GoPro Thread

[tmacb]

Hero4s do 1080p HD, right? Which can tax many lower power machines. Try setting it to lower resolution, like 720p

Are you saying you have a lot of lag and choppy after the render?

I have a 2.3 Ghz Intel i7 with 8GB RAM and intel HD graphics 4000 that has no issue, except for one need to be patient.

What apps are you using?

The issue is playback, either directly from the camera/SD card, or after import to Photo or iMovie. I use iMovie almost exclusively for editing, although I'm less of a fan of the newest version so far.

I have been filming and editing in 1080 for years without an issue. I am using two new cameras. I have filmed in 1080/60fps on the H4 Black, and 1080/30fps on the H4 Session. 1080/30fps is exactly what I was filming at with my previous GoPro. The file sizes are slightly larger for a similar length clip on the Session, but not dramatically so.

 

[ColdCase]

You may know more about the subject than me. I have a recent Hero4 Silver and record 1920x1080 59.94p. I don't see the same playback issue as you do, either pre or post editing.

I sometime see some choppiness during playback from a time line unless its rendered.

When you say import, are you are adding the files to the library?

Some cards, card readers, computer interfaces are slower than others. If you copy the video file to the internal hard drive, does it still chop? Are you using the built in card reader.

On the new camera, are you recording as mp4 (dunno if the default changed)? Are you using NTSC or PAL.

 

[Ifti]

I've used multiple generations of GoPros, starting with the first HD Hero. I currently have a Hero 4 Session and a Hero 4 Black. Having just recently started using the 4 series cameras, I'm having an issue with rendering videos. I've got a lot of lag and choppy playback. It's making editing a real pain. I'd love some advice. I'm running an older MBP, but it has been upgraded and kept fairly current. I had no issues with rendering/playing video prior to the Hero 4's. My current setup is as follows: 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 5 GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT 128 MB, running El Capitan. Help is welcome. The one reputable Mac service center in the area, the one that has done all the repairs/upgrades on this machine, is no longer doing any service work. I don't know where to turn.

Agree with the above comment. Its probably not an issue with your cameras or with the software - its most likely the mac. Try a lower resolution as a test and see how that edits....

 

[tmacb]

Agree with the above comment. Its probably not an issue with your cameras or with the software - its most likely the mac. Try a lower resolution as a test and see how that edits....

I agree, that's most likely the case. There's something that's changed with regard to the video files on the new cameras. Could be something simple like bit rate, or something more complicated. File sizes are larger for a similar clip duration for a comparable resolution and frame rate.

I'm trying to gauge where the weak link most likely is with regard to hardware. I'd like to make upgrades if possible to get me by until the next gen of MBP are released (hopefully this fall).

 

[joema2]

...There's something that's changed with regard to the video files on the new cameras. Could be something simple like bit rate, or something more complicated. File sizes are larger for a similar clip duration for a comparable resolution and frame rate....I'm trying to gauge where the weak link most likely is with regard to hardware. I'd like to make upgrades if possible to get me by until the next gen of MBP are released (hopefully this fall).

I can't explain why your Hero4 1080p footage seems sluggish to edit in iMovie. However your cheapest solution might be to get FCPX and use its built-in proxy mode which transparently edits at a lower resolution, producing higher performance. Yet when you render and export the final file it uses full res. That is what I use to edit multicam 4k on my 2015 iMac. You already use iMovie so are familiar with certain aspects of the interface.

Even though your Mac worked better on prior GoPro material, your hardware specs are very marginal for doing this. You definitely need to upgrade that, so maybe trying FCPX would help you wait until the next MBP upgrade.

 

[tmacb]

I can't explain why your Hero4 1080p footage seems sluggish to edit in iMovie. However your cheapest solution might be to get FCPX and use its built-in proxy mode which transparently edits at a lower resolution, producing higher performance. Yet when you render and export the final file it uses full res. That is what I use to edit multicam 4k on my 2015 iMac. You already use iMovie so are familiar with certain aspects of the interface.

Even though your Mac worked better on prior GoPro material, your hardware specs are very marginal for doing this. You definitely need to upgrade that, so maybe trying FCPX would help you wait until the next MBP upgrade.

I'll definitely look into that. Haven't played with FCPX, but if it shares some similarity with iMovie, it should be a relatively comfortable switch.

 

[Ifti]

I'll definitely look into that. Haven't played with FCPX, but if it shares some similarity with iMovie, it should be a relatively comfortable switch.

I think FCPX would be a little more taxing on the system to be honest.
Where is your raw/scratch data? Is it on an external disk?

The best way to edit is to connect an external drive and import media through iMovie/FCPX onto the external drive (i.e. the external drive holds all data) leaving the system to just run the editing software. This way all render/scratch data is on the external drive, free'ing up your internal drive, and the system itself, to run the software and create the project only.

