Over the past eight years of working in 360 and immersive production, I’ve encountered numerous questions from clients and collaborators. These queries often arise when people are first considering or embarking on immersive projects. To help you navigate the fast-evolving world of immersive media, I’ve compiled the most frequently asked questions along with comprehensive answers to ensure you have all the necessary information to start your immersive production journey.
What is Immersive Production?
Immersive production refers to the creation of audio-visual content that extends beyond a typical rectangular screen. Immersive content can surround viewers and give a deepened sense of ‘being there’ by extending visuals into their peripheral field of view and beyond, and by integrating spatial audio elements to further create the illusion of real space. Immersive video production can include 360-degree videos or VR180 content, enabling interactive environments that feel incredibly real, often through VR headsets.
What Camera Should You Use for Immersive Production?
When selecting a camera for immersive production, your choice depends largely on the intended delivery medium. For VR headsets like MetaQuest or Apple Vision Pro, opt for high-end 360 3D cameras such as the Insta360 Titan or Pro 2, or a VR180 camera like the Canon R5 with a stereoscopic lens. If targeting desktop and mobile devices, a monoscopic camera, even a lower-end consumer model, will suffice.
What Does the Post-Production Process Entail for 360 and VR180 Videos?
The post-production process for 360 and VR180 videos involves organizing footage from multiple SD cards into folders, followed by stitching the footage, which requires a powerful computer and can be time-consuming. The output is equirectangular videos in H.264 or H.265 codecs, ready for editing in most video editing software.
Which Devices Can View Your Immersive Content?
The MetaQuest is currently the most popular VR headset, supporting 360 video playback in both 5.7k monoscopic and stereoscopic formats. The newer Apple Vision Pro, while not yet fully supporting 360 video, is expected to soon and shows a particular interest in VR180 content.
Content can also be made compatible across web and mobile platforms. Desktop users can explore the immersive content by clicking and dragging (similar to Google Streetview). On mobile devices, users can hold up and move around their screens, using them as a “window” into the full environment, or by swiping and manipulating the 360-degree space to view from different angles while static.
How Can Immersive Video Be Used for Virtual Production in Commercials?
Immersive video can revolutionize virtual production in commercials. By shooting with a 360 or 180 camera in high resolution, you can project the footage onto a 180-degree screen as a dynamic backdrop for other production elements. For optimal results, the Insta360 Titan shooting in 11K monoscopic is recommended for projecting onto a 180-degree screen or a 360-degree screen projection dome.
What is the Difference Between Monoscopic and Stereoscopic 360 Video?
Monoscopic 360 video displays a flat image wrapped around a 360-degree space, while stereoscopic 360 video creates a 3D effect by capturing different views for the left and right eyes, producing a realistic depth. Though more complex to shoot and process, stereoscopic video provides a significantly more immersive experience when viewed in VR headsets.
I hope I’ve answered your most burning questions, but if you have any further queries we’d love to hear from you.
Curious to see immersive production in action? Why not take a look at our work?
