How to Prepare GoPro video files for Editing in Avid Media Composer

The article shows you the best workaround for editing GoPro videos in Avid Media Composer by transcoding GoPro MP4 to Avid native editing format - DNxHD.



GoPro is the world's first true 1080P HD and best selling wearable camera which includes Helmet hero, motorsports hero, Surf hero, Hero Naked and Hero 960. Since GoPro HD hero series camera generate high quality action image, people always use it to capture and share their exciting images of outdoor activity. The point here, you will find it a painful experience to importing GoPro camera files to Avid Media Composer for editing. There're some frequently asked questions quoted as below.


"Gopro: import directly into MC or convert in other application
I've been doing some testing with Gopro Hero mp4 material. It imports fine within MC 3.1.3 but importing of a 1 minute clip takes 2 minutes on a XW8400. The limiting factor is the conversion from 960p (4:3) H264 to DV50 or 2:1 MXF by the computers processors. Faster harddrives make no difference.

I've read several threads and found that everybody is having issues with the time Transcoding takes in Mpegstreamclip/TMPGenc/procoder. So, while after Transcoding, media will fast import it's seems that there is no time gained going this road.

Is there anybody that has found a fast reliable workflow that actually saves time?

Is there conversion software that will actually use all available processor cores and available memory to make this process go fast?"

As you know, the GoPro cameras record in MPEG-4 and outputs its files as .MP4 files (the container). The MP4 codec is a final delivery codec it is not one you want to use for editing. To solve these problems, the quick workaround is to convert GoPro MP4 files to Avid natively supported formats. On Avid official website, it recommends DNxHD or XDCAM codec for editing, and DNxHD codec is the first choice. So if you want to edit GoPro HD fooatage in Avid MC smoothly, the quick workaround to transcode GoPro MP4 to DNxHD MOV for AMC. Along with some help from third-party software, it can be done effortlessly. Here I will outline how to transfer and use GoPro camera files in Avid Media Composer without quality loss. If you're facing the issues, read on to find the answer.

First of all, free downloading the App- Brorsoft Video Converter

Overall, the program is an easy-to-use yet all-in-one video conversion app which can be used as a GoPro camera video converer. With it, you can effortlessly transcode Gopro MP4 to DNxHD MOV files, which will create an Avid MC friendly file format keeping the Gopro orginal quality. Besides Avid, this software can also export MPEG-2 for Sony Vegas, Premiere Element, AVI for Pinnacle Studio and more NLE systems for native editing. For Mac users, GoPro HD MP4 Converter Mac is the alternative choice. Just download it and follow the tutorial below to get the work done.

Converting GoPro MP4 files to DNxHD MOV for Avid MC

Step 1: Run GoPro video converter and load MP4 clips to it. You can import MP4 clips to the program through "Add Video" button or "Add from folder" button.



Tip: Check “Merge into one” box to join GoPro H.264 clips together if necessary.

Step 2: Click Format on the main interface and choose Avid Media Composer > Avid DNxHD(*.mov) as output format.



Tip - Profile Settings:
In case the default settings do not fit your requirement, you can click “Settings" button and enter “Profile Settings" panel to adjust video size, bit rate, frame rate, sample rate and audio channels.

Step 3: Click “Convert" button to start encoding Gopro HD MP4 video to DNxHD for importing to Avid Media Composer. When the conversion task is finished, click “Open" button to get the exported files and then import the converted GoPro MP4 files into Avid MC to do further editing without problems.

Additional Tips:
If you want to edit GoPro video in Final Cut Pro X or FCP 7/6, you just need to choose the "Final Cut Pro > Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov)" as output format in the second step; For iMovie, select "iMovie and Final Cut Express -> Apple InterMediate Codec (AIC) (*.mov)"; For Adobe Premiere Pro or Vegas Pro, choose Adobe Premiere/Sony Vegas> MPEG-2(*.mpg) as output.

GoPro Video Preparing Quick-Start Guides for Editing:

GoPro and Premiere workflow | GoPro to FCP 7 Workflow | GoPro files and iMovie 11 | GoPro MP4 in Pinnacle Studio | GoPro footage editing with Windows Movie Maker