The composite cable that comes with the device wouldn't show the video from my camcorder on the Digitnow screen, only heard the sound. So, I changed it with another cable that I had laying around and it works fine. I guess the provided cable is of poor quality.
Great review! I'm trying to find out, whether the audio stays in sync after around 45 minutes of capture? I ask this because I intend on buying a capture device for capturing VHS & Betmax & my Black Magic Shuttle has issues with audio sync after about 15 minutes
Best review on UA-cam! Thanks for going into such good detail on this device. None of the other reviewers went into such deep detail like you did, so I’m really grateful for this video. I’m definitely getting one of these asap.
@@ThriftyAV I've purchased one of these thanks to your great review & found it to be super good so far! One thing I'll mention, a few people complained that the unit died after one day of use. This happened to me when I turned off the second monitor plugged into the HDMI output. Nothing I did would make this power on or off, the unit seemed completely dead. However, I tried pushing a pin through the little hole on the back to reset the system & everything works perfect again!
During your capture test the image from digitnow is definitely softer than the image from the camera, you can easily see it by looking at reflections of metal behind you.
Can you help me. I am not able to see the time display on the screen. I have gone thru everything to have to timestamp show up on the screen. When I try to record to sd card, I do not know if it is recording or not. When the unit is working I do not know how long I am recording something. Thanks
Hi !! Incredible video! Do you jave any idea if this device os good with Pal-N ? I’m planning to take this to Argentina and working with NTSC AND PAL-N too! Kind regards! New subs here
Wow Guess I won't be getting the clear click recorder. I don't even record from HDMI anyway. Why even have an HDMI in port if you cannot record from HDMI. Is it all protected or only some devices like a camcorder wouldn't have it but a Roku or cable box would? Can this device record in .MP4 or just .MOV format? Macrovision?
What a wonderful review Thank You! I do a lot of night sky video & wanted something to capture the live stream with a large display like this unit. I will give this one a try for sure!
@CoolUFOs Hi 👋 Unfortunately Every Time I go out to view the night sky this year has been super cloudy ⛅️ 🙃. Really Like Your Videos & Hopefully get some good shots this summer. I have used this device to capture my computer screen & that works great.
There is a file size limit of 4GB which lasts about 24 minutes at 1080p High or 37 minutes at 1080p Low. I have not tested at 720p. The unit will start recording a new file as soon as it hits this limit, so the files can be played back to back or edited together with video editing software.
Great video! Does the HDMI input cable send audio to the device? Also what format are the recorded files on the unit? AVI,MP4? Such a shame it doesnt have a headphones out socket
If there is an audio stream in the HDMI signal, this device records it. File type is MOV. Format Profile is QuickTime. AVC codec 60fps, color is YUV 4:2:0
brillaint bit of kit thanks to you i purchased one. i now have one and use it on my youtube channel recording what my cameras are doing as i take photos
What happens if you run it through a HDMI splitter?? For example take the output of the Chromecast and feed it into a splitter where you split it into two outputs where you can run one to the TV and the second one to the Digitnow device... are you still able to record streaming services? Also, does it matter what HDMI splitter you get since it seems to not be affected by the HDCP?? I'm looking for a way to record TV shows from a Chromecast or Fire Cube to store on my NAS for personal viewing when my internet goes out or I'm near my data cap as my ISP has a data cap limit per month, so I'd like to have something to watch while the internet is down or if I'm near my data cap to avoid extra charges.
Yeah! I've got a great question for you. I need a video loop capture capability, like many digital voice recorders will do. That's where the recorder runs continuously and you hit the capture button and it starts to record from the start of the loop - a minute or so in the past. Anything come to mind? That is such a clean cheat to capture clips!
FIRST ... THANKS FOR THE GREAT VIDEO , I'm looking to buy It But there are no demo's or videos on how it copes with VHS , AND CAM CORDERS and that is my primary reason for needing it , All video footage I have is Analog , you know , old school and I want to put everything onto pc BUT every capture device I try seems to degrade the video quality and £200 is a hell of a lot of money to spend so I need Assurances PLEASE CAN YOU HELP WITH THIS ?
As much as I like this device for 1080p capture, it is not my favorite for SD capture, as it converts interlaced footage into progressive scan. Also, it only has composite input, not S-Video. S-VHS and Hi8 both benefit from S-Video connections. For VHS and analog camcorders (Hi8, VHS-C, etc), I still use an outboard DVD recorder set to XP mode, then rip the DVDs. This preserves the interlaced nature of the original recording and most offer an S-Video input, with a few offering component input. When you rip the DVDs, you get a 480i MPEG-2 file. Capture devices that can do 480i with S-Video and 4:2:2 color are available, but they are generally "cards" that have to be installed inside a computer. I do not own one, so I cannot recommend one.
