GoPro Hero 3 Slow Mo Tutorial using FREE software

[@JordanHetrick]

Hi nscapitalman, Good question. Cineform works better for changing the frame rate because it gives you the desired frame rate rather than just using a percentage. Also, Cineform won't remove any of the frames from your footage and you will get the highest quality edit. To most closely match the look of film, the minimum frame rate you should convert your image down to is 24 frames per second. You can adjust the contrast in iMovie, but I feel like Cineform gives you better control.

[@JordanHetrick]

Hi Sostonyl, Glad to help out! Do you mean you don't want to cut out any of the original clip? If so, you can just convert the entire clip to 24fps. When you import it to iMovie, split the clip like I show in the tutorial and speed up the parts you want regular speed up 500% if you filmed it at 120fps (or 250% if you filmed it at 60fps). This will take these parts back up to regular speed. Is that what you are trying to do? Hope that helps!

[@JordanHetrick]

Hi Gabriel, I would suggest uninstalling Cineform and reinstalling it. See if that helps. Also, if you get too many videos in the program at once, it tends to have problems.

[@JordanHetrick]

Hi Lindsay, I'm not sure what would cause that to happen. Try deleting Cineform from your computer and reinstalling it. Let me know if that solves the issue.

[@JordanHetrick]

Hi CJ, I use the standard housing that comes with the Hero 3 underwater and above water. Since the lens port is flat, your shots will be in focus underwater.

[@JordanHetrick]

In Cineform, you have control over frame rate and the slow-motion turns out really smooth. iMovie is not the best option for slowing down your footage because it tends to get jerky. This is because it deinterlaces video (removes frames) to create slow-motion. Cineform won't let you split clips (or combine multiple clips) though, so by bringing it into iMovie, you can split clips easily to adjust the playback speed.

[@JordanHetrick]

I went on Cineform and tried to figure out what may cause that, but I couldn't replicate the problem. Try deleting Cineform from your computer and reinstalling it. Let me know if that solves the issue. Thanks!

[@JordanHetrick]

Hey Rafael, I'm not sure why the Trim Options wouldn't show up on your computer. You could try to reinstall Cineform and see if that fixes the problem.

[@JordanHetrick]

iMovie is not the best option for slowing down your footage because it tends to get jerky. (This is because it deinterlaces video to create slow-motion). In Cineform, you have control over frame rate and the slow-motion turns out really smooth. Cineform won't let you split clips though, so by bringing it into iMovie, you can split clips easily to adjust the playback speed. I hope that helps clarify the process.

[@JordanHetrick]

Hi Lindsay Laine, You can't add music in Cineform, but you can easily add music in iMovie. After you are done editing the video footage, all you have to do is click on the music note icon on the right side under the video preview. You can then select some music from your iTunes library or the iMovie library and drag it into the timeline at the top left. Hope that helps!

[@JordanHetrick]

Yes you can, but you have to add the clip to the conversion list and then repeat the trimming and editing steps for each section of the clip you want to pull out.

[@JordanHetrick]

Hi dathtomjp, Yes, you can record in however many frames per second you want. 1080@60fps or 960@100fps produce really high quality slow motion too. You can record WVGA at 240 frames per second if you want "slower" slow motion. If you are having problems recording, try formatting your memory card (after you save any footage on it to your computer because this erases the card). If that doesn't work, it might be a problem with your memory card. 8GB should be fine, but make sure it is a Class10.

[@JordanHetrick]

Hey jes2ngo, If you are on a PC, you will export to an .avi, not .mov Make sure you change the frame rate. This is what slows down your footage. Did you do that?

[@JordanHetrick]

Hi crv26, There are two things I can think of that may be causing this- one, if you edit it to a frame rate of 15 frames per second or slower, it tends to get choppy. Or two- your computer may need more memory. Some of the Hero 3 files can get pretty big and require a lot of memory. Hope that helps!

[@JordanHetrick]

Hey Mike, After you changed the frame rate and converted the clip, did you make sure to Proceed to Step 2? The clip should play at the converted frame rate once you move out of Step 1 and go into the Step 2 editing window.

