Category: Insta360 Pro 2

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How to Edit Insta360 Video in Adobe Premiere Pro

Here at VRFocus, our work takes us to gaming events all over the world and we are always keen to find new and simple ways to capture our surroundings wherever we go. We recently decided to experiment with capturing 3D footage and turned to Insta360, one of the most well-known companies manufacturing 360-degree cameras.

Insta360 Pro 2As the video editor here at VRFocus, I had no previous experience with any form of 360-degree editing and found the Insta360 process surprisingly easy, discovering that a basic 360 panorama can be created entirely through Adobe application Premiere Pro thanks to Insta360’s custom plugin. This article will outline how I achieved this using sample footage shot on Insta360 Pro 2 to experiment editing with.

What you will need:

  • Adobe Premiere Pro
  • Insta360 Stitcher App
  • Insta360 footage
  • YouTube access

Here are the steps.

  1. Head to insta360.com/download to download the latest version of Premiere Pro plugin. Enter the serial number provided to do so.
  1. Once downloaded, start the installation process and on the Installation Type section, make sure to keep the Premier Pro Plugin option box ticked and finish the installation.
  1. Now open Premiere Pro and create a new timeline. Head to Window and then Extensions below that, where you will find the newly imported stitching plugin, named Insta360Pro Importer. Click on this and the stitcher will open as a new window within Premiere Pro.
  1. Select Import and head to the location of the folder containing the unstitched files. Clicking on the folder itself will stitch together the individual videos into a completed 360 clip while they are being imported. You will then see the stitched clip in the project.
  1. Now you can edit the length of the stitched file like any other Premiere Pro clip. Then it’s time to render, by using the usual Premier Pro exporter. When doing so, go to Export Settings, then Video and then Basic Video Settings make sure to tick the one box stating the video is VR.
  1. Now upload the video to YouTube as usual, where you will be able to navigate around the 360-degree footage on both on desktop and within a VR headset.

 

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Filmmaker Phillip Bloom Puts Insta360 Pro 2 to the Test in London

Chinese camera manufacturer Insta360 has devices to cover almost every eventuality and budget, from compact handheld consumer cameras like the diminutive Insta360 One all the way up to the colossal £15k GBP Insta360 Titan which can shoot at 11k resolution. For those filmmakers who don’t want the excess of the latter and need more than the former, there’s the Insta360 Pro 2, which professional videographer Phillip Bloom took around London, UK, offering some hand tips for budding 360-degree users.

Insta360 Pro 2

Insta360 Pro 2 arrived in 2018 offering 8k resolution from its six F2.4 fisheye lenses, capable of shooting 8K 3D at 30fps, 8K monoscopic at 60fps, 6K at 60fps or 4K 3D at 120fps. Other features include a live monitoring system allowing for low-latency remote monitoring, ideal for when you need to record a scene without actually being in it – rather tricky when shooting 360 videos.

It’s these techniques and problems Bloom addresses in his video, noting how 360 content needs to be recorded in high resolutions like 8k so that it looks good in virtual reality (VR) headsets after processing. It’s not just about 360 either, he records a 180-degree sequence whilst walking across Millenium Bridge.

On the topic of not appearing in your own video Bloom has several suggestions. There is Insta360’s Farsight remote viewing system which works up to 300m away but as he notes, in the middle of a city leaving such expensive hardware on its own may not be safe. On a bridge this can be tricky, so as long as there’s a crowd simply blend in.

Insta360 Pro 2

VRFocus’ video producer Oliver Townsend had a chance to play with the Insta360 Pro 2 recently, finding that: “The Insta360 was very simple to set up and featured helpful guides to assist the whole process. The stitching software was easy to locate and download. As someone with no previous experience in filming in 360 or stitching video or images together, it was overall very easy to work with.”

Check out the full London Showcase video below – or some of Insta360’s other YouTube videos – and for further updates from Insta360 on its latest camera developments keep reading VRFocus.

