视频(Video)有各种宽高比，例如 16:9 宽屏和 21:9 超宽屏。这些是非常身临其境的，但是一个跨越你周围整个 360 度的视频呢？
是的，可以制作真正让观众(viewer right)置身于动作中间的球形视频，但显然我们用来制作更传统视频的设备并不是(video isn)正确的解决方案。因此，如果您对制作或观看 360 度视频感兴趣，这里有您需要知道的一切。(s everything)
360 度视频不是（完全）VR(360-Degree Video Is Not (Exactly) VR)
这种球形视频格式(video format)经常与虚拟现实混为一谈，但对于诸如此类的非交互式视频材料是否真的是 VR 的一种形式存在很多争论。出于实际目的，您会听到这种称为“VR 视频”的视频，从某种意义上说，VR 耳机是这些视频的消费方式，这是公平的。
然而，由于 360 度视频不是交互式的，也不是计算机生成的，因此我们在多大程度上可以真正将它们与 VR 混为一谈存在一些争论。因此，尽管惯例可能将此媒体格式称为VR 视频(VR video)，但很高兴知道存在明显的区别。
为什么选择 360 度视频？(Why Choose 360-Degree Video?)
视频的每种宽高比或格式(aspect ratio or format)都有其独特的属性，使其适用于一个或另一个目的。正如之前多次说过的，媒介就是信息(medium is the message)。
当您想传达站在特定位置的感觉时，这种类型的视频是完美的。与传统视频不同，360 度视频的观众可以选择值得关注的内容。您不能像使用传统视频格式那样通过取景来引导他们的观点。
这意味着最好将这种视频格式(video format)用于不依赖精确取景并(framing and benefit)从沉浸式中获益最多的内容。培训视频就是一个很好的例子，音乐会和戏剧表演也是如此。极限运动(Action)视频也成为一种流行的媒体，(medium and tours)博物馆或其他旅游地点的游览也非常适合 360 度视频。
这并不意味着你不能用(t use)这个身临其境的视频来讲述一个故事，但它需要一个新的视觉词汇来正确地引导故事，这是他们过去在电影学校没有(film school)教(t teach)过的东西，原因很明显。
相机类型(Camera Types)
可以想象，普通的摄像机(camera isn)不会产生这种环绕视频(surround video)。您需要特殊设置才能捕获球形视频。不过，这没有标准。有些装备实际上是几个固定在一起的普通相机。然后使用专门的软件将各种重叠的摄像机信号拼接成一个 360 度视频。
现在还有专门的 360 度和 180 度相机，它们使用鱼眼镜头将传入的图像弯曲到标准传感器上。然后，软件(Software)会消除已知的镜头失真以提供清晰的图像，但它可以让您对所拍摄的内容有一个环绕视图。
一般来说，创建最终图像所需的相机越少，它看起来就越无缝。使用临时的多摄像头装备更容易出现拼接错误。在最终图像中显示为可见的切口，其中(Which)的东西并没有完全对齐。
对于街上的普通人来说，Insta360系列智能手机相机是一个很好的起点。
计算机生成的 360 度视频(Computer-Generated 360-Degree Video)
使用相机并不是生成 360 度视频的唯一方法。您会发现大量使用 3D动画软件(animation software)或使用包含 180 度或 360 度的自定义视野的视频游戏制作的示例。
显然，以这种方式创建立体视频也非常简单，因为您可以完全控制渲染的世界。这也是将非交互式 CG 体验带到硬件平台的好方法，这些平台没有希望在本地硬件上本地运行它们。
单视和立体视频(Monoscopic & Stereoscopic Video)
360 度视频格式中的另一个主要细分是单视场和立体视频(monoscopic and stereoscopic video)。基本上(Basically)，单视场素材不是(monoscopic footage isn)3D 的。尽管您有一个巨大的视频围绕着您作为观众，但它仍然是平坦的。立体(Stereoscopic)360 度视频为每只眼睛提供自己独特(unique feed)的信息，您的大脑会将其解释为 3D 图像。
显然 3D 视频更引人注目，但在设备方面要复杂得多。基本上(Basically)，您需要两个独立的 360 度摄像头，安装在彼此之间的正确距离处。像这样可以拍摄立体视频的相机要贵很多，所以你现在能找到的大部分视频都是非 3D的(kind right)。
编辑 360 度视频(Editing 360-Degree Video)
从根本上说，360 度视频与任何其他数字视频文件(video file)没有什么不同。因此，原则上，您可以使用任何可以读取用于对其进行编码的视频编解码器(video codec)的软件对其进行编辑。然而，视频看起来像一个扭曲的混乱，显示为一个正常的帧。
(Software)专为编辑或播放此类视频而设计的软件将素材变形为正确的球形，从而使一切看起来都应有尽有。这意味着最好使用知道如何执行此操作的编辑套件。
通常情况下，您的相机会与某种编辑器捆绑在一起。存在哪些特定功能将取决于相关应用程序。
(Professional)Adobe Premiere 和 Final Cut Pro(Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro)等专业编辑包原生支持编辑 180 度和 360 度视频，其他主流视频编辑解决方案也是如此。如果您已经拥有这些程序之一，您可能会发现您也可以使用这种格式。
支持的平台(Supported Platforms)
那么，一旦您录制并编辑了您的 360 度杰作，您实际上可以将其上传到哪里供其他人观看？信不信由你，YouTube已经支持多种格式的 360 度视频。
还有一些适用于移动设备的应用程序也支持 360 度视频，但当然用户必须将视频下载到他们的设备上并且不能流式传输。
然后是每个品牌的VR 耳机(VR headset)使用的定制平台。如果您希望佩戴这些特定耳机的人看到您制作的产品，则必须遵守技术要求和访问权限。
观看 360 度视频(Watching 360-Degree Video)