[@leokimvideo]

I had a very similar problem, and it's happened to me 3 times now. The work around is to remove the battery, remove the memory card. Now replace the battery and it should turn on...but it will have a warning there is no memory. I'm hearing this is a very common problem with the hero3 black, i'm a tad surprised all the glowing reviews of this camera completely miss this bug. I did a update of the camera and it did the red light freeze out again..LOL

[@JordanHetrick]

Did you try taking the battery out and putting it back in? That might work. Otherwise, you may need to contact GoPro's support.

[@JordanHetrick]

Hi Peter Hansen, I am using GoPro's Cineform which is a free download from GoPro's website and iMovie which comes on a Mac. If you are on a PC, you can use Windows Live Movie Maker, which is also free and works similar to iMovie.

[@JordanHetrick]

Converting the frame rate to a lower frames per second (fps) rate extends the amount of time it takes for a clip to play and creates slow motion. If you view a clip that was recorded at 120 frames per second to 24 frames per second, it takes you 5x longer to see the same amount of frames.

[@JordanHetrick]

Is File>Export .mov just grayed out, or is it not there at all? If it is grayed out, make sure you go to Step 2 Edit and now see if it gives you that option to Export.

[@JordanHetrick]

Hi Fuego9310, To right click with the Mac mouse, you can hold down the Control key and then click. OR under System Preferences>Mouse, you can set up your mouse to Right Click under Secondary Click.

[@JordanHetrick]

Have you checked to see if there is hard drive memory left on your computer? Sometimes if your computer can't store the files, it will stop importing. If that doesn't solve it, try reinstalling CineForm.

[@JordanHetrick]

Hi Drake, The WVGA (I think you mean) setting gives you the option to shoot at a higher frame rate (240 fps for the black edition / 120 fps for the Silver / 60fps for the white) than 720p, but yes, you do lose quality. WVGA is ok for low-res shots when you really need super slow motion, but I try to stick to 720p at a minimum if possible.

[@JordanHetrick]

Hey STEVEukIDIOT, Glad to hear the book is helping you out. What kind of editing problems are you running into? Are you on a MAC or PC?

[@JordanHetrick]

Hey kipu21, Make sure you connect your camera to GoPro's support page and go through the update process. This should fix any issues. Otherwise, there may be an issue with the memory card you are using.

[@JordanHetrick]

You can't combine clips in Cineform. But, if you are on a PC, Windows Live Movie Maker is similar to iMovie. Make sure you download the latest version of Windows Live Movie Maker. It's free and there are a few new features.

[@JordanHetrick]

Programs like Premiere and Final Cut Pro use frame blending to create smoother transitions. There might be some plugins you can buy for iMovie to enhance the blending, but I don't know of any free software.

[@JordanHetrick]

Hey HDGenetikz, Here are some good Silver Edition settings for BMX If you have your camera mounted on your helmet/head, I would go with 960p @ 48fps. You can then crop to 720p during editing if you want a Widescreen clip, but you have more of the frame to choose from. If you mounted it to your frame and want a widescreen clip, 720p @ 60fps will give you better slow motion.

[@JordanHetrick]

iMovie is not the best option for slowing down your footage because it tends to get jerky. (This is because it deinterlaces video to create slow-motion). In Cineform, you have control over frame rate and the slow-motion turns out really smooth.

[@JordanHetrick]

Yes, you can do the same thing with a Hero 2. With the Hero 2, you can get nice slow mo and good quality video shooting at 720-60 or 960-48.

[@JordanHetrick]

It sounds like your computer processor might be having a hard time with the compressed GoPro video file. Does the video still play choppy after you change the frame rate to 24fps and export the video out of CineForm?

[@JordanHetrick]

Hey Steven, Thanks for the comments! You can combine the 15 clips in iMovie (or in Windows Live Movie Maker on a PC) and add some transitions between them. When you are finished combining them in the order you want, you just need to export the movie from iMovie by going to Share>Export Movie. Is that what you were looking for?

[@JordanHetrick]

You can get CineForm for free from GoPro's website under Support. Yes, it works with 240fps and all frame rates.

