Struggling to make sense of Apple’s spatial video? It’s tough to record and view without the right tools, leading to missed opportunities in immersive content creation. Don’t let technical hurdles hold you back—this guide will show you how to record, watch, and elevate your spatial videos, hassle-free. Let’s go!!
What is a Spatial Video?
Spatial video, known technically as MV-HEVC (Multiview High-Efficiency Video Coding), is a format crafted to enhance video depth and realism by encoding multiple views into a single stream. Spatial video captures stereoscopic content, meaning it records two slightly different views, each aligning with the perspective of one eye. This approach allows the video to create a sense of natural depth, making it feel almost real.
Here are some key features of spatial video:
- Enhanced Depth Perception: By layering two perspectives into a single video, spatial videos let viewers experience depth directly, mimicking how we see in real life. This effect is especially captivating on devices like Apple Vision Pro, which supports spatial video natively.
- Resolution and Compression: Spatial videos are typically encoded in high-definition, often in 1080p at 30 frames per second, ensuring clarity. MV-HEVC compression effectively handles these dual-view streams, conserving both storage and bandwidth, which makes spatial video more efficient for streaming.
- Compatibility and Accessibility: Spatial video is supported on devices such as the iPhone 15 Pro (for filming) and Apple Vision Pro or Meta Quest (for viewing), making capturing and viewing 3D content convenient. This means you can shoot spatial videos on your new iPhone and experience them with full depth on compatible headsets.
Spatial Video vs Immersive Video
Spatial and immersive videos both enhance viewer engagement but differ in approach and experience. Spatial video uses stereoscopic 3D by displaying two offset images for depth perception, creating a realistic 3D view without fully surrounding the viewer. This approach is primarily visual and can be viewed on devices without needing extensive head-tracking or a full range of movement.
In contrast, immersive video offers a more encompassing experience, typically involving 360-degree or 180-degree VR technology. It places viewers within the content, enabling immersive visuals through a full field of view with head tracking and spatial audio. Viewed through VR headsets, immersive video surrounds the viewer with dynamic visuals and sound, simulating real-world sensory involvement.
Spatial Video vs 2D Videos
Spatial video differs significantly from traditional 2D video by creating a depth-enhanced, lifelike experience. Unlike 2D video, which offers a flat image, spatial video adds dimensionality and is especially useful in entertainment uses, where it can replicate real-world perspectives and engage viewers in new ways, creating a more engaging and memorable experience.
Uses Cases of Spatial Video
Spatial video technology is revolutionizing various industries by offering immersive and interactive experiences that enhance engagement and understanding.
Entertainment
Spatial video technology is revolutionizing entertainment by delivering immersive, lifelike visuals that draw audiences into virtual environments and cinematic worlds, spanning both live-action and animation. Apple has taken the lead in bringing this innovation to everyday users, integrating spatial video filming into the iPhone and positioning it as a cornerstone of the Apple Vision Pro. This highlights the company’s commitment to redefining the future of media experiences.
A crucial part of this evolution involves collaboration with VR creators and 3D filmmakers, many of whom are adapting their existing 3D content into spatial video formats. This collaboration between Apple and content creators is key to expanding the reach and impact of spatial video for the entertainment industry, especially for 3D films.
In documentaries, spatial video offers a nearly firsthand perspective that’s especially impactful for natural and historical content. Yet, despite its transformative potential, the format remains underutilized within the documentary genre.
Healthcare
Spatial video has transformative applications in healthcare, especially for training and patient education. Through devices like the Apple Vision Pro, spatial video displays stereoscopic 3D content, allowing medical professionals to explore complex anatomical structures with depth and clarity. This aids in preoperative planning by visualizing surgical pathways and improving accuracy and outcomes.
Education
In the classroom, spatial video brings complex subjects to life. Medical students, for example, can explore 3D anatomy videos, examining organs layer by layer for a deeper understanding than static images allow. History students might virtually “walk” through ancient sites, immersing themselves in historical landscapes, artifacts, and structures in a way that feels real and tangible.
Tourism
In tourism, spatial video offers travelers an immersive preview of destinations, allowing them to virtually "explore" locations before booking. From walking through a vacation rental to experiencing the depth and grandeur of historical landmarks, spatial video provides an engaging preview that helps travelers make more informed decisions.
How to Record Spatial Video on iPhone?
Recording Apple’s spatial video—a feature now available on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max with iOS 17.2—enables users to capture immersive, three-dimensional videos that convey a sense of depth and realism. Here’s how you can film spatial video with your iPhone:
- Update Your iPhone: Ensure your iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max is running iOS 17.2 or later, as this update includes the spatial video recording feature. Click Settings > General > Software Update to check for any available updates.
