gopro video editing

[grim]

I need help from the gopro guru's im making a video for the memorial ride that was held today and i would like to make it in 720p hd since its an important video. However on my mac it takes forever to transfer the hd video onto the computer then i have to transfer it to my editing software which also takes forever.

ayone know of a faster way to edit in hd and get it to youtube quickly?

[Clovis]

Rendering in higher resolution just takes longer period. Aside from a faster machine there's no way around that. You could render a low res and high res version.

[vort3xr6]

Faster computer. What program are you using? I have a lot of success with Sony Vegas pro.

[grim]

using a macbook the editing software im using is imovie

[spideyrdr]

Avidemux is good at dumping out raw clips from the GoPro source videos, which would then be pulled into whatever editor you're using. So basically you dump out the clips you need from the day (probably a small percentage of the original video) and you have a LOT less to mess with. It's available for the Mac, I have used it on both Windows and Ubuntu and it's quite easy to use.

[Concabar]

I have been using Windows Movie Maker, I know that wouldn't apply to you since you are a Mac user. They do have a specific editor for the GoPros, it is like 70 bucks I believe.

[Clovis]

I also like Sony Vegas. I used to make a lot of PvP videos, especially when I multiboxed in WOW (Bring out your inner nerd).

[Clovis]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YW2K8hDAT8

[fiveninerzero]

Transfer speeds are a bottleneck, you are going to have to set aside some part of your day regardless as others have said. Also, the rendering itself is going to take a while unless you have some serious raw CPU muscle.

[vort3xr6]

Network rendering FTW!!!

[DevilsTonic]

A faster machine (memory / CPU) will help, but you'll still have delays transferring the video. Best to get a cup of coffee, watch some porn or meditate. It takes a good 20 minutes to transfer / render video on my iMac too. It's just one of those things that I've learned to start the transfer and just come back to it later. :)

I've just started using Adobe Premier Pro to edit video. iMovie just doesn't have all of the features I'm looking for.

[TL MILLER]

sony vegas 9

[asp_125]

Related question. Slow motion sequences, is that a feature of vegas pro, premiere, or any of the software you're using, or do I have to capture it first using the 60fps setting on the Gopro & then post process it at 30fps?

[vort3xr6]

Related question. Slow motion sequences, is that a feature of vegas pro, premiere, or any of the software you're using, or do I have to capture it first using the 60fps setting on the Gopro & then post process it at 30fps?


There are a couple options. In Sony Vegas you can toss a velocity envelope on there, but you will only slow down video, not audio. I forget the key, but if you hold down Ctrl and drag the video, it "stretches" the video and slows it down. However, unless you are filming in 60 fps, it won't come out right.

The proper way to do it is to film in 720p 60fps. Slow the video down to 30fps and you have beautiful slow mo. Render that video at 30fps and add it to your new project with the rest of the non slow mo footy.

[ghostrider_9]

You can speed up or slow a video in Premier Pro, regardless of the speed it was shot. But, vort3xr6 hit the nail on the head. If you want the best quality slow speed sequence, then you have to shoot it with that in mind. You also have to be aware of how the clip is imported . . .

[asp_125]

... You also have to be aware of how the clip is imported . . .
?? Care to elaborate?

The sequences I have in mind are like where a motocrosser approaches the jump at normal speed and then launches into the air in slo mo.

[ghostrider_9]

When it comes to things like that, it truly depends upon how the video is shot as to how much it can be slowed and the resulting quality. Depending on the type of program you are using, when you import the clip into the program, it generally adjusts the clip for the output type that you have selected when you start the process.

In Premier Pro, when you import the clip, it retains it's original input properties until you add it to the project you are working on. Then it adjusts accordingly. If you stretch the time then it can use the additional information to create a more fluid video. If you stretch it past the capabilities of how it was shot, the video will seem a bit jumpy. For this reason, if you know that you are planning on slowing the time frame, it is best to adjust how the video is captured. Conversely, if you compress the time span you have the option of how the program drops frames or clips them.

The shots that you see something approach in real speed, then change into the slow-mo shots are either shot in high frame rate video or they are only adjusted a little to create the visual effect they are trying to attain.

[vort3xr6]

^^ What he said. I have Sony Vegas configured to always start projects with the exact GoPro capturing settings. My render settings are set up to exactly what Youtube likes.

GoPro by default deals with a difficult file structure. GoPro records in H.264 video and AAC audio inside an MP4 container. They do this for storage reasons because H.264 and MP4 containers have high compression methods. The downside to this, is that they are not easy to edit. Windows Movie Maker and others will import them as AVI's, and export them as AVI's, and YouTube converts them back to MP4's. The more times you convert a file, the less quality you get on output, so I try to keep things as simple as possible with GoPro files.

[Ricky]

Copying directly from the camera to the computer is the slowest method possible. Get a USB SD card reader that is capable of class 6+ data speeds. Even my POS reader copies video files off the card like 3 times as fast as plugging in the camera and copying. Seriously, that shit takes FOREVER.

If your editing software must convert the video, there might be settings to avoid that. I use Premiere Pro, and while it needs to render the files, it doesn't convert them. Conversion usually leads to quality loss.