Tutorial: VR101 - Introduction to Virtual Reality
This is the first entry in DeoVR's VR101 tutorial series, in which Diego Vega from VR180Films shares useful and straightforward information about virtual reality while encouraging 2D filmmakers to transition to VR. Watch the full video on the DeoVR Facebook page.
Viewing VR Content
VR headsets
On a typical VR headset, you can see that the two lenses are like your eyes. When you put it on, you experience a 3D effect that puts you in the thick of the action. The Meta Quest 3 has recently been released and is the most advanced standalone VR headset in its price range - it’s hugely popular and looks set to define VR for the next year or two.
VR App
The best way to view high-quality VR videos is via the DeoVR platform. It’s the only way to reliably stream a wide range of 8K VR content.
Creating VR Content: Equipment
If you want to create VR content, you need a headset to watch your work and understand how it all works. But you also need the following pieces of kit:
VR Camera
Video quality is vital when it comes to VR video. This means using a good VR camera. Ideally, you need one that shoots 6K footage at 60 frames per second (FPS) but some more affordable models shoot 4K 30FPS footage - this might be more suitable for beginners, then you can upgrade later.
The best kit on the market right now is the Canon R5C with the RF5.2mm F2.8 dual fisheye lens - this is the equipment used for VR180Films.
Power Supply
If you plan to shoot outside, you will need a power bank to move around with the VR camera and keep the battery working for a reasonable amount of time.
However, if you have a studio and shoot indoors, you can simply connect your camera to the wall power supply.
Memory
You will need a memory card with a lot of space. 6K and 8K footage takes up a huge amount of storage space, so you’ll need at least one 1TB memory card.
Stabilization
If you plan on doing moving shots, you will need a gimbal that suits your VR camera.
For static shots, a well-made tripod will be enough. Do not hold it by hand as the footage will be shaky. Most VR footage is shot using a tripod, but using a gimbal can add a sense of dynamism and excitement and make it stand out from the rest. In a future tutorial, we will look at setting up tripods and gimbals for VR filming.
Creating VR Content: Software
Stitching
If you're using Canon VR camera, you can use Canon’s special software to stitch the footage from each lens together to create a VR180 side-by-side (SBS) video. Other users can use a software called Mistika to stitch the two different videos together. We will explore this in a future tutorial.
Some cameras, such as the CalfVR, automatically combine the footage from each lens into one video file, removing the need to stitch the footage together.
Editing
Adobe Premiere Pro is a good program for editing VR footage, though there are other options such as the free software Shotcut. You will need a powerful computer or laptop when editing large 6K and 8K files. A powerful GPU is highly recommended when editing video files of this size.
Publishing
To publish your VR video, upload it to DeoVR. This is the best source for high-quality VR content and is very easy to use, for both creator and user. It’s available for standalone VR headsets such as the PICO and Quest headsets, as well as PCVR.
Join the discussion at the DeoVR forum, Facebook and Reddit. Stay tuned for more tutorials about creating VR videos, plus some useful tips to help your VR content stand out from the crowd!
