Magewell Eco Capture AIO M.2

About this product

If you build systems for other people, you rarely know whether the source on site will be HDMI or SDI. The Eco Capture AIO M.2 means you can stop guessing. AIO stands for all-in-one: the same card has an HDMI input and an SDI input, so one part covers both kinds of source in a mini PC or embedded system. It is a one-channel M.2 capture card, built on the small card format normally used for solid-state drives, so it goes where a full-size card will not.

One channel, two kinds of input

The card captures one channel and gives you a choice of connection for it: one HDMI input and one SDI input. Connect whichever your source uses, and the card brings that one source in. To capture two sources at once, see the Eco Capture Dual HDMI M.2 or the Eco Capture Dual SDI M.2.

What goes in

• HDMI. HDMI 1.4a, up to 2048×1080 at 60 frames per second in 4:4:4, through a 165 MHz receiver. Up to eight channels of 24-bit embedded audio at 192 kHz. Custom EDID is supported, which lets you tell the source which formats to send.
• SDI. SD, HD or 3G-SDI, up to 2048×1080 at 60 frames per second in 4:2:2 10-bit, with up to eight channels of embedded audio at 48 kHz. Cable length is up to 110 m for 3G-SDI, so the camera can sit a long way from the computer.
• HD and 2K. Both inputs go up to 2048×1080. For a 4K source, see the range notes below.

What comes out

• Uncompressed video to your software. The card hands frames to the computer at up to 2048×1080. Your software then handles encoding, recording or streaming.
• Formats. 8-bit capture formats including NV12, I420, YV12, YUY2, YUYV and UYVY, so you can choose one your application already handles.
• High frame rates. The card can deliver frames to software at up to 250 frames per second at reduced sizes. The source’s own frame rate stays as it is.

How the connectors fit your case

An M.2 card is too small to carry full-size sockets, so both inputs come out on accessory cables, which are supplied. For HDMI there is a flat ribbon cable and a small adapter board with a full-size HDMI type A socket. For SDI there is an MMCX to BNC cable. You fix the HDMI board and the BNC socket to the case and plug normal cables into them, so the finished unit presents standard connectors to whoever installs it.

Fitting and setting up

• The slot. The card fits an M.2 2280 Type M slot with PCIe (Gen2 x2). It is the standard 2280 size, 22 mm wide and 80 mm long. Choose an M.2 slot that provides PCIe; slots that only take SATA drives are for storage. Check the host computer’s manual before ordering.
• Drivers. Magewell supplies a Windows and Linux driver and an SDK, so install the driver as part of setup. Recommended systems are Windows 10/11 and Windows Server 2016/2019/2022/2025 (x86 and x64), and Linux on x86, x64 and ARM with kernel 2.6.35 or later.
• Software. The card works through DirectShow on Windows and V4L2 on Linux, so you can use it from standard capture applications, and is compatible with Magewell’s own Capture Express, Bridge for NDI and Plugin for Premiere.
• Power and heat. Maximum power consumption is about 2.94 W, a modest load for a small computer. The operating temperature range is 0 to 40°C. The card is built to work continuously, 24 hours a day.

Why choose the AIO

Choose the AIO when the same system may meet either an HDMI or an SDI source. One card on the shelf suits both jobs, which saves holding two part numbers and lets you decide the connection on site. For a 4096×2160 HDMI source see the Eco Capture HDMI 4K M.2. The whole family is on the Eco Capture range page.