AKASO Brave 4 Pro
Instruction Manual V1.3
Package Contents
The package for the AKASO Brave 4 Pro includes:
- AKASO Brave 4 Pro Camera
- Waterproof Case
- Charger
- Batteries (x2)
- USB Cable
- Remote Control
- Remote Control Wristband
- Protective Backdoor
- Camera Frame
- Clip
- Mounting Bracket 1
- Mounting Bracket 2
- Mounting Bracket 3
- Mounting Bracket 4
- Mounting Bracket 5
- Mounting Bracket 6
- Mounting Bracket 7
- Handlebar/Pole Mount
- Helmet Mount (x2)
- Spanner
- Straps (x4)
- Tethers (x5)
- Lens Cloth
- Double-sided Tape (x2)
- Quick Start Guide
The AKASO Brave 4 Pro is a compact action camera featuring a front screen for status information and a larger rear touchscreen for operation. It is designed for capturing high-quality video and photos in various environments.
Overview of Brave 4 Pro
The camera features the following components:
- OK/Shutter/Power Button: Located on the top of the camera. Used to power the device on/off and take photos/start video recording.
- Front Screen: Displays essential information such as mode, battery status, and recording time.
- Micro USB Port: Used for charging the camera and transferring data.
- Memory Card Slot: Accepts a microSD card for storing photos and videos.
- Micro HDMI Port: Allows connection to external displays like TVs or monitors.
- Lens: The primary lens for capturing images and video.
- Touchscreen: The main display on the rear of the camera, used for navigation, settings adjustment, and live preview.
- Mode/Up Button: Used to cycle through different camera modes or navigate menus upwards.
- Speaker: Emits audio feedback, such as beeps and startup sounds.
- Down Button: Used to navigate menus downwards or activate features like Wi-Fi.
- Battery Cover: Located on the bottom of the camera, providing access to the battery compartment.
Getting Started
Memory Card
Use a branded microSD card that meets the following requirements:
- Speed Class: U3
- Capacity: Maximum 128GB
- Format: FAT32
Caution:
- Format the memory card in the camera before first use and periodically to maintain optimal performance. Formatting erases all data, so back up your photos and videos beforehand.
- Memory cards formatted as FAT32 have a file size limit of 4GB. When a file reaches this size, the camera will automatically create a new file to continue recording.
Button Guide
- Power Button: Long press to turn the camera on/off. Short press to confirm selections.
- Up Button: Long press to switch between the front and rear screens. Short press to play back content.
- Down Button: Long press to turn on Wi-Fi. Short press to access settings.
Power On/Off
- To Turn On: Press and hold the Power Button for approximately 3 seconds. The camera will beep, and the status indicator light will illuminate.
- To Turn Off: Press and hold the Power Button for approximately 3 seconds. The camera will beep, and the status indicator light will turn off.
Mode Switching and Modes
Switching Modes
After powering on the camera, you can swipe on the touchscreen or tap the current mode icon (e.g., 'Video') to access the mode selection menu. Swipe left or right to cycle through available modes. Press the Mode button or tap the 'X' icon to exit the mode menu.
Wi-Fi On/Off
- To Turn On Wi-Fi: Long press the Down Button. Alternatively, swipe to the Wi-Fi option in the mode menu.
- To Turn Off Wi-Fi: Press the OK button.
Mode List
The Brave 4 Pro offers six distinct modes:
- Video: For recording video footage.
- Photo: For capturing still images.
- Burst Photo: Takes a rapid sequence of photos.
- Time-lapse Video: Records video at set intervals to create time-lapse sequences.
- Timer Photo: Takes photos with a delayed shutter.
- Wi-Fi: For connecting to the AKASO GO app.
To access these modes, tap the current mode displayed on the bottom of the screen, or swipe up to open the mode selection menu.
Video Mode
This is the default mode upon powering on the camera. Press the Shutter Button to start recording video. Press it again to stop recording. You can adjust the zoom level by tapping the zoom icon [?] on the screen.
Screen Description: The display shows recording time (e.g., 00:00:00/00:00:00), video resolution (e.g., Video 4K30FPS), TF card status, battery level indicator, and zoom controls.
Photo Mode
Accessed by swiping right from Video mode. Press the Shutter Button to capture a still photo. You can adjust the zoom level by tapping the zoom icon [?].
Screen Description: The display shows the photo count (e.g., 30000), photo resolution (e.g., Photo 20M), TF card status, battery level indicator, and zoom controls.
