Hauppauge USB-Live2: Capture, display and record old VHS tapes to your PC or Laptop

Got this to replace a Dazzle DVC100 video capture because it wouldn't work on Windows 7, and this product really does the trick. The install of the WinTV product was fine (check the site for updates though), as was the also-bundled ArcSoft Showbiz video-editing software. I use WinTV for capture, and it produces great quality standard-definition captures for use elsewhere, and that's all I wanted from it. I have a few niggles, but I didn't down-star the product because I can live with them... First, when recording from some composite video source with WinTV, you can't put a duration in which means you have to stop recording manually. I wrote a little DOS batch job that counts down a duration and stops the Windows service "HauppaugeTVServer", and that sorted that out (comment-me your e-mail address if you would like this code). Second, the ShowBiz video-editing software (which can also record from the card) refuses to produce a widescreen 16:9 capture. I'm only a bit bothered because this software DOES have a duration feature so it'd be useful; I'm talking to their support to resolve this at the mo... Thirdly, it would have been nice if the product had used H264 in its recording, since you can get a heck of a lot more on a DVD (for example), if that's your thing. I think the more-expensive Hauppauge offerings do this, so I'll not hold it against this product. So, that's it. Great value, and works fine within its specification.

This works on video/s-video with ADOBE FMLE but not with audio as well which is pretty common with USB capture dongles in my experience. The capture quality is good and the build quality is reassuring with a much better breakout cable connection than a K-World USB2 device of cheaper alternative. I have not used the enclosed software so I won't pass comment. As always download the latest drivers.

Great bit of kit gets around the issue of not being able to record live tv onto dvd. Very simple to use and picture quality just as good as dvds. Highly recommend.

Rubbish we Have bought three of these and they have all failed and are being returned for a refund. will try and find another solution

Excellent product, works perfect on Windows 10 as of June 2018. Software easy to download and install. Simple interface makes it easy to use. Product comes with two software programs. I mainly used the WinTV (as opposed to Hauppauge capture) as I was not interested in uploading the videos to YouTube but it also works fine. One thing to note is not all VCRs have male composite connectors (this product is USB to female composite) I used a SCART to composite convertor that I had in the house and it worked perfectly. Would definitely recommend if you want to back up your old VCRs

Does a good job of capturing old Hi8 tapes. Output is uncompressed video so you can use whatever real time compression your computer can manage. Only flaw I've spotted is that the S video connector doesn't have the location indent that it should do so plugging the cable in wasn't easy. I'm using it on Linux so haven't touched the supplied S/W. Hauppauge have a good reputation for ensuring their devices work under Linux and this just worked out of the box.

WIP getting it to work with Linux Works out of the box with Windows. Excellent quality. Yes, other ones do have broadly the same features, this is just far far far more consistent in my experience. Who knows, in another 20-30 tapes I may regret writing this review.

Wanted to digitise some HI8 tapes, bought this as a replacement for a cheap £15 capture card that left the feed in a flickery, black and white mess. Still flickery in parts, which it seems can't be fixed without a device that can do timebase correction - but miles better than the other no-name one I bought, and for such a low cost I couldn't be happier. Would definitely buy again. I was skeptical of the software included, usually proprietary software for devices like these are not even worth installing - but after a lot of fiddling with OBS and Streamlabs to little success, I gave in and installed Hauppage Capture and found it not only did the job but did it cleanly and easily, even on Windows 10 it worked without having to fiddle and had surprising amount of customisation. Excellent product all around.

Auch wenn der Hauppauge USB- Live schon ein paar Jahre auf dem Buckel hat ist er der Beste Grabber in seiner Preisklasse. Wenn man in Lagarith oder Huffyuv in Virtual Dub oder AmarecTV aufnimmt bekommt man die beste Schärfe -Farb - und Kontrast Helligkeitswerte. In Kombination mit einem alten Panasonic ES10 (oder einen anderen Panasonic DVD recorder mit TBC Funktion) den man in seiner Capture Kette davor setzt ( VHS Recorder- Panasonic Recorder - Hauppauge Live - PC oder Laptop) ist man in der Lage proffessionel mit sehr gutem Ergebniss aufzunehmen. Da macht die Nachbearbeitung mit Avisynth oder Hybrid der captures der alten VHS Kassetten Spaß und man bekommt sehr gute Ergebnisse. Auch wenn das Teil vom Aussehen sich kaum von den billig Videograbber unterscheidet ist es jeden Cent wert den man mehr dafür ausgibt. Habe sehr viele Geräte über die Jahre ausprobiert und der Hauppauge ist am Besten - soll sogar mit dem japanischen I-O DATA GV-USB2 USB Grabber (der im allgemeinen als der Beste zählt) mithalten. Für Leute die ihre alte Videosammlung oder Familienvideos digital retten wollen - Kaufempfehlung !!!

Recently converted around 13 old VHS-C and Hi8 tapes to my PC using this converter. The converter itself is nothing else but great! However, the software is horrible (my opinion). I used this converter with Open Broadcast Software (OBS) software wich is a free to download, aswell to get the files to .mp4 and it has been running flawless. Hardware 5/5: No complaints. Would however be nice if RCA male - male was included. Software 2/5: It works with their own software, but it will give you very large files, and a not so common filetype wich wont be playable in some devices.

Interface très pratique, installée en quelques minutes. Le logiciel "Arcsoft Showbiz" livré est facile d'utilisation et fonctionne très bien. Bonne qualité de numérisation (dans la limite de la qualité de la source). Prévoir un outil de compression dans un deuxième temps (Handbrake par exemple) pour réduire la taille du fichier et "désentrelacer" les images. Je recommande ce produit qui vous permettra d'importer vos VHS pour moins de 40 euros. Attention à la configuration PC qui doit être un peu musclée (chez moi : Core I5 + 4Go de RAM et windows 7)

Świetne urządzenie, bardzo proste oprogramowanie. Za te pieniądze efekt końcowy jest super.

Terrible product. The first one I ordered had enormous jittering and a shaking image. Amazon replaced it for me, but the second one has the same issues, albeit slightly better. Still unusable though. I bought this as an upgrade for my cheap EZcap device, but it's certainly not.