USB Capture HDMI Gen 2

The Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2 is the simplest, most portable and most affordable entry point into the USB Capture family — the go-to device when a single HDMI source needs to be captured into any Windows, Mac, Linux or Chrome OS computer quickly, reliably and without fuss. At just 92.2 × 40.2 × 12.3mm and drawing only 2.5W from the USB port, it is the smallest and lightest capture device in the entire range — slipping into a pocket, laptop bag or field kit with no external power, no drivers and no configuration required. Connect it, plug in an HDMI source, and it is immediately recognised by any DirectShow, V4L2 or AVCaptureSession application as a capture device. With onboard FPGA processing handling all scaling, de-interlacing and format conversion at up to 160 Mpixels/s, the host CPU is left untouched regardless of capture resolution or frame rate. For live streaming, video conferencing, lecture capture, gaming content creation and any workflow where a clean, reliable HDMI capture dongle is all that is needed — the USB Capture HDMI Gen 2 delivers it without compromise. Supplied by iView Data, authorised UK Magewell distributor, with full UK warranty and same-day dispatch from UK stock.

Core Functions & Capabilities

• Single-Channel HDMI Capture — Plug In and Go: Accepts any HDMI 1.4a source at up to 2048×1080 60fps 4:4:4 and presents it immediately as a capture device to any compatible software on any supported operating system — no driver installation, no configuration, no software to install before first use. The device auto-detects the input signal format and adapts automatically.
• 160 Mpixels/s Onboard FPGA Processing — Zero CPU Load: All scaling, cropping, de-interlacing, aspect ratio conversion, colour format conversion, frame rate conversion, flip and mirror processing runs entirely on the device’s FPGA — the host computer CPU is completely uninvolved in video processing, leaving full system resources available for streaming, encoding and application workloads.
• Capture at up to 2048×2160 and 120fps: Despite accepting HDMI input up to 2048×1080, the onboard processing pipeline supports capture output at resolutions up to 2048×2160 and frame rates up to 120fps — delivering 1920×1080p at up to 75fps and 1280×720p at up to 120fps for high-frame-rate streaming and recording workflows.
• Custom EDID Support: Configurable EDID allows the device to negotiate a specific resolution and format from the HDMI source — essential when the source device must be told exactly what to output rather than auto-negotiating, such as hardware switchers, broadcast encoders and presentation systems.
• 8-Channel HDMI Embedded Audio Capture: Captures up to 8 channels of 24-bit HDMI embedded audio at up to 192kHz — delivering full embedded audio from the source without any additional audio hardware or external capture.
• USB Bus-Powered at just 2.5W: The lowest power consumption of any device in the USB Capture range — drawing just 2.5W maximum from the USB port. Reliable in any USB 3.0, 3.1 Gen 1 or USB 2.0 port, on any laptop or workstation, with no risk of power-related capture issues in low-power or bus-managed USB environments.

Key Features

• Smallest Form Factor in the USB Capture Range: At 92.2 × 40.2 × 12.3mm the Gen 2 is narrower, shorter and thinner than any other USB Capture model — sitting flush against any laptop or desktop USB port with minimal protrusion, ideal for permanent installations, hot-desking environments and field kits where bulk and weight matter.
• Universal OS & True Driver-Free Operation: Works plug-and-play on Windows 10/11/Server, macOS 10.9+, Linux (x86, x64 & ARM, kernel 2.6.35+) and Chrome OS. Unlike some competitors, no driver package needs downloading or installing — the device works immediately with the OS-native capture interfaces on all supported platforms.
• Broad Software Compatibility: Compatible with Zoom Rooms, Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, Google Meet, GoToMeeting, OBS Studio, XSplit, VLC, QuickTime, GStreamer and all DirectShow, V4L2 and AVCaptureSession applications — including vMix and Wirecast.
• MWCapture SDK: Full SDK for Windows, macOS and Linux enables custom integrations, OEM development and direct API access for enterprise and developer deployments.
• USB Capture Utility: Free software for capture parameter configuration, EDID management, device name customisation, firmware upgrade and diagnostics — with audio on/off toggle from Rev D firmware onwards.
• Continuous 24/7 Operation: Engineered and tested for round-the-clock operation — suitable for permanent installations in broadcast facilities, conference rooms, lecture theatres and medical environments where the device runs continuously without being unplugged.

Ideal For

• Live Streaming — HDMI Camera or Switcher to Laptop: The simplest possible setup — connect any HDMI camera, hardware switcher output or signal processor to a laptop and stream live to YouTube, Twitch, Facebook Live or any RTMP destination via OBS, vMix or Wirecast. No extra hardware, no power supply, no drivers.
• Video Conferencing — Professional HDMI Camera on Zoom & Teams: Replace a built-in laptop webcam with any professional HDMI camera on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet or Skype — delivering dramatically sharper video quality on client and colleague calls from any laptop or workstation without specialist knowledge.
• Lecture Capture & Education: Capture from HDMI laptops, presentation systems or document cameras directly into lecture capture software, OBS or Teams for hybrid classroom delivery and recording — with the tiny form factor making it easy to leave permanently connected without cluttering the lectern.
• Content Creation & Gaming: Capture HDMI output from game consoles, cameras or video processors for YouTube, Twitch and social media production — bus-powered, universally compatible and lightweight enough to travel with any content kit.
• Corporate AV & Events: Capture presentation or camera output at events, conferences and town halls from any laptop — no pre-installation required, works on the day on any machine with a USB port and any capture software.
• Permanent Installation — 24/7 Capture Workflows: Leave it permanently connected in broadcast monitoring positions, digital signage capture, streaming PCs and always-on production systems — rated for continuous operation and drawing minimal power from the host port.

USB Capture Family — Which Model Is Right for You?

HD capture — no loop-through needed

HD capture — with loop-through & analogue audio

4K capture — USB 3.0 (up to 4K30 capture)

4K capture — USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (true 4K60 capture)

Multi-source switching

Magewell Part Number: 32060. Full technical specifications are available on the Specifications tab above. Supplied by iView Data, authorised UK Magewell distributor, with full UK warranty and same-day UK dispatch.