[@JordanHetrick]

With the Black Edition, you can shoot 720p at 120 fps or 1080p at 60 fps. In 1080p, 120 fps is not an option, although if it were, that would be great!

[@JordanHetrick]

You can shoot at any resolution and as long as your frame rate is about 48fps or higher, you will get good slow mo. The more frames per second you shoot, the more you can slow it down and still have smooth footage.

[@JordanHetrick]

In my opinion once you get to 15 frames per second, it starts to look pretty choppy, but you can try it out and compare the different frame rates.

[@JordanHetrick]

Hey Sergio, My Hero3 books will be up on iBooks any day now. Just waiting for Apple to get the pages up.

[@VictorGoodpasture]

Great info on the video. I bought the book and it's great too. Lots of detailed information.

[@JordanHetrick]

Hey Steve, Try it outdoors or in good lighting and I am sure you will see better quality. Poor lighting will definitely cause it to be grainy. Thanks for the positive words!

[@JordanHetrick]

You can slow down clips that were recorded at a faster frame rate, like 60 or 120 frames per second. But, if you don't change the frame rate during editing, they will play at regular speed.

[@JordanHetrick]

I use Quicktime Player. You can just got to File>New Screen Recording and you're good to go. I record with quality on High.

[@JordanHetrick]

iMovie deinterlaces the video to create slow-mo and it gets jerky. In Cineform, you can control the Frame Rate, which creates smooth slow-motion.

[@JordanHetrick]

Cool! Have fun. Check out a Red Filter for shooting underwater. They help out the colors a lot, especially in clear blue water. Backscatter and Polar Pro make some good ones.

[@calisurfer771]

Great video. Been trying to figure out how to edit it once put in slow motion for a while and this is by far the best and most thorough.

[@JordanHetrick]

With photos, people use software, such as Photoshop, Perfect Resize and Alienskin to add more pixels to photos all the time. That's how we get clear looking billboards and large display photos. The same thing happens when you upsize a video, except you can't do such dramatic increases in dimensions.

[@internetmeister]

Thanks Jordan a really excellent tutorial, especially as I'm using a Hero 4 and iMac :-) The trouble with GoPro Studio is when you first start out it's not that intuitive and with your help I'm beginning to master it and make good content.

[@JordanHetrick]

Yeah, I'd be happy to help out. What kind of action are you trying to shoot? Is the Burst ending too early? Let me know some more specifics and I'll give you some tips.

[@TheAdcockMob]

Just wanted to say thanks a bunch for your great vids. I learned so much from all of them, but this one in particular. I am new to GoPros and finding my way (more like stumbling) around the Hero 3 Black. Looking forward to your next tutorials. Great stuff!

[@JordanHetrick]

If you don't want the video to be in slow motion, leave the frame rate the same as what you recorded the video at. For example, if you shot at 60 frames per second, leave it at 60 frames per second and it will play at regular speed.

[@leokimvideo]

I learned of this work around from the non approved gopro forums, in fact I learned a ton of things I maybe did not want to know there. It's a great little camera but there are some major bugs with it.

[@Celltech07]

Probably one of the best "how to" slow mo clips i've seen thanks!

[@fcangunal]

very helpful video, I was looking for a software to do this slo mo and fast mo in my videos, thanks to your advice I downloaded windows live movie maker and it's very easy to use software

[@JordanHetrick]

GoPro has just updated CineForm. If you go to their site to download it under the Support tab, it's now called GoPro Studio 2.0. There are lots of new features. Keep an eye on this channel for more details and tutorials on how to use the new features.

[@MrBumbaklutz]

Thanks a lot I don`t know if you will see this but I just bought a hero 3 black and you explained everything so well from what to do when you first get the go pro to how to mount it and to editing the clips. I know how to use my camera really well , I have been editing some clips I filmed with all you`re tips!!

[@JordanHetrick]

You can use Windows Live Movie Maker on a PC. It does a decent job considering it is free software.

[@Wayneawebb]

I just bought my GoPro H3 B afew days ago. Great tut, easy to follow & lots of fun finding new things to slow down.

[@JordanHetrick]

If you are using Final Cut or Premiere Pro, you can do it all in those programs. They are much better than any of the free software.

