Editing Videos

pdmike

pdmike

Extremely Popular Member
Is it necessary to edit quad videos? Do you edit your videos? If you do, what editing program do you use?
 
Yes, it is worthwhile to edit your videos if you plan to share them on YouTube or other social media. I use Moviemaker as well as Movavi Video Suite (if I want to have video in video - for example show Mission Planner aircraft instruments as well as the video from the aircraft. I also use iMovie on a Mac.

It takes a lot of practice as well as viewing other videos to get an idea of what's interesting - typically cutting up scenes in three or four sec segments so as not to get boring. Also, adding music helps as well.
 
GlassKnees said:
Yes, it is worthwhile to edit your videos if you plan to share them on YouTube or other social media. I use Moviemaker as well as Movavi Video Suite (if I want to have video in video - for example show Mission Planner aircraft instruments as well as the video from the aircraft. I also use iMovie on a Mac.

It takes a lot of practice as well as viewing other videos to get an idea of what's interesting - typically cutting up scenes in three or four sec segments so as not to get boring. Also, adding music helps as well.
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I realize it is worthwhile - but is it necessary? Editing can always improve anything, but can videos be viewed and shared without any editing? That's my question.
 
Cyber link Power Director
It will let you put up to 4 video tracks with sound. The only thing I cant figure out how to do is slow motion.
If nothing else editing out crashes is appreciated by anyone watching ;)
Music helps too but I like to leave just a little of the engine noise in.
I also like to put my dvr from goggles up so people can see the clarity and ranges.
 
DrAbsurd said:
Cyber link Power Director
It will let you put up to 4 video tracks with sound. The only thing I cant figure out how to do is slow motion.
If nothing else editing out crashes is appreciated by anyone watching ;)
Music helps too but I like to leave just a little of the engine noise in.
I also like to put my dvr from goggles up so people can see the clarity and ranges.
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Sigh - thank you, but once again: All this is great, but if you don't want to do all you describe here, do you have to edit your videos?
 
pdmike said:
Sigh - thank you, but once again: All this is great, but if you don't want to do all you describe here, do you have to edit your videos?
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No.
But most of us would at least like to remove wasted time like sitting on the launch pad for a minute before takeoff with the camera running.
 
Actually, you can edit and send your video to social media right through your Go 4 app. This'll give you an idea, there's tons of tutorials on boob tube

 
Lets put it this way. If all you do is HD video Drones then less editing may be required, since most people view those for scenery anyway. If you fly Acro and only want to watch video to analyze your flying and or you dont care about other peoples enjoyment while watching, then dont edit. If you want anyone to enjoy watching your videos, edit it some. Like kent said, no one wants to watch 45 seconds of sitting on landing pad or 1.5 minutes of retrieving a crashed drone. To be honest it doesnt sound like you want to edit or do anything with your raw footage. If thats the case then dont. You just cant complain later when no one watches or wants to watch. If it was your buddy showing you footage of his day out playing golf or whatever you would probably want him to edit it down some first.... cause there's a lot of that footage you wouldnt want to sit through.
 
OK - now we're getting somewhere. I'm beginning to get it. Thanks Dr. A and Kent for those last two posts. Let's progress to my next question: can editing fix my choppy/jerky video problem?
 
The short answer is there is very little you can do to smooth out your video without some processing and even then it will be limited. The solution is to try to eliminate the source in the first place. You might want to give us more detail concerning the choppy/jerkiness... Is your camera on a gimbal? If so, is it a two or three axis device? I have both - a 2 axis gimbal on one quadcopter and a 3 axis on another. When I shoot videos, I tend to let the autopilot fly the aircraft while I concentrate on the scene being filmed. The two axis gimbal introduces what I call "yaw jitter" into my videos which happens when a breeze blows the aircraft off track and the autopilot corrects to get back on course. Yaw jitter is eliminated with a 3 axis gimbal because it lags behind the aircraft as it turns (yaws); this lag dampens out and eliminates movement caused by minor yaw changes.

If your camera is fixed to the aircraft without any stabilization, it is exceedingly difficult to get smooth video - you are pretty much limited to flying early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the breezes are light or nonexistent, or fly indoors. Even then, it requires a smooth and steady hand, especially if flying in acro mode. If your flight controller supports multiple flight modes, try selecting one that is comparable to APM's "Loiter" mode - it will hold the aircraft in a single position and altitude and you can move it around but once you take your fingers off the sticks it will hold its position. I've found that in Loiter mode, response to my inputs is somewhat muted and the aircraft flies slower, which helps make any video I'm shooting smoother.
 
RENOV8R said:
Actually, you can edit and send your video to social media right through your Go 4 app. This'll give you an idea, there's tons of tutorials on boob tube

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Thank you. Once I solve the choppy video issue, I will most certainly check this one out.
 
