Start with the physical connections: the source device sends video to the capture card’s HDMI input, and the card connects to your computer using the port and cable specified for that model. Then add the card in Streamlabs Desktop as a Video Capture Device and check video and audio separately.
The exact cables, supported modes and menu labels depend on your Elgato model, source device, operating system and Streamlabs version. Use the guidance below as a sequence of checks, not as a universal settings recipe.
Identify your card, source and connections
Before plugging anything in, note the capture card’s full model name, the device whose picture you want to capture, and the computer you will use. A console, camera and second computer can all provide a video signal, but their available output modes and audio routes may differ. Check the label on the card or its packaging, then open the manufacturer’s guide for that exact model.
Look for the card’s input and output labels. HDMI In normally receives the source device’s picture; HDMI Out, when present and used, sends a passthrough picture to a display. The USB connection links the card to the computer. Do not assume that every Elgato card has the same USB connector, cable requirement or capture capability. A connector that fits is not by itself proof that the port provides the connection speed the card requires.
Also check the source’s output settings. Its resolution and frame rate must be supported by both the card and Streamlabs Desktop. If you do not know the source mode, start with the source device’s current output setting rather than asking the capture software for a higher mode. A setting in Streamlabs cannot create detail or a signal that the source and card do not provide.
Computer requirements are model-specific as well. For example, Elgato’s published HD60 X requirements page lists different Windows and Mac baselines and notes that third-party software may have different requirements from Elgato’s own utility. Treat that page as a reference for the HD60 X, not as a current requirement for every card or Streamlabs release: Elgato HD60 X system requirements.
If you are choosing a mode, compare the source output, the card’s supported-input table, the host computer connection and the display path together. A useful way to think about the choices is:
| Check | What to confirm | If it does not match |
|---|---|---|
| Source output | The source is set to a mode it can actually send | Choose a mode documented for the source and card |
| Card input | The card accepts that incoming mode | Use a lower supported source mode or consult the model guide |
| Computer connection | The port and cable meet the card’s model-specific requirement | Try the required port and cable, not merely a physically compatible one |
| Display passthrough | The display is connected to the card’s output, if using passthrough | Check the card guide and display input selection |
| Audio format | The source sends an audio format the card can capture | Use a supported audio format and confirm HDMI or analog routing |
A capture card is useful when you need to bring a live external picture into a scene, such as gameplay, a camera feed or a presentation device. If your actual goal is to keep a prerecorded video running continuously, a capture card may be unnecessary; this guide to playlist streams versus live encoders explains the distinction.
Wire the source, card and computer
Make the connections in a deliberate order. Turn down or mute audio where appropriate before testing, and keep the equipment powered off if the model’s instructions recommend that for connecting cables. Connect the source device’s HDMI output to the capture card’s HDMI In. If you intend to use passthrough, connect the card’s HDMI Out to the display, then select the correct input on that display. Finally, connect the card to the computer with the supplied or otherwise model-compatible USB cable and a suitable computer port.
The sequence is straightforward, but the details are not universal. Elgato’s 4K X Xbox Series X|S instructions, for instance, call for two HDMI cables for the source and passthrough arrangement and specify USB 3.2 Gen 2; the guide says USB 3.2 Gen 1 can work with reduced capture resolution. Those details describe that setup, not every Elgato product. Follow the 4K X Xbox setup guide if that is your card and source combination.
If the card has an analog audio input, do not treat it as a microphone socket unless its guide explicitly says that is appropriate. Elgato’s 4K X Xbox documentation describes its Analog Audio In as line-in. An analog connection is only relevant when your source and chosen audio route call for it; it is not a default addition to an HDMI setup.
Check each plug is fully seated, and check the cable is connected to the intended input rather than an output. If the computer does not detect the card, try the port required by the model guide and avoid an unpowered hub during diagnosis. A cable or adapter can be the weak link even when the card’s lights come on.
Some protected video sources cannot be captured. Elgato states in its 4K X Xbox guidance that signals protected by HDCP cannot be used. If you are trying to capture a protected streaming-video device, do not try to work around its protection; use a source intended to be captured and consult the device and card documentation.
Add the capture card in Streamlabs Desktop
Open Streamlabs Desktop and select or create the scene where the picture should appear. In the Sources area, add a Video Capture Device, give it a name that will be clear later, and select the connected Elgato device from the device list. The exact wording and controls can change between software versions, so look for the source type and device selector rather than relying on an old screenshot.
