbox 360
|-
|<center>'''Other Systems'''</center>
|-
| Neo Geo
|-
| 3DO
|-
|Jaguar
|-
|Atari 2600
|}
{{col-end}}

=== Television ===
Yes, the TV you use can make a difference in your speedrun.  We're going to lump TVs into two categories

{| class="wikitable"
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/CRT_Television '''CRT TVs''']
|These older televisions are ideal for speedrunning, but they have their limitations
|-
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/LCD_Television '''LCD TVs''']
|Newer televisions are widely available and they support the latest video formats, but they pose some challenges
|}

=== Recording Devices ===

{| class="wikitable"
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Capture_Device Video Capture Devices]
|Currently the most popular recording choice
|-
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/DVD DVD Recorder ]
|An acceptable alternative to capture devices
|-
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/VHS VCR Recording]
|Very Strongly discouraged, but grudgingly accepted
|}

=== Splitter ===
No matter what your setup is, you need to find some way of getting your A/V footage to your recording device and to your television at the same time.  Check out the full guide to the methods of doing this [https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Splitters here.]

{| class="wikitable"
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Splitters#Powered_Splitters '''Powered Splitters''']
|If you can afford it, this is the way to go.
|-
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Splitters#Cable_Methods '''Cable Methods''']
|Less expensive, but the quality of the capture may suffer.  Also they only support composite video
|-
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Splitters#Passthrough '''Capture Card Method''']
|Some Capture cards support a passthrough feature
|}
<br /><br />

=== Recording Software ===
If you are using a video capture device you'll need to use some type of recording software.

{| class="wikitable"
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/VirtualDub '''VirtualDub''']
|A free, powerful, and commonly used capture program
|-
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Amarectv '''Amarectv''']
|A free tool and simple tool, Amarectv is popular because it can let you record your runs and stream live simultaneously
|-
|[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/DScaler '''Dscaler''']
|A slightly less popular, but powerful capture software
|}

= PC Recording =
[https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Digital_Capture '''Start here'''.]Capturing a PC game is both easier and harder than capturing a console game. You won't be worrying about splitters or messing with cables.  You will be playing the game and attempting to record your screen at the same time which can pose some unique challenges.
<br /><br />
We should mention here, once you've gone through the instructions on this page, don't start trying to record your speedrun attempts just yet.  You will need to capture some footage as a test.  You will then [https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Processing process]the footage and post a [https://forum.speeddemosarchive.com/post/how_to_post_a_video_quality_test..html quality test]of your finished product in the [https://forum.speeddemosarchive.com/board/tech_support.html Tech Support forum.]  We want to make sure that there isn't anything wrong with your setup/settings before you attempt to record a full speedrun.  We would hate to have to reject a speedrun over A/V quality issues.