Is yours still working, Mine just doesnt power off or on, after 4 transfers..I have 2 units, did some diagnosing , with no luck? waiting for answer from manufacture, had both for a month..
Thanks for the detailed review. Can you confirm what audio formats it captures - e.g. if you feed in a 5.1 signal on HDMI is that retained or is it stereo only? Similarly does it do 5.1 audio pass through on the HDMI out? Thanks!
Good questions that I cannot answer (yet). I have been working on pre-production for a vid testing audio performance on several capture devices, and I have a DVD with surround test signals including isolated surround channel feeds. I had not planned on testing pass through, but I will be sure to include this in the audio tests. Thank you for the idea.
It depends on how you define "better". The Digitnow has a better LCD screen, more accurate contrast and brightness, and better audio. The USB connection on the ClearClick can be used as a streaming device when used with software such as OBS Studio. The USB on the Digitnow is just for file transfer, not for video streaming. The ClearClick also has a headset/microphone input that the Digitnow lacks. Battery life on the ClearClick is better. The ClearClick blocks recording from HDCP copy protected video streams while the Digitnow allows recording from such streams. The 4K version of the ClearClick is on it's way, and I will be testing it pretty soon, so you may want to wait until that review before making a purchase decision.
I usually do not post prices in videos or comments as they are subject to change, but I just fixed the DigitNow link in the description. It should now show the price direct from the manufacturer. If you prefer Amazon, I also have an Affiliate link . ThriftyAV earns a small commission for items purchased through Amazon Affiliate links at no additional cost to the buyer.
The Digitnow has better audio and is slightly more accurate with hue, saturation, and brightness than the 1080p ClearClick. The ClearClick is more versatile with the headset input and that it can be used as a USB style capture device.
Hi.. what format does this device record in, and how much can you push color grading in post..? (ie. if i were to shoot in S-Log, will i be able to recover saturation, contrast & highlights in post?) Thnx 🙂
Container is MOV. Format is MPEG-4, Quicktime. Video Bit Depth is 8bit. Video bit rate on "high" setting is 22Mb/s at 60fps. Color space is YUV. Chroma subsampling is 4:2:0. I haven't done any color grading on captured footage, but with 4:2:0, major adjustments will likely create undesirable artifacts.
@@ThriftyAV Thanks. I have not heard form that organization, but wouldn't mind looking at one of those myself. It seems I just keep getting those standard capture units - some good, some not so good. It was a great review, so thank you.
I've reviewed quite a few video capture devices on ThriftyAV. The full Playlist is HERE:
ua-cam.com/play/PL_6HOAybADu6qyPPhQ_f6AD4COh5AfWOg.html
You can plug mic into a/v input, you’re all freaking welcome.
Does it record from live broadcasts because we need to record videos from live broadcasts of channels in a format...iptv box
How does it do with deinterlacing? Does quality take a big hit or does it look pretty good?
Transferring old vhs.... any way to switch from 4:3 to 16:9?
HI IS IT POSSIBLE TO TAKE A SCREENSHOT WITH THIS DIVIVE WHILE RECORDINGA VIDEO?
There is no single frame capture mode on this device.
very interesting video congratulations. I want to ask you something. Can I use this on my FUJIFILM X-T4 as a monitor? best regards.
The composite cable that comes with the device wouldn't show the video from my camcorder on the Digitnow screen, only heard the sound. So, I changed it with another cable that I had laying around and it works fine. I guess the provided cable is of poor quality.
Great review! I'm trying to find out, whether the audio stays in sync after around 45 minutes of capture? I ask this because I intend on buying a capture device for capturing VHS & Betmax & my Black Magic Shuttle has issues with audio sync after about 15 minutes
Best review on UA-cam! Thanks for going into such good detail on this device. None of the other reviewers went into such deep detail like you did, so I’m really grateful for this video. I’m definitely getting one of these asap.
Did you purchase this device?
@@ThriftyAV I've purchased one of these thanks to your great review & found it to be super good so far! One thing I'll mention, a few people complained that the unit died after one day of use. This happened to me when I turned off the second monitor plugged into the HDMI output. Nothing I did would make this power on or off, the unit seemed completely dead. However, I tried pushing a pin through the little hole on the back to reset the system & everything works perfect again!
During your capture test the image from digitnow is definitely softer than the image from the camera, you can easily see it by looking at reflections of metal behind you.
