Immersed in Journalism’s 360 Video Essentials

Episode 1: Basic Gear and Software

This is the first in a series of posts we’re doing to share everything we’ve learned (and are learning) about producing 360 video. While there are many variations on the tools used to produce 360 video, this is meant to serve as a complete run-through of a full production process. This particular setup produces high resolution monoscopic (see here for an explanation of monoscopic vs. stereoscopic) 360 X 180 (full spherical) video.

Below is an outline of all the tools we use — from shooting to video editing, titling and posting to YouTube. You’ll find links included to all of the hardware and software mentioned. We’ll be sharing more specifics about each part of the process in later posts on shooting, organization, editing and sharing.

Our hardware kit:

Freedom 360 6-camera GoPro rig (and screwdriver), with 6 GoPro Hero 4 cameras, plus 6 extra batteries (for a total of 12), and chargers. And a screwdriver for assembling the rig. *Note: We might opt for a snap-in rig going forward. This rig makes it hard to swap out cameras / batteries.

6 64-gig micro SD cards (we used these), with micro SD card adapters

Power strip (this one works great for us internationally). You’ll also need USB wall chargers since only the cables are provided with GoPro’s battery chargers — or a USB dock like this (we haven’t tested this one).

Mount/tripod (we use a basic Impact light stand)

Our software kit

Autopano Video Pro for video stitching (trial version is free).

AutoPano Video Pro basic setup for syncing, stitching and editing footage. Clockwise from top left: Stitch settings, input videos, preview of stitched panorama, editing timeline.

Autopano Giga for panorama editing and fine-tuning (trial version is free).

Autopano Giga, control points editor view (for setting links between images from separate cameras).

Adobe Premiere — Video editing software.

This is a view of an Adobe Premiere Pro timeline working on a 360 video.

Adobe After Effects — Effects and animation software.

With Skybox Studio — After Effects plugin for titling / effects on 360 video (trial version is free).

After Effects using Mettle’s Skybox plugin for adding 3D elements in spherical video.

YouTube metadata insertion tool (Download options under “Prepare for upload.”)

Who are you?

Good question. Immersed In Journalism is a publication by Bay Area-based production company Tiny World Productions, established in 2016 by Melissa Bosworth and Lakshmi Sarah. Email (immersedinjournalism at gmail dot com) or tweet at us if you’d like us to produce your next immersive content.

Thanks to the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism for support.