Capture · Record · Stream · Encode · DecodeWhy use a capture card for video conferencing?
A built-in laptop camera has a small lens and sensor, so the picture is often soft and struggles in poor light. A USB capture device lets you connect a proper camera to the computer, where it is offered to Zoom, Teams or Google Meet in the same list as a webcam.
Magewell USB Capture devices install without drivers and take their power from the USB port. Plug the camera into the device and the device into the computer, then choose it as the camera in your meeting software. Windows, macOS, Linux and Chrome OS are supported. The meeting platform decides what resolution your colleagues receive, so for calls a 1080p model is all you need.
Which USB capture card for video conferencing?
Setup: Magewell USB Capture with Zoom
- Connect the camera’s HDMI or SDI output to the input of the Magewell USB Capture device
- Connect the USB Capture device to a USB 3.0 port on the computer with the supplied cable
- Open Zoom → Settings → Video → Camera and select the USB Capture device from the list
- Your camera is now your Zoom picture. Zoom sets the resolution it sends to the other participants
No driver installation is needed on Windows, macOS, Linux or Chrome OS.
Works with the main meeting platforms — no drivers needed
Zoom
The device appears in Zoom’s camera list. Select it in Settings → Video → Camera.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is on Magewell’s compatible-software list. Select the device under Settings → Devices → Camera.
Google Meet
Meet runs in the browser and can use any camera the computer offers. Select the device under Settings → Video → Camera.
OBS Studio
Add the device as a Video Capture Device source. The USB Capture HDMI 4K Pro can supply 4K at 60 frames per second.
Need help choosing the right USB capture card?
Our Product Selector takes 60 seconds and recommends the exact Magewell model for your camera, platform and resolution.
Connect your camera to the Magewell USB Capture device, then connect the device to a USB 3.0 port on your computer. In Zoom, go to Settings → Video → Camera and select the USB Capture device from the list. The device installs without drivers on both Windows and Mac.
Magewell USB Capture devices install without drivers, so they should appear in the camera list as soon as they are plugged in. If yours does not, work through these checks. 1) Connect the device directly to a USB 3.0 port on the computer with the supplied cable, not through a hub. 2) Look at the LED on a Gen 2 or Plus device: steady means it has locked to the camera signal, slow pulsing means it has no valid input, so check the camera and its cable. 3) Close and reopen Teams or Zoom after connecting the device. 4) Make sure no other application is already using the device.
Yes. A Magewell USB Capture device is presented to the computer as a camera, so meeting software that lets you choose a camera can select it in the same way as a webcam. That includes Google Meet in the browser and applications such as Webex. Connect the camera to the USB Capture device, then pick the device in the meeting’s camera settings.
The limit is set by the meeting platform, not the capture device. The USB Capture HDMI Gen 2 can pass up to 1080p at 60 frames per second to the application. Zoom and Teams then re-encode the picture at whatever resolution your account, the meeting and the network allow, and that is often lower. For calls, the USB Capture HDMI Gen 2 or USB Capture HDMI Plus is the sensible choice. A 4K capture device will not make a call sharper.