I f'ing hate Racerender

[DRLane]

End rant

Reluctantly considering Smartycam because trying to sync gropro with Aim data is an exercise in futility.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by DRLane

End rant

Reluctantly considering Smartycam because trying to sync gropro with Aim data is an exercise in futility.

Just get the Smartycam and ignore the shitty video quality. The cameras are built well and "just work". Plus, their support is awesome if you buy through a good dealer.

[russiamutha]

Never used AIM, not sure how data is exported?

I've used RaceChrono and exported session by adding a blank 20min video. Then easily overlayed (Screen) on top of GoPro (2 cameras) in Final Cut. 15min process from start to finish.

[russiamutha]

Originally Posted by dparm

Just get the Smartycam and ignore the shitty video quality. The cameras are built well and "just work". Plus, their support is awesome if you buy through a good dealer.

Video sensor in Smartycam is far worse than any modern GoPro. A tuned GoPro will put out broadcast-quality video.

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by dparm

Just get the Smartycam and ignore the shitty video quality. The cameras are built well and "just work". Plus, their support is awesome if you buy through a good dealer.

I know the moment I purchase one, AIM will release an updated 1080 camera. Haha. But might have to bite the bullet.

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by russiamutha

Never used AIM, not sure how data is exported?

I've used RaceChrono and exported session by adding a blank 20min video. Then easily overlayed (Screen) on top of GoPro (2 cameras) in Final Cut. 15min process from start to finish.

Exports via CSV.

[Ximian]

Originally Posted by DRLane

I know the moment I purchase one, AIM will release an updated 1080 camera. Haha. But might have to bite the bullet.

I heard the new version of the camera is going to be 8k and will ship with the iPhone RaceStudio app.

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by DRLane

End rant

Reluctantly considering Smartycam because trying to sync gropro with Aim data is an exercise in futility.

haha c'mon man----it ain't that hard. If you installed your supercharger, this is way easier.

For sure SmartyCam is faster because everything is already done when you pull the SD card out of the camera, but RaceRender is not very hard. Now, setting up your own custom RR template can take some time. No doubt about that.

Too bad this didn't come up when we were hanging out at HPR last weekend. I could have walked you through it.

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by dogbone

haha c'mon man----it ain't that hard. If you installed your supercharger, this is way easier.

For sure SmartyCam is faster because everything is already done when you pull the SD card out of the camera, but RaceRender is not very hard. Now, setting up your own custom RR template can take some time. No doubt about that.

Too bad this didn't come up when we were hanging out at HPR last weekend. I could have walked you through it.

Thanks, I'll book that help session! It's not hard, but just frustrating that it doesn't really line up. I'm sure years of studio time gives you an advantage.

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by Ximian

I heard the new version of the camera is going to be 8k and will ship with the iPhone RaceStudio app.

Haha!

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by DRLane

I know the moment I purchase one, AIM will release an updated 1080 camera. Haha. But might have to bite the bullet.

Correct. Wait

[dparm]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Correct. Wait

Yeah but what about the 4K one that's probably coming right after that one!

[sc_tr0jan_m3]

Knowing AIM, it'll be another 10+ years before they release 1080, MacOS app, and iPhone app... they've been saying for years that it's "almost ready".

Seriously, just buy the SmartyCam and save yourself all the headache. Yes, it's 720 quality, but it's literarily as easy as removing the SD card from the SmartyCam, insert the SD card into your laptop, then cut the footage in your favorite movie editor. ITS. THAT. SIMPLE!

Now, if you want that top quality here and now... then give a Vbox HD2 a look... however it means you're going to a new system and data capture device. But lots of capabilities there with double camera setup with up to 4k video quality and even ability to live broadcast data.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by dparm

Yeah but what about the 4K one that's probably coming right after that one!

It's not. But 1080 will

[Kelse92]

I went through this. Absolutely HATED the hour I would spend each time trying to line up the data/video.
I finally sucked it up and bought a rev2.1 SmartyCam used on eBay. It was worth it to me. Just don't be like me and put the SD card in backwards for your Sunday fast laps like I did last weekend... lol

[SYT_Shadow]

I was at AIM not long ago and brought this topic up. I would like them to build a unit that accepts a HDMI input from a gopro and overlays data on it automatically.
I would pay $1500 for that, any day of the week

AIM's strength is not cameras. They will never be able to compete with GoPro.

Sometimes I warm up to the idea of a SmartyCam, but then I see a video from one and it is beyond horrible. 720p, I mean we're not in 2005. It looks so horrible I can't concentrate on the video.
I use 4k60fps on the GoPro, it is night and day vs a SmartyCam. Well worth RaceRender busting my chops every once in a while

[dparm]

Everyone has their ecosystems, so why would they want to make it easy for you to use someone else's? AIM gets nothing when you dump data to use with RaceRender and a GoPro.

