Remember that frustrating time when your Insta360 One X2 footage looked amazing on the preview, but the final edit lacked the detail and dynamic range you craved? Learning how to shoot Insta360 One X2 in raw solves this problem. This guide will walk you through the process, explaining every step, so you can capture stunning, high-quality footage that’s ready for professional-level editing. You’ll learn about Insta360’s raw formats, settings, and post-processing techniques, ensuring your videos have exceptional detail and color accuracy.
Understanding Insta360 Raw Formats
This section explains the different raw formats available on the Insta360 One X2 and how they affect your workflow. We’ll cover the benefits of shooting in raw versus other formats and the trade-offs involved in terms of file size and processing power. We’ll also touch upon which format is best suited for different types of projects.
Insta360’s Raw Formats
- Insv: Insta360’s proprietary raw format. Insv files retain significantly more image data compared to standard formats like MP4. This allows for much greater flexibility during color grading and exposure adjustment in post-production. However, these larger files require more storage space and processing power. A typical 5-minute video may easily occupy several gigabytes of space.
- 360-degree RAW: This allows for even more editing flexibility compared to Insv, offering independent adjustment of exposure and white balance for the individual images making up the 360° image. However, this format results in even larger file sizes than Insv and requires more processing power. Expect much slower rendering times and potentially more difficulties in certain editing software.
Working with Raw Files
Working with raw files requires specialized software. The Insta360 Studio application is specifically designed to work with the Insv format, offering a streamlined workflow. Other editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve may also handle raw files after appropriate plugin installations, however compatibility can be inconsistent. Remember, shooting in raw will require substantially more storage and processing power than shooting in compressed formats.
Shooting in Raw: Settings and Techniques
This section details the necessary settings adjustments on your Insta360 One X2 to ensure you’re shooting in raw and getting the best possible image quality. We’ll cover different shooting modes and how they affect the final raw footage.
Camera Settings for Raw Footage
- Enable Raw Recording: Locate the raw recording setting within your Insta360 One X2 camera menu. This is usually found under settings or video options. Ensure this option is enabled before beginning recording to capture footage in the raw format selected (Insv or 360-degree RAW). The specific location and terminology may vary slightly based on your firmware version.
- Resolution and Frame Rate: While shooting in raw, you may need to compromise on resolution and frame rate to manage file sizes. Higher resolutions and frame rates produce significantly larger files which demand significantly more processing power.
- White Balance: Set your white balance appropriately before shooting. This is crucial when working with raw formats, as precise color grading can be achieved with greater ease if the white balance is correctly set. However, remember that you can always adjust this in post-production.
Shooting Modes and Raw
The Insta360 One X2 offers several shooting modes. Each mode affects the final raw footage differently. For example, shooting in the ‘Standard’ mode provides a good balance between file size and quality, while the ‘Pro’ mode offers more control over settings but results in larger raw files. Experiment to find the best setting that fits your needs and editing power.
Post-Processing Your Raw Footage
This section provides a step-by-step guide to post-processing your raw footage. We’ll cover using Insta360 Studio and other software like Adobe Premiere Pro to edit and export your video.
Using Insta360 Studio
- Import Footage: Import your Insv or 360° RAW files into Insta360 Studio. The software will automatically recognize the format. The import process may take significantly longer than with compressed video formats.
- Editing and Color Grading: Use the software’s tools to adjust exposure, white balance, color, and other parameters. The level of control you have in this step is significantly greater compared to editing compressed formats.
- Exporting: Once you’re happy with the results, export your video in the desired format (e.g., MP4, ProRes). Exporting raw files can be very time-consuming; choose settings appropriate to your computer’s processing power.
Other Editing Software
While Insta360 Studio is designed for optimal compatibility with raw files from Insta360 cameras, you can also use other professional video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve. However, plugins might be required to efficiently support Insv and 360° RAW format. Expect more challenges in workflows, such as slower rendering times. Insert a comparison chart here comparing the performance of various editing software with Insta360 raw formats.
Troubleshooting and Common Myths
This section addresses common problems users encounter when shooting and editing raw footage with their Insta360 One X2. We also debunk some common myths surrounding raw video.
Common Problems and Solutions
- Slow Rendering Times: Raw files are significantly larger than compressed files and will increase rendering times. Consider upgrading your computer’s hardware and utilizing optimized export settings. A faster computer with a higher CPU and dedicated GPU will lead to significantly reduced rendering times.
- Storage Space Issues: Shooting in raw consumes large amounts of storage space. Use high-capacity SD cards, and consider using cloud storage services to offload your footage.
- Software Compatibility: Not all editing software supports Insta360’s raw formats natively. If using software other than Insta360 Studio, ensure compatibility with relevant plugins. Using incompatible software without plugins may lead to unexpected file corruptions and significant processing complications.
Debunking Myths about Raw Video
Myth 1: Raw video is only for professionals.
While professional-grade editing equipment improves the workflow and makes processing larger raw files much faster, raw video offers benefits to all users that want more creative control and better quality, regardless of skill level.
Myth 2: Raw video is always better.
Raw video provides greater flexibility and superior quality, however, it significantly increases storage requirements and the complexity of editing. For simpler projects, shooting in a compressed format might be sufficient.
FAQ
What is the best storage solution for Insta360 One X2 raw files?
High-capacity SD cards are essential. Consider using multiple cards, or offloading footage to a computer or cloud storage regularly. This avoids potential issues with storage space during recording.
Can I edit Insta360 One X2 raw files on my phone?
Editing raw files on a phone is generally not recommended due to processing power limitations and small screen sizes. This leads to unsatisfactory editing experiences and often results in the inability to complete edits. It’s highly recommended to perform such edits on a PC or MAC.
How much storage space should I have available for raw shooting?
The storage required is very variable and depends on resolution, frame rate, and shooting duration. It is recommended to plan for at least 10 times the final video output’s storage size to have sufficient space for editing flexibility.
Are there free alternatives to Insta360 Studio for editing raw files?
Some free editing software such as DaVinci Resolve allows for raw footage editing, however, expect challenges in handling and exporting Insta360 raw formats without additional plugins.
What are the benefits of shooting in raw compared to other formats?
Raw gives far greater editing flexibility. You have extensive control over color correction, exposure, and white balance without losing detail. In compressed formats, such changes often lead to reduced detail and image quality.
Final Thoughts
Mastering how to shoot Insta360 One X2 in raw significantly elevates your filmmaking capabilities. While it demands more storage and processing power, the increased creative control and superior image quality are well worth the effort. Remember to experiment with settings, choose the right editing software, and don’t be afraid to explore the full potential of your raw footage. Start shooting in raw today and unlock a new level of creativity in your videos!
