The Nintendo Switch, also known simply as the Switch, is a gaming console with a variety of games that you can play on the system. As a gamer and streamer, you can record your gameplay and stream the gameplay footage through the video capture device. But how exactly does the capture card work for the switch?
Good news for you!
Like other devices, the capture card connects to the docks of the Nintendo switch and records the frame through HDMI cable, and displays it on your computer screen. Let’s see how gaming capture cards record gameplay on the Switch.
Advantage of a Capture Card
The main purpose of the capture device is to record your gameplay in high-quality resolution. The advantage of using a video capture card for Nintendo Switch is that you can use it as streaming software as well.
Also, you can edit your recordings through software like streamlabs OBS and RECentral software to elevate their quality. These capture card recorded videos edit will add layers and make your stream look interesting on youtube and twitch.
Why Do You Need a Capture Card for the Nintendo Switch?
Many devices offer screen recording features. One of those gaming consoles is the Nintendo switch. However, the recording feature are not great for the following reasons:
- It allows the person to record the gameplay for only thirty seconds
- The gameplay resolution is inferior
- Even if you want a screenshot, it can come out quite pixelated
And your gameplay footage and the stream are not of that poor quality. That’s why a capture card comes in handy because:
- It offers high-quality switch gameplay recording for hours.
- The frame rates are very high. That’s why there is no lagging.
- Now record and stream your gameplay as much as you want.
How Do Capture Cards Work on Switch?
After discussing all the advantages of using capture cards, let’s see how the card for Nintendo Switch works.
First, the capture card connects your Nintendo switch with the PC through the HDMI cable. Then it records the gameplay directly from your console and displays your game on your television screen on one side.
Iit displays the recorded gameplay on the PC monitor with the same quality. Everything records and gets displayed quickly while you enjoy playing your game.
The Ultimate Guide to Set Up the Capture Card
There are two methods of setting up capture cards.
Nintendo Switch Setup with an External Capture Card
Things you’ll need:
- Nintendo switch
- Nintendo Switch dock
- Capture card
- USB cablePC or laptop
Steps:
- Connect your Nintendo Switch gaming console with the dock having the power supply.
- At one side of the dock, you’ll see an HDMI cable input, connect the USB cable with it.
- Connect the other end of the USB port to the capture card.
- After setting the capture card with the Nintendo switch, connect the other capture card port with the computer.
- Now you can enjoy your gameplay and record it with a capture card.
Nintendo Switch Setup with an Internal Capture Card
As the name implies, an internal capture card is attached to the PC. The attachment is pretty similar to it, which is as follows:
Things you’ll need
- Nintendo Switch console
- Power dock
- HDMI cable
- A streaming device like a PC
Steps
- First, install the capture card on your PC’s motherboard.
- Connect the gaming console with the dock.
- You’ll see an HDMI output port on the dock. Connect your cable to it.
- On the other side, connect the cable with the capture card input port.
- Connect it on your computer, and you’re done.
It doesn’t matter what kind of capture card. Setting it up with a Nintendo switch is very easy and requires a few steps.
What Should I Look for in a Gaming Capture Card for Nintendo Switch?
The resolution of a Nintendo switch is 1080 pixels and works at a frame rate of 60 fps, so you’ll need a capture card that has the same features to make your streaming smooth.
Even though a 1080p capture card would be a good choice for you, you can choose a capture card of higher quality.
Best Capture card for Nintendo Switch
Even though there are several types of capture cards available on the market, for the Nintendo Switch, our first choice would be the Elgato 60s.
It is a 1080p capture card that works on a frame rate of 60 fps. This portable capture card exactly matches the Nintendo Switch’s display quality that’s why it is one of the favorite capture cards for this gameplay.
Our runner-up would be the Avermedia Live Gamer Portable 2+ which is a very popular capture card. This is because it offers a 60 frames per second display and 4k resolution. Also, it’s portable! You can check out other options here!
Do You Need a Capture Card for Nintendo Switch Lite?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. Capture cards don’t work on Nintendo Switch Lite at all. This is because there are not any compatible ports or cords with the capture card.
First of all, there is no tv display or connection on the Nintendo switch lite so that you can connect it to the TV. Secondly, no dock supply that helps in connection with the capture card.
In short, there’s no need to buy a capture card for Nintendo switch lite.
Final Thoughts
How do capture cards work for the Nintendo switch? It records and streams by getting the console’s signals and recording them while displaying them on the PC screen. As Nintendo doesn’t provide screen recording at high resolution for more than thirty seconds, getting a capture card does the job.
Connecting the capture card with the gaming console is pretty simple. You can record gameplay for hours with the same quality and frames per second.
We hope our article has been helpful!
