A7SII External recording quality suffers

[Pendas]

Hello, I'm new to sony and I'm having an issue and can't find the answer anywhere. 

My goal is to record 1080p 30 or 60 (either one is fine) directly to my computer.

I'm currently using an Elgato HD60 Pro to take the HDMI into the computer. 

Here is my issue:

If I record in the computer while the camera is in "preview mode" meaning, it's not recording, then I get a bad quality image, it's greenish and noisy.

If I record internally to the SD card, I get the expected quality. No surprise here. 

I thought the capture card was messing with the image, but this is the strange thing; If I capture to my computer while recording to the SD card, then I get the same great quality in both recordings. 

This means something happens to the HDMI signal when I hit record.

I paid a little closer attention, and I can even notice the change in the camera LCD. I have a noisier image until I hit record, then I get a cleaner one. 

My question is, what is the right workflow for recording externally, how can I get that high quality output without recording to the SD card? 

My current workflow is to start recording to the sd card and then start recording in the computer. I format the card afterwards after each recording, which is ridiculous but I haven't figured out the right way. 

Hope this makes sense and someone can help me. 

 

Thanks, 

 

Carlos

[VTC]

What are you trying to achieve here, not record to the SD card directly & not have to transfer the files? There may be an encode bottleneck somewhere with the Elgato.

A 6:07 clip recorded to SD card on my A7Sii weighs in at 2.35GB. An external Blackmagic recorder captures it at 5.46GB and the 2.35GB native Sony file renders out to h264 at 203 MB. That encoding removal of 90% less data in the h264 file is taking a hit for some convoluted reason. If you get the quality you need recording to both computer and card simultaneously ONLY then maybe you have to accept that limitation instead of wrangling about the 'why not' for days. Formatting the card after each capture is excessive. Just erase the file. Any M1/M2 memory settings are stored to the card, not the camera itself, and they get wiped out on formatting.