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 make it easier to take advantage of Gyroflow.
Eager about leveling up your FPV movies? Don’t overlook to take a look at this coloration grading tutorial for rookies: 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)
- Consumer-friendly interface
- Easy preview playback and speedy exports
- Respectable outcomes that usually 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 an inventory of well-liked 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 immediately into the video file, making it straightforward 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 handbook for particulars on the way it data and shops gyro knowledge.
In case your digital camera doesn’t help built-in gyro knowledge recording or isn’t natively supported by Gyroflow, you possibly can 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 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 absolutely appropriate with Gyroflow.
Importing Video
Launch Gyroflow in your pc and easily drag and drop your video file into the applying.
In case your video is break up into a number of recordsdata from the identical flight (frequent when file dimension exceeds the digital camera’s restrict), you possibly can 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 favor combining them, then deleting the unique recordsdata to maintain issues tidy and simpler to handle.
Lacking Gyro Information?
In case your digital camera shops gyro knowledge throughout 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 carried out beneath the Movement Information part, normally by importing a separate CSV file in case your digital camera data it that manner.
Word: 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 mechanically load it whenever you import the video. If it doesn’t, you possibly can 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—the truth is, doing so will be counterproductive. Gyroflow makes use of timestamp knowledge to mechanically align the gyro knowledge with the video.
Nonetheless, with some cheaper cameras, syncing may not be good out of the field. In these instances, strive utilizing the Auto Sync perform beneath the Stabilization tab. If that doesn’t yield good outcomes, you possibly can manually tweak the Offset slider to align gyro knowledge with the video.
You can too strive Optical Circulation, which analyzes movement within the video by monitoring objects body by body. It’s useful as a secondary test however will be thrown off by transferring foreground components or shifting lighting, so outcomes might fluctuate.
Trimming Video
Below the preview window, you need to use the [ and ] buttons to trim your footage to the specified size. In the event you look over to the best, the button subsequent to the amount icon permits you to allow or disable stabilization within the preview show.
Stabilization Settings
Whereas Gyroflow performs properly with its default settings, there are just a few changes you may think about relying in your wants.
Stabilization Modes
Gyroflow provides a number of stabilization modes, together with “Plain 3D”, which gives a glance just like Reelsteady. Inside every mode, you possibly can fine-tune parameters to tailor the stabilization impact to your particular model 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. Larger values end in smoother footage however require extra cropping. Sometimes, 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, chances are 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 start line.
Lock Horizon
Lock Horizon retains the horizon degree all through the video. It’s particularly helpful in case your drone is continually tilted to 1 facet throughout flight, or for easy indoor cinewhoop pictures. For freestyle flying, I normally depart 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 – Beneficial 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 normally ends in extra cropping than crucial.
- No Cropping – Preserves the complete authentic 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 as well regulate the Zooming Pace, which controls how shortly the zoom degree modifications throughout stabilization. A quicker zoom makes stabilization extra responsive however might look abrupt or unnatural. I personally favor a 5-second zoom pace for relaxed cruising footage—it feels extra pure. Nonetheless, in case your video contains plenty of fast actions like flips and rolls, a quicker zoom pace may ship simpler outcomes. In the long run, it comes down to non-public desire and flight model.
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. 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 corresponding to FOV and video pace.
The FOV (area of view) slider controls how a lot of the unique footage is seen after stabilization. Rising the FOV permits you to maintain extra of the scene in view, however watch out to not push it too far—doing so might introduce black borders (indicated by pink strains within the timeline).
Tip: Modify FOV as excessive as attainable with out triggering pink warnings within the timeline to get the perfect steadiness between vast view and clear framing.
Rolling Shutter Correction
Rolling shutter correction is one other necessary 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 appears good, you’re able to export.
When exporting, you’ve got management over settings corresponding to video codec, decision, bitrate, and file format. Select a decision that matches your authentic footage, or regulate it based mostly in your output necessities—corresponding to social media sharing, modifying, or archiving.
Superior Methods: Keyframing and Dynamic Zoom
Gyroflow additionally helps keyframing, permitting for particular changes at numerous factors within the footage. For instance, you possibly can 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 suited to professional-grade tasks.
Ideas and Methods
File in a Native Side Ratio
Recording in full sensor facet ratio that provides you the most important attainable FOV—corresponding to 8:7 within the newest GoPro cameras, or 4:3 in most DJI cameras. This gives 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 ultimate 2.7K output, or 2.7K recording for 1080p output), this offers you far 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 totally different settings for every sort of footage to search out the perfect outcomes to your flying model and atmosphere.
Conclusion
Gyroflow is a robust device for stabilizing FPV drone footage, delivering professional-quality outcomes—without spending a dime. With the assistance of this step-by-step information, you possibly can 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 is likely to be shocked 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