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Roland VR-1HD vs Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB Capture Card: Comparison
Roland VR-1HD vs Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB: the latency difference
Latency is where these two genuinely part company, Roland VR-1HD 20 ms against Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB 130 ms, a 550% lead for Roland VR-1HD. Passthrough resolution is not the same on both, 1080p60 on the Roland VR-1HD versus 1080p on the Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB.
Which should you buy, Roland VR-1HD or Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB?
Buy the Roland VR-1HD for house-of-worship or small studio setups needing built-in audio mixing, though it is the wrong buy for 4K or HDR workflows of any kind. It is equally the pick for solo streamers running multiple cameras who need live switching without a PC-based switcher. Avoid it for simple single-source game capture, where a plain capture card is cheaper. The Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB suits casual, non-competitive HDMI recording on a tight budget, though it is not the pick for competitive gaming, given the passthrough lag typical of this tier and 4K or HDR capture of any kind. The same goes for same-day, in-store purchases when you need a capture card right now. Our rating of the Roland VR-1HD (7/10): A genuinely useful hardware switcher/mixer for solo multi-cam streamers. Skip it if you just need a single-source capture card, since it's overbuilt and pricier for that job. Our rating of the Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB (4/10): A generic budget dongle whose main selling point is being on a physical store shelf. Fine in a pinch, not worth seeking out online over cheaper alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Roland VR-1HD and Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB differ on form factor?
Yes. Form Factor reads External USB on the Roland VR-1HD versus Camera Dongle on the Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB.
Is the Max Recording Resolution the same on the Roland VR-1HD and Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB?
It is. Both are listed at 1080p60, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- Roland VR-1HD
- External USB
- Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB Capture Card
- Camera Dongle
Brand
- Roland VR-1HD
- Roland
- Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB Capture Card
- Vivitar
Model Number
- Roland VR-1HD
- VR-1HD
- Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB Capture Card
- VIVRW7310
Connection Type
- Roland VR-1HD
- USB 3.0
- Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB Capture Card
- USB 3.0 / USB-C
Max Recording Resolution
- Roland VR-1HD
- 1080p60
- Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB Capture Card
- 1080p60
Passthrough Resolution
- Roland VR-1HD
- 1080p60
- Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB Capture Card
- 1080p (loop-through)
HDR Support
- Roland VR-1HD
- No
- Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB Capture Card
- No
Latency
- Roland VR-1HD
- 20 msBest
- Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB Capture Card
- 130 ms-550%
Which one should you pick?
Choose Roland VR-1HD if you want the lower latency (20 ms vs 130 ms).
Choose Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB Capture Card if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | Roland VR-1HD | Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB Capture Card |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
Roland VR-1HD
7 / 10 Expert Rating
A genuinely useful hardware switcher/mixer for solo multi-cam streamers.
Vivitar Creator Series HDMI to USB Capture Card
4 / 10 Expert Rating
A generic budget dongle whose main selling point is being on a physical store shelf.