Go Pro Cameras

[Spyder Tony]

HI Guys!
"A little Birdie" told me that I just might be getting one of these cameras for Christmas...
Nothing fancy: just the most basic model.
(I didn't think that I had even been CLOSE, to being that good this year! )
Since I now have to figure out a whole lot about them; I need advice!
Where and how do you mount them?
They mention Micro SD cards for getting the right amount of storage capacity... Is 32 Gb enough?
Do they come with software, or is that an "Optional: at extra cost" sort of thing?
Does the software allow you to take a huge chunk of video, and edit it down to manageable-sized pieces?

Thanks!

I have two of them, and being in the tech industry I would always go with more storage than less. Nothing like being on a sweet ryde and running out of room for more video. Also, i'd get an extra battery if you don't have the GoPro USB plugged into your bike. Lastly...i'd remember the tethers. Too much $$$ to watch it fall off and hit the pavement at 75mph. These days, tethers come in an assortment of colors, so you can match them to your bike...OR you can make your own. I look forward to seeing some of your video!!!

[Bob Denman]

Do you think that I need a tether with it rigged-up like this?

I've got a 64 Gb Mini-USB, and a pair of batteries rated for 2000 mah coming...

[vided]

[Bob Denman]

Yes, Master Yoda...

[vided]

this'll work

[Bob Denman]

An interesting problem popped up today...
I went out and shot about a 20 mile ride around one of the Reservoirs, and when I tried to move it over into my computer for editing; the system couldn't find the camera. It called it an "unrecognized device"...
I checked on the drivers, and no updates were indicated. Could this just be a bad USB cable, or a plug that's not making full-contact?

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

An interesting problem popped up today...
I went out and shot about a 20 mile ride around one of the Reservoirs, and when I tried to move it over into my computer for editing; the system couldn't find the camera. It called it an "unrecognized device"...
I checked on the drivers, and no updates were indicated. Could this just be a bad USB cable, or a plug that's not making full-contact?

Easiest and most sure way is just take the card out of the camera and plug it into a card reader!

BTW, don't get frustrated by the video editing process. I've concluded that whatever program you use, when it comes time to write the edited video to a file, like an MP4, the process is d*** slow! That's why I've never gotten my few hours of video from my Spyderfest trip uploaded. I want to avoid the modern day version of the boring old 8mm home movies of the '50s!

I use iSkySoft Video Editor. Seems to be pretty easy to use and versatile. It's easy to combine segments from multiple videos, or from just one video, into a single final video. It's also easy to add text overlays over the video. It costs $39.95 which is the same price range as most of the others. No good video editor is free.

I call GoPro Studio an Electrolux program, i.e., it sucks!

[Bob Denman]

I finally did get the video out of the camera.
I got the two files loaded into the Go Pro editor, and did a decent job of them into three almost equal length segments...
...And then I converted them to .AVI files!
I think that this was a mistake, because YouTube choked on them when I tried to upload them.
Should I have left them as .MP4 files?

[vided]

If you have the option of a QUICKTIME, SELF CONTAINED VIDEO.
that will work on YT

[cuznjohn]

what you might notice with youtube is that some of the vids you upload, it might cut the sound on the vid if your playing your radio when recording and it has a copyrighted song on it. happens to me with my helmet cam sometimes

[Bob Denman]

If you have the option of a QUICKTIME, SELF CONTAINED VIDEO.
that will work on YT

I think I've got to play around with the editing software more, and figure out what the options are...
Thanks!

EDIT: There are two format choices: .AVI, or .MOV...
I did drop the image size down to 1080; it had originally defaulted to the largest size image.

[finless]

YouTube will happily accept .mov or .avi. It does prefer .mov though.

One problem you might have is the length of the video. New youtube accounts tend to restrict you to 10 minutes or so. As you get more views from people they increase your time limit.

Also when you save the video you can save it in different "types". When you get to step 3 "export", a menu will pop up and one of the choices is youtube. This is compressed and setup just the way youtube likes it

Bob

[Bob Denman]

It appears that taking videos is the EASY part...
It's dealing with the aftermath, that is making this so interesting!

[vided]

Are you on a Mac or the other?

[cuznjohn]

i have met bob but i am dying to see his first video just to see what kind of rider he is. does he cruise at a good rate of speed, or is he someone i will be blowing my horn at if i ever do ride with him

[Bob Denman]

yup! Your left thumb will be cramping-up, and the horn relay will have melted...

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

It appears that taking videos is the EASY part...

You learn fast! ! ! !

[Bob Denman]

The First thing that I learned...
Was what the Missus would NEVER let me video!!

[finless]

Adobe After Effects is probably the BEST editing software you can get. It is capable of doing things even movie studios can.
But it is hugely complicated and has a very steep learning curve! Oh and very expensive too.
I have yet to find a video format it cannot support. So Adobe is now in my opinion the gold standard.

Here is an example of what you can do it with it.
One of my attempts at special effects after hours of learning and playing.



Bob

[finless]

If you decide to get into video editing and effects with Adobe After Effects, this site is the best!
Full online tutorials showing you exactly how to do stuff.

http://www.videocopilot.net/

Bob

[Bob Denman]

I can barely run a computer; I just want to be able to chop 15 or so minutes of video up into pieces that YouTube can accept... That way, I can post links to them in here.
I'm starting to get a feel for all of the wrong things to not do. (Largely from experience! )
If I can get out on the bike after it quits raining; I feel as if a breakthrough will be imminent!

[Yelhelp]

My only issue with mine is the screen is very small and it is hard to see to turn it on. There are lots of options and you can use it with a smart phone but that also can take some time to setup. There is most certainly a steep learning curve. But I took it to Sturgis this year and got some great shots. Just not sure how to edit them all yet.

[markyodo]

I have a mount on each mirror. This enables me to mount for forward or backward video footage on right or left side of the Spyder.
I edit with GoPro studio and for the more complicated edits I use Cyberlink PowerDirector. I own the Adobe Suite but Cyberlink's caching and preview works much better with older computer systems with lots of snippets loaded.

The best advice I can give is to shoot small chunks of video at a time and shoot a lot of small chunks. A minute of video is probably max. A remote is very useful for this.
When you start the edit process you will notice the workflow becomes much quicker.

A sample video from this season.

forward facing video during the first part, backward facing video starting @ 4:41



Have fun!

[Bob Denman]

I was thinking that one minute "chunks", might be easier to work with.

[SailnDive]

I love the music! I would buy that if I knew who it was.