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macOS Setup

The Pengo 4K HDMI Grabber is plug-and-play on macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) and later. No drivers needed — it shows up in the camera and microphone pickers of every app.

!!! info "The macOS OBS guide confirms the device name The official PENGO 4K HDMI Grabber — OBS Setting Quick Guide — MacOS (Pengo, 2019) shows the device as Pengo HDMI Grabber in the macOS OBS source properties. Use that exact string when picking the device."

  1. Install OBS Studio from https://obsproject.com/download.
  2. Sources dock → + → Video Capture Device.
  3. Rename the source (e.g. Pengo), click OK.
  4. In Properties → Device: Pengo HDMI Grabber.
  5. Resolution/preset: 1920×720 (the default OBS picks is fine) or switch to Custom → 1920×1080 / 60 fps.
  6. Click OK.

For audio:

  1. Audio Mixer → click the cog ⚙ → Properties.
  2. Pick Pengo HDMI Grabber as the device.
  3. Optionally: Audio Mixer → cog ⚙ → Advanced Audio Properties and set the Pengo's audio monitoring to "Monitor and Output" so you hear the source in your headphones too.

Option B: VLC

  1. Download VLC: https://www.videolan.org/index.html
  2. File → Open Capture Device... (⇧⌘R).
  3. Tick Video, choose Pengo HDMI Grabber from the dropdown.
  4. Tick Audio, choose Pengo HDMI Grabber from the dropdown.
  5. Click Open.

Newer VLC versions may not work

The Pengo manual notes that newer VLC builds sometimes have trouble with the grabber. If you hit a black preview or audio failure, fall back to QuickTime (below) or OBS.

Option C: QuickTime

  1. Open QuickTime Player.
  2. File → New Movie Recording (⌃⌥⌘N).
  3. Next to the record button, click the dropdown.
  4. Camera: Pengo HDMI Grabber.
  5. Microphone: Pengo HDMI Grabber (this picks up both the HDMI-embedded audio and the 3.5 mm mic input).
  6. Press the record button.

What to expect

  • 1080p60 preview, YUYV or MJPG depending on what the device advertises
  • Audio at 48 kHz / 16-bit
  • ~no perceptible latency for live monitoring

What won't work

  • ❌ HDCP-protected sources
  • ❌ 1080i sources
  • ❌ 4K capture over USB (loop only)

USB-C Macs

If your Mac only has USB-C / Thunderbolt ports, use a short passive USB-A to USB-C adapter at the computer end. Active adapters and hubs are reported as problematic — see Troubleshooting →.

Next: Linux →