Have you ever wondered how those beautiful gaming montages are made for youtube.com? Have you ever wondered how there are live streams on justin.tv of people playing all sorts of games? Well it all starts with a video capture card or device. Now there are plenty to choose from but here are three options to narrow down your search.

The first video capture device I would like to discuss is the Pinnacle Dazzle. The Dazzle is a very simple design that allows you to capture SD video through composite (red, white and yellow) and s-video to a usb 2.0 connection. Now I know most of us are not using SD TV’s anymore, but at around only $70-90 this is by far the cheapest, easiest to use and easiest to find. The Dazzle comes with Pinnacle Studio and depending on the version of the Dazzle that is purchased, depends on which Studio software you get. I really don’t suggest this option if you want to post any of these videos online or use them for any real intensive purposes. The dazzle in my opinion is only really left for converting SD VHS tapes your grandparents still have, to a digital file for keepsakes.

The second video capture device is the Hauppauge HD PVR. This Hauppauge device allows for SD recording through composite and s-video and HD recording with component inputs. Of course most of us use HDMI to play with but a slight step down to component usually isn’t even noticed. So with all the functionality of the Dazzle and the added benefit of HD through the component inputs, this PVR theoretically is all you would need for HD streaming. Hauppauge also provides you with video editing software from Arcsoft. Knowing this capture device has more functionality, it will obviously fetch a larger price tag, coming in at around $175-200.

Of course I have saved the best for last! Now with two great options, Blackmagic has provided us with HDMI video capture capability. The first option is the Intensity Pro which is a PCIe option for any PC, MAC OS X or Linux computer. The Intensity Pro has one HDMI input and one HDMI output for optimal 1080P HD recording or streaming. Now with the right computer, the Intensity Pro is a fantastic option for most users to capture game play for recording or streaming.  The Intensity Pro is a great product, but the device from Blackmagic I am most excited about is the Intensity Shuttle. The Intensity Shuttle has composite, s-video, component and HDMI inputs and outputs for video capture and all of this provided on a portable USB 3.0 device! The Intensity Shuttle is one of, if not the first portable HDMI capture card on the market but is only compatible with PC’s. (sorry MAC lovers) The best part about Blackmagic’s 2 designs they provide us with is a price tag at only $199!

Hopefully this has provided you some insight into how to get started on your very own montage for youtube.com or streaming live on justin.tv. I know my Intensity Shuttle is the perfect addition to my gaming gear and will be getting a lot of use shortly.