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As a tech reviewer, I often look for items to help me take product photos or game captures. Of course, budget and quality are essential. Since I use Genki’s two separate items when taking video from consoles or handheld devices, I decided to do a single review of them.
What’s in the Box:
A) Covert Dock 2
- Covert Dock 2 Device
- USB-C 3.2 Cable
- Set of 3 Global Adapters
B) ShadowCast 2
- ShadowCast 2 Capture Device
- USB-C 3.2 Cable
Enter the Covert Dock 2
Although these two products are sold separately, they work well together. We start with the Covert Dock 2, a replacement for the Nintendo Switch Dock. The Covert Dock 2 has many advantages over the Nintendo Dock.
A great advantage is its portability. The Covert Dock 2 is the same size as a cell phone charger, making it easier to take with your handheld console device.
This dock is compatible with various handheld consoles, including the Nintendo Switch and the Steam Deck, as well as computers, tablets, and smartphones. It can output video at a resolution of up to 4K at 60Hz.
To use it, unfold the prongs and plug them into any electrical outlet. Then, plug your console device into the USB-C input and an HDMI cable into the video output. Finally, plug the other end of the HDMI cable into a TV, projector, or monitor to display the video from your console.
The Covert Dock 2 also includes a USB-A input to connect a wired controller, wireless controller dongle, keyboard, USB Drive, and other devices.
And now the ShadowCast 2
The ShadowCast 2 is AMAZING! It’s such a small device, the size of a 2.4g dongle for a controller, and it is straightforward to set up and operate. All you do is plug the ShadowCast 2 into the HDMI output of any PlayStation or Xbox and then plug the included USB-C 3.2 to any USB-C 3.0+ port on a Mac or PC. That’s it!
This device is plug-and-play, requiring no drivers to install. It captures 1440P video at 30 FPS and 1080P at 60 FPS for high-definition recording. You can use it to stream on multiple platforms, such as Twitch and YouTube.
The ShadowCast 2 is compatible with video capture software like OBS or Xsplit. Genki also offers its software with Genki Arcade, available on the Mac App Store.
With our powers combined!
You can use the ShadowCast 2 with the Covert Dock 2 to video-capture your handheld device, such as your Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck, for streaming, editing, and uploading to YouTube. You can also take screenshots using Genki Arcade. This is a valuable tool for becoming a reviewer or streamer.
Screenshots
These screenshots were taken using the Covert Dock 2 and the ShadowCast 2 with my Nintendo Switch. The capture software was the Genki Arcade app.
Drawbacks
The Covert Dock 2 can support many devices, such as a USB Drive, wired controller, wireless dongle, keyboard, etc. Yet, you can’t connect an SSD enclosure like the Genki SavePoint to the USB port. If you have some games on the SSD, you won’t be able to play them using the dock. The best thing to do is to transfer the game to your Steam Deck internal memory to play it with the Covert Dock 2.
Conclusion
I love these devices, alone or combined, for capturing video for my Steam Deck or Switch. They’re easy to use and small enough to put in your bag. You can’t go wrong with the Covert Dock 2 and the Shadowcast 2. Highly recommended!
GENKI Covert Dock 2 & ShadowCast 2
