I'm a HUGE fan of AVerMedia. Let's get that out of the way now. I've been using their capture cards going back to the Live Gamer HD 2 and before this, the Live Gamer 4K. Outside of some occasional weirdness with the Live Gamer HD 2 on my old X99 system, they've never given me any trouble and have really allowed me to expand what I do for livestreams.
The Live Gamer Duo is unique from previous entries in that it offers 2 HDMI inputs instead of the single input found on most cards. Now, I know that after this product came out, Elgato released the Camlink Pro, which allows four inputs, but at the time, this was the best way to get multiple inputs, which has become a must for modern livestreams now that DSLR and mirrorless cameras have become the go-to instead of webcams.
There are limitations to be aware of right away, the most disappointing for most creators is that neither input is capable of recording above 1080p60. HDMI 1 can pass through 4kp60 with HDR, but you can't record it. HDMI 2 is limited even more, only allowing up to 1080p60, although given current streaming standards, this isn't as big of a deal as some would make it out to be. It's still worth noting those limitations, as if you need the 4k recording, the Camlink Pro is probably the better route to go.
Those limitations aside, for streaming, they're mostly irrelevant as most people attempting to stream will max out at 1080p60 anyway regardless of what they're doing. And frankly, the card does handle both inputs with ease. I've done a few streams now where I've utilized both inputs and it has performed exactly as I've needed it to. If recording is the main thing you're doing and 4k matters, again, you'll want to consider other options. Or you can do what I was able to do with my current build, and have a Live Gamer 4k in the system at the same time as the Duo (yes, it works). But that isn't always going to be possible unless you have a lot of PCI-e lanes to work with.
In terms of setup, AVerMedia's products continue to be very easy. Insert it into a PCI-e slot, power on your system, and install the driver from their website and you should be good to go. You don't need to run their software, although it is required if you want to change the RGB lighting on the front of the card. Beyond that, it should be detected by your preferred streaming software without issue. This product, like the Live Gamer 4k, allows you to use the lighting for status effects, such as recording and if there's an issue with the product.
The recording limitations aside, this product works very well and will allow you to use your favorite camera along with your console and/or gaming PC (if on a dual-PC set-up) instead of having to choose one or the other. I'm hoping that down the road, AVerMedia releases an updated version that allows for 4k60 recording, but for my purposes, this is more than enough. As I stated earlier, I've managed to get both the Live Gamer 4k and Duo working at the same time, which solves the 4k recording situation as that capture card is capable of recording up to 4k60.
If you're looking for a dual capture card for around $200 (the price as of writing this) and don't mind the lack of 4k recording, you can't go wrong with this one.
| Brand | AVerMedia |
|---|---|
| Series | Live Gamer 4K |
| Item model number | GC573 |
| Operating System | Windows 11, Windows 10 |
| Item Weight | 7.4 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 5.9 x 4.9 x 0.8 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 5.9 x 4.9 x 0.8 inches |
| Color | PCI-Express Gen 2 x4 |
| Power Source | PCI-E Gen 2 x4 |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. |
| Manufacturer | AVerMedia Technologies, Inc |
| ASIN | B07DHSZC4K |
| Country of Origin | Taiwan |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | June 8, 2018 |
