Library

Why film your project in 360°?

Filming your Immersion Studio Project in 360° has many benefits, including:

• Allowing your project to exist outside of the physical space of the Immersion Studio 
• Increasing the potential audience for your project by allowing people to experience the immersive experience you created without requiring them to physically visit the library or the campus 
• Preserving the project in a more accessible format 
• Providing a visual/video tool to describe the impact immersive experiences have on teaching and learning  
• Increases the ability to present about and share the projects and research that you've done using this space with colleagues within and beyond the MRU campus community
   

Planning Stage   

1. Ensure you have adequate time to film in the Immersion Studio.
   We recommend requesting a booking for the space that is at least slightly longer than your project run time.
2. Choose a camera to use.
   The library has three models to choose from. Check the equipment page to see them all. The Ricoh Theta V camera is generally a great beginner option as it is easy to use and can automatically stitch your content, making the editing process easier.
3. Practice shooting with the 360 camera in advance.
   The cameras are all available to book online and to borrow from the Service Desk. Library staff can help you learn to use them.
4. Decide how you’d like to record the audio.
   The 360 cameras available are capable of recording spatial audio so you are able to record the audio at the same time as the video but if you’d like greater editing control you may consider recording audio separately and combining the video and audio in the editing process. This may be a good option for audio if your project file has no embedded audio but you usually speak/teach while presenting in the space.
5. Ensure you’ve booked/borrowed all necessary equipment.
   Tripods and other accessories are available in advance of when you plan to film. Equipment can be booked on the library website in advance of when you plan to film to ensure you have access to everything you’ll need.

Filming Stage 

1. Consider the camera location.
   In the immersion studio the camera is usually best situated in the middle of the space, on a tripod raised above the height of the computer station.
2. Consider the lighting in the space.
   In the immersion studio your project running will provide light. You may want to have the room lights on, or dimmed, or off. 
3. Consider where the audio should be recorded.
   If recording the audio separately, consider whether this is best done in the Immersion studio or elsewhere.
   Limit the number of people in the space while filming, to limit them being in the filmed content.
4. Consider these basic 360° filming tips:
   • Leave Space: keep the camera at least 2ft away from objects
   • When possible, keep the camera stationary. You can utilize a tripod for stabilized footage.
   • Keep your body out of view: place the camera above you and other obstructing objects if possible.
   • Consider seams: 360 cameras use multiple lenses and then stitch the frames together so seams may be visible. Be aware of where the seams may show up, and plan accordingly when filming by placing the camera so that the lens(es) are directly catching the main subject.

Post Filming Stage

1. Edit your content.
   If you filmed with the Ricoh Theta V camera the video will be auto stitched. You may then edit like other video content with Premiere or another program. The Go Pro Fusion content is best edited in GoPro’s Fusion Studio software.
   Our 360 Content Editing Guide is a great resource to support you in this stage.
2. View and share your filmed project.
   You can view and share your video by uploading to YouTube or another platform. The video can be viewed in a browser or in VR with a headset. Connect with us if you are interested in having your class view with headsets.

The VR Lab, and its webpage, is the biggest resource for XR on campus.

There are user guides for all equipment, including the Ricoh Theta V guide, the Insta 360° guide or the GoPro Fusion guide. These would be helpful to review prior to filming.  

There are also orientations offered for specific pieces of equipment, including the 360° cameras, and workshops on XR skill building, including filming and editing in 360°. Find the offerings on the Library Calendar.