- Enable Spatial Video Mode:
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap on Camera.
- Select Record Video.
- Toggle on Spatial Video to enable this recording mode. When active, your iPhone will capture videos in stereoscopic 3D, making your scenes appear more immersive.
- Recording Spatial Video:
- Open the Camera app and select Video mode.
- Position your phone in landscape orientation to optimize the 3D effect.
- Confirm that the Spatial Video icon appears on the screen, indicating the feature is enabled.
- Press the red Record button to begin capturing your spatial video.
- Tap the Stop button when you’re finished recording.
Tips for Best Results in iPhone Spatial Video Capture
Capturing stunning spatial video with your iPhone requires a few strategic techniques to make the most of its depth capabilities. To create immersive and vibrant 3D effects, follow these tips for positioning, lighting, and movement:
- Use Stable Positioning: Keeping your iPhone steady during recording is key for achieving the clearest depth effect. Consider using a tripod or stabilizer to maintain a smooth, even recording.
- Prioritize Good Lighting: Spatial video relies on clear details for the depth effect to stand out, so record in well-lit environments whenever possible. Low light can reduce depth perception and diminish the 3D effect.
- Create Depth in the Scene: To make the most of the spatial video format, place subjects at varying distances within the frame. For instance, having an object or person in the foreground and another in the background enhances the sense of depth.
- Move Slowly for Dynamic Shots: If you’re moving your iPhone during recording, do so gradually. Slow, controlled movements allow the camera to capture a stable and well-defined 3D effect without introducing motion blur.
How to View Spatial Video?
Spatial video captures multiple perspectives to create a 3D effect. However, when viewed on a standard 2D screen, the video will look like a regular video without depth, as the screen can’t display the layered perspectives that create the immersive effect.
To fully experience the depth and dimensionality of spatial video, compatible 3D or VR devices are essential, as they interpret the spatial data to create lifelike visuals. Devices like the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3 excel at delivering this immersive experience, each tailored to different user preferences and budgets.
While both offer high-quality playback, they approach spatial video rendering in distinct ways, enhancing the way you interact with and view 3D content.
Apple Vision Pro
Apple Vision Pro is a high-end headset designed to showcase spatial videos with exceptional clarity and realism. With ultra-high-resolution micro-OLED displays, the Vision Pro supports a resolution that brings spatial video to life in unprecedented detail. Users can feel as though they’re in the scene, with the ability to view clouds, landscapes, and other spatial elements in lifelike 3D.
Its display quality makes subtle textures and depth effects more apparent, allowing you to enjoy the true potential of spatial video. This $3,499 device is particularly suited for those seeking top-tier visual fidelity and seamless integration with Apple’s ecosystem, where spatial videos shot on iPhone 15 Pro can be effortlessly enjoyed on Vision Pro, maintaining full depth and quality.
Photo by My name is Yanick on Unsplash
Meta Quest 3
Meta Quest 3 offers a more accessible route into spatial video with a strong emphasis on versatility. Priced at $499.99, the Quest 3 provides high-resolution displays, though not as sharp as Vision Pro’s, yet sufficient for an engaging 3D experience. Viewing spatial videos on the Quest 3 allows users to explore depth, such as in cloud formations or landscape scenes, making the content feel layered and immersive.
Quest 3’s VR ecosystem supports a wide range of content formats, and while it may not offer the ultra-premium resolution of Vision Pro, it provides an impressive viewing experience for spatial video, bringing depth and perspective to life for a wider audience.
Experience the Superior 3D Video Converter to Make Your Spatial Video Now!
Spatial video captures lifelike depth by encoding multiple views to create a realistic, three-dimensional experience. It’s perfect for bringing scenes to life, giving 3D video enthusiasts and viewers a sense of immersion and depth that standard video lacks. With Owl3D, you can easily convert video to spatial video—one of the many 3D video formats supported.
Owl3D is packed with features for stunning results: realistic depth powered by advanced AI that maps spatial relationships with precision, custom 3D controls for fine-tuning pop-out effects and frame consistency, and broad support for various 3D formats like side-by-side, top-bottom, anaglyph, and RGBD. Compatible with VR headsets, holographic displays, and 3D TVs, Owl3D offers unlimited conversion options to fit any creative vision.
If you’re new to 3D or need a tutorial for 3D video conversion, Owl3D’s intuitive, step-by-step guidance ensures a smooth process from start to finish. Ready to bring your visuals to life? Download Owl3D for Mac/Windows and elevate your media into a new dimension of realism today!!