Burst Photo Mode
Select this mode by swiping to 'Mode Selection' or tapping 'Video', then selecting 'Burst Photo'. When the Shutter Button is pressed, the camera captures 3, 5, or 10 photos per second, ideal for action shots.
Time-lapse Video Mode
Select this mode by swiping to 'Mode Selection' or tapping 'Video', then selecting 'Time-lapse Video'. The Shutter Button initiates recording at intervals of 0.5s, 1s, 2s, 5s, 10s, 30s, or 60s to create a time-lapse video. Note: Time-lapse videos are recorded without audio.
Timer Photo Mode
Select this mode by swiping to 'Mode Selection' or tapping 'Video', then selecting 'Timer Photo'. When the Shutter Button is pressed, the camera takes a photo after a set delay of 3s, 5s, 10s, 20s, 30s, or 60s.
Screen Description: The display shows the timer setting (e.g., Timer 20M), TF card status, and battery level indicator.
Wi-Fi Mode
Turn on Wi-Fi by long-pressing the Down Button or accessing the mode menu while the camera is powered on.
Video & Photo Settings
Customize your recording experience with the following settings:
- Video Resolution: Options include 4K30FPS, 2.7K30FPS, 1080P120FPS, 1080P60FPS, 1080P30FPS, 720P240FPS, 720P120FPS, 720P60FPS, 720P30FPS. The default setting is 4K30FPS. Note: Recording at high resolutions or frame rates in warm environments may cause the camera to overheat and consume more power.
- Video Mode: Select between Video, Slow Motion, and Loop Record. The default setting is Video.
- Image Stabilization: On/Off. The default is Off. This feature adjusts the 'film length' to reduce handshake, providing smoother footage for activities like cycling, motorcycling, or handheld use. It cannot be used when the Angle setting is active.
- Angle: Options include Wide, Medium, Narrow. The default is Wide. This setting determines the field of view captured by the lens. Wide angle captures the most scene, while Narrow captures the least.
- Underwater Mode: On/Off. The default is Off. This mode helps compensate for the lack of red light underwater and is optimized for use in tropical and ocean environments, typically between 10-80 feet.
- Video Length: Options are 2 minutes, 3 minutes, or 5 minutes. The default is 2 minutes. When Loop Recording is enabled, you can continuously record video and only save the moments you want. For example, if you select a 5-minute interval and stop recording, only the last 5 minutes will be saved. If the memory card becomes full, Loop Recording will overwrite older files with new ones.
- Exposure: Adjust from -3 to +3. The default is 0. This setting allows you to determine the appropriate exposure level for the image. It helps select areas the camera prioritizes for exposure, which is useful in situations where important subjects might be over or underexposed. Changes are reflected instantly on the display.
- WDR (Wide Dynamic Range): On/Off. The default is Off. WDR enhances detail in both dark and bright areas of an image, resulting in clearer photos. It is particularly useful for scenes with significant contrast, such as backlit subjects or dark foregrounds. WDR can only be used in Video mode.
- Metering: Options are Average, Center-weighted, or Spot. The default is Average. This setting determines how the camera measures the light in a scene.
- Sharpness: Options are High, Medium, or Low. The default is High. Sharpness controls the level of detail captured in videos and photos. Changes are reflected instantly on the display.
- Video Quality: Options are High, Medium, or Low. The default is Medium.
- ISO: Options include Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400. The default is Auto. ISO determines the camera's sensitivity to light. Higher ISO values brighten the image but increase noise (graininess), while lower ISO values reduce noise but result in a darker image. Changes are reflected instantly on the display.
- Date Stamp: On/Off. The default is On. When enabled, the camera adds a date stamp to videos and photos.
- Motion Detection: On/Off. The default is Off. This feature detects changes in the position of subjects within the frame. If enabled, the camera will automatically start recording video when motion is detected.
- Photo Resolution: Options include 20MP, 16MP, 13MP, 8MP. The default is 20MP.
- Image Stabilization: On/Off. The default is Off. (This setting is identical to item 3).
- Burst Rate: Options are 3/s, 5/s, 10/s. The default is 3/s. In Burst Photo mode, pressing the Shutter Button captures up to 10 photos per second, making it ideal for capturing fast-moving action.
- Time-lapse Interval: Options are 0.5s, 1s, 2s, 5s, 10s, 30s, 60s. The default is 0.5s. Time-lapse captures frames at specific intervals to create a video. This feature is useful for capturing events like time-lapses. Note: Time-lapse videos are recorded without audio.
- Photo Interval: Options are 3s, 10s, 20s, 30s, 60s. The default is 3s. When the self-timer is off, the time-lapse icon [▶️] will appear. Tap it to access settings and find the photo interval. The camera will take photos at the set interval until you manually stop it.
