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 VR Lab has three models to choose from. This Guide will give you an overview and help you choose a camera. We recommend the Ricoh Theta V camera, 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 borrow from the VR Lab, and our staff can help you learn to use them. You may also consider one of our Orientations on the model you choose. Find out when these are offered on the library calendar.
4. Decide how you’d like to record the audio.
   The 360 cameras available through the VR Lab 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 your only option for audio if your project file has no 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. Lab 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. They can then be edited like other video content with Premiere (available on the VR Lab computers) 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 support in this stage.
2. View and share your filmed project.
   You can view and share your video by uploading to YouTube. The video  can be viewed in a browser or in VR with a headset. Headsets, including a pack of 40 google cardboard viewers, are available to sign out.

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.