When the Insta360 ONE X came out last year, it was a slick unit with a lot of functionality for a consumer 360-degree camera, but most of it was tied to a phone app. That’s set to change with the launch of official desktop software for the camera.
Insta360 Studio for ONE X brings much of the capabilities that were possible in the phone app to your desktop. While the software itself has been in beta since the camera’s launch, the beta version didn’t have the capability to control the camera through keyframes or export video in more than the most basic ways. To get that kind of advanced functionality, users had to use the app to make video tiny planets or punch out full HD from 360 footage, but the phone couldn’t handle exporting 5.7K, which required slow beta software on the desktop. With the new version, in addition to new features, running the camera’s high-res 5.7K footage is much smoother in the final version of the app compared to the beta version.
In a nice surprise, in addition to supporting the proprietary files from the Insta360 ONE X, the camera now also includes support for stitched MP4 files, whether from the Insta360 ONE X or other cameras, though you lose the support to make fancy edits or present the video in alternate formats, such as a tiny planet.
The software also includes some basic editing features such as transitions, though for more advanced editing of multiple clips, you’ll probably want to head into a full video editor such as Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro X.
While the beta version of Insta360 Studio for ONE X was already capable of rendering out 5.7K video, adding stabilization, and producing 18-megapixel photos from the 360 camera, the official release adds the following:
- Keyframes: The equivalent of Pivot Points, which moves the camera and controls the direction of the viewer for a full HD video made from a 360 video. You can drag and drop these keyframes on the timeline.
- Preset Perspectives: The aforementioned tiny planet, as well as crystal ball and natural views, which can also be keyframed throughout a clip.
- Preset Transitions: The software adds slide, dissolve, and fade effects
- MP4 File Support: While you can do the most with the camera’s .insv and .insp files, files you’ve already exported and MP4 files from other cameras can be brought in with limited functionality.
Check out the full list of changes on Insta360’s blog or download the software here.
It seems this camera is very popular right now. I've played with most of the pocket 360 cameras, the ThetaV was my go-to for compact 360 visuals but still wasn't up to much when the light started to fade. The Fusion360 from GoPro upped the game with their software that allows the view to be changed within video playback but is bulky.
This seems to have taken lessons from both of those, a compact system that allows for an invisible nadir and flexibility in processing. I might have to try one out too.