[@johnsenn03]

Just bought a hero 3 and this was the very first thing I wanted to learn! Amazing tutorial, thanks!

[@kylepearce4900]

thanks man, i takes ages trying to find people explaning how to use the slow mo stuff, keep up the goog work

[@JordanHetrick]

I do have the PC and MAC editing steps in my book, but I usually work on a MAC. I will try to make one for PC users soon.

[@MrSkeyxc]

GREAT VIDEO... I just got a new Hero 3 Black Edition (my first one) and all of your videos have been an amazing help. The learning curve, on the camera, is somewhat high (for a newbie) so; THANK YOU SO MUCH for all of your work and efforts...

[@alecthru7071]

Thanks for a great tutorial. a couple of questions: 1. When setting the camera up, we want to set it to the fastest fps, the reason being when we slow it down we have more leeway to slow it further, correct? I have a GoPro Black 3+ which I think allows 1080 at 120fps. 2. The overall strategy is that in Cineform we save the entire movie as slo motion then in iMove we split various segments that we want sped up, correct?

[@JordanHetrick]

On the Hero 2, I recommend 720-60 for nice slow mo.

[@LifiaTubeHD]

Very useful video, thank you for tutorial setting

[@crnavisnja2]

Thank you soooo much. I had some trouble with this feature but your tutorial did wonders to dummies like me. Thank you soooo much once again. Keep up the good work.

[@Ampfactor]

Just a heads up, but by doing your color adjustments in Cineform and exporting, the cineform export settings compress your file for youtube-ready. If you look at the file sizes, the exported file will be smaller than your original. So, you'll be importing an already compressed file into iMovie rather than dealing will the original quality file and color correcting in iMovie. Great guide on the slowmo, though!

[@mikerossscuba]

This is by far the best tutorial on KZbin. Thanks!

[@JordanHetrick]

Hey gabemks, I'm working on the video for the new software Studio 2.0, so stay tuned. Thanks!

[@JordanHetrick]

I normally try to stay at 24 frames per second or faster. You MIGHT be able to get away with 15 frames per second depending on the shot, but any slower than that and your footage will definitely look choppy.

[@theRandomman109]

thank you so much for the tips I've been wanting to learn how to edit footage from my go pro, now all my shots can be put into use rather than just sitting on my desktop.

[@JordanHetrick]

The best setting for slow-mo with the White Edition is 720-60.

[@jpsamora]

Excellent video. Just bought a camera today and this will be a great project for my students. Keep up the good work.

[@JordanHetrick]

Of course you lose some quality if you upscale. It's a matter of how the overall image looks to the eye. In this example, I just upscaled for a KZbin video, not for a full production movie. A lot of professional film editors I have spoken with are ok with upsizing certain clips from 720p to 1080p, but it's all a matter of personal taste.

[@JordanHetrick]

Thanks for the tip iTrevonator. I will start doing that from now on.

[@ungersteven]

WOW!!!!! Great video!!!!!! Perfect help!!!!!! Ive tried a bunch of expensive video editors, and nothing works like this one. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

[@JordanHetrick]

There are different opinions on this. IF YOU ARE JUST LEARNING TO EDIT VIDEO, YOU CAN IGNORE THIS POST. You can conform the clip speed individually in FCPX. Or you could use Compressor to transcode the clips. Then make it a Pro Res HQ 22 and import that file into FCPX.

[@sethj2000]

the silver 3+ does have 720 at 120fps and 1080 at 60fps

[@OnlyDigs]

The hero 3+ silver is basically the same as the hero 3 (nonplus) black

[@thebucrew]

Great tutorial. Is there anyway to blend the slomo to normal speed so the transition isn't so obvious?

[@grambino]

hey great tutorial man! I just got a GoPro and am also new to the Mac and iMovie so this clip is great! easy to understand step by step simple instructions. I got a GoPro hero3 black to take on our trip, going on Disney cruise and will be swimming with stingrays and doing some snorkelling so I am trying to learn as much as I can before we go. I'll be checking out more of your clips. cheers!