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Amazon Prime Day to Offer big Savings on Insta360 Cameras

The last couple of years have seen Amazon rollout some decent savings when it comes to virtual reality (VR) technology. While VRFocus hasn’t heard of any this year (at the moment), but for those interested in buying a 360-degree camera Insta360 has confirmed several of its devices will be on sale.

Insta360 EVO header

Insta360 has built a portfolio of consumer and professional 360 cameras covering most users needs, and five will be on sale for the Amazon Prime Day event.

It’s most recent consumer camera, the Insta360 EVO will receive a rather decent 20 percent discount, dropping the cost from £419.99 GBP down to £335.99 (a saving of £84). The EVO is a dual function camera offering 360-degree video/picture recording and 180-degree stereoscopic video and pictures. Thanks to the new Insta360 VR app, you can directly view content on Oculus Go, HTC Vive Focus and Samsung Gear VR headsets.

Or for those outdoor types that want to record plenty of action sequences, there are the Insta360 One and Insta360 One X cameras. Both have the company’s FlowState Stabilization solution built-in, achieving smooth results whatever the activity may be. The Insta360 One which retails for £249.89 will be reduced to £201.00 (roughly 20 percent discount), while the  Insta360 One X will be sold for £349.00 instead of £409.95 (15 percent off), while the Insta360 One X with 32GB Micro SD card will retail for £359.00 (saving 15 percent off the normal £421.95 price.

Insta360 One X

Then at the pro-end of the spectrum is the Insta360 Pro 2. Designed with high-quality capture in mind, the camera boasts six F2.8 fisheye lenses which can record at 8K resolution. The model on offer via Amazon is the Insta360 Pro 2 Memory Card bundle which includes a 64GB MicroSD card and a 64GB SD card for £5,223.00. On prime day there’s a 10 percent saving, dropping the price to £4709.

If that price is a little bit too high, then the iPhone compatible Insta360 Nano S will be in the sale, priced at £164 rather than £169.

Insta360 Amazon Prime Day Deals:

  • Insta360 One X – £349.00 – Link
  • Insta360 One X (with 32GB Micro SD card) – £359.00 – Link
  • Insta360 EVO – £335.99 – Link
  • Insta360 Pro 2 – £4709 – Link
  • Insta360 One – £201 – Link
  • Insta360 Nano S – £164 – Link

Amazon Prime Day is, in fact, two days, running from Monday, 15th through to Tuesday 16th July 2019. If there are any other VR related mentioned, VRFocus will let you know.

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E3 2019 Interview: Insta360 Covers Every Eventuality

It may seem like the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2019 was all about videogames and for the most part, you’d be right, but occasionally some hardware does sneak in. VRFocus isn’t talking about Microsoft’s Project Scarlett, that receives masses or coverage thanks to the press conference – VRFocus won’t go into the fact no VR was mentioned – it’s the small stuff on the show floor. One company showcasing its wares was Insta360, a manufacturer of 360-degree cameras. So with (normal) camera in hand VRFocus learnt some more about Insta360’s 2019 lineup.

Insta360 TITAN

Insta360 has quite the catalogue of 360-degree cameras in its portfolio, from entry-level consumer products all the way up to high-end pro devices. Originally founded in China in 2014, it’s first pro-level camera was the Insta360 4K in 2016, while for the general public the Insta360 Nano clipped onto iPhones.

Since then Insta360 has come a long way, showcasing at E3 2019 cameras like the Insta360 EVO, Insta360 Pro 2 and the Insta360 Titan. The EVO is a higher end consumer device which is ideal for those who’ve tried a cheap 360-camera and want something more. It’s part of a new breed of dual-purpose cameras which can either shoot in 360 or in stereoscopic 180. It’s also able to send footage directly to Oculus Go.

The Insta360 Pro 2 and Titan are very different beasts in comparison to the EVO. The Pro 2 is the first step into crystal clear 360 video recording, offering six F2.8 fisheye lenses which can record at 8K resolution. Yours for the low price of £4,999 GBP. Or for those with deep enough pockets and a desire to record in eye-watering 11K resolution then the Insta360 Titan is your next choice. Featuring eight 200° F3.2 fisheye lenses using Micro Four Thirds sensors, the camera has all sorts of technical wizardry inside its shell. And it should to for £14,999.

