Record DSLR or Webcam in Native 4K

Record any connected camera (DSLR, mirrorless, webcam, iPhone, or Android) at its full native resolution, straight to your desktop. For Free. No Watermark. 

Your Camera Resolution Is Bottlenecked By Screen Size

Most desktop apps don’t record your camera feed directly. Instead, they capture the on-screen preview of your camera. (It's like taking a screenshot of a video instead of saving the video itself.) With screen recorders like Loom it locks in lower resolution. 

• 4K webcam + 1080p monitor = 1080p recording at best
• Color data loss: Your camera's rich color space gets flattened to your monitor's limited range

TimeBolt's Native Source Recording is a Breakthrough

TimeBolt’s Camera-Only Source feature captures your camera directly at native resolution. Whether it's a DSLR via Cam Link, Android via DroidCam, or a simple Logitech webcam. We record directly from the camera source, whatever your operating system recognizes. That includes:

• Built-in or USB webcams

• DSLRs or iPhones to a 4k capture card (like Elgato Cam Link)

• Android to Windows using apps like DroidCam

*Unfortunately, iPhones only record native 4k on device. That's an Apple limitation. Even with Elgato Camlink 4k, USBC to HDMI adapter, and Filmic Pro 6 for a clean digital signal out; output is limited to 1920 x 1080. To record 4K resolution native in TimeBolt you need a DSLR or mirrorless camera. 

Open TimeBolt → choose Camera Only → pick your camera and audio input→ Crop Resolution → hit Record.

You Get:

• Full-resolution face cam footage

• No loss in color, sharpness, or timing

• A file that’s instantly editable in TimeBolt

What Happens if Video and Audio Out of Sync?

If you record with a DSLR and external audio source this is quite common. And we have the fix. This is how prior to recording:

Go to 'Settings', go to 'Audio Delay', and try a value of .3. That universally seems to fix the issue. If you add a delay, you may need to take it off based on how you record. Find if a delay is added under 'Audio' in TimeBolt's controller. 

Combine with Smart Crop for Multi-Platform Output

Smart Crop™ automatically crops your screen recording to standard aspect ratios; 16:9 for YouTube, 1:1 for Instagram, and 9:16 for TikTok or Shorts. When used together:

• Record PowerPoint or Keynote full screen on Macbooks with zero black bars

• Record your slides or screen with auto-cropped framing

• Export in vertical, square, or widescreen 

Whether you're delivering a course, making Shorts, or sending a video message to your team, you now get a pixel-perfect result. Zero extra editing. And it's free. 

Connect Your Phone Natively

Android on Windows

The best resource we can find to turn Android into a webcam on Windows is DroidCam app. Install the DroidCam mobile app on your phone and the DroidCam Client on your PC. You can connect via Wi-Fi (same network) or use a USB cable for higher quality and stability. Once connected, select “DroidCam” as your webcam source in apps like TimeBolt. USB gives you a cleaner feed with less compression, perfect for vertical or square camera-only recordings.

 iPhone on Mac

iPhones are limited to 1080P in HDMI out.  You’ll need an iPhone with a USB-C port, a USB-C to HDMI adapter that supports video output, an HDMI cable, a 4K capture card like the Elgato Cam Link, and a Mac running TimeBolt Capture. Even though the capture card is 4K capable, remember: your iPhone will only send a 1080p mirrored signal.

How to Set It Up

First, plug the USB-C to HDMI adapter into your iPhone. Then connect the HDMI cable between the adapter and your capture card. Finally, plug the capture card into your Mac.

By default, your iPhone will mirror its entire screen—including the home bar, focus box, and battery icon—so to get a clean feed, use an app like Filmic Pro that supports clean HDMI output. Open the app, turn on clean HDMI mode, and switch to video mode. Now your iPhone is sending a clean digital signal to your computer. 

Recording in TimeBolt Capture

Open TimeBolt Capture and select “Cam Link 4K” as your video source. You’ll see the clean feed from your iPhone in full 1080p resolution. While it’s not 4K, the quality is still exceptional, especially when compared to webcam previews or screen recording-based camera emulation.

Why Use a Capture Card Setup?

While iPhones don’t output native 4K in real time, this setup still gives you the best possible live video quality from an iPhone. Combined with TimeBolt Capture’s Smart Crop, camera switching, and offline recording, it’s an easy upgrade for anyone serious about video.

TimeBolt’s Screen Recorder Is Free And Save Without Watermark

 Here’s what’s included: