iPad 4 lightning HDMI adapter does not output 1080p video

Question

Level 1

0 points

iPad 4 lightning HDMI adapter does not output 1080p video

I'm trying to record video with my iPad.

I am using the Apple Lightning Digital AV Adapter and I am trying to record 1080p video. All edges are fuzzy and small text is nearly unreadable which is extremely frustrating considering the price of the adapter.

I'm recording video on my computer using an Elgato HD60 capture card. Now, before we consider that third party software/hardware might be the issue, I will say that I also connected my iPad directly into a 1080p tv, bypassing all third party software and programs resulting in, the same issue. Streaming video quality was blurry and far from the quality one would expect with a 1080p resolution

I've tried using another HDMI cable and my iPad has the latest iOS software.

How can I fix this?

iPad (4th gen) Wi-Fi, iOS 9.2.1

Posted on Mar 11, 2016 7:05 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Mar 18, 2016 11:29 PM in response to Jerry Desmul

Thanks I was doing the same until a week ago.

I know it that it isn't the iPad itself because I've tried with couple of iPad and iPhones.

I mostly think that its somewhat of iOS bug like the GameCenter if your having it.

Its the quality is 720p (SD 6-1-6) instead of the previous 1080p (HD 1-1-1) or even 720p (HD 1-1-1)

You can try google SD vs HD and see if thats issue with you also but I'm pretty sure its the same.

I found a bug that I'm able to get 720p (HD 1-1-1) but I'm not sure if it will work for you also.

Try and updating Elgato into couple of betas versions or going back previous versions, I'm currently with the latest beta.

First you need to plug the iPad into the Lighting Adapter into PC etc. and after that you wait around 1m and then you start GameCapture HD.

I've tried doing this way before it didn't work but I guess with latest beta its working but be aware that I've experienced few crashes of the software but recording is saved in the folder.

I'm really curious before when you got 1080p quality did you had black bars around the video?

I pull the videos directly from the folders and I always had these big black bars around it.

Any tips of how I can fix that issue?

I've contacted a Apple iOS Advisor and explained this problem and even send screenshots of 720p quality bugs etc. and I'm supposed to get a answer next weeks.

Reply

Answer 2

MichelPM

Level 10

81,535 points

Mar 11, 2016 9:35 PM in response to Jerry Desmul

Are you recording video using the iPad 4’s back camera?

What quality is the source material?

Recording quality is only as good as the source material you are trying to record.

Maybe what you are trying to record is less than 1080p material?

Reply

Answer 3

Jerry Desmul Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 12, 2016 11:38 AM in response to MichelPM

I'm attempting to recording the screen from my iPad 4 with an elgato HD60 capture card on my computer. My iPad is plugged into a lightning HDMI adapter which is plugged into an Elgato HD60 capture card with the HDMI cable and the capture card is plugged into a USB 2.0 port.

Originally, I thought the issue may be with the software settings, or perhaps my computer, or even the capture card itself. I also considered it may be an issue with the HDMI cable or the lignting adapter. So amidst the many hours playing with all these different settings and configurations, I ultimately just tried plugging my iPad 4 directly into a 1080p TV. Low and behold, the quality was just as poor meaning, the issue has nothing to do with my computer, the software, or the capture card.

When I plug my iPad 4 into the TV, the only components being used are, my iPad, the lightning adapter and the HDMI cable. Now, I've already tried two other HDMI cables and replaced my lightning adapter today.

By process of elimination based on the troubleshooting explained above, the only common denominator at this point is the iPad itself. Is there a setting or anything on the iPad 4 that would prevent it from outputting 1080p quality? It's running iOS 9.2.1.

With about $300 in equipment and 10+ hours trying to figure out the issues with the output quality, I'm really at a loss here.

Reply

Answer 4

LACAllen

Level 8

43,590 points

Mar 12, 2016 12:07 PM in response to Jerry Desmul

FYI... not sure if you've seen these options.

http://www.tekrevue.com/tip/record-iphone-screen-quicktime/

http://www.airsquirrels.com/reflector/record-iphone-screen/

Reply

Answer 5

MichelPM

Level 10

81,535 points

Mar 12, 2016 12:46 PM in response to Jerry Desmul

I use an iPad 2 and 3 and the video output through the 30 PIN AV adapter looks fine on my 50 inch flat screen.

Are you using a quality HDMI cable?

Have you tried a different HDMI cable?

Are you sure your TV is capable of 1080p and not 720p?

Older flat screen TVs came in 720p models.

Reply

Answer 6

Jerry Desmul Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 12, 2016 12:49 PM in response to LACAllen

I have seen those, but the quality is very poor compared to using the Elgato capture card. The content is intended for use for a YouTube channel so quality is really important to me however, the quality being output by my iPad seems lower than it should be.

Reply

Answer 7

Mar 18, 2016 10:30 AM in response to Jerry Desmul

I know what your talking about.

I'm using Elgato and doing it for YouTube also and this problem is bothering me.

What's your YouTube?

I've tried mostly everything you could think of and there isn't anything to fix it.

There aren't any settings on iPad for the resolutions I've checked on different iOS's and this problem is also on iOS 8 and 9.

I've had this problem for almost 3 months, when did you noticed it?

Reply

Answer 8

Jerry Desmul Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 18, 2016 5:56 PM in response to Rex Harper

Hey Rex, I've got somewhat of a solution for you.

It turns out that the Elgato capture wasn't the problem, neither was any of my hardware with the exception of possibly the iPad itself. I'll also admit that it wasn't an issue with the adapter either. I really have no idea what the problem is, but I did find a solution to at least be able to produce 1080p quality video.

After recording, (as terrible as the details still look), I edit the recording in Sony Vegas Pro and applying the following filters:

- Studio RGB to computer RGB

- Sharpness

- Contrast

While the quality is still trash when directly plugging my iPad to a 1080p monitor/TV, editing the color and what not seems to fix the issue. I'm not sure how it all works, but it seems the issue lies in the image type the iPad is spitting out and what the monitor/TV is picking up.

Like I said, it's not necessarily a fix as the initial quality should be of 1080p quality without the editing, but it's a working solution to the issue I'm experiencing.

Reply