360 panoramic video?

[demesmaeker]

Hi there!

I am new to this forum and at my work we are creating a room with lots of projectors (6) next to each other.
We want to project a recording that we made ourselves and spread it over all the projectors (that are aligned next to each other)
The problem that I am seeing (that maybe not is a big problem) is that I do not know what kind of recording device/recording format I need.
If I download a 360 video from Youtube then I notice that they are all useful in a VR-environment, but I do not need VR. I mean, that I do not need the roof being filmed or the floor. I think I need a 270 or 360 "panoramic video camera".
When i started to play the file any way (using the latest VLC), the video looked good in the center, but really crappy and not sharp and warped on the left and right screen. I also downloaded 360 videos that you can find everywhere (roller coaster videos). Exactly the same problem there.

My questions:

1) Does anyone know what this format I need is really called? (2D 360?)
2) Do the most common cameras that can record VR also record the format that I need? With changing settings maybe?
3) Any recommendation for a good camera that meets my needs? Price max 5000 USD
4) Is there otherwise a way to convert VR 360 (3D) to non-warped "panorama 2D 360"? (hope you understand what I mean). It is like taking a projection of the world in the shape of a globe, and then cut it, flatten it out and warp it so at least the part in the middle around the equator is good. All the rest of the video could be discarded. I hope this makes sense

Sorry if I got a few basic concepts wrong. It is quite confusing because I think I understand the difference between VR and 360, but it appears that many do not and that they do not care.

I think the gaming industry and the VR industry is booming, so it is hard for me to find the right information. It seems that everything that is 360 is aiming for VR. (or I am using the wrong words to google).

If you can only answer 1 question, I am already thankful.

Demesmaeker, Sweden

[JVRaines]

The way this was accomplished beginning around 1960 was with a process dubbed "Circlorama." It used a separate film camera corresponding to each projector and aimed in the appropriate direction from a central stalk. With enough cameras and playback carefully synchronized, you get a 360 projection with little distortion.

The modern equivalent might be using a single camera and a 360-degree lens, then playing back through multiple synchronized software players (or one player with synchronized streams), each one aimed in a direction corresponding to its projector. You would need a powerful processor and multi-head video card (or cards), of course.

[Cornucopia]

Many planetariums use technology similar to that: a very high rez 360 degree (H) & 180 degree (V) image (or movie) that is pre-distorted, then projected through a special spherical (beyond fisheye) lens onto a hemispherical ceiling. The lens's distortion in combination with the shape of the ceiling is the reverse of the distortion in the image, so the result looks undistorted.

The idea of multiprojector stitched projection has been tried for ages, the first major "WIDESCREEN" projection of Hollywood movies was in the 50's with Cinerama. However, they gave that up because at that time it was too complicated and unwieldy to do properly & economically (issues with stitch edge/seam blending, exactly calibrating all cameras and films to have a consistent, seamless look, and rock solid sychronization of projectors). That's why they changed over wholeheartedly to Cinemascope and its variants with their anamophic lenses (on both cam & projector) - a lot less mess and cost.

These days, with multi-file media servers, genlocked projectors, automated calibration and edge blending, should make multi-projectors a snap. Heck, I saw a demo of a (multiprojector-based) panoramic, VR "immersive" interactive CAVE back in the 90s! It was awesome then and it wasn't even in HD yet.

Scott

[demesmaeker]

The way this was accomplished beginning around 1960 was with a process dubbed "Circlorama." It used a separate film camera corresponding to each projector and aimed in the appropriate direction from a central stalk. With enough cameras and playback carefully synchronized, you get a 360 projection with little distortion.

The modern equivalent might be using a single camera and a 360-degree lens, then playing back through multiple synchronized software players (or one player with synchronized streams), each one aimed in a direction corresponding to its projector. You would need a powerful processor and multi-head video card (or cards), of course.

Thank you for your answer. Buying a computer and multi head video card is no problem.
Do you have an example of what software can do what you are describing? Is that software that comes with the camera maybe?

[demesmaeker]

Many planetariums use technology similar to that: a very high rez 360 degree (H) & 180 degree (V) image (or movie) that is pre-distorted, then projected through a special spherical (beyond fisheye) lens onto a hemispherical ceiling. The lens's distortion in combination with the shape of the ceiling is the reverse of the distortion in the image, so the result looks undistorted.

The idea of multiprojector stitched projection has been tried for ages, the first major "WIDESCREEN" projection of Hollywood movies was in the 50's with Cinerama. However, they gave that up because at that time it was too complicated and unwieldy to do properly & economically (issues with stitch edge/seam blending, exactly calibrating all cameras and films to have a consistent, seamless look, and rock solid sychronization of projectors). That's why they changed over wholeheartedly to Cinemascope and its variants with their anamophic lenses (on both cam & projector) - a lot less mess and cost.

These days, with multi-file media servers, genlocked projectors, automated calibration and edge blending, should make multi-projectors a snap. Heck, I saw a demo of a (multiprojector-based) panoramic, VR "immersive" interactive CAVE back in the 90s! It was awesome then and it wasn't even in HD yet.

