Virtual Reality Video Encoding

Virtual Reality Video Encoding – The Next Big Thing

The importance of video in marketing cannot be under-estimated. The video can give more focused communication to the viewers. Content marketing is no direct interaction between the marketers and the purchasers of products/services. Here video plays a more important role by enabling the purchaser to feel the product by ‘showing’. Clubbing video with VR is most important of the latest technologies in this direction. Here is the complete guide for Video Encoding

There are many codes available for VR video. Many platforms are supporting VR format, but the difficulty to marketer comes as each of the platforms supports varying frame rates, codecs, bitrates, resolutions etc. VR video also makes the task almost impossible for the creator to create a VR video that suits all the platforms.

Before going into the encoding of VR video, one most important point to note that Chris Milk from VRSE is one of the biggest VR filmmakers of the moment.

Their videos in MediaInfo app offer the following features:

• 3840×2160 @30 (20-30 Mbps bitrate)

• H.246 baseline profile, level 4.2

• Above all, the same resolution is available for Cardboard and Gear VR as well.

Another encoding setting is Felix & Paul Studio has been second immediately to VRSE. This comes with 3840×1536 resolution. The unique feature of this system is displaying only a certain band of pixels as video and showing the top & bottom parts of the video as still images. This results in drastic reduction in pixels allowing the production to 60 fps speed. Another major contribution towards VR video encoding is the bitrate. So in effect, 12.3 Mbps h.265 video is comparable(in quality) to a 24.6 Mbps h.264 video thereby drastically reducing the file size.

After analyzing the various pros and cons of various codes available, the ‘optimal’ encoding settings would be:

• For Gear VR, codec h.265 with a resolution of 3840×2160, 30 fps and an average bitrate of 10-2-Mbps.

• For Cardboard Android, h.264 (baseline, level 4.2), resolution fo3840x2160, 30 fps and average bitrate of20-30 Mbps.

• For Cardboard iOS, h.264 (Baseline, Level 3.1), resolution of 1920×1080, 30 fps and average bitrate 10-14 Mbps.

• For Oculus Rift, h.265/h.264 with a resolution of 4096×4096, 60 fps and an average bitrate of 40-60 Mbps.

Before concluding, following encoding tools might also be useful for a look:

• MPEG Streamclip

• The compressor in combination with Final Cut Po.

• Handbrake.

• FFmpeg!

Using the above codes/tools, the marketers will be able to make the best presentation of virtual reality video.

With the rapid development of the new technology, different new formats for video and audio come into being across the web. Manufacturers are researching on advanced technology and its developments for the virtual future today.

In less than a year after announcing the 360-degree format, many new developments and new cameras are launched in the market which boosts the usage of 360-degree virtual reality videos in the market.

Virtual reality video formats

Virtual reality is all about the three-dimensional video view which provides the user with a live experience. The new formats already become one of the most useful content list on the web. The formats for devices differentiate from one another.

If you are playing the VR video across Google cardboard with iPhone 6 or something means you must need 3D MP4, 3D MOV, 3D M4V will support. When comes to Android users, you can play this with 3D 3GP, 3D MP4 and 3D MOV formats etc.

The file size of the VR video shouldn’t be larger than the non-VR video format and the downloading of VR video will not burden on your computer.

Most of the VR headsets recommend 1289 by 720 high definition resolutions in order to encode the videos. The 3D movies must be encoded with one to one ratio pixel.

360 Degree video formats

The general 360-degree video formats are mp4 encoding with mpeg4 as a standard resolution ad H.264 with a high definition format is supported with the 360-degree video content.

Some panoramic video formats like MOV. F4v etc are also supported by the 360-degree video formats. The production of the 360-degree virtual reality videos has become great buzz across the web with the release of new cameras.

The playback options for the content are large and it is extremely limited and the output models support with the 360 Heros gear.

The difference is the 4k and 2k resolution is drastic that mounted VR displays like Gear VR where the pixel count is noticeable.

VR video encoding is different

  • They’re not 360º – not every device can view
  • They’re encoded differently – you need to set up CSV files
  • They’re stitched together – they’re faster than multiple cameras
  • Premium video editing apps are harder to navigate

What’s the best way to encode VR video?

  • Use an app, service, or cloud platform
  • Figure out the file size of your video
  • There are a few different format options
  • Better technology is coming

Make Your Video Watchable in Virtual Reality

  • Optimize your video for virtual reality on desktop and mobile
  • Use a 30fps frame rate when encoding
  • Avoid using black bars or letterboxing
  • Don’t forget headset users have motion blur too!

