[Video Recording] Learning how to use a GoPro to record the flight

AggieMike88

AggieMike88

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The original "I don't know it all" of aviation.
Now that GoPro has their "Hero Session" (http://shop.gopro.com/cameras/hero-session/CHDHS-102.html) available, I have been thinking of generating some garage sale money and getting one or two of these cameras to record my flying activities.

Since many folks here have used GoPro and their clones to record their flights, this would be a good opportunity to start a "Beginners Aviation Recording for Dummies" thread.

If you are recording your flights, please share with us details about your setup, what us beginners should know, and perhaps a link or two of your better recording sessions.

In addition to information that might get shared here in this thread, can anyone recommend a web page or two that covers the basics, including
  • how to record audio from the intercom and radio traffic
  • what filter to use to reduce propeller artifacts
  • how to get the most of your recording.
 
honestly this has been beaten to death here. here are my suggestions:

-find a mounting spot (try a few until you get one you like)
-press record

for audio I see 3 options:

1) ambient cockpit noise (just using gopro mic. will be loud, engine noise, no atc)
2) lapel mic stuffed into headset like eman1200 does (incredibly cheap solution, decent enough audio)
3) special gopro audio cable available on amazon or other places (I think you'll need a recording device to go along with this. so this is prob the most expensive way to go but will also prob get the best audio. another issue with this is now you'll have to sync up the audio with the video. once you do it once or twice it gets easier).

I can't comment on any filters, I don't use any. I wish I could filter out my ugly face, but the technology on that is behind the times.
 
I have a sony voice recorder and a Y cable to record audio. I use a couple SJ4000 cams to record in cockpit and over nose. Syncing audio and video is annoying, especially when video is recording at 29.97 and audio is real time. But it works and I like the audio better than the mic in earcup thing.

And it's a damned sight cheaper than the proprietary aviation setups.
 
eman1200 said:
honestly this has been beaten to death here. here are my suggestions:
3) special gopro audio cable available on amazon or other places (I think you'll need a recording device to go along with this. so this is prob the most expensive way to go but will also prob get the best audio. another issue with this is now you'll have to sync up the audio with the video. once you do it once or twice it gets easier).
Click to expand...

I use this puppy: https://www.amazon.com/Nflightcam-Aircraft-Audio-Power-Cable/dp/B00OP8RYY8

You don't need an extra audio recorder for it, you can plug it right into the GoPro, and it records the headset audio onto the video, no syncing required.

You don't get as much ambient noise, so I guess if you wanted to mix the two you could let the GoPro record ambient, and get a separate audio recorder to plug one of these adapters into, but then you'd have to have the skillzzzz to mix two audio tracks onto a video.
 
onezuludelta said:
I use this puppy: https://www.amazon.com/Nflightcam-Aircraft-Audio-Power-Cable/dp/B00OP8RYY8

You don't need an extra audio recorder for it, you can plug it right into the GoPro, and it records the headset audio onto the video, no syncing required.

You don't get as much ambient noise, so I guess if you wanted to mix the two you could let the GoPro record ambient, and get a separate audio recorder to plug one of these adapters into, but then you'd have to have the skillzzzz to mix two audio tracks onto a video.
Click to expand...

Oh! Well if that's the case, I'll stick with my lapel mic solution. I thought those were to plug into a separate audio device.
 
The silver or black are well worth the extra money. I don't think you can use the audio cables with the session.
 
Oh right, another thing, about the Session, if you're planning on recording longer flights/days of flying, they have a downside vs. the regular GoPro - you cannot switch out batteries. Th entire session has to be plugged in to charge. So, say you make a XC, you can swap previously-charged batteries on a regular GoPro, and capture the flight back home, but that can't happen with a Session.

So double check the benefits/downsides of Session vs. Hero 3 or 4. I haven't compared anything else because I'm not in the market, but that is one strike against the Session at least.

Also, for electronics and the like, I follow Kinja Deals on Twitter, or you can just check their website daily, they post the best electronics deals and always know when a great discount is coming on Amazon or at Best Buy. That's how I got my GoPro for $100 off regular price at Best Buy.
 
AggieMike88 said:
Now that GoPro has their "Hero Session" (http://shop.gopro.com/cameras/hero-session/CHDHS-102.html) available, I have been thinking of generating some garage sale money and getting one or two of these cameras to record my flying activities.
how to record audio from the intercom and radio traffic
  • what filter to use to reduce propeller artifacts
  • how to get the most of your recording.
Click to expand...