 

[joema2]

I think FCPX would be a little more taxing on the system to be honest.
Where is your raw/scratch data? Is it on an external disk?...The best way to edit is to connect an external drive and import media through iMovie/FCPX onto the external drive...

I just did a test with some 1080p GoPro Hero 3 Plus footage on a 2013 MacBook Air, and I can't see any performance difference between iMovie and FCPX on the same machine. It runs fine on both.

I then tried some 4k H264 footage from a Sony A7RII which is more computationally difficult. It ran fairly fast and smooth on the MBA using both iMovie and FCPX. However I then transcoded it to proxy using FCPX and it became lightning fast. So FCPX has a definite advantage in cases where the content is CPU intensive, as H264 often is.

In all of this, the library, media and cache files were on the internal SSD. The I/O rate to play 1080p H264 content is quite low, else the puny CPU in the camera could never record it. If you transcode this to proxy, that is lower res but less dense so it roughly doubles the required I/O rate from about 4 megabytes/sec to about 8 megabytes/sec. The additional I/O load from cache and library files increase this further but it's not that high.

tmacb has a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, only 5 GB RAM and a GeForce 8600M GT with 128 MB. That is very marginal for working with a CPU intensive codec like H264. He more likely has an overtaxed CPU, and I'm not sure whether it even supports Intel's Quick Sync that accelerates H264 encode/decode. The best temporary workaround is probably using FCPX and the built-in proxy feature that greatly reduces CPU load.

If his machine has a single slow 5400 rpm rotating internal drive that is also a possible problem, and it wouldn't hurt to try putting the media on a bus-powered external drive like the 7200 rpm HGST Touro S: https://amzn.com/B00IVFDQ48

However I would bet it's a CPU limitation not I/O.

 

[Ifti]

I just did a test with some 1080p GoPro Hero 3 Plus footage on a 2013 MacBook Air, and I can't see any performance difference between iMovie and FCPX on the same machine. It runs fine on both.

I then tried some 4k H264 footage from a Sony A7RII which is more computationally difficult. It ran fairly fast and smooth on the MBA using both iMovie and FCPX. However I then transcoded it to proxy using FCPX and it became lightning fast. So FCPX has a definite advantage in cases where the content is CPU intensive, as H264 often is.

In all of this, the library, media and cache files were on the internal SSD. The I/O rate to play 1080p H264 content is quite low, else the puny CPU in the camera could never record it. If you transcode this to proxy, that is lower res but less dense so it roughly doubles the required I/O rate from about 4 megabytes/sec to about 8 megabytes/sec. The additional I/O load from cache and library files increase this further but it's not that high.

tmacb has a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, only 5 GB RAM and a GeForce 8600M GT with 128 MB. That is very marginal for working with a CPU intensive codec like H264. He more likely has an overtaxed CPU, and I'm not sure whether it even supports Intel's Quick Sync that accelerates H264 encode/decode. The best temporary workaround is probably using FCPX and the built-in proxy feature that greatly reduces CPU load.

If his machine has a single slow 5400 rpm rotating internal drive that is also a possible problem, and it wouldn't hurt to try putting the media on a bus-powered external drive like the 7200 rpm HGST Touro S: https://amzn.com/B00IVFDQ48

However I would bet it's a CPU limitation not I/O.

Cant get any better then this testing!
Thanks for clearing that up - does transcoding to proxy media still provide a full quality final output?? I always assumed it would lower the output quality as well, hence Ive only ever used optimised and never proxy encoding.....

 

[joema2]

...does transcoding to proxy media still provide a full quality final output?? I always assumed it would lower the output quality as well, hence Ive only ever used optimised and never proxy encoding.....

Proxy files give full resolution when exporting -- provided you remember to change the viewer resolution back to optimized/original.

Proxy mode is really miraculous -- the files generate much faster than optimized files, they take up much less space, the visible difference when editing is small, yet it speeds up editing drastically.

 

[throAU]

The issue is playback, either directly from the camera/SD card, or after import to Photo or iMovie. I use iMovie almost exclusively for editing, although I'm less of a fan of the newest version so far.

I have been filming and editing in 1080 for years without an issue. I am using two new cameras. I have filmed in 1080/60fps on the H4 Black, and 1080/30fps on the H4 Session. 1080/30fps is exactly what I was filming at with my previous GoPro. The file sizes are slightly larger for a similar length clip on the Session, but not dramatically so.

If you have a sandisk SD card try something else. There was a dodgy batch of them 18-24 months ago that caused all manner of problems with recording and playback. I had a dodgy one myself that had me pulling my hair out for ages.

It actually caused problems with the recorded video.

If not sandisk, carry on...

Not saying all sandisk are garbage. But it is something to test... Some of them are.

 

[tmacb]

Proxy files give full resolution when exporting -- provided you remember to change the viewer resolution back to optimized/original.

Proxy mode is really miraculous -- the files generate much faster than optimized files, they take up much less space, the visible difference when editing is small, yet it speeds up editing drastically.

