Elgato Game Capture HD connects to the Nintendo Switch Dock using HDMI. It can passthrough video to a TV set also using HDMI. An HDMI cable is included in the box.
Inputs and Outputs
Elgato Game Capture HD has two inputs, and two outputs:
HDMI In
This connects to a game console or other video source. Signals protected by HDCP can't be used.
A/V In (Elgato Game Capture HD only)
This connects to an analog video source, via Component or Composite, using an adapter cable. Your PlayStation 3 will connect to this port. If you want to use S-Video, then an Analog Video Adapter cable is available from the Elgato Online Store.
HDMI Out
This sends the HDMI signal in real time to a TV or display, so you can play your game normally.
USB
This sends the H.264 encoded video to your computer via USB 2.0. The signal is delayed by a few seconds from live. The USB cable also powers the Elgato Game Capture HD hardware.
Items Needed for Setup
• Nintendo Switch
• Nintendo Switch Dock with attached power adapter and HDMI cable
• Desktop PC with the Elgato Game Capture HD attached to an USB 2.x port.
• 1 HDMI cable, which is provided with the Elgato Game Capture HD.
Setup Steps
The Nintendo Switch itself does not have a video out port - you cannot connect it directly to Elgato Game Capture HD, no matter what adapter you try to use.
Instead, you must connect it to the special Nintendo Switch Dock that comes with the Nintendo Switch. That Dock has HDMI out.
1) Plug one end of an HDMI Cable into the HDMI OUT port of the Nintendo Switch Dock.
2) Plug the other end of this cable into the HDMI IN port of the Elgato Game Capture HD.
3) Plug one end of the second HDMI Cable into the HDMI OUT port of the Elgato Game Capture HD.
4) Plug the other end of this cable and plug it into an HDMI IN port of your TV/Monitor.
5) Insert the Nintendo Switch into the Nintendo Switch Dock.
6) Make sure your Elgato Game Capture HD is connected to your computer via USB, and start the Elgato Game Capture HD software.
Troubleshooting - No Image Appears On The TV
If your TV only supports 720p, and not 1080p, then you may not get a video image when Elgato Game Capture HD is first connected. The video may still appear in the software, but not on your TV.
The solution would be to set your Nintendo Switch to output video to 720p.
Troubleshooting - No Audio
If you attach headphones or a headset to the Nintendo Switch while it is in the Nintendo Switch Dock, then audio will not pass through to the HDMI output. That means that audio will not reach your Elgato Game Capture HD, or the passthrough TV or display.
This is due to how the Nintendo Switch is designed. Only Nintendo can fix that issue.
If you remove your headset or headphones, then the problem will go away.
One current workaround is to attach headphones to a 3.5 mm audio out jack on the TV or display. However, not all TVs or displays have that sort of jack.
The Elgato Gaming team will research now to see if any other workarounds are possible. If we find some, we will post them in this article.
Inputs and Outputs
HDMI In
This connects to a game console or other video source. Signals protected by HDCP can't be used.
A/V In (Elgato Game Capture HD only)
This connects to an analog video source, via Component or Composite, using an adapter cable. Your PlayStation 3 will connect to this port. If you want to use S-Video, then an Analog Video Adapter cable is available from the Elgato Online Store.
HDMI Out
This sends the HDMI signal in real time to a TV or display, so you can play your game normally.
USB
This sends the H.264 encoded video to your computer via USB 2.0. The signal is delayed by a few seconds from live. The USB cable also powers the Elgato Game Capture HD hardware.
Items Needed for Setup
• Nintendo Switch
• Nintendo Switch Dock with attached power adapter and HDMI cable
• Desktop PC with the Elgato Game Capture HD attached to an USB 2.x port.
• 1 HDMI cable, which is provided with the Elgato Game Capture HD.
Setup Steps
The Nintendo Switch itself does not have a video out port - you cannot connect it directly to Elgato Game Capture HD, no matter what adapter you try to use.
Instead, you must connect it to the special Nintendo Switch Dock that comes with the Nintendo Switch. That Dock has HDMI out.
1) Plug one end of an HDMI Cable into the HDMI OUT port of the Nintendo Switch Dock.
2) Plug the other end of this cable into the HDMI IN port of the Elgato Game Capture HD.
3) Plug one end of the second HDMI Cable into the HDMI OUT port of the Elgato Game Capture HD.
4) Plug the other end of this cable and plug it into an HDMI IN port of your TV/Monitor.
5) Insert the Nintendo Switch into the Nintendo Switch Dock.
6) Make sure your Elgato Game Capture HD is connected to your computer via USB, and start the Elgato Game Capture HD software.
Troubleshooting - No Image Appears On The TV
If your TV only supports 720p, and not 1080p, then you may not get a video image when Elgato Game Capture HD is first connected. The video may still appear in the software, but not on your TV.
The solution would be to set your Nintendo Switch to output video to 720p.
Troubleshooting - No Audio
If you attach headphones or a headset to the Nintendo Switch while it is in the Nintendo Switch Dock, then audio will not pass through to the HDMI output. That means that audio will not reach your Elgato Game Capture HD, or the passthrough TV or display.
This is due to how the Nintendo Switch is designed. Only Nintendo can fix that issue.
If you remove your headset or headphones, then the problem will go away.
One current workaround is to attach headphones to a 3.5 mm audio out jack on the TV or display. However, not all TVs or displays have that sort of jack.
The Elgato Gaming team will research now to see if any other workarounds are possible. If we find some, we will post them in this article.