[@gedionmanuel9887]

Mate great vid...just a question though.... U did a slow mo from the gopro ap just as when u dived in...(in and out cut from gopro ap)...the u arranged it all again slow mo and fast edit using imovie. This part was well explained. BUT... If for example from the go pro file I want to use the whole movie...i.e: including at start the Palm tree and pool shot etc...and just slow mo the dive in part...how do we do it? What do we importon imovie and do we have to cut the part wher u dived in?? (cos u have that part edited as slow mo? don't want double shot) or what do we do?? I hope u understand what I'm asking. lol

[@JordanHetrick]

Yeah, it will work on a MacBook Air but only up to OSX 10.7.

[@gutierrezc8709]

cool man, I'm new to all this and I'm absorbing as much information as I can. I'm excited to put my GoPro Silver to action. So with a SlowMo clip and TimeLapse Shots how do you lay over a soundtrack?

[@luctheseus629]

Super clear video which helped me a lot. Because it was so clear i immediately bought your book on kindle app and read it in 1 time trough on my ipad ;-). This was exactly what i was searching after. Thx

[@ChristmasM]

Hey my gopro (hero 3 black edition) isnt turning on. It started doing this after I charged it. Can you give me some advice???

[@GentlemanJack11]

This is an incredibly helpful video. I've scoured the internet to find this info and could not do it. Thank you!

[@ttampa77]

Nice video! I own a PC, and I know most artistic work is done on Mac. Will this be an issue? Also, what would be the best "free" video editor to download for PC. Thanks

[@aerocam2]

Excellent Tutorials!!! Thank you very much for taking the time to share your knowledge. It really helps those of us with less experience making videos with the GoPro. Well done sir!

[@JD1418]

I learned more in these 13 minutes than I could have on my own...Do you have any tutorials on photo burst mode?

[@studio9400]

Great tutorial!!! I JUST go a goPro and am curious if when converted to .MOV will I be loosing any detail in my videos? I really want to keep the video as sharp as possible. Just assuming I guess that "converting" something has got to degrade it a bit. Just curious if I should suck it up and learn After Effects or Premiere?

[@lindsaylaine8115]

Thank you that was very helpful and inspiring. I watched your time lapse u-tube and decided to watch this slow motion one too. I think I am feeling confident and inspired to use my camera a lot more. Just a silly questions, but how do you add the music? I am a complete beginner and your videos are helping me a LOT! THANKS.

[@mushiterebi]

Thanks for the great video. ONE QUESTION. I see that you've broken the clips and kept some slowed and put some faster (almost or over), back to its original speed by the speed adjustment on imovie. Could you not have slowed down the clip using the speed editor on imovie instead of slowing it down using the GoPro app??

[@alejandrodeoca1572]

Thanks for the tutorial, but I have a question, can you use this software on any video you take?

[@JordanHetrick]

You can try to go to 15fps and see how choppy it looks, but 24fps is about as slow as you should go to get smooth video.

[@JordanHetrick]

Don't change the frame rate from what you shot on the original clip and the video should play at regular speed.

[@JordanHetrick]

You can add music in Windows Live Movie Maker on a PC or iMovie on a MAC (where I split the clips in this tutorial). They are both free.

[@Josh79168]

This is great as I am just starting out after buying the Hero3. Thank you very much. This helps me a lot.

[@fastduckmotors]

Great tutorial for an old person to learn from!! I have the hero 3 I just got for Xmas love it!! Can you adjust the setting on the camera with your iphone app they have? Also do you have more tutaorials I can watch? I am learning what I should actually record in because as of now I can't get the audio to synch with the video it default recorded at 49.5 fps i think it was is 120 better to do it in as a norm? Sorry for all the questions.

[@SanjakPitakrat]

This is awesome. But why 720&120? Is that the best setting for slow motion? What if you go with higher or lower resolution/fps? Thanks.

[@JordanHetrick]

Yeah, as long as you have a MAC, iMovie should be on there. Otherwise, you can use Windows Live Movie Maker on a PC.

[@syumassh]

Thanks buddy been wondering how to get that slow-fast-slow effect. Appreciate it! Liked the video! And i'll check out the book too!