New to FCPX. What is the process for exporting/sharing once a project has been edited? The one attempt I made gave me the same lower resolution quality of the proxy clips used to edit the piece.

 

[joema2]

New to FCPX. What is the process for exporting/sharing once a project has been edited? The one attempt I made gave me the same lower resolution quality of the proxy clips used to edit the piece.

At the top right of the viewer panel, click the word "view" (down-pointing triangle beside it). Then select optimized/original, then export. It will use full resolution media.

 

[TWO2SEVEN]

I bought a GoPro Session about a year ago. I haven't used it as much as I'd like to because it gets a little cumbersome for taking quick pictures. Whether you are using the GoPro remote or the iPhone app, you pretty much need two hands to use it if you don't mount the camera to something else.

I saw this on Amazon:

I decided that rather than spend $15 I would make one myself with stuff I had laying around.

On a normal day I use an Apple case, for minimal bulk. However, if I am going to do something outdoors I use a more rugged case. These are generally the times when I want to use the GoPro as well.

I had a New Trent case laying around and a few stick on GoPro mounts.

Here is the result.

It obviously adds a little bulk to the case, but I am fine with that.

When paired with the GoPro app it gives me one handed operation of the GoPro. It also still allows me to use the iPhone cameras.

In my brief testing so far I am really happy with it. I think it will help me use the GoPro more as well.

Not bad for about ten minutes of time.

 

[Ifti]

I just picked up the Hero 5 Black and the Hero 5 Session.
Liking the new features in the Black so far, still currently testing the Session!

 

[TWO2SEVEN]

I just picked up the Hero 5 Black and the Hero 5 Session.
Liking the new features in the Black so far, still currently testing the Session!

What do you generally use them for?

 

[Bluegrass Preservation]

I'm using a GoPro Hero 4 Black along with four Sony HD Cameras for videoing Bluegrass Events. The GoPro gives me a wide angle view of the group performing that provides a great shot to use when someone walks in front of one the other cameras. Most of the time I set the GoPro to 1080-30 Superview because I'm using it down front of the stage and it gives me the best view of the entire group. Footage is converted to avi usng GoPro Studio and mixed with the other cameras using Sony Vegas Pro 12 along with Plural Eyes to sync all of them together before going into multi-camera mode for scene selection. Audio is captured through the sound board using one of the Sony Cameras. Once they're all sync'd I delete the other sound tracks.

Here is a video clip using the above method.

Wish I had three more GoPro Hero's.

 

[Ifti]

What do you generally use them for?

I do a lot of reviews on YouTube - including GoPro accessory reviews and guides etc.
Also if I am filming anything outside I generally don't like carrying my DSLR around, so use the GoPros for anything outside, and the DSLR for anything inside.

 

[TWO2SEVEN]

I do a lot of reviews on YouTube - including GoPro accessory reviews and guides etc.
Also if I am filming anything outside I generally don't like carrying my DSLR around, so use the GoPros for anything outside, and the DSLR for anything inside.

Sounds good. I am going to the gun range this weekend and hunting next weekend. Going to try to get some good video.

 

[Ifti]

Sounds good. I am going to the gun range this weekend and hunting next weekend. Going to try to get some good video.

Ah, then you definitely need one of these!!!
I think there is a Hero5 version available now as well - pretty much the same thing

 

[TWO2SEVEN]

Ah, then you definitely need one of these!!!
I think there is a Hero5 version available now as well - pretty much the same thing

I've seen those, but I will be using the head mount for a better view of everything

 

[Ifti]

I tend to use the Session when head mounting, since its lighter and doesn't get in the way as much!!
Will be going Go-Karting soon, and will be head mounting a Session and putting the Black on the Go-Kart itself

 

[MyopicPaideia]

Nice thread! I use the Hero 4 Silver for motorsport.

Here's the link to our youtube channel.

Generally very happy with it, like the 1080p @60 frames, but would love 120 for super slow motion shots. How's the Hero 5 specs?

 

[mscriv]

I have been using a Hero 4 Silver for a while now. I record racquetball with it, tournaments, matches, practice sessions, etc.. It's been great, but finding the time for post production has been the hardest part of the hobby. I just had my first microSD card crash on me so I picked up a new Sandisk card on Amazon. Looking forward to getting some new footage as we are in the middle of tournament season right now.

 

[Keebler]

Hi there,

If any of you are looking for your 1st action cam, don't look past the Akaso E7000 from Amazon.
It's a knock off gopro, but pretty darn excellent for the price ($109'ish Canadian).
Does all the same time lapses, 4K, 1080 60 fps.

I've never owned an actual GoPro, but have owned a few different Drift Innovation cameras and the quality of the Akaso is solid. Lots of youtube videos out there showing the difference between the GoPros and E7000s.

Also comes with all the mounts you'd need.

Cheers,
Brian