# Choosing a Capture card

**URL:** <https://community.wowza.com/t/choosing-a-capture-card/37810>\
**Category:** Wowza Streaming Engine\
**Created:** [December 12, 2011, 5:08am UTC](https://community.wowza.com/t/choosing-a-capture-card/37810 "2011-12-12T05:08:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Steve\_Greenham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/db5fbb/32.png) [@Steve\_Greenham](https://community.wowza.com/u/Steve_Greenham)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 5:08am UTC](https://community.wowza.com/t/choosing-a-capture-card/37810/1 "2011-12-12T05:08:13Z")

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Hi! I have a newbie question please (just starting out)

I have a HDMI signal coming from a [Datavideo HDR-50](http://www.datavideo.info/en/Recorders/HDR-50) and I would like to ask for guidance choosing and setting up a Windows PC Capture Card.

Would this [Blackmagic Design Intensity Pro](http://www.jigsaw24.com/product-details/x627ana/blackmagic-design-intensity) be a good choice?

Would i have to run the BlackMagic software (called MediaExpress or DesktopVideo) and Telestream Wirecast, or can it be broadcast just using Wirecast?

Thanks in advance for your help.

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**Author:** ![Lisa\_Wong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/34f0e0/32.png) [@Lisa\_Wong](https://community.wowza.com/u/Lisa_Wong)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://community.wowza.com/t/choosing-a-capture-card/37810/2 "2011-12-12T18:41:08Z")

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Hello,

We don’t recommend specific cards. Other Wowza users have used Blackmagic cards successfully. I have not used the Blackmagic Design Intensity Pro card myself, but I have heard of users using this card, Wirecast and Wowza Server in their workflow.

-Lisa

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**Author:** ![Richard\_Lanham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c68b51/32.png) [@Richard\_Lanham](https://community.wowza.com/u/Richard_Lanham)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://community.wowza.com/t/choosing-a-capture-card/37810/3 "2012-03-16T19:37:33Z")

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This is a similar device:

[https://www.wowza.com/docs/how-to-use-fastvdo-smartcapture-pro-live-stream-encoder-with-wowza-media-server-native-rtp](https://www.wowza.com/docs/how-to-use-fastvdo-smartcapture-pro-live-stream-encoder-with-wowza-media-server-native-rtp)

Richard

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**Author:** ![Marcello\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3e96dc/32.png) [@Marcello\_M](https://community.wowza.com/u/Marcello_M)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 6:24am UTC](https://community.wowza.com/t/choosing-a-capture-card/37810/4 "2012-03-30T06:24:31Z")

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We use Blackmagic Intensity Pro (BMIP) cards, PCI Express model. We stream at 1080i 29,97fps over Component, and everyone loves the quality.

I would avoid the new USB 3 model, unless you for sure have a new system w/ USB 3.

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**Author:** ![Steve\_Greenham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/db5fbb/32.png) [@Steve\_Greenham](https://community.wowza.com/u/Steve_Greenham)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 6:26am UTC](https://community.wowza.com/t/choosing-a-capture-card/37810/5 "2012-03-16T06:26:06Z")

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I have recently discovered the [Blackmagic H.264 Pro Recorder](http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/h264prorecorder/) which has a HDMI input. But does anyone have any experience with feeding this device to Wowza?

Or can anyone tell me about the [Hauppauge Colossus capture card](http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/site/products/data_colossus.html), which has HDMI input and built-in H264 encoder. What other devices in the workflow is needed to supply Wowza?

Would Wowza automatically detect these feeds?

Any help would be appreciated please!

Steve