GlassKnees said:
The short answer is there is very little you can do to smooth out your video without some processing and even then it will be limited. The solution is to try to eliminate the source in the first place. You might want to give us more detail concerning the choppy/jerkiness... Is your camera on a gimbal? If so, is it a two or three axis device? I have both - a 2 axis gimbal on one quadcopter and a 3 axis on another. When I shoot videos, I tend to let the autopilot fly the aircraft while I concentrate on the scene being filmed. The two axis gimbal introduces what I call "yaw jitter" into my videos which happens when a breeze blows the aircraft off track and the autopilot corrects to get back on course. Yaw jitter is eliminated with a 3 axis gimbal because it lags behind the aircraft as it turns (yaws); this lag dampens out and eliminates movement caused by minor yaw changes.

If your camera is fixed to the aircraft without any stabilization, it is exceedingly difficult to get smooth video - you are pretty much limited to flying early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the breezes are light or nonexistent, or fly indoors. Even then, it requires a smooth and steady hand, especially if flying in acro mode. If your flight controller supports multiple flight modes, try selecting one that is comparable to APM's "Loiter" mode - it will hold the aircraft in a single position and altitude and you can move it around but once you take your fingers off the sticks it will hold its position. I've found that in Loiter mode, response to my inputs is somewhat muted and the aircraft flies slower, which helps make any video I'm shooting smoother.
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Thanks! Some great info. I am flying a Phantom 4. It would seem to me that, with a quad of that quality, I shouldn't be having this problem. I am going to try to upload a sample of one of my choppy videos as soon as I have time to figure out how to do it. Probably this weekend.

I can tell you this - the jerky videos are not caused by quad movement. My quad is solid as a rock when it's up there. In the first place, I try to always fly when there is little or no wind. Secondly, even when there is some wind, it does not affect the solidity of the quad's movement. When I get one of the videos up, you will see what I'm talking about. The jerking only takes place when I am panning around in a circle. If I take the quad up and let it hover with the camera in one position only, the video is clear and steady; no jerking at all. The only time it jerks is when I am yawing the quad. The jerking is always horizontal (not vertical) as the camera view moves in a horizontal direction.
 
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I got hundreds of hours of footage but my potato PC can't do much. I did put a few on YouTube when I first started the hobby, using my phone but it takes too long. I will get a new pc soon & put some up. I still can't figure how to link on this phone but if anybody wants a laugh my YT is woodsy5791
 
pdmike said:
Thanks! Some great info. I am flying a Phantom 4. It would seem to me that, with a quad of that quality, I shouldn't be having this problem. I am going to try to upload a sample of one of my choppy videos as soon as I have time to figure out how to do it. Probably this weekend.

I can tell you this - the jerky videos are not caused by quad movement. My quad is solid as a rock when it's up there. In the first place, I try to always fly when there is little or no wind. Secondly, even when there is some wind, it does not affect the solidity of the quad's movement. When I get one of the videos up, you will see what I'm talking about. The jerking only takes place when I am panning around in a circle. If I take the quad up and let it hover with the camera in one position only, the video is clear and steady; no jerking at all. The only time it jerks is when I am yawing the quad. The jerking is always horizontal (not vertical) as the camera view moves in a horizontal direction.
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Mike, based on this description there is some kind of issue with the gimbal. Are you on Facebook? If so, I'd suggest you join the DJI PHantom 4 Owners Support group and post this (and video, if possible) in there.
 
pdmike said:
Thanks! Some great info. I am flying a Phantom 4. It would seem to me that, with a quad of that quality, I shouldn't be having this problem. I am going to try to upload a sample of one of my choppy videos as soon as I have time to figure out how to do it. Probably this weekend.

I can tell you this - the jerky videos are not caused by quad movement. My quad is solid as a rock when it's up there. In the first place, I try to always fly when there is little or no wind. Secondly, even when there is some wind, it does not affect the solidity of the quad's movement. When I get one of the videos up, you will see what I'm talking about. The jerking only takes place when I am panning around in a circle. If I take the quad up and let it hover with the camera in one position only, the video is clear and steady; no jerking at all. The only time it jerks is when I am yawing the quad. The jerking is always horizontal (not vertical) as the camera view moves in a horizontal direction.
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Not to pick on Moz, but since you'll be awhile to upload a video, Mike, take a look at this video:

Look around 20 seconds in. Is this the kind of jitter you are experiencing? Or something different?
 
Spork said:
Not to pick on Moz, but since you'll be awhile to upload a video, Mike, take a look at this video:

Look around 20 seconds in. Is this the kind of jitter you are experiencing? Or something different?
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No, not at all. I am not experiencing jitter. The horizon stays perfectly level. The problem for me only begins when I start to pan horizontally. Then, the picture will pause for a split second or two and then "snap" to the next portion of the video in a jerky manner. I will do my best to upload my video as soon as possible.
 
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