GoPro makes probably the best action cameras on the market, which is not surprising given that they invented the product category. Although, no matter how best the camera result is, you are still required to edit that footage into a slick product that will delight and please your audience.
So if you are looking for how to edit GoPro videos, here are some of the best and highly-rated apps and resources you can use to make fantastic footage.
Edit GoPro Videos Directly in the App
Suppose you have recorded your GoPro footage, and now you are ready to edit it. You do not have to go very far to do it. The GoPro App (iOS and Android) for smartphones contains a very basic yet fast & powerful video editor built into it.
Furthermore, it will walk you through every step of a standard edit. If you do not know much about video editing or do not care, this is the best option.
Use an Advanced Mobile Editor
The GoPro editor is perfect if you do not have the time or skills to do a proper edit. It allows you to quickly share your adventures with your followers and buddies on social media while adding some attitude & flavor with automated music and cuts.
It is cool but pretty limited. Additionally, the good news is that you can get advanced video editors for mobile devices that give you complete control. For instance, LumaFusion for iOS provides almost as much editing power as desktop video editors. On Android, apps such as Adobe Premiere Rush offer you far more options than GoPro’s app does with a very intuitive touch-based interface.
These 2 apps are our own top choices on each respective mobile platform, but these days you’re spoilt for choice.
iMovie has a mobile version on iOS that pretty much contains all the macOS edition bells & whistles. You can start your iPhone or iPad project and then smoothly move it over to the macOS version. Besides, iMovie is completely free.
PowerDirector is the best free Android video editor that’s highly-rated by users. However, ample best features are locked behind a premium subscription model.
FilmoraGo is the perfect choice for users who do not have much video editing experience. It contains both Android and iOS versions. What’s incredible about this app is that it’s hyper-streamlined and offers you everything from music to unique and elegant effects in one package.
Move Your Footage to a PC
While phone video editors have come a long way, there is still no substitute for proper desktop video editing packages. It means you will have to get your footage onto that PC if you want to work with it there.
With GoPro cameras, you’ve two main ways of doing this. The primary is to remove the SD card from your camera and put it into a computer SD card reader. Most laptops already have these built-in, but you will have to use a USB card reader on most desktop computers. If you have moved your footage onto your smartphone, you can upload it to the cloud & then download it to your PC.
Some newer GoPro cameras can even upload footage straight to GoPro cloud storage. If you have chosen to pay for it, that is.
The Top Computer Video Editors for GoPro Footage
Now that you have got your GoPro footage on your computer, you have to get a good video editor to process it. There are many options on desktop operating systems, but we do have some suggestions as to which are great for both newbies and those looking for more robust packages.
On Windows, Linux, & Mac, you would do well to give the OpenShot free & open-source video editor a try. It’s relatively friendly to newbies, costs nothing, & works across multiple operating systems.
Well, if you are willing to spend a little money on a subscription, then Adobe Premiere Pro is the ideal choice to edit GoPro videos. It’s an industry-standard package, contains plenty of support material built into it, and can do just about anything you want from an editing perspective.
Adobe also provides Premiere Elements, which you can buy for a one-off price. It is much more limited, but it’s designed to allow total beginners to create something that rivals professional output, just with less creative freedom. Premiere Elements 2020 does, although, include action-camera-specific features, like color correction, lens distortion removal, and also help to trim your clips for optimal action.
On macOS, you can start with the free included iMovie app. Apple’s own Final Cut Pro is the topmost macOS-specific video editor you can buy, but of course, it’s quite expensive.
DaVinci Resolve is the best option if you do not want to spend any money and want a professional-grade editor. Its free version contains most of what you will ever need, and it runs on Windows, Mac, & Linux. Numerous video editors are jumping ship from Premiere to Resolve. Additionally, its Pro version has a similar price to Final Cut Pro, and it’s a one-off purchase.
Resources for Stock Video and Audio
Your GoPro footage is incredible! However, a complete project probably need more than just the stuff you shot, which is why any GoPro video editor should be aware of extra resources. Maybe you desire some sweet music or cool stock video clips to tie scenes together or build an intro.
Moreover, the good news is that the internet is chock-full of great and incredible resources you can use in your project. Some will not cost you any money; some will be free. All of them come with separate licenses that dictate what you are allowed to use them for, regardless of price.
Basic Process of Editing a GoPro Video
We have gone over all the things you required to edit a GoPro video, but the last piece of the puzzle is your workflow. So, that’s the sequence of events from where you plan your shoot to where you’ve the final video. There’s no such thing as a universal workflow for a video edit, but to give you a rough guide on how you could go about it, I have created some useful guides that can help.
This Adobe Premiere tutorial for newbies includes video editing tips for Adobe Premiere & standard step-by-step guidelines you should follow regardless of the software you use.
If you follow these essential guides, you should have a pretty decent GoPro video at the end. And the rest all depends on your creativity and, undoubtedly, the quality of the footage you made. Well, if the stars align, your GoPro video could be the next viral sensation. Also, share your experience in the below comments section.
