Problem with GoPro Hero HD camera

[salamander]

Does anyone have any experience with the GoPro Hero HD or similar GoPro camera's? My son started messing around with his camera for the first time today. It takes video, and he can transfer the file to a laptop just fine. But ... during playback, everything goes in fast motion. Making up some numbers -- if he takes a 20 sec video, the camera only says it's recorded 6 sec. During playback, the player says the video's 6 sec long, but 20 sec of action is crammed into that time. You should see me typing frantically on the keyboard. 

We've been through the instructions (such as they are) several times, but haven't been able to figure this out. If anyone's used these cameras, any suggestions you might have would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[adidasguy]

He has set it to do time lapse.
I think all you need to do is press the front button until you see the icon of the video camera. I'll have to review how to get that reset as the default setting.
What icon shows when you turn on the camera?

If you go until you see the wrench, press the top button once. It cycles through modes. One mode is a circle with "2 sec" which I think is the mod you're in.

OK, back at the start.
Turn camera on.
Press front button repeatedly until you see the wrench.
Should say MODE
Press TOP button
Then press front button a couple times until the camera (top icon) is highlighted.
Press top button and it should go back to MODE with the camera as the icon.
Press front button until you see EXIT and press the top button.

Let me know.

[salamander]

Thanks for the information.  I had some time to mess around with the camera myself while my son was at school, and although it reminds me of setting a digital watch with a button or two to do everything, I think I'm pretty comfortable with changing modes etc...

That said, I'm as sure as I can be that the camera is in video mode rather than timelapse, and the too fast playback still occurs.  I made a ~20 sec video in two different resolution modes -- both were recording at 1280x720, but one at 30 fps and the other at 60 fps.  The 30 fps file played back at ~10x normal speed, and the 60 fps file at ~20x normal.

Here's what we've tried so far, all with the same result:
1. 3 different computers and the TV
2. installed Klite codec package (both 32 and 64 bit on one of the computers)
3. playback with windows media player, quicktime, and VLC player

The video seems clear, just too fast, so while it's possible the camera's wonky, I'm betting there's something strange with the players we're using in how they're reading the file.

[adidasguy]

Let's get come background info:

1. What version of Windows are you running, or is it an apple thingy?
2. If Windows 7 or Vista, have you tried using the normal Windows Media Player? It plays MP4 videos just fine.

I suspect older Windows versions will also play just fine as long as you don't go back too far.

If Windows media Player not available, Can you upload a short video somewhere? Or email me one? I can use my Vegas Video to tell exactly what the video settings are.

[adidasguy]

reading that book by a mexican guy named Manual, pages 18 and 19 describe the video modes. When in video mode, the mode will display on the front LCD display with the video camera icon. What shows there?

There is no fast motion video mode - only slow motion.

The only fast mode is time lapse, and that makes a series of JPG pictures.

I am suspecting problems with your video player.

PS: I could also send you a known good video from the GoPro as you test your video player.

[salamander]

1. What version of Windows are you running, or is it an apple thingy?
2. If Windows 7 or Vista, have you tried using the normal Windows Media Player? It plays MP4 videos just fine.

...

If Windows media Player not available, Can you upload a short video somewhere? Or email me one? I can use my Vegas Video to tell exactly what the video settings are.

Two of the computers the camera's files have been tried on are running 64-bit Windows 7, and the third is 32-bit Vista (I try to avoid apples -- not wild about computers that assume I'm completely stupid).  All three computers have Windows Media Player as the default association for MP4 files -- to use QuickTime and VLC we had to right-click and choose 'Open with'.  We haven't had any problems in the past with playing videos on any of the three computers (although I'm not sure they were MP4 files).

I have two files currently on Google Drive, both recorded at 720p (1280x720) but one at 30 fps and the other at 60 fps.  If you PM an email address, I can give you shared access.

I'm finding this mildly frustrating, but it's driving my son crazy -- thanks for your help.

[salamander]

reading that book by a mexican guy named Manual, pages 18 and 19 describe the video modes. When in video mode, the mode will display on the front LCD display with the video camera icon. What shows there?

There is no fast motion video mode - only slow motion.

The only fast mode is time lapse, and that makes a series of JPG pictures.

I am suspecting problems with your video player.

PS: I could also send you a known good video from the GoPro as you test your video player.

I wish we had an actual manual -- all we got was a folded instruction guide that briefly goes over the settings.  I think you probably have a more advanced model.  This camera is the GoPro Hero HD.

When making the videos we've been using to test the playback, there's a video camera on the LCD screen.  Even though the playbacks are too fast, they're smooth, not like timelapse, so I think we really are in the normal video mode.

I agree that the player is most likely the problem.  We checked the GoPro site and forum, and the only mention of codec's we saw were for the Klite pack, but that didn't seem to make any difference in the playback speed.  I'm going to download and install some other players tomorrow just to see if that makes a difference.

Thanks.

[adidasguy]

The Hero and Hero2 and very similar. The Hero2 just has a better lens and more video modes.

Do a google search for "gopro instructions" and you'll find lots of info.

PDF of manuals is on the GoPro web site
http://www.prohelmetcameras.co.uk/go_pro_instruction_manuals.php

Also on gopro.com

[salamander]

I think we were so focused on codec's from GoPro, we didn't even think to look for manuals.  Thanks, I'll check those out.

[salamander]

Thanks, adidasguy, for all the time and effort you've put into this both here and off-site.

Your help is appreciated -- Steve

[salamander]

Tried a couple more things with the camera -- changing SD cards etc ... -- but nothing made any difference.

Ended up taking it back to BestBuy end of last week hoping for an exchange. Maybe I shouldn't be, but I was surprised at how easy it was. I didn't have the receipt any more, but they were able to look it up, and I had my money back with no questions asked.

The only hitch was that the Hero camera has been discontinued (that's why I got the refund, instead of an exchange), so I ended up getting the Hero3 instead. Really wasn't much more in the end -- I think they lowered the prices across the board when they stopped making the Hero. The new camera works like a charm and my son's been videoing all weekend.

Thanks to everyone who helped with this.