Generic Capture
Generic Capture is the capture type for any device that registers itself with Windows as a video source — USB webcams, USB capture cards (Magewell, Datapath, Elgato, etc.), HDMI capture sticks, and many internal capture devices. Generic Capture uses Windows MediaFoundation under the hood — the same framework that exposes these devices to other Windows applications.
Audio capture is not yet supported on Generic Capture sources — only video. If the device exposes audio separately (some USB capture cards do), configure that audio as a regular audio device on the node.
Adding a Generic Capture Source
- Connect the capture device to the node and confirm it appears in Windows (visible in Camera or Device Manager).
- In the Devices window, select or create a capture device.
- In Capture Sources, click Add Capture Source.
- Set Node to the machine the device is connected to.
- Click Refresh if the device doesn't appear.
- Pick the device from Stream. Names come from Windows — typically the manufacturer and model.
- Configure the format / range / color space / sync mode:
| Property | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Format | Pixel format reported by the device. The dropdown lists what Windows says the device supports. Pick the device's native format to avoid conversion. |
| Range | Auto, Limited, or Full. Most webcams use Full range; broadcast capture cards often use Limited. |
| Color Space | Override of the source's signaled colorimetry. Auto is correct for most consumer devices. |
| Sync Mode | Off — this source picks its own latency. Maintain — sources of the same frame rate and transport type share latency estimation, so genlocked inputs (multiple ports on the same board) stay frame-aligned with each other. |
- Click Add.
Hardware
Generic Capture supports any device that registers a MediaFoundation source. Common examples:
- USB webcams — built-in laptop cameras, USB cameras, etc.
- USB capture cards — Magewell USB Capture, Epiphan etc.
- PCIe capture cards — Datapath, Magewell, Yuan, etc.
USB Bandwidth and Format Choice
USB capture devices share a fixed bandwidth across resolution, frame rate, and pixel format. A wider pixel format carries more bytes per frame, so the same cable delivers fewer frames per second.
Rough guide for 4K UHD on USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen 1 (5 Gbps):
- NV12 (most compact) — 30 Hz fits.
- YUY2 — drops to around 20 Hz.
- RGB24 — lower still; usually needs USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) or faster.
USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), USB 3.2 (up to 20 Gbps), and USB 4 / Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps) raise the ceiling. Check the host controller spec on the node, and use a cable rated for the link speed.
Resolution Behavior
Generic Capture is different from the other capture types when it comes to resolution. WATCHOUT asks the device itself for the configured Width × Height through the MediaFoundation source-reader format negotiation. The format selection tries three steps:
- If the device's current media type already matches the requested width, height, and pixel format, keep it.
- Otherwise, look for a native media type that matches the requested resolution and framerate.
- Otherwise, fall back to the first native format at the same framerate at any resolution. WATCHOUT logs a warning and uses the substituted resolution.
Multiple Sources
A Generic Capture source can sit alongside other capture types in the same capture device. Add a source for each node when a single cue plays across more than one node — each node needs its own source bound to its own physical input. See Capture Devices → How Capture Devices Work for the full model.
Troubleshooting
For Generic Capture symptoms and fixes (device not listed, limited formats, glitchy USB video, latency, washed-out colors), see Capture Issues → Generic Capture.
Related
- Capture Devices — capture model and multi-node source distribution.
- Deltacast VideoMaster — the professional alternative for low-latency capture.
- Spout — sub-frame capture from another app on the same node.