Go Pro tips and tricks

[carbuff]

Best GoPro mount available today

http://www.rammount.com/Products/Cam...0/Default.aspx

Lance,



Did you order this from an online source, or do you know if any of the big box type stores carry them? I'm looking to purchase a camera before my autox this weekend, and would then need a mount to attach it....

Thanx!

[TheJDMan]

Well I'm using the smartphone app to control my Hero 3 Black. Just to clear up any confusion, the Hero 3 Black comes with a separate remote control WiFi fob. With the phone app there is no longer a need for the remote to control the camera.

Anyway, I record a road video shooting through the windshield at 1080 30fps and 720 60fps. I convert these files in GoPro Cineform and then export them in what it calls a YouTube friendly format. The output video quality is what I would refer to as WAVY in that it looks like waves horizontally across the screen during playback. I'm wondering what everyone is using for the best setting to record at and what is the best export resolution. I just can't seem to get a smooth playback. I have see a reference to GoPro Cineform and GoPro Studio are these two different editing programs?

[SSLance]

Is it wavy when played on youtube or when you just play it back on your PC?

I've had Youtube do weird things to HD videos I've uploaded and had them playback better after dumbing down the resolution to 780p. Just a thought.

Bryan, I bought my Ram Mounts on Amazon, not sure if local stores carry them or not. Best Buy would be my first shot if any.

[lzdick]

I see GoPro now offers a GoPro4...any thoughts?

[TheJDMan]

Lance,
To date I have not uploaded anything to Youtube. The wavy playback on on my PC. Are there more than one GoPro editing softwares? Is there something better on the market for free or cheap?

[ModernMuseum]

I see GoPro now offers a GoPro4...any thoughts?

If I were going to buy new, I would opt for the Hero 4 just because it will shoot 1080p are higher frame rates. Also, now that 4k TV's are becoming the norm, it looks like that is going to be the standard for a while. If you're going to do any slomo shots and make them look good (assuming you are going to slow them way down), you'll need to shoot at least 120fps. I have a Hero 3 Black and it does a good job. Lots of the videos you see on youtube which have a lot of slomo footage were actually recorded in 720p to get 120fps and then up-scaled to 1080p. Although there is a lot of good qualities to the Hero 4, I'll probably wait until the 5 comes out (4k at 120fps?) to upgrade my Hero 3 Black. Again, to appreciate 4k, you're going to need a 4K TV. Editing 4k footage also takes a toll on your PC, so make sure you're prepared in that regard as well.

If your intention is to make awesome GoPro videos like the ones you see online, the key things is to get footage from a lot of different angles: e.g. on cars - on your hood, on your windshield, down by your tire, attached to your helmet, attached to your shifter, shots of your gauges etc. One thing that you'll start to notice once you get into editing is that the best videos switch angles every 5-10 seconds or less. For this, you'll obviously need multiple attachments. If you don't have multiple cameras, you're going to need to do that burnout two or three or ten times to get all the angles you want

Start with GoPro Studio and get the basics of editing. Once you get the hang of this, you may want to graduate to a program like Adobe Premiere where you can do advanced editing, such as advanced slo-mo, transitions between shots, advanced coloring, etc.

Another thing with regards to editing: try and keep all your different types of footage into different folders. If you have time, name the files appropriately. This will help you later when editing.

[carbuff]

I found a couple of Hero 3+ Black cameras for sale locally last week, so I picked them both up. I also managed to find a local dealer for the Ram mounts whom I was able to purchase 2 mounts from. I was a little frustrated when I figured out that I couldn't control 2 cameras from the GoPro App at the same time, but I learned that using the App to set them up and then the remote to turn them on and off worked perfectly.

I did capture my runs this weekend, and I screwed up and selected the wrong resolution for the camera on the top of the car. I used 1440p, and I should have instead used a 1080p with the wide field of view I think. It took me a while to get everything working the way I wanted the first time through the GoPro Studio software, but now that I have done it, it's pretty straightforward.

Lance, thanx for the pointer to the Ram mounts. And thanx to everyone for the tips. If anyone wants to see my first efforts, here is a link to my YouTube videos.

