Catalyst Browse vs Catalyst Prepare: Which Is Better?

⁠Sony Catalyst Browse is a free media management application from Sony that serves as an essential pre-editing tool. It is widely used by filmmakers to apply ultra-smooth, gimbal-like gyro stabilization, manage metadata, and handle color correction before importing footage into an NLE (Non-Linear Editor) like Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve.

Because it relies on the camera’s internal hardware sensors, the process requires a specific camera setup and workflow. Camera Settings (Before You Shoot)

To use the advanced stabilization features, your Sony camera must capture the necessary sensor metadata:

Turn Off IBIS: Switch your camera’s internal In-Body Image Stabilization (SteadyShot) to Off or Standard. If Active SteadyShot is on, the camera crops the image and corrects it in-camera, which strips out or corrupts the raw gyroscopic data needed by Catalyst Browse.

Shutter Speed: Keep your shutter speed high (ideally ⁄₁₂₄ or higher, or double your normal 180-degree rule) to prevent natural motion blur, which looks unnatural when digitally stabilized.

Lens Compatibility: Use native Sony lenses so the camera can log focal length data dynamically. If you use third-party lenses, you will need to input the focal length manually within the software. How to Stabilize Footage

Import the Clips: Open the application and use the internal file navigator to find your folder. Clips with usable gyroscopic metadata will feature a small gyro scope icon right on their thumbnails.

Open the Adjust Workspace: Double-click your clip or select it and click Adjust Clip at the bottom of the screen.

Analyze and Adjust: Click the Stabilize button on the right-hand panel. Select Auto to let the software automatically calculate the crop, or toggle to Manual to slide the correction amount yourself (around 90% often yields a great balance between smooth motion and minimal cropping).

Correct Lens Breathing: If your lens shifts its framing while focusing, toggle on the Lens Breathing Compensation switch directly under the stabilization controls.

Watch this step-by-step walkthrough to see the exact workflow for adjusting and stabilizing your Sony clips inside the desktop app: