Setting Up Genki ShadowCast with OBS & Genki Arcade

Here's a comprehensive tutorial on how to set up your Genki ShadowCast 1 & 2, the Pro version, and how to make it work with our recommended capture card apps:

1. Unbox and Inspect Your ShadowCast:

- ShadowCast 1: Ensure you have the ShadowCast 1 device, the Genki USB-C 2.0 cable, and any included documentation.
- ShadowCast 2: Ensure you have the ShadowCast 2 device, the Genki USB-C 3.2 cable, and any included documentation.
- ShadowCast 2 Pro: Ensure you have the ShadowCast 2 Pro device, the Genki USB-C 3.2 cable, the included HDMI cable and any included documentation.

2. Connect ShadowCast to Your Devices

For Nintendo Switch and Switch OLED:

- Ensure your Nintendo Switch or Switch OLED is docked and connected
- Take your JoyCons out

Important: To capture video at 1440p30 resolution, make sure your device has a USB-C 3.2 port (ShadowCast 1 does not support 1440p30)

For PS4 & PS5:

- Ensure that HDCP  (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) is disabled first -> see here a comprehensive guide on how to bypass HDCP: Unlocking HDCP Guide

3. Open your favorite app
Use a capture card or webcam app, and all of these will have various different settings - but essentially you will need to select ‘ShadowCast 2’ as the video/camera input source and ‘ShadowCast 2’ as the audio/mic input source. You’ll also usually be able to set the resolution and framerate - we recommend 1080p60 generally as the best balance of smooth fast gameplay and quality.

Don't forget to allow access to your camera and microphone on your device when asked.

If you like to use our Genki Arcade App (suitable for just gaming on your laptop or iPad & basic recording):For Mac or Windows

- Download the Genki Arcade app from the ShadowCast 2 page.
- Install the software by following the on-screen instructions.

For iPad:
        - Download the 'Genki Studio' app from the App Store.

Try the Browser Version of Genki Arcade:
If you prefer not to install additional software, you can use our browser-based version of Genki Arcade to play directly from your web browser. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Open Your Web Browser:

• Use any modern web browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Safari) for the best experience.

2. Visit the Genki Arcade Website:

• Go to https://arcade.genkithings.com

3. Authorize Device Access:

• When prompted, authorize your web browser to access your camera and microphone. This will allow the browser to display the video and sound feed from your console.

4. Start Playing:

•  Once everything is set up, you can start playing your console games directly in the browser. 

Using OBS Studio (for more advanced capturing & streaming)

To set up your Genki ShadowCast with OBS (Open Broadcaster Software), you'll experience one of the best ways to capture and stream gameplay, allowing you to turn your console experience into high-quality content. OBS is a free, open-source software ideal for capturing video and audio from various sources, including the ShadowCast. Only for Mac, Windows or Linux users. 

This guide will show you how to connect and use the ShadowCast 2 with OBS software, using a Nintendo Switch in docked mode (max resolution 1080p) as an example. Our ShadowCast 1 and ShadowCast 2 Pro capture cards support different maximum resolutions, so it’s important to choose the right device for your console. All our capture cards work seamlessly with various consoles, which have their own resolution limits, making them ideal for recording and streaming gameplay across different devices:

- Download and install OBS Studio from the official OBS website. 
- Open OBS Studio and add a new 'Capture Card Device' source.

- Select "ShadowCast 2" from the list of available devices.
- Choose '1920x1080' or lower as your resolution.
- Select input format 'YUY2 - 422YpCbCr8_yuvs' first

- Then choose your frame rate as 'Simple FPS values' & '60'
- The console screen should appear now on OBS

- Next step will be adding an Audio Input Source.
- Add a new device and name it 'ShadowCast 2 Audio'

- Select "ShadowCast 2" from the list of available devices.

- Then go to your Audio Mixer, click on the 3 dots of your 'ShadowCast 2 Audio' and select 'Advanced Audio Properties'. 

- You should have now your game screen and audio working. Go into Full Screen mode by right clicking on the game capture screen, and select 'Full-Screen Projector (Preview)' and select your screen.

Keep in mind that OBS offers a lot more advanced features, such as live streaming, custom overlays, and recording, but this guide focuses on just playing your console directly on your laptop.

4. Enjoy Your Setup
With everything configured, you should now be able to play your console games on your computer or iPad screen and stream or record your gameplay easily.