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

I was at AIM not long ago and brought this topic up. I would like them to build a unit that accepts a HDMI input from a gopro and overlays data on it automatically.
I would pay $1500 for that, any day of the week

AIM's strength is not cameras. They will never be able to compete with GoPro.

Sometimes I warm up to the idea of a SmartyCam, but then I see a video from one and it is beyond horrible. 720p, I mean we're not in 2005. It looks so horrible I can't concentrate on the video.
I use 4k60fps on the GoPro, it is night and day vs a SmartyCam. Well worth RaceRender busting my chops every once in a while

The video footage is good enough for analysis and deconstructing laps, the primary use case is not people wanting to impress friends on YouTube. That being said, better video quality will probably uncover some more nuance in what's happening, but being able to see car placement on the track, hand movement, mirrors, etc. still "works" in the shitty SmartyCam.

I feel the pain, the C7 Corvette's PDR camera is of similar garbage quality. 720p30 with a low-end sensor. Even in 2015 when it launched, it looked pretty lousy. But it does get the job done and the data being embedded in the video file makes it stupid-easy to analyze. "It just works". I still use a GoPro 8 in conjunction and then just edit with DaVinci Resolve. I do have an HPTuners dongle for my tune, so maybe I'll fiddle with Race Render sometime.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by dparm

Everyone has their ecosystems, so why would they want to make it easy for you to use someone else's? AIM gets nothing when you dump data to use with RaceRender and a GoPro.

The video footage is good enough for analysis and deconstructing laps, the primary use case is not people wanting to impress friends on YouTube. That being said, better video quality will probably uncover some more nuance in what's happening, but being able to see car placement on the track, hand movement, mirrors, etc. still "works" in the shitty SmartyCam.

I feel the pain, the C7 Corvette's PDR camera is of similar garbage quality. 720p30 with a low-end sensor. Even in 2015 when it launched, it looked pretty lousy. But it does get the job done and the data being embedded in the video file makes it stupid-easy to analyze. "It just works". I still use a GoPro 8 in conjunction and then just edit with DaVinci Resolve. I do have an HPTuners dongle for my tune, so maybe I'll fiddle with Race Render sometime.

Because they would play to their strengths, which is data, and depart a market where they are 15 years behind. Besides, they would charge the exact same amount for the videoless smartycam 'box', which I would be happy to buy anyway. Having video recorded with overlaid data while allowing you to use good quality video would be a game changer.

My youtube channel is anonymous. I enjoy having video I can actually see. When I watch smartycam the only thing I can think about is the horrible quality.
4k60 to 720p30 is massively different.

Also, I don't overlay data to every single session. We are not pro drivers and most of the time it's clear where the user error occurred. Sometimes you have time to dig deeper and then you want to see where the throttle was or whether there was a confidence braking incident.

Even back when we live streamed the AER races, quality was still better than the Smartycam!! Jesus!

[rhyary]

Let me point out another angle.
First, watching Smartycam video on iphone and laptops is fine. But watching my videos compare to SYT on the big TV and then mines are terrible.

However, if you are using the videos for on track learning, and later on for virtual coaching, the Smartycam data overlay is more important than the quality of the video.

Downloading a smartycam video and watching a trouble spot while having a 25 minutes break between sessions is a possibility.

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by rhyary

Let me point out another angle.
First, watching Smartycam video on iphone and laptops is fine. But watching my videos compare to SYT on the big TV and then mines are terrible.

However, if you are using the videos for on track learning, and later on for virtual coaching, the Smartycam data overlay is more important than the quality of the video.

Downloading a smartycam video and watching a trouble spot while having a 25 minutes break between sessions is a possibility.

You pull it onto the iPhone? Or you mean YouTube smarty video in general?

[redpriest]

Every time I watch someone's smartycam video it looks like I'm watching Grand Prix archival footage from the 1960s. I know it's 720p but it somehow manages to be more terrible than that.

Syncing race render and your data is as simple as just listening for your downshift blips and syncing up the RPMs from your data with the sound of the blip.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by redpriest

Every time I watch someone's smartycam video it looks like I'm watching Grand Prix archival footage from the 1960s. I know it's 720p but it somehow manages to be more terrible than that.

Syncing race render and your data is as simple as just listening for your downshift blips and syncing up the RPMs from your data with the sound of the blip.

Glad to see I'm not the only one with this issue. It's like the most horrible 720 ever recorded, washed out, grainy, it's horrible.