Stop Using Active Track to Film Yourself. Do This Instead!

[@TriniWeekes]

This is awesome!!

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks!

[@BlairAir]

I particularly like "auto zoom" in waypoints. It will slowly zoom to the waypoint setting then zoom out from whatever value you have on the waypoint before, to the setting on the waypoint after. So much magic to make. I did thevworlds longest, smoothest dolly zoom! Barely scratching the surface of capabilites of Waypoints so far.

[@JakeSloan]

Thats an awesome idea!

[@caleb2364]

Whoa whoa whoa explain this more...this sounds so cool!

[@FlightPattern177]

Link to your dolly zoom? Would love to see it

[@FlightPattern177]

This is a great video, I recently got my first drone capable of waypoints so still learning them. Thanks for the awesome video, sub’d!

[@arunr5529]

Hey dude, mind elaborating on how you do this?

[@AlexanderPallis]

I always thought Active Track looked so tacky in my opinion, but whenever I wanted to shoot a "main character moment" with my drone I always had to manual it and I was looking down at the screen which just kills the magic of the shot. But man, how I never considered waypoints is crazy! Will definitely try this out today, thank you for this video, super super helpful!!! 😁

[@JakeSloan]

awesome and glad to hear it helped!!

[@juantrigeuroruiz4656]

Many content creators don´t talk about this enough or not at all, but this is one of the most powerfull features that DJI has ever made, specially for the "solo filmmakers". It also ensure a perfect and smooth complex footage. Thank you so much for showing how it works properly!

[@JakeSloan]

You’re welcome!

[@andrew-zs2nx]

In short. It's just creating an pre automated direction for the drone.

[@JakeSloan]

yep amazing summary...

[@pgee7777]

Thanks! You saved 7 minutes of my life

[@userbosco]

Way points rock. I've become a Litchi addict, use it more than free fly now. Being able to see and fly it on Google Earth with elevations and camera angles while being able to estimate flight time is HUGE!

[@JakeSloan]

agreed!!

[@eder0009]

I've also done way points where you do turns to reveal a downtown landscape or to do a Hyper-lapse of highway traffic while the drone flies and pans to reveal a different section of highway.

[@JakeSloan]

great ways to use it!

[@Hobbies4Hire]

Great job on the video Jake! Thanks for making it.

[@JakeSloan]

You're welcome

[@jakenotfromstatefarm]

Awesome video Jake! I wish the Air2s had waypoints. I'll be upgrading that drone in particular this summer sometime. Guess I could use the skydio 2 in the meantime if I need any tracking. Just wish the camera was better. You still use your skydio 2? I haven't used mine in over a year. 🤦

[@JakeSloan]

I haven’t used mine in a while. I actually just gave it to a friend because they’ll actually use it lol.

[@jakenotfromstatefarm]

@@JakeSloan yeah I'm thinking of sending mine to my brother. It's just a dust collector. I remember you getting some pretty damn amazing shots on the skydio!

[@eazymac71]

Awesome video, and a great idea! Question -- can you set the drone to film in cinematic mode during traversal of the waypoints? Also, when selecting the waypoints, I assume the drone will find the best route to get between the waypoints, and not necessarily the direct (or indirect route) that you may have taken while programming the waypoints? I'm coming from the perspective of, do you have to be smooth when moving during the waypoints, or does the drone do those calcs itself and plots its own course?

[@patrickbako]

Good question! Curious about this myself.

[@JakeSloan]

by cinematic mode do you mean moving slowly? You set the speed you want the drone to move at when you set the way point and fly from one to the next (it will repeat your gimbal movement speed as well) and yes you need to be as smooth as possible between waypoints because it is going to try and copy all your movements exactly! it's also important to make sure there are no obstacles since it will just stop if it detects them

[@vonheise]

Great ideas. I sometimes get stressed trying to do things and fly the drone too but haven't thought of using waypoints to do it, but will now after some practice.

[@JakeSloan]

Go for it!

[@CAMTechChris]

Jake, this seriously epic! Thank you for sharing this! I will definitely start using this

[@JakeSloan]

You bet!