- Self-timer: On/Off. The default is On. This mode takes photos automatically after a countdown.
Camera Settings
Configure various camera functions with these settings:
- Special Effects: Options include Normal, Black & White, Negative, Retro, Red, Green, Blue. The default is Normal.
- Power Frequency: Options are Auto, 50Hz, or 60Hz. The default is Auto.
- Language: Supports English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese. The default is English.
- Date/Time: YY/MM/DD. The camera's date and time synchronize with your mobile device when connected to the AKASO GO app. Caution: Removing the battery will reset the date and time.
- Audio: Configure Shutter Sound (On/Off), Beep Sound (On/Off), Startup Sound (On/Off). Adjust Volume from 0/30/70/100. The default for sounds is On. This allows control over the camera's audio alerts and volume levels.
- Car Mode: On/Off. The default is Off.
- Rotate Mode: On/Off. The default is Off. This setting automatically rotates video or photo orientation to prevent upside-down footage. Note: Enabling Rotate Mode will invert the user interface.
- Microphone: Options are Built-in or External. The default is Built-in.
- Screen Saver: Options are Off, 30 seconds, 1 minute, or 2 minutes. The default is 1 minute. The display turns off after a period of inactivity to extend battery life. Press any button to wake the display.
- Auto Power Off: Options are None, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, or 10 minutes. The default is 3 minutes. The camera automatically powers off after a period of inactivity to conserve battery life.
- Format: Reformat the memory card to maintain its condition. Back up all content before formatting, as it erases all data. To format, press the Down Button, navigate to Settings [⚙️], find and tap the 'Format' option. Press the Shutter Button; the screen will show memory card capacity and options like 'Format/Cancel'. Press OK or tap 'Format' to complete the process.
- Reset: Confirm/Cancel. This option resets all camera settings to their factory defaults.
- Device Info: Displays the firmware version (e.g., FX9307I-V1.0 4-20-2021) and other model information for your Brave 4 Pro.
Connecting to the AKASO GO App
Download the AKASO GO app from the Apple App Store or Google Play to your mobile device. The app allows remote control of your camera via smartphone or tablet, including full camera control, live preview, playback, downloading content, and sharing photos/videos.
- Turn on the camera and long-press the Down Button to enable Wi-Fi. You can also swipe to the mode menu to turn on Wi-Fi.
- On your mobile device, turn on Wi-Fi, find the camera's Wi-Fi network in the list, and connect. The default password is 1234567890.
- Open the AKASO GO app, tap 'Device' then 'Add Device', and select 'Brave 4 Pro'.
- Check the box confirming the operation and tap 'Live Preview' to connect the camera to the AKASO GO app.
Content Playback
You can play back your recorded videos and photos on the camera, PC, TV, smartphone, or tablet. Content can also be played directly from the memory card if inserted into a compatible device; playback resolution will depend on the device's capabilities.
How to View Videos and Photos on BRAVE 4 PRO
- Turn on the camera.
- Tap the video playback icon [▶️] in the bottom-left corner to enter playback mode.
- Tap the file icon [?].
- Use the forward/backward icons [▶️]/[◀️] to play videos or photos.
- Tap the video playback icon [▶️] again to view the video in full-screen mode.
- Tap the back icon [◀️] to exit playback.
Note: If the memory card contains a large amount of content, loading may take some time.
How to Delete Videos and Photos on BRAVE 4 PRO
- Enter playback mode.
- Tap the video playback icon [▶️] or the file icon [?].
- Use the forward/backward icons [▶️]/[◀️] to find the video or photo file you wish to delete.
- Tap the delete icon [?️]. A prompt will appear asking, 'Delete this file? Yes/No'.
- Tap 'Yes' to confirm and delete the selected file.
Data Transfer
Transferring Data to a PC
To view videos and photos on your computer, you must first transfer them. This process also frees up space on your memory card. Connect a card reader (sold separately) to your PC, insert the memory card, and use your file explorer to transfer files. You can also delete selected files from the card this way. Note that a card reader is required for transferring photos and audio files.
Transferring Data to a Smartphone or Tablet
- Open the AKASO GO app and connect your camera.
- Tap the playback icon [▶️] at the bottom left to display all videos and photos.
- Tap the download icon [⬇️] at the bottom right after selecting the photos or videos you wish to download.
Screen Description: The image shows a smartphone interface displaying recorded footage, with controls for playback, recording type (Video, Time-lapse, Loop Record), and file selection.
