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Ed.Macke
Ed.Macke
Inspiring
June 12, 2012
Question

GoPro Video Format Supported Well?

  • June 12, 2012
  • 2 replies
  • 32753 views

Hello all.

I was wondering how well Premiere Pro would handle the GoPro HERO2 video format.

The GoPro specs page simply say that it's "H.264 codec, .MP4 file format" and lists various resolution possibilities (e.g. 1080p @ 30 FPS; 720p @ 60 or 30 FPS).

They also CineForm Studio software that claims it will "Convert GoPro H.264 MP4s into editor friendly CineForm AVI or MOV files". Not sure what CineForm AVI is....

So I was just wondering what everybody's experience with GoPro video was. Can I just grab it off the SD card and edit it? Or should I convert it to AVI first with their software?

FYI, I currently use Premiere Elements for DV-AVI editing. Looking to get a GoPro camera for my son and upgrade to Premiere Pro...

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

Ann Bens
Community Expert
Ann BensCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 12, 2012

I own a GoProHero2 and it edits just fine with CS6.

If your machine is a bit on the lean side you can convert the mp4 to Cineform avi's with Cineform Studio (freeware).

Cineform is a visually lossless codec and edits very well. I like it a lot.

Ed.Macke
Ed.MackeAuthor
Inspiring
June 12, 2012

I'm definitely going to get Premiere Pro (actually the suite with Premiere in it). The question is whether to get the GoPro Hero2.

@Jim Simon - just for my education... the specs say it records in "H.264 codec, .MP4 file format"... are you saying that's not a standardized format, or are you saying GoPro is doing something odd that they can still claim h.264/.mp4 but also be a non-standard format? Or is GoPro's use of the h.264/.mp4 standard something recent?

@Ann Bens - that is great to know! So it sounds like the recorded video should work as-is, but just in case I can always convert to Cineform AVI and that would be a good Plan B?

Also, FWIW, my machine is an home-built box with i7-2600 CPU, 16GB memory, Win7/64-bit, and plenty of 7200RPM 6Gbps SATA drive space, so I'm hoping that will give me a good experience. I have not done RAID drives, and I don't have a separate video card (just using the Intel HD 2000 graphics). I have my eye on the new nVidia GTX 680 card should that prove necessary.

the_wine_snob
the_wine_snob
Inspiring
June 13, 2012

So when you shoot AVCHD or AVC-I, you're using the H.264 codec, but in a very specific way.

Ah. I didn't know that. I've been doing this editing thing for a while, and I still don't understand the vagaries of the various formats - it's like the Tower of Babel. Depsite all of the "standards", it sometimes seems like the only thing that's standard is that nothing is standard!


Ed,

The various camera mfgrs. seem to want to KEEP it a "Tower of Babel," and will constantly tweak things. As Jim points out, too many do not do things in a standard way. One can never keep up with it all. Same holds true for mfgrs. tweaking MJPEG, to suit their purposes, wrapping H.264 in AVI, etc.. The landscape seems to change a bit, almost every quarter.

Sometimes, those deviations from standards still work OK, but sometimes, it takes a company, such as Adobe, a moment to "catch up," and they can never stay current on every variation.

No one user knows it all, and never will. The best that someone can do, is just as you have done - post to the CS 6 Forum, and ask, hoping that someone, like Ann, has used the program, with the specific footage, and can offer advice.

Glad to see that you are moving to CS 6. I think that you will love it. Do drop by the old PrE Forum, from time to time, just to say Hi! Also, thank you for your input over the years. That has helped many.

Good luck,

Hunt

John T Smith
Community Expert
John T SmithCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 12, 2012

I have one saved link to read - http://forums.adobe.com/thread/974052

I would say try it "as is" first, convert with CineForm if needed

Ed.Macke
Ed.MackeAuthor
Inspiring
June 12, 2012

Thanks for the link, John.

That post was dealt with Premiere Elements, and I got the impression that Premiere Pro handled things much differently (meaning "better") than Elements did, with more options and flexibility in dealing with source material.

John T Smith
Community Expert
John T SmithCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 12, 2012

Well... maybe... I have also read comments from people who say that PreElements does better with "consumer" video as compared to "professional" video

So, as I said, the best I can say is try it and see... I can't remember any comments about CS6 and GoPro, so only have that one saved link

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