Can you help me. I am not able to see the time display on the screen. I have gone thru everything to have to timestamp show up on the screen. When I try to record to sd card, I do not know if it is recording or not. When the unit is working I do not know how long I am recording something. Thanks
hi, the link to digit now seems to be broken. The link to amazon now says unisheen. Any reply is appreciated
It looks like it bypasses panasonic's awful sharpening and denoising! GOOD!
Hi !! Incredible video! Do you jave any idea if this device os good with Pal-N ?
I’m planning to take this to Argentina and working with NTSC AND PAL-N too!
Kind regards! New subs here
Wow Guess I won't be getting the clear click recorder. I don't even record from HDMI anyway. Why even have an HDMI in port if you cannot record from HDMI. Is it all protected or only some devices like a camcorder wouldn't have it but a Roku or cable box would? Can this device record in .MP4 or just .MOV format? Macrovision?
ThriftAv. luv. Your. Video. By. The. Way. Does. The. Device. Have. A. Pause. BottoN?
No pause button. Each time you start and stop this device it creates a new file.
Worked for me for 6 months and then just died
What a wonderful review Thank You! I do a lot of night sky video & wanted something to capture the live stream with a large display like this unit. I will give this one a try for sure!
Have you used it already for nightsky viewing? Any video i can see?
@CoolUFOs Hi 👋 Unfortunately Every Time I go out to view the night sky this year has been super cloudy ⛅️ 🙃. Really Like Your Videos & Hopefully get some good shots this summer. I have used this device to capture my computer screen & that works great.
Hi just got it can this record more than 25 mins??? I was hoping to record DVDs movies that you can’t get digitally??? If so how????
There is a file size limit of 4GB which lasts about 24 minutes at 1080p High or 37 minutes at 1080p Low. I have not tested at 720p. The unit will start recording a new file as soon as it hits this limit, so the files can be played back to back or edited together with video editing software.
Would the capture device support 1080i input as well as 1080p?
Yes. My Atari Flashback Blast is 1080i, and it records just fine on this device.
@@ThriftyAV Thanks for the info
Do you know if the footage captured from Standard Definition 4:3 is in 30fps or 60fps?
Great video! Does the HDMI input cable send audio to the device? Also what format are the recorded files on the unit? AVI,MP4? Such a shame it doesnt have a headphones out socket
If there is an audio stream in the HDMI signal, this device records it. File type is MOV. Format Profile is QuickTime. AVC codec 60fps, color is YUV 4:2:0
@@ThriftyAV Thank you for your reply and help
brillaint bit of kit thanks to you i purchased one. i now have one and use it on my youtube channel recording what my cameras are doing as i take photos
cool device
What happens if you run it through a HDMI splitter?? For example take the output of the Chromecast and feed it into a splitter where you split it into two outputs where you can run one to the TV and the second one to the Digitnow device... are you still able to record streaming services? Also, does it matter what HDMI splitter you get since it seems to not be affected by the HDCP?? I'm looking for a way to record TV shows from a Chromecast or Fire Cube to store on my NAS for personal viewing when my internet goes out or I'm near my data cap as my ISP has a data cap limit per month, so I'd like to have something to watch while the internet is down or if I'm near my data cap to avoid extra charges.
Hi, can I use the SD card (after I’ve recorded material on it) directly into my laptop bypassing the DigitNow unit altogether?
Yes. I pull directly from the SD card every time instead of hooking the unit up to the computer.
@@ThriftyAV Thank you so much. I'm glad you exist on UA-cam. And other places too.
25fps o 50fps no 30 no 60
what´s the resolution of the Oled screen? can It be used as .mkv player...?
Hi I watched with great interest. I would like to save low band umatic video out on a computer. Can it be done. Thanks
Yeah! I've got a great question for you. I need a video loop capture capability, like many digital voice recorders will do. That's where the recorder runs continuously and you hit the capture button and it starts to record from the start of the loop - a minute or so in the past. Anything come to mind? That is such a clean cheat to capture clips!
The snapping comparisons back and forth sold me. Great review
FIRST ... THANKS FOR THE GREAT VIDEO , I'm looking to buy It But there are no demo's or videos on how it copes with VHS , AND CAM CORDERS and that is my primary reason for needing it , All video footage I have is Analog , you know , old school and I want to put everything onto pc BUT every capture device I try seems to degrade the video quality and £200 is a hell of a lot of money to spend so I need Assurances PLEASE CAN YOU HELP WITH THIS ?
As much as I like this device for 1080p capture, it is not my favorite for SD capture, as it converts interlaced footage into progressive scan. Also, it only has composite input, not S-Video. S-VHS and Hi8 both benefit from S-Video connections.