Elgato’s 4K X setup material lists Streamlabs Desktop among the software that can be used with that card. Elgato’s older HD60 S+ guide documents a similar capture-source workflow in OBS and notes that many steps also apply to Streamlabs OBS. That older guide is useful orientation only; it is marked legacy, so it should not be treated as authority for current labels or every model. See Elgato’s HD60 S+ OBS setup notes alongside the current guide for your own card.
When the source properties open, select the actual card and inspect the available resolution and frame-rate choices. If Streamlabs offers an automatic or device-default option, that can be a sensible starting point. Otherwise, choose a mode that the source is sending and that the card supports. Do not select a higher capture resolution simply because it appears in a menu. A mismatch can produce an error or a blank preview rather than an improved picture.
If the card appears more than once, use the entry corresponding to the connected device and avoid adding duplicates while diagnosing. Close other software that might be holding the card, including the manufacturer’s capture utility. A card can be available to one application at a time in some setups; leaving another application open can make Streamlabs show a black picture or fail to initialise the source.
Select an input and confirm the signal
With the source properties open, check that the selected device is your Elgato card, then wait briefly for the preview to update. Confirm the source device is awake and actively sending video. On a console, check that its HDMI output is enabled and that the connected display, if any, is on the correct input. On a camera, confirm the output mode and any sleep or clean-output settings in its own manual.
A black preview can have several causes, so change one thing at a time. First verify the source-to-HDMI-In cable path and power. Then verify that the card appears in Streamlabs and is selected. Next check the incoming mode against the model’s supported-input list. If the card is in use by another program, close that program and reactivate the source in Streamlabs. This is more informative than cycling through unrelated resolution settings.
If the capture utility from Elgato shows a picture but Streamlabs does not, close the utility fully before returning to Streamlabs. Then deactivate and reactivate the source, or remove and add it again if necessary. The older HD60 S+ instructions describe similar troubleshooting, but confirm the current steps for your product and app version. Avoid leaving two capture programs open while deciding which one is receiving the card.
If there is still no signal, test with a simple known-good arrangement: source connected directly to the card’s HDMI input, card connected to the required computer port, and no optional audio or display adapters in the path. If that works, add passthrough or other devices back one at a time. This helps isolate a faulty cable, incompatible adapter, unsupported source mode or display-handshake problem without guessing.
Some sources provide no usable capture signal when HDCP protection is active. Others may send a resolution or refresh mode the card does not accept. The correct fix is to use a supported, capturable output mode or source, not to force a higher setting in Streamlabs. Elgato’s 4K X guide and your own model’s documentation are the appropriate references for those limits.
Fit the picture to the scene
Once the preview is visible, size it in the Streamlabs canvas. Select the capture source and use its transform controls to fit it to the scene or position it where it belongs. If the source is smaller than the canvas, you can enlarge it; if its aspect ratio differs from the scene, decide whether to leave unused space or crop the edges.
Preserve the source’s proportions where possible. Stretching a widescreen image into a square or other mismatched shape can make faces, game interfaces and text look distorted. Cropping preserves the proportions but hides part of the picture, so check that important content remains visible. Resetting the source transform is a useful first step if it has been moved or resized unexpectedly.
Do not use canvas sizing to solve an input-resolution error. The transform changes how an already captured image is displayed; it does not change what signal reaches the card. If the preview itself is blank or reports an incompatible mode, go back to the source output and the card’s supported input modes before adjusting layout.
If you are preparing a scene for a long-running broadcast, check the image at the size viewers will see it and keep overlays away from essential source content. A capture source that works in a brief test can still be obscured by scene elements or transitions when you switch scenes. For a channel built around repeated video segments, this guide to preventing black screens between gaming videos covers a separate playback problem; it does not replace checking the capture card’s live input.
Check the card’s audio path
Treat game or source audio and your microphone as separate sources while testing. Look at the Streamlabs mixer while sound is playing from the source. If the capture source has an audio meter, confirm that it moves. If it does not, check the source properties and audio-device selection, then check whether the source is sending audio over HDMI or through an analog connection.
