Gyroflow is a well-liked open-source instrument that stabilizes FPV drone footage utilizing gyro information out of your digital camera or drone. It’s free and works with a variety of cameras, permitting you to stabilize video utilizing gyro information 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 enable you take advantage of Gyroflow.
Occupied with leveling up your FPV movies? Don’t neglect to take a look at this coloration grading tutorial for novices: https://oscarliang.com/color-grade-fpv-videos/
Benefits of Gyroflow
What’s Gyroflow?
Gyroflow is open-source stabilization software program that leverages gyro information. In comparison with paid instruments like Reelsteady GO, Gyroflow gives:
- 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
- First rate outcomes that usually rival skilled software program
Obtain Gyroflow
First, obtain and unzip the newest 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 information movement information together with the video footage. Right here’s an inventory of widespread cameras utilized in FPV drones which are 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 information immediately into the video file, making it simple to make use of with Gyroflow—simply drag and drop the video into the app. Nevertheless, some cameras (just like the Runcam Thumb) document gyro information in a separate CSV file, which you’ll must import manually into Gyroflow. Test your digital camera’s guide for particulars on the way it information and shops gyro information.
In case your digital camera doesn’t help built-in gyro information recording or isn’t natively supported by Gyroflow, you may nonetheless use it by recording movement information 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 absolutely suitable 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 cut up into a number of recordsdata from the identical flight (widespread when file dimension exceeds the digital camera’s restrict), you may 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 choose 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 information 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 information, and also you’ll must load it manually. This may be executed below the Movement Information part, often by importing a separate CSV file in case your digital camera information it that approach.
Notice: On DJI O3 and O4 (Lite & Professional), solely sure digital camera settings will allow gyro information recording. Test 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 may 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 case you’re utilizing GoPro or DJI cameras, gyro syncing needs to 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 information to mechanically align the gyro information with the video.
Nevertheless, with some cheaper cameras, syncing won’t be excellent out of the field. In these instances, attempt utilizing the Auto Sync operate below the Stabilization tab. If that doesn’t yield good outcomes, you may manually tweak the Offset slider to align gyro information with the video.
It’s also possible to attempt Optical Stream, which analyzes movement within the video by monitoring objects body by body. It’s useful as a secondary test however could be thrown off by shifting foreground components or shifting lighting, so outcomes might differ.
Trimming Video
Below the preview window, you should utilize the [ and ] buttons to trim your footage to the specified size. In case you look over to the correct, 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 take into account relying in your wants.
Stabilization Modes
Gyroflow gives a number of stabilization modes, together with “Plain 3D”, which offers a glance just like Reelsteady. Inside every mode, you may 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 end in smoother footage however require extra cropping. Sometimes, a setting between 10% and 30% works effectively for many FPV movies in my view, assuming your drone flight is comparatively secure. In case your footage is shaky, you might 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 in addition much less efficient stabilization. The default values are often 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 at least one facet throughout flight, or for easy indoor cinewhoop pictures. For freestyle flying, I often go away this function turned off, as it may well intrude 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 gives 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 secure body dimension however often ends in extra cropping than essential.
- No Cropping – Preserves the total unique body, however you may even see black edges when the picture shifts past the body boundaries throughout stabilization.
In case you’re utilizing Dynamic Cropping, you can even regulate the Zooming Velocity, which controls how rapidly the zoom degree adjustments throughout stabilization. A sooner zoom makes stabilization extra responsive however might look abrupt or unnatural. I personally choose a 5-second zoom pace for relaxed cruising footage—it feels extra pure. Nevertheless, in case your video contains a lot of fast actions like flips and rolls, a sooner zoom pace would possibly ship simpler outcomes. In the long run, it comes down to private desire and flight model.
Lens Correction
Regulate 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. The next worth reduces the fisheye distortion by zooming in barely, leading to a extra natural-looking picture with straighter traces.
FOV
Click on “Superior” below Lens Correction reveals extra settings resembling 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 might introduce black borders (indicated by pink traces within the timeline).
Tip: Regulate FOV as excessive as potential 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 essential function that compensates for the distortion brought on by CMOS sensors, which is very 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 may 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 could have management over settings resembling video codec, decision, bitrate, and file format. Select a decision that matches your unique footage, or regulate it based mostly in your output necessities—resembling social media sharing, modifying, 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 may manually improve 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 finest suited to professional-grade initiatives.
Ideas and Methods
Document in a Native Facet Ratio
Recording in full sensor facet ratio that offers you the largest potential FOV—resembling 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 last 2.7K output, or 2.7K recording for 1080p output), this provides you way more flexibility throughout stabilization.
Stability Stability and Cropping
Discovering the correct steadiness between stabilization smoothness and picture cropping is vital. 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 seek out the perfect outcomes in your flying model and atmosphere.
Conclusion
Gyroflow is a strong instrument for stabilizing FPV drone footage, delivering professional-quality outcomes—totally free. With the assistance of this step-by-step information, you may 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 is likely to be stunned at simply how polished your footage can look. Glad 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
