This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Working with Protune
The Protune (PT) feature is designed for more advanced GoPro users. It allows you to have greater manual control over specific camera settings related to shooting video.
Using Protune, you can capture higher quality results because the camera uses less data compression on your raw video footage, plus it does a better job of capturing natural colors within your shots. The raw digital video footage is then more compatible with higher-end and professional-level video-editing software, which means you can take full advantage of the more advanced editing tools built into that software.
When you turn on Protune, several advanced feature options become available, and you can adjust each. Keep in mind that you can set the Protune-related settings differently for each video and photo shooting mode.
The adjustable Protune options for the Video shooting mode include
White Balance
Color
ISO Limit
Shutter
Sharpness
EV Comp (Exposure Value Compensation)
Audio
When Protune is turned off, the camera automatically adjusts each of these settings on your behalf, which requires that you make fewer decisions and do less tinkering with camera settings before shooting.
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Adjusting White Balance
The White Balance settings allow the camera to adjust all of the colors and tones in each video frame based on what the camera perceives to be the color white in each frame. When this option is set to Auto (the default), the camera automatically analyzes each video frame as it’s being shot and adjusts the color tone based on the conditions it senses.
You can use the White Balance submenu to manually set this feature to Auto, 3000K, 4000K, 4800K, 5500K, 6000K, 6500K, or Native. Here are some things to take into consideration when you’re adjusting the White Balance setting:
If you’re shooting video in an area with natural warm light, such as incandescent lighting (indoors) or during a sunrise or sunset, consider selecting the 3000K White Balance option to capture more authentic colors.
If you’re shooting in areas lit by fluorescent lighting or in average daylight, select the 5500K White Balance option.
When you’re shooting in cool lighting (such as when outside in overcast conditions), use the 6500K White Balance option.
If you plan to use higher-end video-editing software that offers White Balance controls when you later edit or enhance your raw footage, select the camera’s Native White Balance option when actually shooting video.
Adjusting Color
This option allows you to manually select the color profile used by the camera when shooting video. The default GoPro Color option uses the same color profile as when the Protune feature is turned off. When you select the Flat option, this allows you to more easily edit the color in your video later to showcase truly natural or authentic-looking colors within an image.
Adjusting ISO Limit
This setting is used to manage the camera’s sensitivity to light, especially when shooting in low-light situations. Based on which option you select, you can manage the brightness of your video footage, and somewhat control the unwanted graininess (or noise) captured within the footage by the camera due to poor lighting. ISO Limit options include 400, 800, 1200, 1600, 3200, or 6400.
To achieve brighter footage when shooting in low light, select the default 800 ISO Limit option. Bear in mind that at this setting, the video includes more noise (graininess), which takes away from the detail, image sharpness, and the vibrancy of colors that are depicted.
The 400 ISO Limit option results in slightly darker footage (when shooting in low light), but the video contains less noise than with the 800 ISO Limit option selected. As a result, your video showcases a bit more detail and sharpness.
If you’re shooting indoors with decent (but not bright) lighting, choose the 200 ISO Limit option. When shooting outdoors in daylight, the ISO 100 Limit option generates the least amount of noise, resulting in sharper, brighter, and more vibrant colors.
Adjusting Shutter Speed
You can determine how much of the ambient light the camera uses when shooting video by adjusting the amount of time the shutter remains open. The options available for this setting are determined by your FPS setting. Options include Auto (which allows the camera to adjust this setting automatically), as well as 1/30, 1/60, 1/120, and 1/240.
If you opt to tinker with this feature, it works best when your camera is mounted to a tripod and not moving while you shoot. Using the HERO5 Black, when you make an adjustment to the Shutter setting, you immediately see the effect of the change on the viewfinder screen.
Adjusting Sharpness
When it comes to manually adjusting Sharpness while shooting video, Protune’s Sharpness option offers three options: High (which is the default setting), Medium, and Low. Choose the High setting to achieve ultra-sharp image quality in your videos. Choose the Medium setting to capture what GoPro calls “moderately sharp” video footage, or use the Low option to capture softer video footage that showcases a bit less detail.
Adjusting EV Comp
EV Comp, which stands for Exposure Value Compensation, also affects the brightness of video as it’s being shot. If you’re shooting in areas with contrasting lighting conditions, adjusting this setting can help you capture better quality video overall. The available EV Comp options range from –2.0 to 2.0, with the default option being 0.0.
Adjusting Audio
When the Audio setting is turned on, your camera creates separate video and audio files when video is shot. You’re then able to choose the level of processing the camera uses when recording the audio track. This level of processing relates to how much the camera attempts to remove unwanted noise (caused by things such as wind) from your audio recordings. Options include Off, Low, Medium, or High. Use this feature if you plan to use audio-editing software on your computer to enhance or edit the audio track separately from the video, before merging the audio and video together into a final video presentation.
Additional Options with the Capture Mobile App
When using the Capture mobile app to remotely control the camera (in this case, the HERO5 Session), tap the Settings icon (which looks like a wrench) to reveal a comprehensive Settings menu for the camera. This menu includes the options that are available directly through the camera as well as some additional advanced settings, such as Spot Meter.
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The Spot Meter feature on the HERO/HERO5 Session should be turned on when the lighting where the camera is positioned is different from where the camera is shooting—for example, if you’re using the camera from the audience area of a dark theater and you’re shooting video (or photos) of what’s happening on a well lit stage.
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Using the Settings menu of the Capture mobile app (shown in the figure on an iPad), you can use virtual switches to turn on or off some settings, such as Spot Meter. Tap the virtual switch to toggle between the on and off positions.
The options that allow you to choose from multiple options, such as Resolution, FPS, and FOV, display the currently selected option. Tap the > icon to reveal a submenu with additional options for that feature.
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