I don't know if you know this but the input of this has to be a console not another computer. Its to record games from consoles, uncompressed hdmi that consoles feed to tv's/monitors. Where it says "works with pc/mac" means you can use a pc or mac to stream or record the video to. These systems don't work pc/mac to pc/mac (or shouldnt). If you want a pc to pc recorder you need a pci-e lane version installed in a PC or a Mac tower, or go with a different company made for this purpose. Example your playing Pokemon on Nintendo Switch Docked to your tv. You input the hdmi from the docked switch to the elgato, then the output hdmi to the tv, then the usb line to your macbook. The streaming/video is on the macbook, the game is live on the tv with no interruptions, and your computer does the processing. The output of your macbook is at retina and compressed I think, compared to a console that doesn't do that going to a tv. Just a hunch since uses say best with: PS4, Xbox One X/S, Switch. It also says the 60 s in here is the bitrate, which is 60 mbps. Your macbook outputs to high of a resolution in its hdmi port i think. If you want to record a macbook you need the 400 dollar stand alone Elgato 4K60 S+ which records to its own memory card, without a pc/mac. That way the around 4k output of your macbook gets recorded by the device itself and put on memory card to then transfer back to the macbook and edit the video. ^That still might not record a macbook. Computers don't need external recorders generally they are powerful enough to use their own screen capture software like OBS. If you need computer recording off a system look up how to make Duel Streaming setups with 2 pcs, some use capture cards but they use higher end ones often used for sports broadcasters etc. I just think this little elgato insides aren't beefy enough for anything but industry standard consoles which result in it freezing and lagging as the internal codec is panicking to keep up.
I don't know if you know this but the input of this has to be a console not another computer. Its to record games from consoles, uncompressed hdmi that consoles feed to tv's/monitors. Where it says "works with pc/mac" means you can use a pc or mac to stream or record the video to. These systems don't work pc/mac to pc/mac (or shouldnt). If you want a pc to pc recorder you need a pci-e lane version installed in a PC or a Mac tower, or go with a different company made for this purpose.
Example your playing Pokemon on Nintendo Switch Docked to your tv. You input the hdmi from the docked switch to the elgato, then the output hdmi to the tv, then the usb line to your macbook. The streaming/video is on the macbook, the game is live on the tv with no interruptions, and your computer does the processing.
The output of your macbook is at retina and compressed I think, compared to a console that doesn't do that going to a tv.
Just a hunch since uses say best with: PS4, Xbox One X/S, Switch.
It also says the 60 s in here is the bitrate, which is 60 mbps. Your macbook outputs to high of a resolution in its hdmi port i think. If you want to record a macbook you need the 400 dollar stand alone
Elgato 4K60 S+
which records to its own memory card, without a pc/mac. That way the around 4k output of your macbook gets recorded by the device itself and put on memory card to then transfer back to the macbook and edit the video.
^That still might not record a macbook.
Computers don't need external recorders generally they are powerful enough to use their own screen capture software like OBS. If you need computer recording off a system look up how to make Duel Streaming setups with 2 pcs, some use capture cards but they use higher end ones often used for sports broadcasters etc.
I just think this little elgato insides aren't beefy enough for anything but industry standard consoles which result in it freezing and lagging as the internal codec is panicking to keep up.
This is the most helpful comment I've ever received. Thank you for all this information. I appreciate it :)