How to encode your Virtual Reality videos

  • You’ll need two cameras to start filming 360° video
  • Learn the lingo before even thinking about filming for VR
  • You’ll need FTP transfer software or a team member with it; if no one on your team has it, you’re out of luck
  • Have a webcam handy to make sure your filming doesn’t go downhill

Ways to do Virtual Reality Video Encoding and Best Practices

  • Compress the videos
  • Edit the quality level
  • Use a Virtual Reality video player
  • Write a script to turn heads while viewing
  • Learn everything about virtual reality first
  • Check transmission rates and speeds
  • Be aware of what is possible to record
  • Use an encoder that records in real-time
  • Use Virtual Desktop to play Oculus Rift and HTC Vive in 3D movie format.
  • Convert videos to stereo equirectangular format
  • Manually upload videos to VR video sites
  • Convert a 2D video for VR
  • Use side by side method for 3D
  • Use anaglyph method for 3D
  • Stereoscopic video is a kind of 3D video
  • Use software and plugins
  • Use hardware-accelerated video encoding
  • Inject into the stream
  • Pick a codec
  • Decide on the size of your video files
  • Use lower resolutions and quality levels
  • Download a 3D file converter
  • Buy inexpensive 360 cameras
  • Use a 1080p resolution
  • Use less motion for higher quality
  • Keep the files size low
  • Encrypt before you encode
  • Multiply the compression ratio
  • Don’t forget to jump into 360!
  • Use H.265
  • Use 360 camera system
  • Use H.264 codec to stream live directly on a cloud server (Like Youtube Live)
  • Use software to encode videos
  • Use the software to edit the videos
  • Use external accessories to optimize hardware
  • Do not compress your videos too much
  • Use a VR player
  • Create a hero video trailer
  • Use the right tools
  • Choose the right distribution platform
  • Check your encoding speed
  • Use MP4 H.264
  • Use in-home streaming and portable devices
  • High resolution, 60fps, 30mbps
  • Use `FFmpeg command
  • Use google collab
  • Encoding to multiple tiers : 4K: ProRes 4444XQ (HQ) , 2K: ProRes 444 (High) , 1080p: ProRes 422 (Studio)
  • Editing Software
  • Hardware (what kind of computer and software will you need for VR production?)
  • Software Required for VR Video Creation(What else do you need?)
  • Creating 360-Degree VR Videos In Adobe Premiere Pro
  • Convert your videos into slices
  • Detect the orientation and length of each slice
  • Encode those slices into P- and B-frames
  • Layer and aggregate those frames
  • Use an H.264 or MPEG-2 high profile video encoder
  • Make sure to free up space on your hard drive
  • Have enough bandwidth for video streaming
  • Use H.265 with adaptive bitrate for best results
  • Replace your computer’s webcam with a 3D enabled camera
  • Use a VR camera
  • Try 360-degree video recording
  • Aim for the entire human field of vision
  • Create a sense of presence
  • Adjust the video quality to match VR capabilities
  • High bitrate encoding
  • Optimized bandwidth for lower internet speeds
  • Suggested size of files to be downloaded
  • Render at 4K
  • Lower the bitrate
  • Use a variety of cameras
  • Enable hardware encoding
  • Process Virtual Reality Video before Uploading
  • Maintain constant video bitrate
  • Reduce motion blur when shooting
  • Utilize the best hardware
  • Set up encoding spaces efficiently
  • Optimize bitrates to reduce latency and video transmission time
  • The Gaming Engine HMD
  • The Video Encoder Software
  • File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
  • Panoramic lenses – 360 VR and 4K camera lenses with 160-degree field of view, ideal for real estate, vehicle, and production use.
  • Know your codecs: HEVC – H.265 WebM VP9/Opus
  • Work with the right software: Adobe Premiere Pro, Corel VideoStudio Pro X8, Cyberlink PowerDirector Ultimate, Sony Vegas Pro 13,
  • Use a VR headphone
  • Have an action camera
  • Record in low light
  • Reduce Motion Blur
  • Adjust Frame Rate
  • Use the right encoding settings
  • Use programmable settings on your camera
  • Import footage into Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2016
  • Edit in 360° VR mode
  • Use your console or media server as the hardware recording device
  • Use a dedicated hardware encoder
  • Improve video quality by setting the bitrate higher than 30mbps
  • Use a Solid State Drive (SSD)
  • Prepare your memory card before it shoots
  • Encoding settings
  • Change recording bitrate
  • Save your final file in the right format (VP9/HEVC)
  • Use a better codec
  • Use better head tracking
  • Use real-time encoding
  • Use an open-source encoder
  • Get an app for your phone
  • Use a tablet or laptop
  • Use the right codec
  • Get the Video Size Right
  • Know Your Hardware
  • Use GPU cards, CPU cards, FPGA cards

Virtual reality video codec’s

There are much-augmented reality experiences which include the video s main and the videos forms in different formats with a combination of the stereoscopic 3D and 360 video views. There will be many challenges in the video compressions and need for better video codec that can capitalize the potential of increasing the interframe correlation to the various types of videos.

Following are some video codec’s that helps in achieving the higher compression for Virtual reality content.

Foveated codec tracking of the viewer’s gaze to dedicated high bitrates to pixels which are inside of fovea range. This feature needs eye tracking and displays size knowledge about the distance between the viewer and the display.

NGCodec

NGCodec is the most well known and powerful codec for the next generation video compression since 2012. It has great acceleration and efficiency in comparing to the traditional CPU/GPU and can with standing with the higher quality compression for live encoding. The running costs are also lower and flexible.

All these above information helps you to go to the present 360 degrees and VR formats and 4K VR streaming.

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