# TransArcade 4K Capture Card: USB 3.0 Limits, Passthrough and HDCP Pitfalls > USB 3.0 limits, passthrough lag, HDCP and who should skip it. Tags: capture-board, transarcade, 4k, usb-3-0, game-recording, hdmi-passthrough, obs-studio Source: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0FXG1P5DW Article page: https://web-autoai.com/articles/transarcade-4k?lang=en Prices and ratings change over time — check the article page for the current values. --- ## Overview The TransArcade 4Kビデオキャプチャカード (TransArcade 4K video capture card) is an external capture device that brings HDMI video from a console or PC into your computer over USB 3.0 for recording and streaming. Its maximum input resolution is 4K (3840x2160). Besides the HDMI input, it has an HDMI output for passthrough to your monitor and two 3.5mm stereo mini jacks for audio in and out. The black aluminum alloy housing dissipates heat well, which helps with stability during long recording sessions. On Amazon. co. It is driverless plug-and-play and runs on USB bus power, so it needs no external adapter. That makes it an easy first capture device for anyone who wants to start recording or streaming their console. The key takeaway: with a USB 3.0 capture card in this price range, **accepting a 4K signal and recording in 4K are two different things**. The 4K in the spec is the input limit. The resolution and frame rate you can bring into the PC depend on USB 3.0 bandwidth, explained below. If your goal is 1080p60 recording or streaming, it is good value. If you need to record at 4K60, you should look at a higher-end product. ## 4K Input vs. 4K Recording: The USB 3.0 Bandwidth Limit This is where buyers of cheap 4K capture cards most often go wrong. USB 3.0 (USB 3.2 Gen 1) has a theoretical speed of 5Gbps, and real-world throughput is lower. Uncompressed video in the common YUY2 format (16 bits per pixel) needs roughly the following. | Signal | Approx. uncompressed data rate | Fits in USB 3.0 (5Gbps theoretical)? | |---|---|---| | 1080p / 30fps | ~1.0Gbps | Plenty of room | | 1080p / 60fps | ~2.0Gbps | Fits | | 4K / 30fps | ~4.0Gbps | At the theoretical edge; not practical uncompressed | | 4K / 60fps | ~8.0Gbps | Does not fit | It is physically impossible to send uncompressed 4K60 over USB 3.0. Cards in this class typically accept a 4K signal and either scale it down to 1080p internally or compress it (for example with MJPEG) to deliver around 4K30. **The recording resolution and frame rate limit of this card are not in the data we have. ** Before buying, check the recording or capture resolution section on the product page, and do not assume the 4K label means 4K60 recording. For standard 1080p60 streaming or recording on YouTube or Twitch, bandwidth is not a concern. In practice, the real value of 4K support is that the picture still shows up when you connect a console that outputs 4K. ## Compatibility Guide The listed operating systems are Windows 10/11 and macOS, and the card works with major streaming and recording software such as OBS Studio and XSplit. Because no driver is needed, moving it between PCs is easy. Here are the points that most often cause trouble after purchase. | What to check | Requirement | Common mistake | |---|---|---| | PC USB port | Connect directly to a USB 3.0 (5Gbps) or faster port | Using a USB 2.0 port or a bus-powered hub, so the card is not detected or offers only low resolutions | | OS | Windows 10/11, macOS | Trying older or unlisted systems | | Software | OBS Studio, XSplit, etc. | Leaving resolution and fps on auto and recording at unintended settings | | Source device | Any device with HDMI output | Connecting older consoles that only have analog output | | HDMI cables | Two, for input and passthrough (not included) | Only the USB cable is in the box, so the card cannot be used on day one | | Copy protection (HDCP) | May need to be disabled on the source device | A black screen mistaken for a faulty unit | **HDCP. ** HDCP is a copy-protection system, and typical capture cards cannot capture signals that use it. PS4 and PS5 have a system setting to turn HDCP on or off, and turning it off lets you capture gameplay. Video from streaming services is protected for rights reasons, so treat it as off-limits for capture. **Passthrough limits. ** The data does not say how far the passthrough goes in resolution and refresh rate, or whether it supports 120Hz, VRR or HDR. If a PS5 or a high-refresh PC outputs 120Hz or more, you may get no picture or be dropped to 60Hz. If that happens, set the source to 4K60 or 1080p60. If you want to keep playing at a high refresh rate, confirm support on the product page first. **macOS. ** macOS is listed, but that does not guarantee every Mac, including Apple silicon models, will work. First check that the card appears as a video capture device in OBS Studio, and test it while you can still return it. ## Product Info | Item | Detail | |---|---| | Interface | USB 3.0 | | Max input resolution | 4K (3840x2160) | | Video ports | HDMI in / HDMI out (passthrough) | | Audio I/O | 3.5mm stereo mini jack x2 (in / out) | | Housing | Aluminum alloy | | Supported OS | Windows 10/11, macOS | | Power | USB bus power (no external adapter) | | In the box | Capture card, USB cable | This is an entry-level 4K capture card, and there are many look-alike products at the same price. Its aluminum housing and separate audio jacks set it apart. It is compact enough for a tidy desk or for carrying with a laptop. Note that **the card has no onboard encoder (the chip that compresses video)**. Compression for recording and streaming is done by the PC. Encoding on the CPU is heavy and can lower your game's frame rate if you play and stream on the same PC. Choosing an NVIDIA, AMD or Intel GPU hardware encoder in OBS Studio greatly reduces CPU load. Older PCs without a GPU encoder may struggle even at 1080p60. Warranty terms depend on the retailer. Many online stores accept returns for around 30 days, so test the card with your own equipment as soon as it