The Inogeni 4K Capture Card Worth the Price?
Are you searching for a professional video capture card? The Inogeni 4K HDMI Video Capture Card allows you to capture uncompressed video and audio to your camera's HDMI output. This card is compatible with both PC and MAC for recording, editing, video conferencing and streaming applications. I'll discuss the features and let you know whether the Inogeni is worth the price.
At $395, the Inogeni 4K capture card is on the high tier of video cards.
Now ever since I began working from home, I wanted a professional capture card that would provide high quality video conferencing on Webex and Zoom. But I also wanted a card that would capture video from a Canon C200 directly into a PC or MAC using software, like OBS.
I bought a separate USB-C cable since the Inogeni comes only with a USB 3.0 cable.
So here's what I like. It's simple to use. Just plug and play. Although it comes with a USB 3.0 cable I ended up buying a separate USB-C cable since I'm constantly swapping between a desktop PC and Mac laptop. The capture card I used before this one was the Blackmagic Intensity Extreme. That one was bulky, overheated frequently, and was loud because of the internal fan. But this was a few years ago and capture card tech has come a long way since then.
There is a small amount of latency that’s typical for video capture cards.
The Inogeni gets warm but doesn't overheat. There is a small amount of latency that's typical for capture cards. But your mileage may vary depending on the speed of your computer and software. As far as looks, well it's not that attractive to be honest. It's encased in silver brushed metal with a sticker slapped on top. It's about the length and width of a credit card which is a good size for laying on your desk. It's built strong but I'd be hesitant to drop it on the floor.
Hard to tell here, but your video quality is much noticeable to viewers on the other side of the call.
For video conferencing it is compatible with apps like Zoom, Webex, Skype, Hangouts and Facetime. For streaming it works with YouTube, OBS, Livestream and Wirecast. If your computer has the horsepower, it can handle very long streaming times. For recording, it works with a variety of applications but OBS and Quicktime is what I prefer. It can capture standard video resolutions up to 4K and frame rates from 23.98 up to 60p. However 4K resolutions are limited to 30 frames per second. It does receive audio through the HDMI cable so I'd suggest connecting a professional mic directly to your camera to avoid any sync issues. I've tested the Inogeni with the Canon C200, the Fuji XT3 and the Blackmagic Ursa Mini G2 and they all performed flawlessly.
Encased in brushed metal with a sticker on top, the Inogeni is pretty basic when it comes to design.
So that's all good but what are the cons? Well the only big issue, and it is a major one, is probably the price. At $395, the Inogeni a very expensive card. Sure you can browse Amazon and eBay and find some generic, no-name brands that are targeted to gaming but is it really worth the risk? I think I would justify the cost by realizing that we are living in a completely different way of life right now and that includes how we work. Everyone is configuring their remote communications and video plays a major role in that. For me personally, I like video conferencing with a proper camera instead of a webcam. I want to look presentable with the right lighting and environment. Things are going to be remote for a very long time and the appearance and quality of our video will be just as important as showing up to a meeting, well dressed and ready to rock. So is it worth the price? Well for my role as a video producer at a tech company, yes absolutely. It's worth it. If your looking for a solid capture device that is compatible with your camera on a variety of platforms then the Inogeni 4K capture card is a solid recommend.