[@vonheise]

Thanks, great ideas and information. I hadn't thought of using waypoints for people, just various scenery...

[@JakeSloan]

You're welcome!

[@simonblackburn8741]

Well thought through and one of the reasons I'm saving my pennies for a Mini 4p. My problem with DJI is their framing of POI's centrally, as an ex-professional, I like to give 'looking room' in many of my shots or photographs and this the way around it as well.

[@JakeSloan]

you'll but much happier working with the drone in this way! gives you a lot more flexibility in framing and telling a story in a shot

[@EliteDronesAZ]

Excellent! Thumbs up for the video and that amazing location!

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@jimanderson4865]

Hi Jake. Great tip using waypoints. Sure glad I bought the M3.

[@JakeSloan]

Great to hear!

[@Kastor_X]

Some great shots of those snow covered mountains! Great work and good tips as well.

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks

[@SCAerialsSteveCarpenter]

Hello Jake. Thank you for this excellent tutorial on using waypoints visits active track. You sure bought out a lot of different uses for waypoints. Yes, absolutely gorgeous location. The reveal shots were outstanding. You sure had your work cut out hiking to your vantage point. Another Awesome tips and tricks tutorial!

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you so much Steve!!

[@SunriseWaterMedia]

Love that DJI put waypoints in the Mavic 3.

[@JakeSloan]

me too!

[@MegaFr33dom]

Great ideas. I am discovering so many uses to Waypoints I never thought of before. thank you!

[@JakeSloan]

Glad it was helpful!

[@robbinsdrones]

Very cool - will give it a go! What an amazing location to shoot - spectacular footage.

[@JakeSloan]

Awesome and I agree it was mind blowing!

[@hwobstj]

I’m new to the drone world, just purchased a mini 3 Pro and am curious if I can do this waypoint method with my drone. Great instructional videos. Thanks for making them.

[@JakeSloan]

you're welcome, the mini 3 doesnt have waypoints unfortunately but I do have a video coming next week about creative ways to use active track!

[@hwobstj]

@@JakeSloan After I sent you my message I went searching on KZbin and it seems the Mini 3 Pro, which I have , does have waypoints via some functions, at least according to some recent posters. I’m not at home so I can’t verify, but hopefully this is true as I do like the method you used. The Mavic 3 is on my radar for next year if I grow into this drone. Thanks for your reply and if I do find it has waypoints I’ll let you know.

[@Luokiteltu]

Great video! Very helpful. I'm planning on getting a drone soon to film some skiing. I think waypoints are going to be the way to get the majority of the shots. I'm not sure how I'd store the controller while skiing though. Ideally I'd set up a shot, throw the controller in my backpack, ski the line, and then have it land at the bottom. Is there a good way to do this? Am I going to run into issues with landing it at a different spot than it took off?

[@JakeSloan]

The best way to do this is keep the sticks off the controller(you can still control it just using your thumbs on then remote gimbals where the stick would normally go) and attach the controller to a lanyard. then tuck the remote into a pocket while you make your run, but be cautious, obstacle avoidance isnt 100% and occasionally the drone may loose you tracking so you will need to be able to stop quickly and get the drone back to where you want it. Also be away most drones can only track up to certain speeds which you would easily be able to go faster than on skis downhill

[@Luokiteltu]

@@JakeSloan Thanks for the great answer! Putting the controller in a pocket sounds reasonable. As long as the drone doesn't automatically land back up where I started skiing, I think this could work! Like you said in the video, the automatic tracking sounds like it wouldn't be super reliable, so I probably wouldn't use that a ton. Waypoints or even a completely static shot would work for me. The value for me is in being able to have an angle I wouldn't otherwise be able to get without having to have a friend climb a different mountain or something.

[@CarolinaAirshots]

That's cool, I'll give it a try. Thanks Jake

[@JakeSloan]

awesome

[@michaelwhinnery164]

Great post man. I have the Mini 2 and for some reason DJI didn't include active track or way points in the software ? It has all the other cookie cutter shots baked in though I also have the Spark and it does have active track.... but it's not very reliable. I'm trying to get it to follow a large red rc glider and it's struggling to keep it in frame. Drops out probably 85% of the time... any advice ?

