ClearClick HD Video Capture Box Ultimate (4K Edition) - Record and Stream Video from HDMI (Up to 4K30) and AV Video Sources - No Computer Required

My first reason for buying this device is that I have a lot of old VHS tapes that need to be digitized and I wanted something that didn't require a computer. My second reason is that I wanted something would allow my kid to capture their gaming play.When I first un boxed the unit I let it fully charge then I used the on screen menu to set date, time, and options. I inserted a 128GB micro SD card that was rated for 4K video capture.My first 20 minute 1080p video capture created 3.9GB .mp4 file. The unit's pass-through worked flawlessly. I was able to use an upscaled 1080p HDMI input source from my VCR and then run the HDMI output to my TV so that I could monitor what I was recording. Please note, it isn't necessary to have a monitor because of the unit's integrated screen.Overall, I'm very happy with this purchase. No computer or extra software is required unless you plan to do some post capture editing of video.

For the price this is a very good capture unit. It has a lot of limitations but unless your willing to spend 3-4 times as much money this is the number one option in this price range.My experience has been some what positive, I wanted to capture some simple streaming outputs from a gaming console and it did that very well. I also wanted to move some old VHS content over to digital format and it did that but it did upscale and stretch it to 1080p.Pros:1) Screen is pretty good2) Nice device package, with all the ports you would need.3) Navigation is easy enough but some options that are set by default should not be.4) Upscales video to 4K if desired and has H264 and H265 compression.5) Battery life is really good at 2.5 hours6) Storage on SD card or USB external passport drive works.Negatives:1) Protected video such as cable or Satellite TV cannot be recorded unless you buy another attachment. So forget using it as a DVR.2) Somethings just wont record properly, they end up looking like a mess. I am not sure if its the high bit rate or what.3) Old 4:3 videos get stretched.4) Audio is a bit subpar and does not sound as good as the original.Conclusion:If your not interested in recording protected material and don't mind dealing with a few limitations this capture device is a very good deal for the money.

This capture box does what it sets out to do, which is capture high definition video onto USB or MicroSD storage without a computer. There are some minor complaints, but overall it works well and is very easy to use. The key features of this capture device are the built-in display, HDMI passthrough and that it can be used with it’s internal battery, instead of needing to be plugged into an outlet. Control layout is fairly intuitive, and a remote control is included. The instruction manual is clear, and covers the basics on using the recorder.The recorder itself records HD video well, but out of the box it will need to be tweaked. Most of it makes sense - picking the capture resolution and input, but also turning off the day/date overlay that is enabled by default. It can record in by h264 and h265 (HEVC) - which is what I use. Overall the captured video looks quite good. The device also has analog capture, which is great for older gear like VCR’s and game systems. The downside is that it stretches the image to 16:9 aspect ratio.In all I like this device, because it is so handy to use. Video quality is good enough for my needs. The battery lasts long enough that I end up not plugging it in when in use. Overall - it does what it is designed to do, which is capture high definition footage without a computer. For me, this makes it really handy to have around.

THE GOOD:--------------* It will do as it says.. capture videos from your sources.* Video quality seems fine to me. I'm not that picky, the stuff I record isn't important.* You can install a micro SD card, or connect a hard drive via usb.THE BAD:-----------* Consistent with their products, they cut corners when it comes to the remote control. It's just a terrible clunky experience. I can't even put into words what's wrong with it. I guess there is a delay. So if you're impatient, you'll be pressing too many buttons, and you'll be in the wrong menu, navigate to the wrong places, enable the wrong features, etc. So my advice is to be patient. Press the button you want to press, then wait a week for it to respond. I don't know what inner components make a great remote control. Whatever they are, they are not inside ClearClick remotes. I've reviewed some of their other Clearclick products that are $150 and less, and so I was more forgiving. But at $250, really? You're going to still skimp out on the remote at this price range?* If you toggle into PLAYBACK mode... good luck getting out of it. Back button doesn't work, and it's always thinking you want to delete files. Everytime I escape playback mode, I'm relieved, but also have no clue how I got out.* Power on/off is weird. There are scenarios that will make your heart stop because you'll think the device shorted out. Just like their terrible remotes, I've noticed this power issue with their other models too. The quirk is this... sometimes when you power off and on too quickly, it just goes dead. It will not respond for a long time. Don't panic. Stop pushing the power button. Just unplug everything. The hard drive, the HDMI, the power, unplug everything. Go walk your dog, and when you come back, and connect everything again, it will power up. This happens to other Clearclick devices I have, so when it happened with this device, I didn't panic. I knew what was up.* Power port is micro usb. Again, at $250, I'd like to see USB-C. Micro usb is antiquated, and their cords are prone to get damaged.* You will need a HDMI splitter to bypass HDCP, as well as be able to turn off your Clearclick when you're not recording, and still watch TV. In my scenario... my source goes into my splitter, and my splitter has TWO outs. One goes into the Clearclick, and the other goes to my projector. This way, I can turn off my Clearclick if I'm not recording, and still watch my projector. If I connect the source directly to the Clearclick, and then go OUT from the Clearclick to my projector, then I would get their ugly icons on my projector. In my pictures, the source is my Nvidia Shield, you'll notice a row of white icons at the top. There is no option to hide these icons in passthrough mode. So if you use the Clearclick as a passthrough, you will get those ugly icons on your big screen. So even if you're recording sources that do not need a HDMI splitter. I'd still get one anyway because using the hdmi passthrough is not pretty. However, the good thing is that the files you record, will not have those icons.In conclusion, if this weren't a Vine item, I would send it back. Having said all that, it's possible that my expectations may be unreasonable for a very niche product. If a big company like Sony or Samsung create a polished standalone capture device like this, maybe it'd be $500-$600. In which case, you'd be pretty happy with the ClearClick. If you learn to live with the quirks, it's a nifty piece of tech. Hopefully, they can improve on the user experience through firmware updates. I'll go 3-Stars this time.

When it randomly stops recording, you'll be very frustrated that you're loosing.