Gyroflow is a well-liked open-source device that stabilizes FPV drone footage utilizing gyro knowledge out of your digital camera or drone. It’s free and works with a variety of cameras, permitting you to stabilize video utilizing gyro knowledge 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 show you how to benefit from Gyroflow.
All in favour of leveling up your FPV movies? Don’t overlook to take a look at this colour grading tutorial for newbies: https://oscarliang.com/color-grade-fpv-videos/
Benefits of Gyroflow
What’s Gyroflow?
Gyroflow is open-source stabilization software program that leverages gyro knowledge. In comparison with paid instruments like Reelsteady GO, Gyroflow provides:
- Open-sournce and fully free (vs. Reelsteady GO’s $99)
- Assist for nearly any digital camera (Reelsteady GO is GoPro-only)
- Person-friendly interface
- Clean preview playback and speedy exports
- Respectable outcomes that always rival skilled software program
Obtain Gyroflow
First, obtain and unzip the most recent 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 data movement knowledge together with the video footage. Right here’s a listing of well-liked cameras utilized in FPV drones which might be suitable 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 knowledge instantly into the video file, making it simple to make use of with Gyroflow—simply drag and drop the video into the app. Nonetheless, some cameras (just like the Runcam Thumb) document gyro knowledge in a separate CSV file, which you’ll must import manually into Gyroflow. Examine your digital camera’s guide for particulars on the way it data and shops gyro knowledge.
In case your digital camera doesn’t assist built-in gyro knowledge recording or isn’t natively supported by Gyroflow, you’ll be able to nonetheless use it by recording movement knowledge externally (e.g., utilizing Betaflight Blackbox logs or a devoted flight controller). Nonetheless, this course of is extra superior and outdoors 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 suitable with Gyroflow.
Importing Video
Launch Gyroflow in your laptop 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 Knowledge?
In case your digital camera shops gyro knowledge 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 doubtless doesn’t comprise gyro knowledge, and also you’ll must load it manually. This may be finished beneath the Movement Knowledge part, normally by importing a separate CSV file in case your digital camera data it that means.
Be aware: On DJI O3 and O4 (Lite & Professional), solely sure digital camera settings will allow gyro knowledge 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 routinely 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 Knowledge with Video
If you happen to’re utilizing GoPro or DJI cameras, gyro syncing must be automated. You don’t must do something or add a sync level—the truth is, doing so could be counterproductive. Gyroflow makes use of timestamp knowledge to routinely align the gyro knowledge with the video.
Nonetheless, with some cheaper cameras, syncing won’t be excellent out of the field. In these circumstances, attempt utilizing the Auto Sync perform beneath the Stabilization tab. If that doesn’t yield good outcomes, you’ll be able to manually tweak the Offset slider to align gyro knowledge with the video.
You may as well attempt Optical Movement, which analyzes movement within the video by monitoring objects body by body. It’s useful as a secondary examine however could be thrown off by transferring foreground parts or shifting lighting, so outcomes might differ.
Trimming Video
Underneath the preview window, you need to use the [ and ] buttons to trim your footage to the specified size. If you happen to look over to the best, the button subsequent to the quantity icon means that you can allow or disable stabilization within the preview show.
Stabilization Settings
Whereas Gyroflow performs properly with its default settings, there are a couple of changes you would possibly think about relying in your wants.
Stabilization Modes
Gyroflow provides a number of stabilization modes, together with “Plain 3D”, which supplies a glance just like Reelsteady. Inside every mode, you’ll be able to fine-tune parameters to tailor the stabilization impact to your particular fashion or footage. The “Default” mode usually works properly for many FPV movies.
Clicking “Superior” will reveal further 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. Increased values lead to smoother footage however require extra cropping. Usually, a setting between 10% and 30% works properly for many FPV movies in my view, assuming your drone flight is comparatively steady. In case your footage is shaky, it’s possible you’ll want to extend the smoothness worth—simply bear in mind 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 additionally much less efficient stabilization. The default values are normally place to begin.
Lock Horizon
Lock Horizon retains the horizon stage all through the video. It’s particularly helpful in case your drone is consistently tilted to 1 facet throughout flight, or for easy indoor cinewhoop pictures. For freestyle flying, I normally depart this function turned off, as it could intrude with the dynamic motion fashion 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 provides a number of cropping methods:
- Dynamic Cropping – Advisable 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 steady body dimension however normally leads to extra cropping than mandatory.
- No Cropping – Preserves the complete unique body, however you may even see black edges when the picture shifts past the body boundaries throughout stabilization.
If you happen to’re utilizing Dynamic Cropping, you can even alter the Zooming Pace, which controls how shortly the zoom stage modifications throughout stabilization. A quicker zoom makes stabilization extra responsive however might look abrupt or unnatural. I personally desire a 5-second zoom velocity for relaxed cruising footage—it feels extra pure. Nonetheless, in case your video contains numerous fast actions like flips and rolls, a quicker zoom velocity would possibly ship more practical outcomes. In the long run, it comes down to non-public desire and flight fashion.
Lens Correction
Alter 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. A better worth reduces the fisheye distortion by zooming in barely, leading to a extra natural-looking picture with straighter strains.
FOV
Click on “Superior” beneath Lens Correction reveals further settings resembling FOV and video velocity.
The FOV (discipline of view) slider controls how a lot of the unique footage is seen after stabilization. Rising the FOV means that you can preserve extra of the scene in view, however watch out to not push it too far—doing so might introduce black borders (indicated by crimson strains within the timeline).
Tip: Alter FOV as excessive as potential with out triggering crimson warnings within the timeline to get the perfect steadiness between extensive view and clear framing.
Rolling Shutter Correction
Rolling shutter correction is one other essential function that compensates for the distortion attributable to 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’ll be able to 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 resembling video codec, decision, bitrate, and file format. Select a decision that matches your unique footage, or alter it based mostly in your output necessities—resembling 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 fast 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 greatest fitted to professional-grade tasks.
Suggestions and Tips
File in a Native Facet Ratio
Recording in full sensor facet ratio that provides you the most important potential FOV—resembling 8:7 within the newest GoPro cameras, or 4:3 in most DJI cameras. This supplies extra FOV for stabilization with out sacrificing an excessive amount of picture high quality. Mixed with the next recording decision (e.g. recording in 4K for a last 2.7K output, or 2.7K recording for 1080p output), this offers you rather more flexibility throughout stabilization.
Stability Stability and Cropping
Discovering the best steadiness between stabilization smoothness and picture cropping is essential. Setting smoothness too excessive can create an unnatural really feel and result in heavy cropping. Experiment with completely different settings for every sort of footage to search out the perfect outcomes on your flying fashion and atmosphere.
Conclusion
Gyroflow is a robust device 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 attempt—you could be stunned at simply how polished your footage can look. Completely satisfied 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
