Gyroflow is a well-liked open-source instrument that stabilizes FPV drone footage utilizing gyro information out of your digital camera or drone. It’s free and works with a variety of cameras, permitting you to stabilize video utilizing gyro information recorded internally (in-camera) or externally (like Betaflight Blackbox), then imported into Gyroflow. On this tutorial, I’ll stroll you thru utilizing Gyroflow—from putting in the software program and adjusting settings to exporting your stabilized footage. Whether or not you’re a newbie or an skilled pilot, this information will allow you to benefit from Gyroflow.
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Benefits of Gyroflow
What’s Gyroflow?
Gyroflow is open-source stabilization software program that leverages gyro information. In comparison with paid instruments like Reelsteady GO, Gyroflow presents:
- Open-sournce and utterly free (vs. Reelsteady GO’s $99)
- Help for nearly any digital camera (Reelsteady GO is GoPro-only)
- Person-friendly interface
- Easy preview playback and speedy exports
- First rate outcomes that usually rival skilled software program
Obtain Gyroflow
First, obtain and unzip the newest model of Gyroflow from the official web site: https://github.com/gyroflow/gyroflow/releases
As soon as downloaded, unzip the file and run the Gyroflow executable contained in the folder. There’s no want for set up—Gyroflow is able to use proper out of the field.
Supported Cameras
You’ll want a digital camera that has an onboard gyroscope and information movement information together with the video footage. Right here’s a listing of standard cameras utilized in FPV drones which can be appropriate with Gyroflow out of the field:
- GoPro Hero (5 Black and newer)
- DJI Osmo Motion 2/4/5
- DJI O3 Air Unit,
- DJI O4 and O4 Professional,
- DJI Avata, Avata 2, Neo
- Runcam Thumb Professional, Thumb 2
- Hawkeye Thumb 4K
- Walksnail Moonlight
- …and extra!
See my HD digital camera suggestions right here: https://oscarliang.com/action-camera/
Most of those cameras embed the gyro information straight into the video file, making it straightforward to make use of with Gyroflow—simply drag and drop the video into the app. Nevertheless, some cameras (just like the Runcam Thumb) document gyro information in a separate CSV file, which you’ll have to import manually into Gyroflow. Examine your digital camera’s guide for particulars on the way it information and shops gyro information.
In case your digital camera doesn’t assist built-in gyro information recording or isn’t natively supported by Gyroflow, you’ll be able to nonetheless use it by recording movement information externally (e.g., utilizing Betaflight Blackbox logs or a devoted flight controller). Nevertheless, this course of is extra superior and out of doors the scope of this newbie information. For simplicity and ease of use, I like to recommend sticking with one of many cameras listed above that’s totally appropriate with Gyroflow.
Importing Video
Launch Gyroflow in your pc and easily drag and drop your video file into the appliance.
In case your video is break up into a number of information from the identical flight (frequent when file dimension exceeds the digital camera’s restrict), you’ll be able to choose all of them, drag and drop them into Gyroflow. You’ll then be prompted to mix them right into a single video file. I personally desire combining them, then deleting the unique information to maintain issues tidy and simpler to handle.
Lacking Gyro Information?
In case your digital camera shops gyro information inside the video file, you’ll see 3 traces within the timeline representing gyro motion throughout the X, Y, and Z axes. If these traces are lacking, the video probably doesn’t comprise gyro information, and also you’ll have to load it manually. This may be carried out underneath the Movement Information part, often by importing a separate CSV file in case your digital camera information it that method.
Observe: On DJI O3 and O4 (Lite & Professional), solely sure digital camera settings will allow gyro information recording. Examine my DJI O4 Professional tutorial for extra particulars: https://oscarliang.com/how-to-setup-dji-o4-pro/#Video-Stabilization
Lens Profile
In case your digital camera has a supported lens profile, Gyroflow will robotically load it if you import the video. If it doesn’t, you’ll be able to manually choose a profile and even create a customized one. Correct lens profiles assist Gyroflow perceive the optical distortion of your digital camera’s lens, considerably enhancing stabilization outcomes.
Syncing Gyro Information with Video
When you’re utilizing GoPro or DJI cameras, gyro syncing must be computerized. You don’t have to do something or add a sync level—in reality, doing so might be counterproductive. Gyroflow makes use of timestamp information to robotically align the gyro information with the video.
Nevertheless, with some cheaper cameras, syncing won’t be excellent out of the field. In these circumstances, strive utilizing the Auto Sync operate underneath the Stabilization tab. If that doesn’t yield good outcomes, you’ll be able to manually tweak the Offset slider to align gyro information with the video.
You can too strive Optical Movement, which analyzes movement within the video by monitoring objects body by body. It’s useful as a secondary verify however might be thrown off by transferring foreground components or shifting lighting, so outcomes might fluctuate.
Trimming Video
Underneath the preview window, you should utilize the [ and ] buttons to trim your footage to the specified size. When you look over to the proper, the button subsequent to the quantity icon permits you to allow or disable stabilization within the preview show.
Stabilization Settings
Whereas Gyroflow performs properly with its default settings, there are a number of changes you would possibly take into account relying in your wants.
Stabilization Modes
Gyroflow presents a number of stabilization modes, together with “Plain 3D”, which offers a glance just like Reelsteady. Inside every mode, you’ll be able to fine-tune parameters to tailor the stabilization impact to your particular type or footage. The “Default” mode usually works properly for many FPV movies.
