GoPro Studio 2 User Manual

							GoPro Studio 2.5 User Manual 
Decoder Settings 
 
In the  GoPro  Studio Importer system tray application,  the  Decoder Settings  sub -menu 
gives you access to the following advanced codec settings:  
 
•  Demosaic Type   
•   Filter 42 2 to 444   
•   Fast Desktop Playback   
 
Let’s discuss each of these decoder settings in more detail.  
 
Demosaic Type 
 
When shooting with a RAW single sensor camera like Arri D -20, RED Epic or  Blackmagic 
Cinema Camera, the final output quality is impacted significantly by the demosaic 
algorithm, possibly as much as any compression applied. The demosaic algorithm is the 
process that converts the one value per pixel of a raw bayer sensor to the more useful 
t hree color primaries per pixel like RGB (see  Wikipedia article on demosaicing
.) 
 
‘BiLinear Demosaic’ is a simple, fast demosaic filter suitable for real -time playback but 
not suitable for final rendered  output. During editorial it is helpful to use BiLinear 
Demosaic because it requires the least CPU resource.  
 
TIP: Think of the progression of Demosaic algorithms between BiLinear and CF 
Advanced Detail 3 as providing additional sharpening detail in your f inal output. 
 
NOTE:  The Demosaic Type only affects CineForm RAW files. CineForm RAW files can 
only be created from camera RAW source files, like you’ll get when recording with an Arri 
D -20, RED EPIC  or  Blackmagic Cinema Camera (in CinemaDNG mode) or  create d at 
record time using a  Silicon Imaging SK-2K Digital Cinema Camera, KineRAW S -35 or 
Cined eck direct -to -disk recorder.  
 
 
 
 
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F ilter 422 to 444 
 
If you’re using 3
rd  party applications that take advantage of the higher color space used in 
RGB 4:4:4 encoded files, you can use the Filter 422 to 444  option in the GoPro 
CineForm Status Viewer to cause 4:2:2 encoded GoPro CineForm files to be decoded in 
4:4:4 color space.  Since normally 4:4:4 encoded files take up more space on your hard 
drive, this is a great way to save space while still retaining the image quality you would 
get from an actual  4:4:4 encoded file.  
 
Fast Desktop Playback  
 
On some  older or under -powered computers, you may experience performance issues 
when attempting to playback GoPro CineForm files…especially those at higher 
resolutions or with a large amount of Active Metadata adjustments applied. In situations 
like this, you can use the Fast Desktop Playba ck in the GoPro Studio Importer system 
tray application  to cause your GoPro CineForm files to playback at half their normal 
resolution . This is a great way to allow you to play  back your high- quality GoPro 
CineForm files on systems that don’t necessarily m eet the minimum system 
requirements.   
 
    
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Moving GoPro CineForm Files to  Other Computers  
 
As detailed  in previous chapters, t he 3D Color and Framing adjustments applied to 
converted GoPro CineForm files in GoPro Studio’s EDIT Room  are accomplished using 
the GoPro CineForm Codec’s Active Metadata
TM  technology. This Active Metadata is  
saved in a database file on your computer ’s hard drive. 
 
The default location for the database files is “C: \Users \Public \CineForm \LUTs” on 
Windows computers and “Macintosh HD/Library/Application Support/CineForm/LUTs/” on 
Mac computers.  
 
When your computer plays back a GoPro CineForm file, it cross -references the database 
and plays back the file  with the settings it finds there . If you were to move these files to 
another computer, they will not play with the adjustments applied…unless you copied the 
database files as well.  
 
As an alternative to copying the database files, you could share a single database 
location across multiple computers.  You can change  the database location to a shared 
network drive or a Dropbox location. W ith a shared database location, your GoPro 
CineForm files will playback with the same Active Metadata
TM  adjustments on every 
system (Windows or Mac) that is pointing to the shared  database.  
 
To change the database location on a Windows system:  
 
1.   Download and unzip this 
file:  http://software.gopro.com/other/MoveLUTsAndDatabase.zip
 
2.  Then double- click on the “MoveLUTsA ndDatabase.vbs” file to launch the Move LUT 
directory script.  
3.   Type in the desired location for the database (shared netw ork drive or Dropbox 
folder) and click OK . 
4.   Repeat these steps on any other Windows computers on which you wish to have the 
database shar ed. 
 
   
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To change the database on a Mac system:  
  1.  Launch the Mac System Preferences  
2.   Click on the GoPro  icon in the ‘Other’  section  of the System Preferences . 
3.   In the Processes panel, type in the desired location for the database in the LUTs 
Path: text entry box  (shared network location or Dropbox folder) . 
4.   Close the system preferences.  
5.   Repeat these steps on any other Mac computers on which you wish to have the 
database shared.  
 
Now any time you make an adjustment to a GoPro CineForm file in Studio’s EDIT Room,  
those adjustments will be applied to the clip on your other computers as well.  
 