Notes on Data Transfer:
- If you cannot transfer videos or photos to your iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Photos, find 'AKASO GO', and select 'All Photos'.
- On iPhones, 4K or 2.7K videos cannot be downloaded directly through the app. Use a card reader to transfer these files.
Camera Care
Follow these instructions for optimal camera performance:
- For clearer audio, gently blow air into the microphone port or use a soft brush to remove any dust or debris.
- Clean the lens using a soft, lint-free cloth. Avoid touching the lens surface directly or allowing debris to accumulate around it.
- Do not touch the lens with your fingers.
- Handle the camera with care to prevent drops or impacts, which could damage internal components.
- Store the camera away from high temperatures and direct sunlight to prevent damage.
Maximizing Battery Life
When the battery is critically low (0%), the camera will save files and power off. To maximize battery life, follow these guidelines:
- Turn off wireless connections [?].
- Shoot videos at lower frame rates and resolutions.
- Utilize the screen saver settings.
Zoom Level Adjustment
The zoom function allows you to adjust the distance to your subject in photos. The default setting is zoom off. Zoom is available in Video, Burst Photo, and Timer Photo modes. The Brave 4 Pro supports up to 5x zoom.
- Turn on the Brave 4 Pro.
- Enter Video, Burst Photo, or Timer Photo mode.
- Tap the zoom icon [?] to adjust the zoom level.
How to Reformat Memory Card
Periodically reformat your memory card to ensure it remains in good condition. Remember that formatting erases all data, so back up your photos and videos first.
- Turn on the Brave 4 Pro by pressing and holding the Power Button for 3 seconds.
- Press the Down button or tap the settings icon [⚙️] to access the camera's settings menu.
- Press the Mode button, then the Down button, and navigate to the 'Format' option.
- Press the Shutter Button. The screen will display the memory card's storage capacity along with 'Format/Cancel' options (e.g., xxG/xxG Format/Cancel).
- Press the OK button or tap 'Format'. The screen will show 'Formatting...' followed by 'Format successful'. Your memory card is now successfully formatted.
Battery Storage and Usage
The camera contains sensitive components, including the battery. Avoid exposing it to extreme cold or heat, as this can temporarily reduce battery life or affect camera operation. Rapid temperature changes may cause condensation inside the camera. To prevent damage, avoid such drastic environmental shifts.
- Do not attempt to dry the camera or battery using external heat sources like microwaves or hairdryers. Damage caused by liquid contact with internal components is not covered by warranty.
- Store batteries separately from metal objects such as coins, keys, or necklaces. Contact between battery terminals and metal objects can cause a fire hazard.
- Never modify the camera. Doing so can compromise safety, violate regulations, impair functionality, and void the warranty.
Warning
Do not drop, disassemble, crush, bend, deform, puncture, shred, microwave, incinerate, or paint the camera or battery. Do not insert foreign objects into the battery compartment. If the camera or battery is damaged (e.g., cracked, punctured, or water-damaged), discontinue use immediately. Attempting to disassemble or puncture batteries can lead to explosions or fires.
Remote Control
The remote control is splash-proof but not waterproof. It features a red [Record Button] and a gray [Video Button].
Video
To record video, set the camera to Video mode. To start recording, press the gray Video Button; the camera will beep once, and the indicator light will flash during recording. To stop recording, press the gray Video Button again; the camera will beep once, and the indicator light will stop flashing.
Photo
To take a photo, set the camera to Photo mode. Press the red Photo Button; the camera will emit a shutter sound once.
Replacing the CR2032 Battery in the BRAVE 4 PRO Remote
- Using a 1.8mm Phillips screwdriver, remove the four screws on the back cover of the remote control and open the cover.
- Remove the four screws located on the PCB board.
- Carefully lift the PCB board and remove the old battery. Caution: Do not rotate the PCB board to ensure the camera and video button functions remain correctly assigned.
- Insert the new battery with the '+' terminal facing upwards.
- Reattach the four screws to secure the PCB board.
- Reattach the four screws to the cover.
Camera Mounting
The camera can be mounted on helmets, handlebars, and other equipment using the provided accessories. The diagrams illustrate various mounting configurations using the included brackets and mounts.
Diagram Description: A series of visual examples showing the AKASO Brave 4 Pro camera being attached to different mounts, such as a helmet mount or a handlebar mount. Each example shows the camera, a specific mount, and the necessary brackets or adapters to create a secure attachment for various activities.
Contact Us
For any questions, comments, or feedback regarding our products, please contact us via the email address, website, or LINE. We strive to respond as quickly as possible.
- E-mail: cs@akasotech.com
- Official Website: www.akasotech.com