Gyroflow is a well-liked open-source software 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 assist you take advantage of Gyroflow.
Interested by leveling up your FPV movies? Don’t overlook to take a look at this coloration grading tutorial for inexperienced persons: 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 utterly free (vs. Reelsteady GO’s $99)
- Help for nearly any digital camera (Reelsteady GO is GoPro-only)
- Consumer-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 fashionable cameras utilized in FPV drones which might 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 knowledge 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) file gyro knowledge in a separate CSV file, which you’ll must import manually into Gyroflow. Verify 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). Nevertheless, 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 appropriate with Gyroflow.
Importing Video
Launch Gyroflow in your laptop and easily drag and drop your video file into the applying.
In case your video is break up into a number of information from the identical flight (frequent when file measurement 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 want 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 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 probably doesn’t comprise gyro knowledge, and also you’ll must load it manually. This may be executed underneath the Movement Information part, normally by importing a separate CSV file in case your digital camera data it that means.
Notice: On DJI O3 and O4 (Lite & Professional), solely sure digital camera settings will allow gyro knowledge recording. Verify 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 mechanically load it while 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
In the event you’re utilizing GoPro or DJI cameras, gyro syncing ought to be automated. You don’t must do something or add a sync level—in truth, doing so could be counterproductive. Gyroflow makes use of timestamp knowledge to mechanically align the gyro knowledge with the video.
Nevertheless, with some cheaper cameras, syncing may not be good out of the field. In these circumstances, attempt 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 knowledge with the video.
You too can 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 shifting foreground parts or shifting lighting, so outcomes could range.
Trimming Video
Beneath the preview window, you should utilize the [ and ] buttons to trim your footage to the specified size. In the event you look over to the appropriate, the button subsequent to the quantity icon means that you can allow or disable stabilization within the preview show.
Stabilization Settings
Whereas Gyroflow performs effectively with its default settings, there are a number 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 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 model or footage. The “Default” mode sometimes works effectively 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. Increased values lead to smoother footage however require extra cropping. Usually, a setting between 10% and 30% works effectively for many FPV movies for my part, 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 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 additionally much less efficient stabilization. The default values are normally an excellent place to begin.
Lock Horizon
Lock Horizon retains the horizon stage all through the video. It’s particularly helpful in case your drone is continually tilted to 1 aspect throughout flight, or for clean indoor cinewhoop pictures. For freestyle flying, I normally go away this characteristic turned off, as it could actually intervene with the dynamic motion model 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 – 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 steady body measurement however normally leads to extra cropping than obligatory.
- No Cropping – Preserves the complete unique body, however you may even see black edges when the picture shifts past the body boundaries throughout stabilization.
In the event you’re utilizing Dynamic Cropping, you may also regulate the Zooming Velocity, which controls how shortly the zoom stage adjustments throughout stabilization. A quicker zoom makes stabilization extra responsive however could look abrupt or unnatural. I personally want a 5-second zoom pace for relaxed cruising footage—it feels extra pure. Nevertheless, in case your video consists of a number of fast actions like flips and rolls, a quicker zoom pace would possibly ship more practical outcomes. Ultimately, it comes down to non-public choice and flight model.
Lens Correction
Regulate this setting between 25% and 100%, relying in your choice. 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 traces.
FOV
Click on “Superior” underneath Lens Correction reveals extra settings equivalent to FOV and video pace.
The FOV (area of view) slider controls how a lot of the unique footage is seen after stabilization. Growing the FOV means that you can preserve extra of the scene in view, however watch out to not push it too far—doing so could introduce black borders (indicated by crimson traces within the timeline).
Tip: Regulate FOV as excessive as doable with out triggering crimson warnings within the timeline to get the perfect stability between extensive view and clear framing.
Rolling Shutter Correction
Rolling shutter correction is one other essential characteristic that compensates for the distortion attributable to CMOS sensors, which is particularly noticeable in quick actions. Growing this worth can considerably enhance picture high quality when taking pictures 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 good, you’re able to export.
When exporting, you might have management over settings equivalent to video codec, decision, bitrate, and file format. Select a decision that matches your unique footage, or regulate it based mostly in your output necessities—equivalent to social media sharing, enhancing, or archiving.
Superior Strategies: Keyframing and Dynamic Zoom
Gyroflow additionally helps keyframing, permitting for particular changes at numerous factors within the footage. For instance, you’ll be able to manually improve the zoom throughout fast actions like a snap roll to make stabilization much less noticeable and extra pure. Whereas this system is highly effective, it’s labor-intensive and finest suited to professional-grade tasks.
Ideas and Tips
Report in a Native Side Ratio
Recording in full sensor facet ratio that provides you the largest doable FOV—equivalent 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 closing 2.7K output, or 2.7K recording for 1080p output), this provides you rather more flexibility throughout stabilization.
Steadiness Stability and Cropping
Discovering the appropriate stability 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 kind of footage to search out the perfect outcomes to your flying model and surroundings.
Conclusion
Gyroflow is a robust software 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 clean, 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 is perhaps stunned at simply how polished your footage can look. Comfortable 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