NOTE: This technique is only used for GoPro CineForm files whose adjustments have 
been applied directly in  the Media Bin in GoPro Studio’s EDIT Room. Adjustments made 
to  instances of clips loaded onto the Storyboard  use a separate internal database and 
cannot be moved from one computer to another .   
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USING GOPRO STUDIO WITH 3RD 
PARTY APPLICATIONS 
 
As mentioned in the chapter “ Understanding the Workflow
”,  GoPro Studio can be used as 
a stand- alone application or in tandem with other 3rd party applications. In this chapter we 
will discuss the latter workfl ow using GoPro Studio with other applications.  The overall 
process for this workflow is as follows:  
  1.  Convert your source files into GoPro CineForm files.  
2.   Apply Image Development and other Active Metadata adjustments  to the GoPro 
CineForm files using  GoPro Studio’s EDIT Room.  
3.   Take those same GoPro CineForm files (without exporting) into  your other 
applications  for editing.  
4.   Optionally switch back and forth between your other application and GoPro 
Studio to make further adjustments and enhancements to the files . 
5.   Export a high- quality master file in the other application using the GoPro 
Cine Form codec.  
 
NOTE: Some understanding of your 3rd party  applications are  required  for a portion of 
this workflow. Please refer to the documentation included with those applications where 
necessary .  
 
Importing GoPro CineForm Files  
 
The process of  importing and converting source  files in this workflow is the same as if 
you were using GoPro Studio as  a stand- alone application, so r ather than repeat 
information that was already discussed, we’ll simply r efer you to the chapter “
Using the 
IMPORT Room”. 
 
 
 
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Working with Files in the Media  Bin 
 
Once you’ve  converted your source files  into GoPro CineForm files, you’re ready to start 
working with them in GoPro Studio’s EDIT Room. If you’re not already there, launch 
GoPro Studio and go to the EDIT Room.  
 
NOTE: If the Edit Template Selection Window appears, select the  “BLANK TEMPLATE ” 
opt ion and then click the CREATE button.  
 
If you don’t see  your converted GoPro CineForm files  in the Media Bin, do the following:  
  1.  Click the  ADD MEDIA  button and browse to the location of your converted GoPro 
CineForm files.  
2.   Highlight the files you wish to  import and click Open. 
3.   After the files have loaded into the Media Bin, press ‘Ctrl+S’ on your keyboard to 
save your project.  
 
Clips loaded into the Media Bin are represented as thumbnails, similar to how they look in 
the Import Bin in the IMPORT Room. Along with each thumbnail, the following clip details 
are indicated:  
 
•  Filename  
•   Image Size  
•   Frame  rate or Frame Count  
•   2D or 3D  
•   Video or T ime-L apse  Icon 
•   Duration   
 
You can select different files in the Media Bin by simply clicking on them or by  using  the 
up and down arrow keys on your keyboard to cycle through them.  
 
To remove a clip from the Media Bin, select the clip you wish to remove and click on the 
REMOVE CLIP  button at the bottom of the Media Bin.  
 
To remove all  clips from the Media Bin, click the  CLEAR ALL button at the bottom of the 
Media Bin.  
 
 
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Previewing Clips in the Player Window 
 
 
Click on a file in the Media Bin to select it. That loads it into the Player Window. Now you 
can use the Playback Controls to playback the clip and view it in th e Player Window.  
 
•  Press the  PL AY button in the Playback Controls (or the SPACEBAR on your 
keyboard)  to see the clip playback in the Player W indow.  
•   The  Decrease  Speed  and  Increase Speed  buttons can be used to play the 
video faster or slower.  
•   Use the  Step Forward  and  Step Backwards  buttons to step through the clip one 
frame at a time.  
•   Press the LOOP  button to cause playback to start over from the beginning  when 
the Play -head reaches  the end of the clip.  
 
You can also use the Play -head on the Playback Slider to navigate through the clip. To 
do this, just click on the diamond- shaped Play-head and drag left or right through the 
Playback Slider.  
 
 
 
Diverging from the Previous Workflow  
 
Before we go any further, it should be  pointed out that this is where the “ Using GoPro 
Studio with 3
rd  Party Application”  workflow diverges from the “ Using GoPro Studio as a 
Stan d-Alone Application workflow ”. 
 
Rather than apply ing color correction, framing and other adjustments  to  your  clips on the 
Storyboard, you’ ll be applying the  adjustments to the clips while they are still in the Media 
Bin. In fact, the Storyboard is not used at all in t his workflow. 
 
Now that we have cleared that up, let’ s add Active Metadata
TM adjustments to your clips 
in the Media Bin.  
 
 
Step Forward 
Decrease Speed Play Increase Speed 
Step Backwards Loop 
Play-head Playback Slider 
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Color Correcting Clips 
 
The underlying Active Metadata architecture used in the GoPro CineForm codec enables 
you to do real-time non- destructive image development adjustments to your clips. These 
adjustments affect the overall color and tone of your clips. The controls to apply these 
adjustments are located in the WHITE BALANCE and IMAGE CONTROLS panels on the 
right -hand side of GoPro Studio’s EDIT Room.  
 
