In many cases, standard video editing software can be used for VR media production, but specialized software is often required. This guide will help.
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In many cases, standard video and audio editing software can be used for VR media production. General editing software like Adobe’s Premiere Pro and Blackmagic’s DaVinci Resolve Studio are commonly used for immersive video editing, but for some focused tasks such as custom stitching and spatial audio design, specialty software is required.
The following summaries should help clarify the basic abilities of various software tools that are frequently used in this industry (inclusion in this list is not an endorsement). If you’re still unsure whether something is right for you, download a trial or demo version and spend a little time familiarizing yourself with its quirks and capabilities.
General purpose video editing software (in some cases, they can be used for the whole production workflow including color grading, VFX, and audio mixing).
Kind
Non-linear video editor
Platforms
macOS, Windows
Summary
Premiere Pro is video editing software with a wide range of features including editing, audio mixing, and color grading. It integrates with other Adobe products such as After Effects and Photoshop, and it is available as part of Adobe's Creative Cloud subscription.
Kind
Non-linear video editor
Platforms
macOS
Summary
Final Cut Pro is video editing software with a wide range of tools and features for editing, color grading, and sound mixing. It integrates with other Apple products, such as Motion and Compressor, to enhance workflow.
Kind
Non-linear video editor
Platforms
macOS, Windows, Linux
Summary
DaVinci Resolve is a color grading, color correction, visual effects, and audio post-production video editing application. The free version of DaVinci Resolve is good for learning, but its maximum output resolution is 4K so use DaVinci Resolve Studio for VR content production.
Kind
Color grading and finishing
Platforms
macOS, Windows
Summary
Mistika Boutique is a post production tool set that includes finishing tools for conforming, VFX, color grading, and producing immersive media. Mistika Boutique Immersive Edition is available via several subscription options.
Specialized software for stitching and de-warping
Kind
Stereo fisheye conversion to 3D 180 video
Platforms
macOS, Windows
Summary
Subscription based standalone VR utility transforms video from Canon R5/R5C with RF Dual Fisheye Lens into stereoscopic equirectangular immersive video for playback in VR. At present only the macOS version can render ProRes.
Kind
Stereo fisheye conversion to 3D 180 video
Platforms
macOS, Windows
Summary
Subscription based VR plug-in for Adobe Premiere transforms video from Canon R5/R5C with RF Dual Fisheye Lens into stereoscopic equirectangular immersive video for playback in VR.
Kind
Stitcher and stabilizer
Platforms
macOS, Windows
Summary
Mistika VR is a professional standalone stitching tool capable of stitching any number of camera sources into equirectangular content. Subscription based Mistika VR generates 180 and 360 VR video in mono or stereo.
Kind
Lens conversions, projections and stabilization for 360 VR and fisheye footage
Platforms
macOS, Windows
Summary
RE:Lens is available as a plug-in to many professional video editing software products. The plug-in supports dewarping fisheye and wide angle lens distortion, and reframing dewarped video into virtual cameras with user defined FOV.
Kind
Dedicated stitching software
Platforms
macOS, Windows
Summary
Z CAM WonderStitch is an optical flow based stitching tool that performs offline stitching of video files from Z CAM cameras including the S1 Pro and the K1 Pro.
Kind
Compositing and motion graphics production
Platforms
macOS, Windows
Summary
After Effects is a powerful digital visual effects, motion graphics, and compositing application. It can enhance footage and add effects and graphics, and it allows 2D assets to be manipulated in a 3D space.
Kind
Planar Tracking, Rotoscoping, Object Removal, Image Stabilization
Platforms
macOS, Windows
Summary
Mocha Pro is available both as a set of Adobe, Avid and OFX plug-ins and as a standalone application. Its planar based tracking tools support complicated removal processes in both rectilinear and immersive video of moving rovers, tripods and practical elements on set, and generate rotoscoped masks for compositing.
Kind
Tracker and stabilizer
Platforms
macOS, Windows, Linux
Summary
SynthEyes is a standalone VFX application optimized for camera, object, geometry, and planar tracking, stabilization, and motion capture, with both 2D and 3d (stereoscopic) VR media.