Clicking “Superior” will reveal extra settings for many who need extra management over the stabilization course of.
Smoothness
The Smoothness setting controls how a lot stabilization is utilized to the video. Larger values lead to smoother footage however require extra cropping. Usually, a setting between 10% and 30% works properly for many FPV movies for my part, assuming your drone flight is comparatively secure. In case your footage is shaky, you could want to extend the smoothness worth—simply remember that the video will seem extra zoomed in.
The Max Smoothness sliders affect the time window used for stabilization—decrease values usually imply much less cropping, but in addition much less efficient stabilization. The default values are often a great place to begin.
Lock Horizon
Lock Horizon retains the horizon degree all through the video. It’s particularly helpful in case your drone is consistently tilted to 1 aspect throughout flight, or for easy indoor cinewhoop photographs. For freestyle flying, I often depart this characteristic turned off, as it will possibly intervene with the dynamic motion type of freestyle footage.
Picture Cropping
Cropping is an unavoidable a part of video stabilization—Gyroflow wants further house across the edges of your body to regulate and stabilize movement.
Gyroflow presents a number of cropping methods:
- Dynamic Cropping – Really helpful for FPV. It adjusts the crop quantity in actual time to maximise the seen picture whereas nonetheless stabilizing successfully.
- Static Crop – Maintains a continuing crop all through the video. This ensures a secure body dimension however often ends in extra cropping than needed.
- No Cropping – Preserves the total unique body, however you might even see black edges when the picture shifts past the body boundaries throughout stabilization.
When you’re utilizing Dynamic Cropping, it’s also possible to alter the Zooming Velocity, which controls how shortly the zoom degree adjustments throughout stabilization. A sooner zoom makes stabilization extra responsive however might look abrupt or unnatural. I personally desire a 5-second zoom pace for relaxed cruising footage—it feels extra pure. Nevertheless, in case your video contains plenty of speedy actions like flips and rolls, a sooner zoom pace would possibly ship more practical outcomes. Ultimately, it comes down to non-public desire and flight type.
Lens Correction
Modify this setting between 25% and 100%, relying in your desire. A decrease worth retains extra of the unique fisheye impact, preserving that wide-angle look. The next worth reduces the fisheye distortion by zooming in barely, leading to a extra natural-looking picture with straighter traces.
FOV
Click on “Superior” underneath Lens Correction reveals extra settings similar to FOV and video pace.
The FOV (subject of view) slider controls how a lot of the unique footage is seen after stabilization. Rising the FOV permits you to hold extra of the scene in view, however watch out to not push it too far—doing so might introduce black borders (indicated by purple traces within the timeline).
Tip: Modify FOV as excessive as potential with out triggering purple warnings within the timeline to get one of the best stability between extensive view and clear framing.
Rolling Shutter Correction
Rolling shutter correction is one other vital characteristic that compensates for the distortion brought on by CMOS sensors, which is very noticeable in quick actions. Rising this worth can considerably enhance picture high quality when capturing with quick actions or vibrations.
Previewing and Exporting Stabilized Footage
Click on the “Play” button to preview your stabilized footage. You may tweak the stabilization settings in real-time and instantly see how they have an effect on the video. If it seems to be good, you’re able to export.
When exporting, you have got management over settings similar to video codec, decision, bitrate, and file format. Select a decision that matches your unique footage, or alter it based mostly in your output necessities—similar to social media sharing, enhancing, or archiving.
Superior Strategies: Keyframing and Dynamic Zoom
Gyroflow additionally helps keyframing, permitting for particular changes at varied factors within the footage. For instance, you’ll be able to manually enhance the zoom throughout speedy actions like a snap roll to make stabilization much less noticeable and extra pure. Whereas this method is highly effective, it’s labor-intensive and finest suited to professional-grade tasks.
Suggestions and Tips
Report in a Native Side Ratio
Recording in full sensor facet ratio that provides you the largest potential FOV—similar to 8:7 within the newest GoPro cameras, or 4:3 in most DJI cameras. This offers extra FOV for stabilization with out sacrificing an excessive amount of picture high quality. Mixed with a better recording decision (e.g. recording in 4K for a ultimate 2.7K output, or 2.7K recording for 1080p output), this offers you rather more flexibility throughout stabilization.
Steadiness Stability and Cropping
Discovering the proper stability between stabilization smoothness and picture cropping is vital. Setting smoothness too excessive can create an unnatural really feel and result in heavy cropping. Experiment with totally different settings for every sort of footage to seek out one of the best outcomes on your flying type and surroundings.
Conclusion
Gyroflow is a strong instrument for stabilizing FPV drone footage, delivering professional-quality outcomes—totally free. With the assistance of this step-by-step information, you’ll be able to flip shaky FPV clips into easy, cinematic movies. Whether or not you fly with high-end cameras like DJI or GoPro, or budget-friendly choices just like the Runcam Thumb, Gyroflow makes stabilization each accessible and efficient.
Give it a strive—you could be stunned at simply how polished your footage can look. Joyful flying!
Edit Historical past
- Apr 2022 – Tutorial created for model 1.0.0 RC
- Sep 2024 – Up to date for model 1.5.4
- Jul 2025 – Up to date for model 1.6.1