这种视频有两种消费方式。使用VR 耳机(VR headset)（因此与 VR 合并）或在普通屏幕上。使用耳机是欣赏 360 度视频的最身临其境的方式。它甚至不需要昂贵的耳机。Google Cardboard可以与YouTube一起使用，以获得基本的沉浸式 360 度视频。是的，即使在立体模式下(stereoscopic mode)！
另一种方法是简单地在普通屏幕上观看视频。在台式机上，您可以使用鼠标环顾四周；在手机上，您可以用手指滑动或使用手机内置的运动传感器。
我们最喜欢的 360 度视频示例(Our Favorite Examples Of 360-Degree Video)
现在您已经了解了有关这种令人兴奋的视频格式(video format)的最重要信息，剩下要做的就是突出显示一些您现在可以自己尝试的优秀视频示例。
从现场音乐表演的例子开始，看看 Childish Gambino 的“我和你的妈妈(Me and Your Mama)”。我将摄像机调低以模拟在演出中，但其他视频甚至将摄像机放在舞台上，这样你就可以与音乐家站在一起，看到大量的人群。
这部新神秘博士系列的(Doctor Who series)宣传视频(promotional video)既是CG 视频(CG video)又是叙事视频。您甚至不必成为该节目的粉丝即可欣赏这个概念的酷炫程度。
最后，这是一个令人惊叹的跳伞视频(amazing skydiving video )，展示了如何将某人放置在很少有人真正体验到的地方。我们只是不建议任何有恐高症的人尝试那个。还有更多视频可供尝试，如果您不想在VR 耳机上花费数百美元，可以考虑购买便宜的(VR headset)Google Cardboard以身临其境的方式欣赏它们！
Everything You Need To Know About 360-Degree Video
Video сomes іn all sоrts of aspect ratios, such as 16:9 widescreen and 21:9 ultra widescreen. These are pretty immersive, but what about a video that spans a whole 360-degree around you?
Yes, it’s possible to make spherical video that really puts the viewer right in the middle of the action, but obviously the equipment that we use to make more traditional video isn’t the right solution. So if you’re interested in either making or consuming 360-degree video, here’s everything that you need to know.
360-Degree Video Is Not (Exactly) VR
This spherical video format is often conflated with virtual reality, but there’s plenty of debate on whether non-interactive video material such as this is really a form of VR. For practical purposes, you’ll hear this sort of video referred to as “VR video”, which is fair in the sense that VR headsets are the way these videos are meant to be consumed.
However, since 360-degree videos are not interactive or computer-generated, there is some debate as to what extent we can really lump them in with VR. So while the convention might be to refer to this media format as VR video, it’s good to know that a clear distinction exists.
Why Choose 360-Degree Video?
Every aspect ratio or format of video has its own unique attributes that make it suitable for one purpose or another. As has been said many times before, the medium is the message.
This type of video is perfect when you want to convey what it feels like to stand in a particular place. Unlike traditional video, the viewer in a 360-degree video gets to choose what deserves attention. You can’t direct their viewpoint through framing as with traditional video formats.
That means it’s best to use this video format for content that doesn’t rely on precise framing and benefit most from immersion. Training videos are one good example, as are concerts and theatre performances. Action sports videos have also become a popular medium and tours of places like museums or other travel locations are also perfect for 360-degree video.