arrives. ## Setup Steps for Beginners 1. Connect the console's HDMI output to the card's HDMI input 2. Connect the card's HDMI output to your usual monitor or TV (passthrough) 3. Plug the card's USB cable directly into a USB 3.0 port on the PC, not through a hub 4. In OBS Studio, add a Video Capture Device and select the card. Set resolution and fps to Custom and choose your target, such as 1920x1080 at 60fps 5. If there is no sound, check the device's audio settings or add the card separately as an Audio Input Capture Most importantly, **play on the passthrough monitor, not by watching the OBS preview**. Captured video always has some delay, and playing off the preview causes obvious lag in rhythm and competitive games. Passthrough keeps that delay out of your controls. The 3.5mm audio jacks can be used to connect an external microphone or to monitor sound. However, the 4-pole plugs used on many gaming headsets (mic and headphones on one plug) may not fit 3-pole stereo mini jacks directly. In that case you need a splitter cable from one 4-pole plug to two 3-pole plugs, and if mic quality matters, a separate audio interface may be the better choice. ## Comparison with Competitors The first choice with capture cards is whether to go external over USB or internal over PCIe in a desktop PC. | Type | Examples | Best for | Trade-offs | |---|---|---|---| | USB 3.0 external (this card) | TransArcade 4K capture card | Laptop users, low budgets | Cannot bring in uncompressed 4K60 due to bandwidth | | USB external (1080p focused) | NZXT Signal HD60, etc. | Users happy with 1080p60 who value passthrough | No 4K recording | | PCIe internal | AVerMedia Live Gamer HD 2 (GC570), Blackmagic Design Intensity Pro 4K | Desktop users wanting near-uncompressed quality and low latency | Not for laptops; needs an expansion slot | The AVerMedia Live Gamer HD 2 is an internal PCIe card whose product name advertises uncompressed 1080p60, and it is not limited by USB bandwidth. If you have a desktop PC and image quality comes first, that type is the better fit. Among budget USB 3.0 cards, Bytewave, for example, states its limits in the product name: 1080P 60Hz recording with 4K30 passthrough. **Compare the recording limit and the passthrough limit side by side for each product** so the 4K label does not mislead you. ## Recommended Users - **Creators recording on the go with a laptop**: The compact aluminum body runs on USB bus power, so there is no power adapter to carry or find an outlet for. - **A secondary capture setup**: A cheap way to add capture for a second PC or console. When running several capture devices at once, spread them across ports on different USB controllers so they do not compete for bandwidth. - **Casual recording of HDMI consoles**: Consoles that output around 1080p, such as Nintendo Switch in TV mode or PS4, can be recorded without strain. Check the HDCP setting first on PS4 and PS5. ## Before You Buy **Do not buy it expecting 4K60 recording. ** As shown above, USB 3.0 cannot carry uncompressed 4K60. The recording limit is not in our data, so check the capture resolution and fps on the product page. If you truly need 4K60 recording, choose a higher-end product. **Do not count on 120Hz, VRR or HDR. ** Passthrough limits are not listed. If you play on a high-refresh monitor while recording, you may have to lower your console or PC output settings. **Buy HDMI cables separately. ** Only the card and a USB cable are included. Passthrough needs two HDMI cables, and for 4K signals use cables rated for 4K. **If the screen is black, suspect HDCP first. ** A source-side HDCP setting is more common than a faulty unit. On PS4 and PS5, turning off HDCP in system settings fixes it. Streaming-service video cannot be captured for rights reasons, so do not judge the card by that. **Watch out for hubs and front-panel ports. ** Bus-powered hubs and extended front-panel ports can make bandwidth or power unstable and cause dropouts. Start with a rear port connected directly. **Older analog-only consoles will not work as is. ** The card only accepts HDMI. Consoles with only composite or S-Video output need a converter. The card also has no upscaler, so retro games are recorded at their original resolution. If retro image quality matters, consider putting an upscaler such as the FRAMEMEISTER in between. Long-term durability and unit variation are still unknown, so test it right away and check for problems within the return window. **Do not mix it up with look-alikes. ** Generic 4K capture cards with similar names and designs are extremely common. On the product page, confirm the images, brand name and ASIN (B0FXG1P5DW) before ordering. ## FAQ **Q. Can it record at 4K60? ** A. Our data only confirms a maximum input of 4K; the recording limit is unknown. Because of USB 3.0 bandwidth, cards in this class typically capture at 1080p60 or around 4K30. Check the recording specs on the product page. **Q. Will Nintendo Switch or PS5 video show up? ** A. Any device with HDMI output should generally work. On PS4 and PS5, turn off HDCP in system settings. If a PS5 set to 120Hz shows no picture, switch it to 60Hz output. **Q. Does it need a driver? Does it work on Mac? ** A. It is driverless plug-and-play and lists Windows 10/11 and macOS. On a Mac, first check that it shows up as a video capture device in OBS Studio. **Q. The game looks delayed when streaming. ** A. Check that you are not playing while watching the OBS preview, which includes capture delay. Play on the monitor connected to the card's HDMI output (passthrough) and the delay will not affect your controls. **Q. My PC slows down while recording. ** A. The card has no encoder, so compression happens on the PC. In OBS Studio's output settings, choose a GPU hardware encoder instead of the CPU (x264) to reduce load. ### Product Disclosure (Amazon) - Manufacturer: TransArcade - Seller: アールズオンライン - Fulfilled by: アールズオンライン - ASIN: B0FXG1P5DW - Note: This article covers a manufacturer-made product based on Amazon listing details.