Magewell Pro Capture Quad HDMI

About this product

Running a multi-camera stream, a lecture capture server or a recording rig with several HDMI sources? The Pro Capture Quad HDMI lets one computer take four of them at once, without filling the machine with single-channel cards. It is a PCIe capture card that fits inside a desktop computer or server and hands each source, uncompressed, to software on that computer, which then records, streams or switches them. Four channels of HD capture, and a whole multi-camera setup, go into one slot.

What goes in

• Four HDMI inputs. Full-size HDMI sockets (HDMI 1.4a, also DVI 1.0), each carrying its own embedded audio. Each input appears in software as a separate capture device, so you can record, switch or stream each one independently.
• Signal handling. Each receiver handles 8, 10 and 12-bit colour and supports a custom EDID (the data that tells a source which formats to send), which lets you hold a camera or laptop to the format you want. An equaliser copes with cables up to 30 metres, so the cameras can sit across the room.
• All HDMI. Every connector on the card is an HDMI input. For component, S-Video or composite sources see the single-channel Pro Capture HDMI.

Resolution and frame rate

Each input accepts resolutions up to 2048×2160 pixels, with capture frame rates up to 144 frames per second depending on resolution and PCIe bandwidth. As a guide, the card reaches about 80 frames per second at 1920×1080, so 1080p at 50 or 60 frames per second is comfortably within range. This is an HD card with an input width of up to 2048 pixels; for 3840×2160 sources, see the Pro Capture range page.

Less work for your computer

Video processing happens on the card, which frees the computer’s processor for your software. That matters when one PC is handling four pictures at once. The card handles cropping, scaling (up or down conversion), de-interlacing, aspect ratio conversion, colour space conversion and frame rate conversion, all with 10-bit processing. A PNG image can be overlaid as an on-screen display. One input can feed an unlimited number of capture streams at once, each with its own resolution, frame rate and colour format, so two programs can use the same source in different sizes: record at full size while a second program streams a smaller picture. Scaling makes the picture fit the size you ask for.

Fitting it in a computer

• Slot. PCIe Gen2 x4. It fits a slot that is physically x4 or longer; x8 and x16 slots also accept it, so you can use whichever is free.
• Size. A normal-profile card, 112.15 × 102.92 mm without the bracket, so it needs a full-height slot. For a low-profile (half-height) chassis, see the Pro Capture Dual HDMI.
• Power. About 15.39 W at most, taken from the slot, so there is no extra power lead to connect.
• Room to expand. A rotary switch on the card gives each one a number (0 to F), so several can sit in one computer and be told apart in software.
• Feeding a monitor too. All four connectors are capture inputs. To show a source on a monitor as well, split the signal before the card.

Works with the software you already use

• Operating systems. Windows 10, 11 and Server 2016 to 2025, Linux (kernel 2.6.35 and above, including ARM) and macOS.
• Standard interfaces. DirectShow on Windows, V4L2 on Linux and AVCaptureSession on macOS, so you can use it with OBS, vMix, Wirecast, XSplit, VLC and other compatible programs.
• Magewell software. Magewell’s Capture Express program is included software, and a Capture SDK is offered for developers on Windows, Linux and Mac.

Where it sits in the range

For two HDMI sources in a low-profile chassis, see the Pro Capture Dual HDMI. For a single source with analogue inputs as well, see the Pro Capture HDMI. For four SDI inputs, see the Pro Capture Quad SDI. All cards are on the Pro Capture range page.