WHITE BALANCE 
 
Select a clip in the Media Bin and then click on the Disclosure  Triangle  to the left of the 
words “WHITE BALANCE” to open the WHITE BALANCE panel giving you access to the 
following settings:  
 
•  TEMP  Use the slider or step controls to adjust the overall  color  temperature of 
the image.  
•   TINT  Use the slider or step controls  to adjust the overall tint of the image.  
•   KEYFRAMES  Use the + button to add a white balance keyframe to the clip. This 
locks in the white balance settings for the current frame i n the clip. You can then 
move the Play -head to another location on the Playbac k Slider to add another 
keyframe where you can have different white balance settings. This is a great 
way to have the white balance settings change over the duration of the clip.  
 
For a clip with a white element in the scene, click on the PICK  button and then click on 
the white element of your image in the Playback Window to have GoPro Studio 
automatically adjust the white balance based on that element.  
 
Click on the DEF AULTS  button to reset all of the values in the WHITE BALANCE panel 
to their original settings. Double- click on an individual Control to reset only its value.  
 
Click on the Disclosure Triangle  to close the WHITE BALANCE panel.   
 
TIP: Clicking on the ON/OFF Toggle button (which looks like an eyeball) will toggle the 
WHITE BALANCE adjustments ON or OFF for  all clips  in the Media Bin. You can use this 
to quickly switch back and forth between seeing the clips with the adjustments appl ied 
and the original images.  
   
ON/OFF Toggle Button PICK Button 
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IMAGE CONTROLS  
 
S elect a clip  in the Media Bin  and then click on the Disclosure Triangle  to the left of the 
words “IMAGE CONTROLS” to open the IMAGE CONTROLS panel giving you access to 
the following s ettings: 
 
•  EXPOSURE  Use the slider or step controls to adjust the brightness and darkness 
of the image.  
•   CONTRAST  Use the slider or step controls to adjust the relative definition 
between bright and dark areas of the image.  
•   S AT UR AT ION  Use the slider or step  controls to adjust the vibrancy of the colors 
in the image.  
•   SHARPNES  Use the slider or step controls to adjust the softness and sharpness 
of the image.  
•   KEYFRAMES  Use the + button to add a white balance keyframe to the clip. This 
locks in the image control  settings for the current frame i n the clip. You can then 
move the Play -head to another location on the Playback Slider to add another 
keyframe where you can have different image control settings. This is a great 
way to have the image control settings change over the duration of the clip.  
 
Click on the DEF AULTS  button to reset all of the values in the IMAGE CONTROLS panel 
to their original settings. Double- click on an individual Control to reset only its value.  
 
Click on the Disclosure Triangle  to close the IMAGE CONROLS panel.   
 
TIP: Clicking on the ON/OFF Toggle button (which looks like an eyeball) will toggle the 
IMAGE CONTROLS adjustments ON or OFF for ALL clips  in the Media Bin. You can use 
this to quickly switch back and forth between seei ng the clips with the adjustments 
applied and the original images.  
 
 
 
ON/OFF Toggle Button 
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Framing Clips 
 
GoPro Studio’s FRAMING CONTROLS allow you to change the composition of your 
clips. Select a clip in the Media Bin  and then click on the Disclosure Triangle to the left 
of the words “FRAMING CONTROLS” to open the FRAMING CONTROLS panel giving 
you access to the following settings:  
 
•  ZOOM  Use the slider or step controls to adjust scale of the image.  
•   HORIZONTAL  Use the slider or step controls to adjust the horizontal location of 
the image.  
•   VERTICAL  Use the slider or step controls to adjust the vertical location of the 
image.  
•   ROTATION  Use the slider or step controls to slightly rotate the clip clockwise or 
counter -clockwise.  
•   H.ZOOM  Use the  slider or step controls to adjust the horizontal scaling of the 
image.  
•   H.DYNAMIC  Use th e slider or step controls to adjust the horizontal stretch point 
of the image. This control is best used in tandem with the H.ZOOM control.  
•   KEYFRAMES  Use the + button to add a framing  keyframe to the clip. This locks 
in the framing control settings for the current frame i n the clip. You can then 
move the Play -head to another location on the Playback Slider to add another 
keyframe where you can have different framing control settings. This is a great 
way to have the framing control settings change over the duration of the clip.  
•   FLIP  Use the check boxes to enable or disable horizontal or vertical flipping on 
the image.  
 
Click on the DEF AULTS  button to reset all of the values in the FRAMING  CONTROLS 
panel to their original settings. Double- click on an individual Control to reset only its 
value.  
 
Click on the Disclosure Triangle  to close the FRAMING CONTROLS panel.   
 
TIP: Clicking on the ON/OFF Toggle button (which looks like an eyeball) will toggle the 
FRAMING CONTROLS adjustments ON or OFF for all  clips in the Media Bin . You can 
use this to quickly switch back and forth between seeing the clips with the framing 
adjus tments applied and the original images.
 
ON/OFF Toggle Button 
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