The Short Answer
Balance a Hohem gimbal with the power off: loosen the arm, slide it until the phone stays level, then lock it. To calibrate, set the gimbal on a flat surface, double-press the trigger to recenter, press M five times, and wait for the second beep.
The horizon leans a few degrees to one side. Or the phone slowly drifts left when you are not touching anything. Or the gimbal hums louder than it did last week. These are the three signs that your gimbal needs one of two things: better balance, or a fresh calibration. They fix different problems, and doing them in the right order matters.
This guide covers both, using the Hohem manuals for the iSteady M6 and Mobile Plus as the reference. Most current Hohem phone gimbals, including the Hohem iSteady M6, use the same approach, but check your own manual for the exact button presses.
Balance vs Calibration: What Each Fixes
| Balancing | Calibration | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Physically positioning the phone so its weight sits evenly | Resetting the gimbal's sensors so it knows what "level" is |
| When | Every time you mount a phone, change case, or add a mic or light | When the horizon tilts or the gimbal drifts while balanced |
| Power | Off | On, sitting still on a flat surface |
| Fixes | Beeping, motor strain, shutdowns, short battery life | Tilted horizon, slow drift |
Always balance first. Calibrating an unbalanced gimbal just teaches it the wrong thing.
How to Balance, Step by Step
- Power off the gimbal. Hohem's manual says to mount and balance the phone before switching on.
- Remove loose extras like ring holders. Add any mic or light you plan to use now, not later.
- Clamp the phone centered, camera on the side the manual shows, resting against the rubber pads.
- Unlock the roll arm (on the M6, the arm latch).
- Slide the arm left or right until the phone sits almost level with the ground on its own.
- Lock the arm and power on.
In portrait mode, keep the phone centered in the clamp so the weight does not shift to one side. Heavy phones need extra care; our heavy phone guide covers payload limits.
How to Calibrate, Step by Step
Hohem calls this auto calibration. It corrects drift caused by magnetic interference or handling. Per the Hohem M6 and Mobile Plus manuals:
- Balance the phone first and power on.
- Stand the gimbal on a flat, stable surface, on its tripod. Do not hold it.
- Double-press the trigger to recenter.
- Press the M (mode) button five times. A beep means calibration has started.
- Do not touch it. When you hear a second beep, calibration is done and the gimbal recenters.
Hohem notes calibration can fail on uneven surfaces or in a moving vehicle. If you hear two short beeps and the gimbal goes to standby, wake it and try again on a steadier surface.
Fine-Tuning the Horizon
If the horizon is still off by a degree or two after calibration, some models let you adjust it in the Hohem Joy app or on the remote. The V3 Ultra, for example, allows roll adjustment in 0.5° steps from its touchscreen, according to Digital Camera World's review. Run firmware updates in the app too; they can improve stability.
Signs You Need to Redo It
- You changed phone case or added an accessory: rebalance.
- You switched between portrait and landscape: recheck balance.
- The horizon tilts after a flight or a bumpy ride: recalibrate.
- Beeping or shutdowns: balance first; see our beeping and vibration fixes.
Why Balance Matters for Battery and Noise
A well-balanced phone needs very little motor force to stay level, so the motors stay cool and quiet and the battery lasts closer to Hohem's rated hours. An unbalanced phone makes the motors push constantly. That shows up as a louder whir on your phone mic, a warmer gimbal, shorter battery life, and in the worst case an overload shutdown in the middle of a take.
So if your gimbal suddenly sounds louder or dies sooner than it used to, check balance before anything else. A new case, a pop socket, or a mic you clipped on last week is often the reason. Motor noise in your audio has its own fixes too; see our motor noise guide.
A Quick Pre-Shoot Check
- Power off, mount the phone with every accessory you will use.
- Check that the phone sits level on its own.
- Power on and watch for a few seconds: no beeps, no buzzing, no slow drift.
- If the horizon is off, calibrate on a flat surface before you start.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I reset or recalibrate my Hohem gimbal?
On a flat surface, double-press the trigger to recenter, then press M five times. Wait for the second beep without touching it.
Why is my Hohem gimbal not level?
Usually poor balance or sensor drift. Rebalance with the power off, then run auto calibration on a flat surface.
Should I balance with the gimbal on or off?
Off. Hohem's manual says to mount and balance the phone before powering on.
More in this series: how to use a phone gimbal and connecting a Hohem to your phone.
Questions? Contact our team. VMI Direct is an authorized Hohem distributor in the Philippines.
Written by Johannes Yu, VMI Direct. Steps from the Hohem iSteady M6 and Mobile Plus user manuals.