[@JakeSloan]

yeah they didn't have any active track in the mini 2 due to lack of obstacle avoidance sensors, you can use an app like Litchi to do a lot more with the drone though!

[@michaelwhinnery164]

@@JakeSloan sweet

[@TheSilverSurfisher]

Thanks for the excellent video. Will this work good and accurate to capture a person surfing who has no camera operator? If not, what's the best drone brand and best drone-setting that has a reliable "follow me" or Tracking feature for surfers??

[@JakeSloan]

this will not but the drone does have some tracking modes but I would not trust any drone to track surfers safely on it's own

[@TheSilverSurfisher]

@@JakeSloan Okay, Thanks for the feedback!

[@KidVid013]

Hmmm I thought about doing this to film (without) holding the controller. This is a great work around to active track, which seems hit or miss depending on area, obstacles, etc. NOW if only the POI had a "focus" in which you could focus on a person vs a spot. That would make this method FAR SUPERIOR to the active track. I'll have to play with this waypoint method and hopefully I can get something to come out.

[@JakeSloan]

agreed!!

[@jmcvideodrones]

Thanks for the suggestion. I was trying to do active track of myself walking across a bridge with my M2P snd Active track kept failing when i walked under the upper structure. I could of used Wavepoints to do it.

[@JakeSloan]

absolutely perfect case of how to use it!

[@ospreycove]

Amazing footage! I'm going to share this video with people who criticized me for complaining about the lack of waypoints on the Mavic 3. lol

[@JakeSloan]

thanks! and I agree lol

[@grumpyclark]

Fantastic advice and footage Jake - wow! Subscribed!

[@JakeSloan]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@donaldmartin7109]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. EXCELLENT DEMO.

[@JakeSloan]

My pleasure!

[@petermclennan6781]

I shot aerials from helicopters for Hollywood and others for years. "Waypoints" is exactly how we did it. Waypoints are already implemented in the Mini 3 in "Hyperlapse" mode, but not for regular flight. A marketing decision, pure and simple. I'd willingly pay DJI for a waypoints firmware paid update.

[@JakeSloan]

Agreed and I wish they would add the option to the mini series.

[@dalewiley9208]

Thank-you so much. I have never tried Waypoints. But thanks to your video I will do so soon.

[@JakeSloan]

awesome!

[@georgekelly1948]

Great video,Jake. I think this may mean a Mavic 3 Classic is in my future?

[@JakeSloan]

I think the Mavic 3 Classic is excellent!

[@MrEddieNunez]

This is such a hidden hack. Thanks for sharing, definitely going to try this.

[@JakeSloan]

it can give some really cool results for sure and I feel like im just scratching the surface

[@peterk2018]

Very cool! Thank you for this. Just found your channel! Learning more and more thanks to people like yourself!

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks

[@RugMatt1]

This is epic! Thanks for these tips 🙌🏼💪🏼

[@JakeSloan]

You bet!

[@John_Neves]

Great! I'm definitely going to use that 👍

[@JakeSloan]

Go for it! you can get some really cool shots!

[@giotto4321]

Great tutorial, many thanks for the tips contained in it. I'm beginning to realise the limitations of my Mini 2 as this is exactly the sort of functionality I'd love to have in it! (Fantastic scenery btw!)

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks!

[@joelroth3651]

I'm still rocking the original mini, but I just ordered a used Air 2s fly more combo for $750 on Amazon. Hopefully it works!

[@touring4973]

Good idea! Tnx. I also does not like scenes created with active track with myself always looking at the screen or the drone!:) Waypoints could be one reason not to get bored with flying a drone if it can be used creatively.

[@JakeSloan]

Glad it was helpful!

[@john_k1813]

Fantastic tips! Thanks Jake!

[@JakeSloan]

You're welcome!

[@thisdroneupflying]

Incredibly helpful tips Jake! Thank you!👍👍

[@JakeSloan]

My pleasure!

[@TCPUDPATM]

Great video! I plan on taking some mountain shots and this is perfect. Thank you!

[@JakeSloan]

awesome

[@TheDroneRanger215]

Pretty cool shots. That was awesome.

[@JakeSloan]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@GabrielBhappy]

Very cool!! I'm 100% going to play with this!!

[@JakeSloan]

awesome

[@wwdagger]

Great video and footage. Are those custom control sticks? They look bigger than the stock ones.

[@JakeSloan]

yes they are and thanks!

[@nigeltyrell1219]

Beautiful footage and really useful information. Great presentational style too! Thanks.

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you very much!

[@paulthiebaut]

7:02 This shot is a cinema work, great job !

[@JakeSloan]

thank you!

[@shutterspeedireland1148]

Great as always Jake

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you!

[@CPstudioTheTraveller]

great usage of waypoint.

[@JakeSloan]

thanks!

[@erikdendress]

Very cool, I didn't know about waypoints!

[@JakeSloan]

Nice

[@koenpijpersphotography]

Great tips with the waypoints mode

[@JakeSloan]

Glad it was helpful!

[@YourComputerExpert]

0:58 this shot is awesome

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you

[@The_Snowbike_Channel]

@@JakeSloanmind sending me coordinates to that Boulder jump in 0:58? It’s begging for me to drop it on a snowbike. Hatcher Pass?

[@Phiseldek]

Great, Jake, thanks, this is really nice. Good idea! May I know which Music you chose?

[@JakeSloan]

All my music is from artlist

[@chrisingram5251]

Awesome and very practical tips as usual! Thank you!

[@JakeSloan]

My pleasure!

[@SkyTouch08]

Informative video as always bro. Keep up the good work!

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks! Will do!

[@slopy_bery4272]

That cool i thought about it and nobody mentioned that I didn't have a clue what it's even called ... well done about that way point

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks

[@AlienDrones]

Nice! Didn't think of using waypoints this way. I did use keyframes once on the skydio 2+ in a similar way kind of by accident, but I'm going to revisit this and think about the different shots that might be possible. 🤙🤙

[@JakeSloan]

Awesome, I hadn't either until a few weeks ago when I wanted a specific shot and couldn't get it any other way lol

[@imagesofnorway]

Excellent tip, thanx! I wish the Mini 3 Pro had waypoints, I’d rather not carry the Mavic 3 up the mountains.

[@JakeSloan]

I think you can use way points with the Mini 3 using the litchi app

[@cgustaff4807]

Remember Jake...you don't pan up, you TILT UP or DOWN and PAN LF or RT. Just FYI. thanks for the video.

[@JakeSloan]

LOL yeah yeah yeah, I blame this on a lack of sleep and extreme cold lol

[@Se7eNTh1rte3N]

​@JakeSloan don't blame... accept responsibility...

[@ArcticNorthAdventures]

great tutorial thanks for sharing really useful, just need to figure out how to do close up action ski shots with the waypoint while skiing down the mountain

[@JakeSloan]

That will be interesting!

[@Nyke226]

IMPRESSIV Thanks a lot... Is the obstical avoidance active while doin this with the waypoints?

[@JakeSloan]

It is unless you turn it off

[@Nyke226]

@@JakeSloan thanks Jake. 🤟🙏

[@hidaven]

Can this be done with the cheaper RC remote?

[@JakeSloan]

yes it can, you just need the mavic 3 or mavic 3 classic (or mavic 2) to do it

[@ShawAdventuresYouTube]

Love this idea. Thanks for sharing!

[@JakeSloan]

You’re welcome

[@BrunoVilelaIS]

Nice location. Would love to live in a such country! I thought about this possibilities when they launched waypoints to mavic 3. Amazing feature. This drone is awesome.

[@JakeSloan]

agreed!!

[@509mafia6]

I sure do appreciate your very informative and beautiful videos, but I always have to reach for a blanket while watching 😂 keep up the good work

[@JakeSloan]

HAHAHAHAHAHHA awesome!

[@KrisLuckPhoto]

have you had an issue where the second waypoint gets stuck? For example, I was at the beach and the second waypoint was set to 50 feet, but the drone just went to 3 feet over the water and just hovered.

