Operation Manual

GoPro Studio 2.5 User Manual
Why Convert to the GoPro CineForm Format?
The first step in any GoPro Studio workflow is to convert your source files into the GoPro
CineForm format. This is very important and there are several reasons to do this.
All consumer-level cameras and many professional-level cameras record in highly
compressed video formats designed to capture large amounts of data very quickly and
save that data onto an SD card or other portable media format in as small a file as
possible. This is great for recording large amounts of data onto a small space, but these
compression formats are not designed nor optimized for maintaining image quality during
editing or color correction processes. Because these formats are so compressed, they
often require an ultra powerful computer to decode (playback) the files without
performance degradation (choppy playback or dropped frames).
Because of this, many professional filmmakers and consumer-level videographers use
what is called a Digital Intermediate (DI). A DI is an exact copy of the data from the
original video file saved in a file format that is specifically optimized for higher image
quality and fast playback on modern computer systems. This makes for a much better
editing experience.
The GoPro CineForm format (or codec) is the Digital Intermediate (DI) used in all GoPro
Studio workflows and is one of the best in the industry—used by indie filmmakers and
Hollywood studios alike. It has been standardized by SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture &
Television Engineers) as the VC-5 codec.
Ultimately, GoPro CineForm files are better for editing than camera source files. They
improve on image quality and playback speed, as well as provide the Active Metadata
TM
architecture required to enable the real-time image development and enhancement
features available in GoPro Studio’s EDIT Room.
NOTE: You can learn more about the GoPro CineForm Codec and its Active Metadata
TM
technology in the APPENDIX
section of this user manual.
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