Magewell Pro Capture Dual HDMI

Magewell Pro Capture Dual HDMI: Two Independent PCIe Capture Channels

The Magewell Pro Capture Dual HDMI puts two completely independent HDMI capture channels on a single low-profile x4 PCIe card. At £400, the key word is independent. Each channel has its own dedicated FPGA processor. Both inputs operate simultaneously with no shared processing between them: different resolutions, different frame rates, different colour spaces, all at the same time, neither affecting the other.

Why Independent Processing Between Channels Matters

The practical difference between a dual-channel card done properly and a cheaper design that splits a single processor between two inputs is significant in live production. With the Dual HDMI, channel one capturing 1080p60 and channel two capturing 720p50 run in full parallel. No compromise on either. One channel can be actively recording while the other feeds a live stream. One can be idle while the other captures. Processing decisions for each channel are made separately in real time by dedicated silicon, which is how Magewell designs all of its multi-channel products.

Each channel supports inputs up to 2048x2160, matching the ceiling of the single-channel card in the range.

Common Production Use Cases

The most common reason buyers choose the Dual HDMI over two separate single-channel cards is slot economy. One card occupies one x4 slot instead of two x1 slots, which matters in 1U rackmount servers where PCIe slots are limited. Beyond space, a single card simplifies installation and driver management. In practical production terms, the Dual HDMI suits:

• Two-camera interview or panel setups where both feeds need to be captured simultaneously into vMix or Wirecast
• Camera plus presentation or graphics output, ingesting both as separate sources in the same production session
• Capturing both programme output and a return feed from a vision mixer simultaneously
• ISO recording of two separate camera angles for post-production edit decision lists
• Dual confidence monitor recording in permanent broadcast installations
• Two independent stream sources feeding different outputs within the same vMix or Wirecast session

Software and OS Support

Both channels appear as separate capture devices in your production software. vMix, Wirecast, OBS Studio, Adobe Premiere Pro, and FFmpeg all recognise each channel independently. You can assign them to different inputs, different recorders, or different stream outputs within the same session. The card runs on Windows 10, 11, and Windows Server (driver required), Linux 3.x and later via V4L2 without an additional driver, and macOS 10.14 and later via the MWCapture SDK. The 24/7 duty cycle rating makes it appropriate for permanent broadcast infrastructure rather than occasional use.

The Value Calculation at £400

At £400, the Dual HDMI costs exactly double the single-channel card. The premium buys two dedicated FPGAs, a wider x4 PCIe interface, and the slot efficiency of fitting two channels in one board. If your workflow genuinely requires two simultaneous HDMI channels in a rack-mounted system, this is the most cost-effective way to do it with Magewell reliability. For four channels, the Pro Capture Quad HDMI provides that at £693, still on a single low-profile card. If one channel is sufficient, the Pro Capture HDMI at £215 is the cleaner and cheaper choice.

Buying from StreamKit

StreamKit is an authorised Magewell reseller. The Pro Capture Dual HDMI ships with the full three-year manufacturer warranty, free tracked delivery to all UK addresses, and access to our UK technical support team for configuration assistance. If you are integrating this card into a multi-camera production workflow and want to talk through the setup before committing, contact us.