Some setups expose capture-card audio through the video source; others require selecting the card as a separate audio input. On macOS, Elgato’s general guidance describes adding a separate Audio Input Capture source for supported devices. Menu names and availability vary, so use the current Streamlabs controls and the instructions for your card rather than assuming every model routes sound identically. Elgato’s capture-device audio guidance explains the distinction between HDMI and analog paths and supported audio formats.
When using HDMI audio, the source must send an audio format the card can accept. Elgato’s general capture-device guidance describes stereo 2.0 PCM support and says formats such as Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS and Dolby Atmos are not supported by the devices covered there. Check the documentation for your exact model and set the source to a supported format if the meter remains still or sound is missing. Do not assume that an HDMI picture proves HDMI sound is also arriving.
For an analog route, make sure the source cable is connected to the relevant analog input and that the card’s audio input is configured accordingly. This might apply to a compatible console-chat arrangement, but it is not needed for every setup. A microphone plugged into the computer should normally remain a separate Streamlabs source, so you can see whether the microphone or captured programme audio is responsible for a problem.
Test with headphones or a local recording before going live. Listen for missing channels, delay, clipping or duplicated sound. If audio is doubled, check whether the same card is being captured both through the video source and through a separate audio source; disable one route for the test, then choose the arrangement that works for your model. Keep the microphone muted during the first source-audio check so the two signals are easy to distinguish.
Troubleshoot problems in a useful order
For no signal, confirm power and cable direction first, then confirm the device selection, source output and supported mode. Close other capture software, reactivate the source and reconnect using the model’s required computer port. For an incompatible-resolution message, reduce the source output to a mode supported by the card or select a lower supported capture mode. Elgato’s legacy HD60 S+ troubleshooting material gives the example of a 1080p input paired with a 4K software setting; treat it as an illustration of a mismatch, not a universal setting recommendation.
For choppy video, check that the card is on a suitable direct computer port and that the connection meets the card’s stated USB generation. Try another appropriate port and cable if available. If the problem began after adding a hub or adapter, remove it for the test. A higher capture mode can also demand more of the host computer, but the appropriate mode depends on the card and source, so return to the device-specific requirements rather than applying a blanket resolution or frame-rate rule.
For the wrong image shape, reset the transform and fit the source again while preserving its proportions. For missing audio, verify the HDMI or analog route, the audio input selection and the source format. Make one adjustment at a time and test the result in the mixer or a local recording. Changing video resolution will not repair a disconnected audio path, and changing scene size will not repair a missing signal.
When the image and sound both work, save the scene and make a short test recording or private test broadcast if appropriate. Review it for sync, framing and sound level. If you are planning a YouTube live session, also check the channel’s live-streaming setup and the current YouTube live encoder guidance before relying on a configuration you have not tested.
Choose the right workflow for the job
A capture card and Streamlabs Desktop suit a setup where a live external source needs to appear in a scene alongside overlays, commentary or other inputs. They also mean that the source device, card, computer and software all need to remain available during the broadcast. If the aim is a continuously running channel made from an uploaded video rather than a live camera or console, compare that workflow with how prerecorded live streams work on YouTube.
For a live source that needs to run while your own computer is switched off, StreamNeo can remove the need to leave Streamlabs and a local capture setup running for that continuous broadcast: it turns an uploaded video into a YouTube live stream. That is a different workflow from capturing a live console or camera, and it is YouTube-only.
Before committing, compare the operating options on the pricing page. When the file and channel are ready, start free — 24-hour trial, no card.
FAQ
How do I add my Elgato capture card to Streamlabs?
Add a Video Capture Device source to a scene and select the connected Elgato device. Then choose an input mode supported by both the source and the card, and confirm that a picture appears. Exact controls can differ by Streamlabs version and card model.
Why does my Elgato capture card show no signal in Streamlabs?
Check that the source is connected to the card’s HDMI In, the card is connected to a suitable computer port, and the source is sending a supported mode. Close other software that may be using the card, then reactivate the Streamlabs source. Protected signals such as HDCP-protected content may not be capturable.
Why can’t Streamlabs hear my game audio?
The video may be arriving over HDMI while audio is missing because the source format or capture-card audio route is different. Check whether the card’s audio is included with the video source or needs a separate audio input, and confirm the correct HDMI or analog path. Test game audio separately from your microphone.
Do all Elgato cards use the same cables and settings?
No. Cable types, USB requirements, supported modes and audio routing vary by model and source device. Use the exact card’s current guide and do not assume that an example for the 4K X or HD60 X applies to another product.