How to insert flight track data into GoPro video

sarangan

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Andrew, CFI-I
I have seen some folks who display their ground speed, track and altitude on their Gopro flight videos. I am assuming this is done from recorded track collected from a tablet or from flightaware data. I would appreciate some pointers from experts in this group on how this is done, and if there are any special tools that makes this process easier to implement.
 
The last few generations of GoPro cameras include basic telemetry data, which can be overlaid using GoPro's own software or 3rd party software. Sometimes it can take a couple minutes to sync up or get a position fix, so keep the camera on (standby mode) and use the camera shutter (start/stop recording) button for best results, assuming you have plenty of battery life. Otherwise you'll notice no data will be logged for the first part of your video (or any of it).
 
GoPro has built in telemetry data that can be turned on in the settings
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The Gopro session 5 I have does not have built-in telemetry. But I can log it on my phone and sync it up later. That's what I am looking for.
 
Garmin has a software for the Virb that will take GPX data and create "gauges" in editing. I use it for Bike Racing videos using power data. It's called "VIRB edit" and it works just fine with non-Garmin equipment like a GoPro. Syncing is painful, but it works.
 
You could use the open source software ffmpeg to do this. Would require some scripting and ability to extract fields from a data stream, but it could be done.
 
If you're already running an EFB (e.g. ForeFlight) on an iPad/iPhone, then you can capture a screen recording of the full flight (or portions) and then merge with video during post production.
 
Garmin has a software for the Virb that will take GPX data and create "gauges" in editing. I use it for Bike Racing videos using power data. It's called "VIRB edit" and it works just fine with non-Garmin equipment like a GoPro. Syncing is painful, but it works.
To add to this, if you are using Garmin Pilot with any Garmin GPS device and allow your flight logs to be uploaded to their cloud then every logged flight has a GPX track. I just downloaded Gopro's free editor and imported the Garmin gpx track and rendered the gauges. Then imported that and overlay into your favorite editor. Kind of a pita the first time or two then not too bad.
 
GoPro has built in telemetry data that can be turned on in the settings
View attachment 96200
How accurate is the altitude tracking on the gopro's? I currently use my running watch to record my track just for fun but it thinks I'm at ground level so I can never see my altitude gain, loss, or ability to hold altitude (or not).
 
For the benefit of everyone, I wanted to post how I solved this.
My GoPro does not have built-in telemetry (it is the Session 5 model). What I did was to install GPSLogger on my Android phone, and I start logging at the beginning of the flight. It saves the track log in .gpx format. I download the video off the camera, and sync the tracklog with the video using dashware. It is a lightweight software so it runs quite well. However, it is a racing car software, so it doesn't have many options for aviation gauges. But it does allow you to create your own gauges. You can save these gauges in your default profile. It works great, and I am happy with the outcome. All of these were done using free software.
 
Nice. Willing to share your final result (or just a sample video or even a screenshot) showing your gauges or data overlay?
 
The issue I've had with the GoPro telemetry data is when you have multiple files it resets the data. So instead of showing the whole track for the flight, it restarts at the new file. The gauges are great though. I'd love a workaround for the tracking data.
 
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