[@JakeSloan]

I have had the issue once in a while that obstacle avoidance would cause it to stop

[@BigWaterUAV]

Great Stuff Jake!

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you!

[@wolfiemedia]

Quicker, dirtier way to do this is utilise Cruise Control. For the side and reveals - it's super easy and doesn't keep the subject in the centre (also) :)

[@JakeSloan]

waypoints don't have to keep subject in center either ;)

[@wolfiemedia]

edited :) @@JakeSloan Love the channel BTW.

[@kensteele3363]

awesome video! can you please tell us approx where in alaska where this spectacular footage is filmed?

[@JakeSloan]

This is deep in the Talkeetna Mountains

[@KnightSkyFilms]

Genuinely a great tip. Top work

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks and you're welcome!

[@beedroneinsta]

Hey Jake great video unbelievable landscape. Really good tip and trick using the mavic 3 incredible drone hopefully my next purchase. Hope all is well

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you! I hope you can get one soon

[@ToreOnYouTube]

RIP exposure in these environments. Good job with the editing.

[@JakeSloan]

Lol it’s hard to get good exposure in places like this. SO much light bouncing around

[@MichaelCarrPilot]

I’ve been wondering all along how shots are achieved with no apparent holding of the controller. Great info.

[@JakeSloan]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MaverickDroneSystems]

Love this!

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you!

[@the_thomss]

Amazing scenery and great footage! I subscribed to see more Videos made by you. Dji Mini 2 SE is an awesome little drone. I own one myself too and create cinematic Videos. Keep it up bro! 👌🏽

[@JakeSloan]

awesome!

[@glyn829]

Good idea 👍 nice film

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you very much!

[@MarkH163]

Wish the Air 2S did Waypoints (other than in Hyperlapse mode). Litchi, a 3rd party app does that, but not sure if that's worth it. Thanks Jake, good info video (and awesome mountain backdrop for demo)!

[@Clickumentary]

Oh bummer. I was going to check if my Air 2S was able to do this...crap. I wonder if mini 3 pro does? (Thinking of adding to collection for travel)

[@camilo8cheryl]

@@Clickumentary mini 3 pro has waypoints but on hyper lapse

[@JakeSloan]

yeah I realized that after I made this, I wonder if third party apps like Litchi would allow it?

[@powerstroke01]

​@@JakeSloan litchi has waypoints. I'll have to play with them.

[@captinktm]

Very clever. Great ideas and location. I guess I can do this with my Mavic pro2?

[@JakeSloan]

I can't remember if the mavic pro has waypoints but if it does then yes absolutely

[@anotherguywithaflyingcamer6193]

What’s your opinion on the rc pro and rc non pro controllers? Looking at upgrading to the mavic 3 (non cine) and one of those two controllers from my air 2s for the extended flight time and variable aperture

[@JakeSloan]

I have and use both regularly and honestly the dji RC (one with the screen but not the pro model) is excellent. The pro has a few features that beat it out but I am perfectly happy using it when I do. I have a video coming comparing the two

[@suitcasejunkies8719]

Hi Jake nice video as alway. Around the 6:48 mark, you have the drone do a circular motion around you, was that also done with waypoints and if so how did you accomplish that?

[@JakeSloan]

that was waypoints (3 if I remember right) when you are flying between setting waypoints the drone records the drone direction and gimbal position so you can create shots like this

[@suitcasejunkies8719]

@@JakeSloan Ok copy, thank you.

[@Octowhat]

Wow! Great location to inspire others!!!

[@JakeSloan]

agreed

[@Gaël-UnRêveurÀMoto]

Wooooooooow man looks so dope 😍

[@JakeSloan]

Thank you

[@arunr5529]

Hi! Does the Mavic 3 ignore any pauses when you are pre-flying the course to set the waypoints? Because I imagine when you are doing the establishment of the course you may need to pause so that you can operate the menus to add the way points, but you wouldn’t want this in the final footage.

