So you want to record your own video game movies off of a console? There are a few steps that you need to take to be able to get your videos online...

If you want to record yourself playing a PC game, download Fraps for free

Step 1: Splitting The Signal

The first thing you need to do is split the signal so you can play the game on your TV and record at the same time. There are several ways of doing this...

1. Video Outputs on your TV

If your TV has video outputs, this step is very simple. Hook up your console to your TV using the composite (red/white/yellow) cables, and your TV will pass the signal to your recording device without any other steps

2. Y-Splitters

If your TV does not have video outputs and you're not recording off of an Xbox360 (see option 3), you can use Y-splitters to send the signal to your TV and the recording device at the same time. Y-splitters are very cheap, but I wouldn't reccomend using them if you can go one of the other routes because you lose audio and video quality when you split the signal. You will need 3 Y-splitters to fully split the signal, but they shouldn't cost you more than $2-3 a piece

Be sure to get 1-female to 2-male Y-splitters

3. Xbox360

If you're planning on recording off of your Xbox360 AND your TV has component (red/green/blue) inputs, Step 1 is nearly complete for you. Plugging the component cables into your TV and the yellow cable into your recording device takes care of the video signal (NOTE: You CANNOT play in HD while recording, you need to flip the switch on the back to non-hd).

If you have a surround sound system and are using the optical jack on the Xbox360 for your audio, simply hook the red/white cables to your recording device, and this step is done. If not, pick up two Y-splitters (see option 2)

Step 2: Capturing the Video

1. Video Capture Card / External Capture Device

There are MANY different internal video capture cards that you can buy, but I don't have much experience using them, so I'm going to stick with the External Capture Devices.

Anyway, there are two standouts in the external capturing device relm, the Dazzle by Pinnacle and the ConvertX by Plextor. Both come with the software you need to capture and edit your videos. We use the ConvertX, and my only complaint is that the drivers that come with it were outdated and I had to do some searching to find the correct ones (here). I've read lots of reviews on the Dazzle series, and they all talk about easy setup and use and great capture quality

The internal capture cards are typically less expensive than their external counterparts, but if you're not comfortable with installing new components into computers, stay away from that route.

If you have a computer that can be used close enough to your TV that you can hook the cables from Step 1 to your capture device, you're done with step 2. If not, see the next option...

2. DVD Recorder/VCR

After you have split the signal, you can record your gameplay onto blank DVD's or VHS tapes. There are lots of DVD recorders out there, so be sure to get one that does RW discs, because you will be going through LOTS of them. You will also need some software to rip the DVD's to your computer in a format that you can edit. Magic DVD Ripper has a free trial of their program

If you decide to use a VCR to record your videos, you will still need a video capture card (option 1), and will lose significant video quality in the process (I don't reccomend this strategy at all)

Step 3: Editing the Videos

1. Windows Movie Maker 2

Free! Download here...

2. Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0

EXPENSIVE! Very professional software with tons of possibilities.

3. Adobe Premiere Elements 3.0

$90! Much more functionality than Windows Movie Maker.

3. Sony Vegas

I haven't personally used it, but I've heard great things. Batch rendering is a feature that Vegas offers that would save me a ton of time if Premiere included it.