Editing captured footage on a smartphone
Important note - this workflow will result in footage that is viewable with a VR headset but is not true a true 360˚ video format as it will not allow click and drag viewing without further editing on a computer. Footage edited on a smartphone can have 360˚ metadata injected using a free computer app.
Exporting video footage from Insta 360 app
- The Insta 360 app is capable of editing flat format footage in its edit mode with features such as adding effects and sticking videos together, but the edit mode cannot export a 360˚ format.
- Individual 360˚ videos can be trimmed and exported in 360˚ format for editing on another phone app or for purposes of downloading to the computer. You must use either the Insta 360 phone app or Insta 360 studio to process images before editing them further.
- These individual clips are in true 360˚ video format and most modern video players will allow click and drag viewing.
Steps to download and export video in Insta 360 app
- Download the Insta 360 app.
- In the app, connect to the camera.
- Download the images and videos needed to the app.
- Select the videos and images for export.
- 360˚ videos must be exported one at a time. Videos should be exported using the custom export button.
- Select the highest bitrate and 4k setting.
Additional information about exporting video
Edit and stich together 360˚ Video and Images using InShot
- Download the InShot app https://inshot.com/.
- Some effects are limited to the paid version of the app.
- Select Video after opening the app.
- Select the videos and photos you wish to use.
- Use the timeline to sequence your photos and clips.
- Voiceover and music can be added via the app.
- Text, doodles and images can be added.
- Be aware this is not a spherical editor. The further away from centered text and images are, the more distorted they will be.
- Transitions can be added to clips.
- Some transitions are more 360˚ friendly than others.
- Export in 4k in mp4 format.
Tips
- Do not change the canvas size as this will cause clipping and bad stitching in VR.
- If you save an edit in InShot and try to add that smaller compilation to a new one, stitching will not work correctly in VR.
- Some features are limited in the free version.
Update Files to have 360˚ metadata
An open-source application, Spatial Media Metadata Injector, is available to add 360˚ metadata to video shot in 360˚ format when editing has removed the 360˚ format. This metadata allows compatible applications and websites (YouTube, VLC) to recognize 360˚ video and allows clicking and dragging on a 2D viewing windows
See GitHub page
- Download application
- Unzip the file
- Run the application in the extracted file
- Open the file you wish to convert and select only my video is spherical for Insta 360 footage. Then click inject metadate and save your new file