[@JakeSloan]

it does ignore pauses you make to add waypoints

[@80211Denver]

I assume it smooths out the flight path, gimble tilt, zoom, etc? Sorry if you mentioned that and I missed it

[@JakeSloan]

it does exactly what you do so you do need to make all your movements smooth as you are setting the waypoints etc

[@TerryWarfield]

Dope video man!!

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks Terry!!

[@arunr5529]

Thanks for this excellent video. I’m hoping there’s a way I can do this similarly with my Mavic two pro. It obviously has waypoints, but I’m not sure if you can select and specify way points the way you do with the Mavic3 - i.e. by manually flying the mission first and setting waypoints as you fly

[@JakeSloan]

I can’t remember if that’s possible or not either

[@arunr5529]

@@JakeSloan I don’t think it is, but I will try today and let you know. Otherwise do you think it just using the map option to select waypoints would work just as well? I’m not sure in those sorts of regions like where you were shooting this video, it would suffice.

[@utilisemedia]

What speed do you use in Waypoint to get those Cinematic shots? Thank you

[@JakeSloan]

I put it in the video 😁

[@lprzytula]

Does the drone smooth out the movement between waypoints/gimbal or does the drone literally trace your exact movements? Thanks.

[@JakeSloan]

It will trace your exact movements so make them smooth lol

[@SirRooot]

Simply and genious!

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks!

[@lynsmith1096]

Nice 1 Jake

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks Lyn!!

[@serranopro_]

Liked and subscribed! Thank you for this great video! Please teach us your DLOG color grading method.

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks for the sub and that video is coming!

[@dh2734]

So you set the first WP, then you fly to second WP and stop to set it on the RC and then onto the third WP and so on.... how do you keep the transition smooth between the WPs? It's going to be jerky at each WP surely?

[@JakeSloan]

so long as you fly with smooth motions between each way point the drone records everything you do from gimbal position changes to heading changes and then flies through them at the speed you set. If you make jerky movements those will also be recorded and flown that way

[@dh2734]

@@JakeSloan cheers! I'll give it a go

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

Can you start wide angle and then zoom in with the waypoints? I wish waypoints were on the air2s or mini3 pro that mavic 3 is too big and heavy for the big mountains I do.

[@JakeSloan]

I don't believe you can

[@PhilSledge]

Great advice Jake

[@JakeSloan]

Thanks!

[@brentfox1233]

Hi Jake, I always enjoy your videos. Can you use waypoints but make yourself the POI as you move into or out of a scene?

[@JakeSloan]

well you can make an area you plan to walk into a poi with waypoints but there is still no tracking involved everything must be pre programed

[@t-eighthundredtwo-thousand2711]

@@JakeSloanhi, can all the gimbal and camera movements be programed as well ?

[@PaulFeinberg]

I have never used this with the mini 3 pro......looks cool maybe I need to try it. I also want to do a hyperlapse of something cool here. Great video!

[@JakeSloan]

great way to use it! I couldn't remember if the mini 3 had waypoints or not but if it does then definitely do it!

[@BlairAir]

ONLY Mavic 3 has Waypoints of the current drones. Last one to have them was Mavic 2 Pro/Zoom

[@BlairAir]

​@@JakeSloan Mini 3/3Pro only has Hyperlapse Waypoints, unfortunately 😕 maybe they will put them on the Pro... but I think it's a Mavic 3 thing more likely. Up-sell incentive!

[@PaulFeinberg]

@@BlairAir yep only available in Hyperlapse mode on the mini 3 Pro. Oh well lol 😂 Maybe when the Mavic 4 comes I will upgrade lol 😂

[@moemaster1966]

Great information..thanks for sharing..

[@JakeSloan]

My pleasure

[@9adriano21]

Another banger tip !

[@JakeSloan]

Glad you think so!

[@UavDasher]

hey, thanks for the video, very well done! can you work with waypoints on the DJI Mini 3 Pro as well? i think they only provide it along with Hyperlapse, but you might know more than me :)

[@JakeSloan]

I don’t believe you can with the mini 3 😔

[@UavDasher]

@@JakeSloan thank you for the quick response. found that out as well in the meantime. yet there's an app called dronelink which mitigates that issue (and leverages the waypoint feature even more. check it out if you're interested :)