For VHS and analog camcorders (Hi8, VHS-C, etc), I still use an outboard DVD recorder set to XP mode, then rip the DVDs. This preserves the interlaced nature of the original recording and most offer an S-Video input, with a few offering component input. When you rip the DVDs, you get a 480i MPEG-2 file.
Capture devices that can do 480i with S-Video and 4:2:2 color are available, but they are generally "cards" that have to be installed inside a computer. I do not own one, so I cannot recommend one.
I dont have the icons on top of the screen. Do you know why? Im stumped.
Can we connect it to a VHS camera to get an HD footage?
No.
SUPER
There's ways to virtually mix game sound and microphone and route to HDMI and headphones as the same time.
Which one better clear click or digitnow
The Clear Click is more feature rich, but the video levels and audio are a little more accurate with the Digitnow.
Is yours still working, Mine just doesnt power off or on, after 4 transfers..I have 2 units, did some diagnosing , with no luck? waiting for answer from manufacture, had both for a month..
last used two days ago and worked fine.
Does it record my HI8 tapes mini cassette sony?
Can you play the SD card back on any other device what does it format as After you recorded
Device creates MOV files (QuickTime). They play back fine on all devices I have tried it with.
Thanks for the detailed review. Can you confirm what audio formats it captures - e.g. if you feed in a 5.1 signal on HDMI is that retained or is it stereo only? Similarly does it do 5.1 audio pass through on the HDMI out? Thanks!
Good questions that I cannot answer (yet). I have been working on pre-production for a vid testing audio performance on several capture devices, and I have a DVD with surround test signals including isolated surround channel feeds. I had not planned on testing pass through, but I will be sure to include this in the audio tests. Thank you for the idea.
What do you think?
Which one is the better capture box
Digitnow hd or clear click hd
Please tell me good choice for me!!
It depends on how you define "better". The Digitnow has a better LCD screen, more accurate contrast and brightness, and better audio. The USB connection on the ClearClick can be used as a streaming device when used with software such as OBS Studio. The USB on the Digitnow is just for file transfer, not for video streaming. The ClearClick also has a headset/microphone input that the Digitnow lacks. Battery life on the ClearClick is better. The ClearClick blocks recording from HDCP copy protected video streams while the Digitnow allows recording from such streams.
The 4K version of the ClearClick is on it's way, and I will be testing it pretty soon, so you may want to wait until that review before making a purchase decision.
@@ThriftyAV If you hook up the Digitnow to a PC monitor or laptop via hdmi you can stream it from there no?
😄😃😂😁😀😊☺ cool..
Can i know the price please?
I usually do not post prices in videos or comments as they are subject to change, but I just fixed the DigitNow link in the description. It should now show the price direct from the manufacturer.
If you prefer Amazon, I also have an Affiliate link . ThriftyAV earns a small commission for items purchased through Amazon Affiliate links at no additional cost to the buyer.
What do you think is the best recorder .... Digitnow 5 inch or ClearClick?
The Digitnow has better audio and is slightly more accurate with hue, saturation, and brightness than the 1080p ClearClick. The ClearClick is more versatile with the headset input and that it can be used as a USB style capture device.
Can this device upscale to HD quality of from VHS casettes to digital ?
No. The SD input records progressive scan 640x480 pixels with a display aspect ratio of 4:3. MPEG-4, 60fps, 8-bit, YUV, 4:2:0
I just wish there was a way to adjust the audio levels, what is your experience with how music sounds?
out of all my HDMI capture devices, this one matches source signals the best, both audio and video.
Hi.. what format does this device record in, and how much can you push color grading in post..? (ie. if i were to shoot in S-Log, will i be able to recover saturation, contrast & highlights in post?) Thnx 🙂
Container is MOV. Format is MPEG-4, Quicktime. Video Bit Depth is 8bit. Video bit rate on "high" setting is 22Mb/s at 60fps. Color space is YUV. Chroma subsampling is 4:2:0. I haven't done any color grading on captured footage, but with 4:2:0, major adjustments will likely create undesirable artifacts.
@@ThriftyAV ouch.. 22mbps @ 60fps isn't exactly cutting it, much less 4:2:0.. thnx for the info.. 😉🙏🏻👍🏻
Great video. Did you buy the unit you reviewed here? Just curious.
This is a review sample.
@@ThriftyAV Thanks. I have not heard form that organization, but wouldn't mind looking at one of those myself. It seems I just keep getting those standard capture units - some good, some not so good. It was a great review, so thank you.
PE4Doers, I sent you an Email with the contact info.
@@ThriftyAV Thanks
So there will be a 4gb limit in fat32. Stick to exFat
Needs a remote
Needs a remote