Insta360 EVO header

Those aren’t all the devices Insta360 has on offer which Insta360’s Caroline Zhang goes into great detail, including a rather unusual dog camera? Check out the full interview for further details on Insta360 cameras.

Or take a look at VRFocus’ other interviews from E3 2019 with Oculus’ Jason Rubin, Vertigo Games, Gearbox Software, Ready at Dawn and Digital Lode. For further Insta360 updates, keep reading VRFocus.

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Insta360 Goes Halvsies, Bringing 180° Capture To Pro Series

At the end of last week on VRFocus we brought you news of how innovative camera firm Insta360’s announcement of their new ONE X 360-degree camera, which the company touted as the “future of the action camera”. The 5.7K camera bringing not just 360 degree video capture but a number of other very attractive features for filmmakers – and in particular ones looking to create experiences in the virtual reality (VR) space.

Today we bring you more news about Insta360 and new features that were announced today at the Adobe MAX conference in Los Angeles.

Insta360 is set to roll out a free software update that will, in effect, teach their old dogs some new tricks. Adding support for 180 degree 3D video capture to the firm’s pro-level VR cameras the Insta360 Pro and Pro 2.  Making them the first cameras at professional level to capture both 180 and 360 degrees. The update coming to both the camera firm’s own Insta360 Stitcher software and the integrated extension that’s a part of Adobe Premiere Pro CC.

“Using the new 180 3D feature, Insta360 Pro and Pro 2 users will have the option to isolate the footage captured by only the lenses necessary to capture a 180 3D video.” Explains the company in a statement. “This footage can be used to easily create a high-quality stereoscopic 180 video for playback in a VR headset, at a resolution of 4K x 4K per eye.”

Insta360 Pro camera software“There’s a huge overlap among the creators who are innovating in 180 and the ones innovating in 360.” Adds Max Richter, Insta360’s Head of Marketing. “For the first time ever, they can capture pro-quality content in both formats with one camera and one seamless workflow. Even better, they can shoot both 180 and 360 at the same time from a single vantage point.”

The update is set to be launched later this month, although no exact date has yet been given. VRFocus will bring you more news about developments in the 360 degree camera trade very soon.

Posted on

Insta360 Goes Halvsies, Bringing 180° Capture To Pro Series

At the end of last week on VRFocus we brought you news of how innovative camera firm Insta360’s announcement of their new ONE X 360-degree camera, which the company touted as the “future of the action camera”. The 5.7K camera bringing not just 360 degree video capture but a number of other very attractive features for filmmakers – and in particular ones looking to create experiences in the virtual reality (VR) space.

Today we bring you more news about Insta360 and new features that were announced today at the Adobe MAX conference in Los Angeles.

Insta360 is set to roll out a free software update that will, in effect, teach their old dogs some new tricks. Adding support for 180 degree 3D video capture to the firm’s pro-level VR cameras the Insta360 Pro and Pro 2.  Making them the first cameras at professional level to capture both 180 and 360 degrees. The update coming to both the camera firm’s own Insta360 Stitcher software and the integrated extension that’s a part of Adobe Premiere Pro CC.

“Using the new 180 3D feature, Insta360 Pro and Pro 2 users will have the option to isolate the footage captured by only the lenses necessary to capture a 180 3D video.” Explains the company in a statement. “This footage can be used to easily create a high-quality stereoscopic 180 video for playback in a VR headset, at a resolution of 4K x 4K per eye.”

Insta360 Pro camera software“There’s a huge overlap among the creators who are innovating in 180 and the ones innovating in 360.” Adds Max Richter, Insta360’s Head of Marketing. “For the first time ever, they can capture pro-quality content in both formats with one camera and one seamless workflow. Even better, they can shoot both 180 and 360 at the same time from a single vantage point.”

The update is set to be launched later this month, although no exact date has yet been given. VRFocus will bring you more news about developments in the 360 degree camera trade very soon.