Please, impart your GoPro knowledge unto me so that I may produce videos devoid of suckiness

We have lots of threads from this year on how to edit video:
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/hd-handheld-camcorder-and-editing-software/76364/page1/
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/video-editing-software-recommendations/69479/page1/
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/learn-me-video-editing-pc-on-a-budget/75282/page1/
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/open-source-video-editing-software/60055/page1/
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/video-editing-software/59601/page1/

...but you need good material to start the editing process with. Getting good material requires you to know how to use a camera. (Yes, it requires an artistic eye, too....which I probably don't have. ) I just got a GoPro Hero3 and I am a little overwhelmed by the options that it has. I'm hoping some of you guys with lots of GoPro experience can help me out by explaining how you normally shoot videos.

• what resolution, frame rate, and field of view do you normally shoot in when using a roll bar mount?
• what resolution, frame rate, and field of view do you normally shoot in when using suction cup side mount?
• do these settings change depending on whether the video is intended for youtube/vimeo or TV?
• what the heck is protune, and why does the GoPro documentation act like it is the greatest things since sliced bread?
• How often do you use things like upside down mode, simultaneous video and photo, photo burst, etc?
• what tutorial sites/videos have been most helpful to you in learning how to get the best footage from your GoPro?

I found this guy to have some pretty great tricks which a grm guy should have little trouble copying

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF2C8A05930503821&feature=mh_lolz

Shoot at the best video quality you can. You can always compress it later, and memory cards are cheap. Use the same resolution regardless of mounting, it'll make your life easier when it comes time to edit.

Dunno what protune is

Upside down is useful if the mount requires it. Photo burst I'd only use if I was trying to capture stills or I wanted a timelapse.

ronholm wrote: I found this guy to have some pretty great tricks which a grm guy should have little trouble copying http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF2C8A05930503821&feature=mh_lolz

Thanks, that looks useful. I also just found GoPro's official tutorial channel at youtube
http://www.youtube.com/GoProTutorials

Keith Tanner wrote: Shoot at the best video quality you can. You can always compress it later, and memory cards are cheap. Use the same resolution regardless of mounting, it'll make your life easier when it comes time to edit.

So you always go for high resolution? Have you ever had a use for the high frame rate (slow motion) stuff?

I use the 720p at 60fps on my old GoPro hero1. It has the widest viewing angle and the higher FPS makes the video smoother. However, I just do simple autocross videos with very little editing, so take that with a grain of salt.

Protune is GoPro's version of what's called a "flat" color profile. It sort of emulates camera RAW, but the files are much smaller.

What it does is strives to give you the most pixel color information possible, so you can apply your own color correction to it with as little data loss as possible. Because of that, the native protune images tend to look a little drab until you tweak them a bit.

Basically, when you capture images—moving or still, you're collecting information. The more information you collect the better your final product will be. You can always choose to not use certain information later, but you can never display information you don't have.

jg

I just found another good channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/kylemartn101?feature=watch

http://www.chrisspooner.com/gopro-camera-tips-tricks-best-settings-advice

JoeyM wrote:

Keith Tanner wrote: Shoot at the best video quality you can. You can always compress it later, and memory cards are cheap. Use the same resolution regardless of mounting, it'll make your life easier when it comes time to edit.

So you always go for high resolution? Have you ever had a use for the high frame rate (slow motion) stuff?

I can see how the high rate could be interesting, especially on a shot that showed a wheel dealing with rough surfaces. But the thing is - storage is cheap. You can always make the video lower rez. But if you start with poor quality video, you'll never get good quality output. Garbage in, garbage out. Filming in the best quality you can gives you the most options, now or later.

I found a lot of good info in the gopro thread at TheNewX.org (xterra site)

http://www.thenewx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=60713

Keith: I agree with you on resolution, but the videos i did on my honeymoon at 1080/30fps, compared to the 720/60fps, the higher framerate made motion in the video much smoother, especially since we were just shooting handheld with a little handheld mount that doesn't do much for stabilization.

I used one of my Hero2 HD and backpack for the door shots in this video, the 60fps rate seems to be about right for this shot, and i was able to catch where the wheel lifted and the ABS is working. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4ueLAJg-xE

I said "highest quality". If you consider that to be 720 at 60 fps, then shoot that. I don't recall what all the options are for the latest iteration of the latest hot camera. That's why I didn't give a specific video setting.

Keith Tanner wrote: I said "highest quality". If you consider that to be 720 at 60 fps, then shoot that. I don't recall what all the options are for the latest iteration of the latest hot camera. That's why I didn't give a specific video setting.

the hero3 does 1080 at 60fps iirc, so it might be a better picture, all my hero2's can do is 1080 at 30 or 720 at 60.