My runs at COTA autocross

[SSLance]

Pretty good for your first efforts. Not sure why the roof cam videos are so quiet, but the speakers on this laptop suck. I like the camera in the middle of the roof on those, makes me feel like I'm riding on the roof when watching.

The RAM mounts are cool aren't they. Glad you found some local. They make it so much easier than with the GoPro mounts.

That course scared me though, all of those trailers right there... That wasn't an SCCA ran event for sure.

[carbuff]

Thanx Lance. Those trailers weren't as close as they may have looked. And the only point in which we were directed at them was plenty far away. There was a curb to the parking lot to hit first. :\ The course was actually pretty good but had some surprising bumps that weren't obvious during the walkthrough. And it was really interesting some of the spots which people had trouble with when I was working it...

I didn't want to mount the camera in the center because I would have had to attach the suction cup to the stripes. I didn't think that was safe. In hindsight, I should have just put it on top of the center of the windshield, and I may do that next time. It wouldn't be an issue since it would be behind the mirror there. I'll also try it on the front spoiler sometime for some real action shots. (it would have been abused by a cone or two from my co-driver at this event!)

Yes, the Ram mounts are great. I debated getting the rollbar mount, and I may get it later. I'll try some various positions to decide where I like the camera the most...

[SSLance]

I really like to put my camera on the driver side rear quarter window pointing forward. That lets you get the course in front, side of the car, possibly some of the front tire, plus you can see what the driver is doing inside the window.

I also built a deal to hang mine from where my dome light used to be pointing forward. Can see out the windshield plus eveything that is going on in the front seats. Just a couple of ideas...

[Mik3ymomo]

I also use the GoPro editing software and it's easy to use. I have a Hero 3+ Black and recently made my first video. I kept the clips short and dropped the music in. It's a learning experience and my editing isn't the best but I think it's a good first try.
I ran into a dead battery quick so the end is somewhat anti climactic.
Maybe it can help you guys also learning and give you some ideas.

http://youtu.be/9Vg_JwiOang

[mklinger]

Best source for ram mounts > www.gpscity.com
Other mounts > www.goworx.com

[kevs79]

Quick question. I just got a gopro hero 3 silver edition. I was wondering is there any way to set it up to start recording when you start moving. I downloaded the app but didn't see that option anywhere.

[TheJDMan]

Are you looking for a motion sensor to activate the camera? I'm not aware of anything like that but it's an interesting idea.

[minendrews68]

I don't think there's a motion sensor for these cameras. One thing not mentioned here yet I believe is a must is to put a laynard of some sort around your camera! There's nothing more aggravating than realizing that your mount turned loose and your camera is behind you bouncing around a few miles back. This can be done pretty simply and the insurance is priceless.

[SSLance]

Quick question. I just got a gopro hero 3 silver edition. I was wondering is there any way to set it up to start recording when you start moving. I downloaded the app but didn't see that option anywhere.

I use a Silver Hero 3 as well and I've never seen any option like that, but it would be cool.

What you will find while using the Wifi and the app on the phone is cool, it drains the battery pretty quick. I have pretty much abandoned using Wifi except for setting the camera up, I just put it in a place that I can reach to start it recording before heading up for a run and then turn it off after. This way I'm sure the battery will last all day at an event.

Get yourself some RAM mounts, trust me on this. They are 1000% better than the stock GoPro mounts.

[carbuff]

Agreed on the RAM mounts.

I use the remote to start/stop the cameras (I have 2) when I am starting a run. The app is good for setting them up (although it's a pain with 2, and you have to disconnect one to connect to the other), but after that, it's all remote. And yes, 1 remote can start/stop both cameras...

I think the Garmin has the ability to automatically start/stop, but I haven't tried that feature. And I think someone I know had trouble with it...

[custompaintnbody]

This is perhaps the single easiest way to spice up a GoPro video, capable of turning a regular filming session into something exciting and thrilling. Luckily, there are literally hundreds of different mounts available on the market, with even thousands more options available for where to place them. Whether you opt for a helmet or chest mount for filming mountain bike and snowboarding excursions, or decide to procure a tripod for stable shots, a mount is always a good idea.