Hi Mike and everyone.



I've spent many hours trying to find something that works for me. I fly multiple aircrafts and I use GoPro 4 Black.



Recording Audio:

Must have a GoPro mic. adapter cable, GoPro sells one for around $20.00, that disables the Internal mic. It's a special 10pin mini USB GoPro. Be alert and stay away from the Ebay / Amazon, most will Not have a 10 pin. I made my own and tested the GoPro with the same results. See pic. (switch is Not needed just use a 330KOhm resistor between pins 6-7). I found that using the Internal mic. is useless, the only thing you hear is the engine / cockpit noise.



Best:

Use an in earcup mic., works best for most aircraft. You may have to find a mic. that works best for most / your acft. You basically record what you hear, if you have an ANR headset the noise should be taken care of. This is Not the case for the direct plug in type.



Cons: You have to use your internal battery, unless you have your cable built to use external power (see pi.c). Easy to forget to place the mic. inside. Can interfere with your movement.



Other:

Use an aftermarket cable adapter I tested Product ID 2043A from Sportys, for standard plug, with good results. This gives you the capability to use the external power for your camera, in addition to the Audio in.

Note: Not all the adapters have this Power in connector.

Cons: It may be too short in some cases, depending on the mounting solution / acft. It does not take care of the Noise rejection, in most acft., which is done in the Head set.

Note: Using an external power is best if you have a separate battery, Not the built in USB power available on some acft., to reduce the power noise / interference. You may be able to fix that, at a later time, but try it first

Recording Video:

Note: There is no way to get away from the Banana prop, without giving something up. The only good way is to record from an angle the does not see the prop. I tested using ND1-8 and the darker works best, but you give up a lot of sharpness. I opt for Not using a filter, and have the sharpness.

There is one problem that is very annoying called jello effect?, you can see it in some videos where the area in the immediate vicinity looks like it's water with waves. The only way I found to get rid of it is to shoot at 120FPS, which you may not have? An issue with using the 120 is that many of the PCs cannot play that video back properly. You have to use a powerful PC to view it properly.



Summary: I use 1080@120FPS, Audio adapter with external power, no filters, for most recording.

I also use the ProTune when I want some special effects, but it takes a lot of trial and error before you get something you are happy with.

GoProMicAudVidS.jpg
 
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Jello is often, if not exclusively, the result of vibration. The more you can isolate the vibration going from the aircraft to the mount, the less jello effect you'll get.
 
ircphoenix said:
Jello is often, if not exclusively, the result of vibration. The more you can isolate the vibration going from the aircraft to the mount, the less jello effect you'll get.
Click to expand...
Hi Irc.
I use the same mount and I do Not get it at 120 but I do at anything less. Tried many mounts with the same results.
Do you know of a mount that I can try inside the acft. or on the instrument panel that works? Having to record at 120 is not something I want to do if I can find a solution.
 
What I did, with some success, is I put a piece of foam between the screw mount and the camera. What clued me in was my in cockpit video didn't have jello, but my over the nose video did. So I looked at both mounts, and the one I was using for in the cockpit video had a little rubber gasket between the screw and the mount that the other one didn't have. So I used some foam I had instead. Pretty sure a thicker foam or thicker rubber would work even better for me, but I don't have any of that lying around, and I don't see the purpose of buying a sheet of something I need 1 sq inch of.

120 probably doesn't have it because the rolling shutter speed is fast enough to compensate for the vibration, whereas the slower rolling shutter speed allows for that jello affect to creep in.
 
Depends on type of aircraft and time of day, but be sure to play around with the spot metering on/off as well. Spot meter is meant for when you're in a darker location (i.e. the cabin) and capturing brighter footage (i.e. outside). Otherwise, your exposure may very well show the interior fine, but outside is too bright to see. Sometimes it's the other way around with the spot meter on, so the answer is "it depends" as to when is best to use it.
 
For a less expensive camera that still gives decent results, try the Polaroid Cube. 1080p HD, 30 fps, but just $65. I bought a waterproof case for another $17 that allows me to use all my existing GoPro mounts.


The field of view is a little narrower, but I think the image quality is better than the GoPro Session, and approaches that of the more expensive models. I watched some side-by-side comparisons on the Web, and I think the colors come out more vivid on the Cube. I wish the battery life was better...all these cameras seem to run for about 90 minutes.

Here's a video I shot with it about a week ago:

 
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