Kind
Color grading, compositing, stabilization, object removal and finishing of immersive media
Platforms
macOS, Windows
Summary
Subscription based or fully licensed standalone tool provides VR aware compositing, color grading, object removal and replacement, previewed in headset, with support for ambisonic audio.
Kind
Ambisonic audio editing
Platforms
macOS, Windows
Summary
Plug-ins for editing 3D ambisonic audio in most DAWs. Includes support for positioning sounds in 3D scenes, adding 360 reverberation, setting ambisonic peak level, and rendering scenes to binaural audio. The ab Decoder Lite plugin is free.
Kind
Ambisonic audio editing
Platforms
macOS, Windows
Summary
Set of Noise Maker plug-ins for creating 3D ambisonic audio. Includes support for positioning sounds in 3D scenes, adding 360 reverberation, setting ambisonic peak level, and rendering scenes to binaural audio.
Kind
Digital audio workstation
Platforms
macOS
Summary
Logic Pro is a digital audio workstation with a wide range of tools and features for creating, editing, and mixing music and audio tracks. It supports various audio formats and can be used with a variety of external instruments and plugins.
Kind
Digital audio workstation
Platforms
macOS, Windows
Summary
Adobe Audition is a digital audio workstation used to create, mix, and edit audio tracks for a variety of media, including music, films, and podcasts. It offers a range of tools and features, including multitrack recording, spectral editing, and noise reduction.
Kind
Digital audio workstation
Platforms
macOS, Windows, Linux
Summary
Audacity is a free, open-source audio editor with a wide feature set that makes it a potential rival to Adobe Audition. It lacks direct support for working with immersive audio but it is useful for other areas of sound editing.
Kind
Digital audio workstation
Platforms
macOS, Windows
Summary
Full featured audio editing and processing suite with plug-in support for first, second and third order ambisonic audio
Kind
Spatial audio encoder
Platforms
macOS, Windows, Linux
Summary
Used to encode spatial audio and ‘mux’ immersive videos that can be uploaded to Meta Quest Media Studio for distribution via Meta Quest TV.
Kind
Digital audio workstation
Platforms
macOS, Windows
Summary
Reaper is a digital audio workstation with a wide range of tools and effects for sound processing. It supports multiple audio and MIDI tracks, as well as VST and AU plugins for extended functionality, and it offers flexible routing and automation options as well as support for multiple output formats.
Kind
Virtual analog synthesizer for sound effects
Platforms
macOS, Windows, Linux
Summary
Free synthesizer for processing audio tracks using presets and user defined controls.
Kind
Photo stitcher
Platforms
macOS, Windows
Summary
PTGui is the industry-leading photo stitching tool. It generates wide-format, cylindrical and spherical panoramic images from multiple shots, and it can produce ultra-high-resolution gigapixel panoramas as well as more normal headset-ready output. It can be somewhat technical for more complex stitching tasks, but it is capable of producing excellent results.
Kind
Open-source photo stitcher
Platforms
macOS, Windows, Linux
Summary
Hugin is a free open-source photo stitching tool. It generates wide-format, cylindrical and spherical panoramic images from multiple shots, and it can produce ultra-high-resolution gigapixel panoramas as well as more normal headset-ready output. It is complex and technical with a spartan interface, but it is capable of producing excellent results.
Kind
360 photo tour builder
Platforms
macOS, Windows
Summary
3DVista Virtual Tour Pro is a 360 photo tour builder with support for adding interaction behaviors and rich media elements including video hotspots, 360 video and 3D model assets. It can generate web tours with immersive VR browser support, and a 3DVista Quest app can be used for local headset playback.
Kind
360 photo tour builder
Platforms
macOS, Windows
Summary
KRPano is a 360 photo tour builder with extensive support for adding interaction behaviors and rich media elements including video hotspots and 360 video. It can generate web tours with VR headset support. Production beyond the basics involves working with XML files in a text editor.
Kind
360 photo tour builder
Platforms
macOS, Windows
Summary
Pano2VR is a 360 photo tour builder with support for adding interaction behaviors and rich media elements including video hotspots and 360 video. It can generate web tours with immersive VR browser support, and a Tourviewer app can be used for local headset playback. It can also generate reprojected images and custom animated video from 360 photos.