CAM LINK PRO Alternative?! Budget Multi Capture Card - Multi Cam Setup

Summary

In this video, the creator compares the Multi One Mini and Elgato Camlink Pro HDMI capture cards, aiming to find a budget-friendly alternative to Elgato's premium option. The Multi One Mini offers four HDMI inputs and HDMI passthrough, but struggles with reliability and lacks independent channels for USB output. While the Camlink Pro excels with 4K capture, independent channels, and multi-view functionality, it comes at a higher price. Ultimately, the Camlink Pro is the superior choice, although the creator briefly explores other alternatives like the Atessis capture card. The conclusion is clear: for quality and performance, the Camlink Pro is the winner.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video compares two capture cards: the Elgato Camlink Pro and the Multi One Mini.
• 😀 The Multi One Mini offers four HDMI inputs at half the price of the Camlink Pro ($180 vs. $360).
• 😀 The Multi One Mini has various modes such as quad view, picture-in-picture, and single channel, but lacks independent channel capture to OBS.
• 😀 The Multi One Mini has HDMI passthrough, allowing real-time monitoring on a separate monitor, which the Camlink Pro lacks.
• 😀 The Multi One Mini has build quality issues, including occasional power problems and inconsistent performance across different PCs.
• 😀 In picture-in-picture mode, the Multi One Mini only supports channels 1 and 2, limiting functionality if more than two devices are connected.
• 😀 The Camlink Pro offers 4K 30fps capture and higher performance, making it superior for high-quality streams.
• 😀 The Camlink Pro supports independent HDMI channels for OBS capture, unlike the Multi One Mini, which only allows one channel to be captured at a time.
• 😀 Price-wise, the Camlink Pro is more expensive but offers better overall quality, including 4K support and seamless multi-view functionality.
• 😀 The review suggests that for those on a budget, the Multi One Mini may suffice, but for top-tier quality and multi-input support, the Camlink Pro is the clear winner.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of this video?

The video compares two capture cards: the Multi One Mini and the Elgato Camlink Pro, with a focus on helping content creators, particularly streamers, find a budget-friendly capture card with multiple HDMI inputs.

Why did the creator decide to compare the Multi One Mini with the Elgato Camlink Pro?

The creator wanted to explore whether a budget alternative like the Multi One Mini could compete with the high-end Elgato Camlink Pro, especially for streamers needing multiple HDMI inputs at a lower price.

How does the Multi One Mini compare in terms of price?

The Multi One Mini is significantly cheaper, priced at $180, which is about half the cost of the Elgato Camlink Pro, making it an attractive option for those on a budget.

What are the main features of the Multi One Mini?

The Multi One Mini has four HDMI inputs, HDMI passthrough, a USB 3.0 connection, and various mode options such as quad view and picture-in-picture. It also has physical switches for audio and video channels.

What issues did the creator encounter when using the Multi One Mini?

The creator experienced inconsistent functionality with video and audio signals, especially when using the power adapter. The device also had limitations in modes like picture-in-picture and poor video quality when stretched in OBS.

What are the advantages of the Elgato Camlink Pro over the Multi One Mini?

The Camlink Pro offers better quality (up to 4K 30fps), independent channel capture, more reliable performance, and greater flexibility with multi-view options. It also doesn't have the power and connectivity issues that the Multi One Mini faced.

Why is the Multi One Mini's HDMI passthrough considered an advantage?

The HDMI passthrough feature allows users to monitor video in real-time on a separate monitor, bypassing the latency that may occur when using OBS for monitoring.

What drawbacks are mentioned for the Multi One Mini's picture-in-picture mode?

The Multi One Mini’s picture-in-picture mode only supports channels one and two, leaving channels three and four unusable. Also, the image quality in this mode is poor, as it distorts the video sources.

How does the Multi One Mini handle multiple video sources in OBS?

The Multi One Mini only supports capturing one video source at a time in OBS. To capture multiple sources, users would need to stretch a low-quality quad view, which results in poor visual fidelity.

What is the key takeaway from the comparison between the Multi One Mini and the Elgato Camlink Pro?

While the Multi One Mini offers a budget-friendly option with multiple HDMI inputs, it falls short in terms of reliability, video quality, and flexibility compared to the Elgato Camlink Pro, which excels in these areas despite its higher price.