Scott

Thank you for your answer and for the history lessons
Can you name any hardware and/or software to accomplish what I want?
Have a nice sunday,
Demesmaeker

[JVRaines]

The way this was accomplished beginning around 1960 was with a process dubbed "Circlorama." It used a separate film camera corresponding to each projector and aimed in the appropriate direction from a central stalk. With enough cameras and playback carefully synchronized, you get a 360 projection with little distortion.

The modern equivalent might be using a single camera and a 360-degree lens, then playing back through multiple synchronized software players (or one player with synchronized streams), each one aimed in a direction corresponding to its projector. You would need a powerful processor and multi-head video card (or cards), of course.

Thank you for your answer. Buying a computer and multi head video card is no problem.
Do you have an example of what software can do what you are describing? Is that software that comes with the camera maybe?

The free VLC player supports 360-degree video and synchronized playback.

[demesmaeker]

The way this was accomplished beginning around 1960 was with a process dubbed "Circlorama." It used a separate film camera corresponding to each projector and aimed in the appropriate direction from a central stalk. With enough cameras and playback carefully synchronized, you get a 360 projection with little distortion.

The modern equivalent might be using a single camera and a 360-degree lens, then playing back through multiple synchronized software players (or one player with synchronized streams), each one aimed in a direction corresponding to its projector. You would need a powerful processor and multi-head video card (or cards), of course.

Thank you for your answer. Buying a computer and multi head video card is no problem.
Do you have an example of what software can do what you are describing? Is that software that comes with the camera maybe?

The free VLC player supports 360-degree video and synchronized playback.

VLC shows it like I would be inside a globe. In other words, all the surroundings/projections are distorted when I project onto straight walls.

[JVRaines]

The way this was accomplished beginning around 1960 was with a process dubbed "Circlorama." It used a separate film camera corresponding to each projector and aimed in the appropriate direction from a central stalk. With enough cameras and playback carefully synchronized, you get a 360 projection with little distortion.

The modern equivalent might be using a single camera and a 360-degree lens, then playing back through multiple synchronized software players (or one player with synchronized streams), each one aimed in a direction corresponding to its projector. You would need a powerful processor and multi-head video card (or cards), of course.

Thank you for your answer. Buying a computer and multi head video card is no problem.
Do you have an example of what software can do what you are describing? Is that software that comes with the camera maybe?

The free VLC player supports 360-degree video and synchronized playback.

VLC shows it like I would be inside a globe. In other words, all the surroundings/projections are distorted when I project onto straight walls.

That is a consequence of shooting 360 video with a single camera. AFAIK, the only way to avoid it is to use multiple cameras with conventional lenses.

[demesmaeker]

The way this was accomplished beginning around 1960 was with a process dubbed "Circlorama." It used a separate film camera corresponding to each projector and aimed in the appropriate direction from a central stalk. With enough cameras and playback carefully synchronized, you get a 360 projection with little distortion.

The modern equivalent might be using a single camera and a 360-degree lens, then playing back through multiple synchronized software players (or one player with synchronized streams), each one aimed in a direction corresponding to its projector. You would need a powerful processor and multi-head video card (or cards), of course.

Thank you for your answer. Buying a computer and multi head video card is no problem.
Do you have an example of what software can do what you are describing? Is that software that comes with the camera maybe?

The free VLC player supports 360-degree video and synchronized playback.

VLC shows it like I would be inside a globe. In other words, all the surroundings/projections are distorted when I project onto straight walls.

That is a consequence of shooting 360 video with a single camera. AFAIK, the only way to avoid it is to use multiple cameras with conventional lenses.

This should be possible? If you take a globe and cut it, then you would be able to cut out a nice band around the equator without a problem and discard the rest? What am I missing here?

What do you call a 360 degrees video that does not include the top or bottom. Like a panoramic picture that you can make with your phone. Almost all modern phones have this option where you have to turn 360 degrees and then you have a very wide picture without distortions. That is what I need, but then in the form of a movie. No VR, no "360 spherical video", but a 360 degrees very wide video.
This must be possible?!

[JVRaines]

What do you call a 360 degrees video that does not include the top or bottom. Like a panoramic picture that you can make with your phone. Almost all modern phones have this option where you have to turn 360 degrees and then you have a very wide picture without distortions. That is what I need, but then in the form of a movie. No VR, no "360 spherical video", but a 360 degrees very wide video.
This must be possible?!

How are you going to take a panoramic picture with one camera in all directions simultaneously? Build a time machine? If you want no distortion, you will have to use multiple lenses and multiple cameras.

[demesmaeker]

What do you call a 360 degrees video that does not include the top or bottom. Like a panoramic picture that you can make with your phone. Almost all modern phones have this option where you have to turn 360 degrees and then you have a very wide picture without distortions. That is what I need, but then in the form of a movie. No VR, no "360 spherical video", but a 360 degrees very wide video.
This must be possible?!

How are you going to take a panoramic picture with one camera in all directions simultaneously? Build a time machine? If you want no distortion, you will have to use multiple lenses and multiple cameras.

Ok. Thank you for your reply. Multiple lenses sound good. Do you know of any camera that has multiple lenses and that can record in "panorama mode" by stitching them together? It doesn't even have to be 360 degrees. 270 would do.

Friendly greetings,
Demesmaeker