Capture sources

The video source is what Atlas watches. Atlas reads video from a capture card connected to your PC, or from an Xbox or PlayStation Remote Play stream.

Pre-release documentation: this page describes Atlas for Windows as built from source in September 2026, before public release. Labels and behavior can change before release.

Choose a video source

In the main window, find the Connections card.
Open the video source list and pick your capture card, PlayStation Remote Play or Xbox Remote Play.
Choose an output device and a controller. See Controllers and output devices.
Select Start. The preview shows Waiting for video until the first frame arrives, then the live picture.

The list refreshes when you plug in or remove a capture card, and each time you open it.
A Remote Play entry appears only after that console is set up. See Remote Play.
While a session is running, the video source and the output device are locked. Select Stop to change them. You can change the controller at any time.

Capture cards

Atlas works with capture cards that Windows lists as video capture devices. Each card appears in the list by its device name, for example Capture Card: Game Capture HD60 X.

What Atlas does	Details
Resolution and frame rate	Atlas asks for up to 1920×1080 at 120 frames per second. If the card refuses 120 fps, Atlas uses the best mode the card offers.
Video formats	Resolution and frame rate come first. Between modes that are otherwise equal, Atlas prefers uncompressed formats over compressed ones such as MJPG.
Repeated frames	When a 120 Hz card captures a 60 fps game, Atlas skips most repeated frames, while still passing one on at least every 250 ms.
Audio	Atlas does not use audio from a capture card. Keep using your usual audio setup.
Graphics	Capture needs a graphics card that supports Direct3D 11.

Tip: close other apps that are using the capture card, such as the card's own capture software or streaming software. Most cards can only be opened by one app at a time.

Remote Play video and audio

With a Remote Play source, the console streams video and audio to Atlas over your network. The stream settings (resolution, frame rate and bitrate) are part of the Remote Play setup.

Open the Audio card in the sidebar to choose where you hear the console and which microphone is sent for party and game chat. You can change them while a session is running; they are remembered for Remote Play sessions.

Auto plays console sound through your controller if it has its own audio device, for example a DualSense connected with USB, and otherwise through the Windows default device. The microphone works the same way.
Atlas does not mute the microphone when a session starts.
Xbox Remote Play does not send your microphone in this version.

Changes apply right away.

Preview controls

Save frame saves the current picture as a PNG file. Atlas suggests a name like Atlas Preview 2026-09-16 14-05-00.png in your Pictures folder, and you choose where to save it.
Pause freezes the preview; Resume continues it.
The tiles above the preview show capture frames per second (CAP FPS), CPU and GPU use, and GPU TEMP. Select the temperature to switch between °C and °F.

Screen and window capture

Atlas cannot capture your desktop or an app window in this version, so it can't use games running on this PC. It works with console games through a capture card or Remote Play.

If there is no video

What you see	What to do
Capture Card (none detected)	Windows does not see a capture card. Reconnect it, try another USB port, and install the manufacturer's driver. The list updates by itself when the card appears.
Select a detected capture card before starting.	Choose your card in the video source list, then select Start.
DirectShow could not open the selected capture card	Another app is probably using the card. Close it and try again.
…the capture card did not deliver video frames.	The card opened but sent no picture within five seconds, so the session stopped. Check that the console is on and the HDMI cable is connected. On a PlayStation, turn off HDCP in the console's settings.
Waiting for video does not go away with Remote Play	See Remote Play problems.
Remote Play frame bridge could not create a D3D11 device.	Update your graphics driver. Remote Play video needs Direct3D 11.

More fixes are in Troubleshooting.