That doesn’t mean you can’t use this immersive video to tell a story, but it needs a new visual vocabulary to properly guide the story, something they didn’t teach in film school in the past for obvious reasons.
Camera Types
As you can imagine, a normal camera isn’t going to produce this sort of surround video. You need a special setup in order to capture spherical video. There is no standard for this though. Some rigs are literally several regular cameras stuck together. Then special software is used to stitch the various overlapping camera feeds into one 360-degree video.
There are now also specialized 360- and 180- degree cameras that use fish-eye lenses to bend the incoming image onto a standard sensor. Software then undoes the known distortion of the lens to provide a clear image, but one that give you a surround view of what was filmed.
In general, the fewer cameras needed to create the final image, the more seamless it will look. Using makeshift multi-camera rigs makes it much more likely that there will be stitching errors. Which show up as visible cuts in the final image, where things don’t quite line up.
For the regular person on the street, something like the Insta360 line of smartphone-attached cameras is a good place to start.
Computer-Generated 360-Degree Video
Using cameras isn’t the only way to generate 360-degree video. You’ll find plenty of examples that are made using 3D animation software or from video games using a custom field of view that encompasses 180- or 360- degrees.
Obviously it’s pretty simple to create stereoscopic video this way as well, since you have full control over the rendered world. It’s also a good way to bring non-interactive CG experiences to hardware platforms that have no hope of running them natively on local hardware.
Monoscopic & Stereoscopic Video
Another major subdivision within 360-degree video formats is between monoscopic and stereoscopic video. Basically, monoscopic footage isn’t in 3D. Although you have a giant video that surrounds you as a viewer, it’s still flat. Stereoscopic 360-degree video gives each eye it’s own unique feed, which your brain interprets as a 3D image.
Obviously 3D video is more compelling, but it’s much more complex when it comes to equipment. Basically, you need two independent 360-degree cameras, mounted at precisely the right distance from each other. Cameras that can shoot stereoscopic video like this are quite a bit more expensive, so most of the video you’ll find is the non-3D kind right now.
Editing 360-Degree Video
Fundamentally, 360-degree video is no different than any other digital video file. So, in principle, you can edit it with any software that can read the video codec used to encode it. However, the video is going to look like a distorted mess, shown as a normal frame.
Software designed to edit or play this type of video warps the footage into the correct spherical form, so that everything looks the way it should. Which means it’s best if you use an editing suite that knows how to do this.
More often than not, your camera will come bundled with some sort of editor. What specific features are present will depend on the app in question.
Professional editing packages such as Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro natively support editing 180-degree and 360-degree video, as do other mainline video editing solutions. If you already have one of these programs, you may find you can also already work with this format.
Supported Platforms
So, once you have recorded and edited your 360-degree masterpiece, where can you actually upload it for other people to watch? Believe it or not, YouTube already supports several formats of 360-degree video.
There are also several apps for mobile devices that also support 360-degree video, but of course the user has to download the video to their device and can’t stream it.
Then there are the bespoke platforms that each brand of VR headset uses. If you want people with those particular headsets to see what you have made, you’ll have to comply with the technical requirements and access.
Watching 360-Degree Video
There are two ways that this sort of video is consumed. Either using a VR headset (hence the conflation with VR) or on a normal screen. Using a headset is the most immersive way to enjoy 360-degree video. It doesn’t even need to be an expensive headset. Google Cardboard can be used with YouTube to get basic immersive 360-degree video. Yes, even in stereoscopic mode!
The other way is to simply watch the video on a normal screen. On desktops, you can look around by using the mouse and on mobile phones you can swipe with a finger or use the phone’s built-in motion sensors.
Our Favorite Examples Of 360-Degree Video
Now that you know the most important information about this exciting video format, the only thing left to do is highlight some excellent examples of video you can try out for yourself right now.
Starting off with an example of live music performances, check out Childish Gambino’s “Me and Your Mama”. The camera I set low to simulate being at the show, but other videos even put the camera on stage so you can stand with the musicians and see the massive crowds.
This promotional video for the new Doctor Who series is both an example of a CG video and a narrative video. You don’t even have to be a fan of the show to appreciate how cool this concept is.
Finally, here’s an amazing skydiving video that shows off how you can put someone in a place few people get to experience for real. We just don’t recommend that anyone with a fear of heights try that one. There are plenty more videos to try out and if nothing else, consider buying an inexpensive Google Cardboard to enjoy them in an immersive way, if you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a VR headset, that is!
