Vlogging & creation
Edit a 360 video: which PC or phone?
This is the question we are asked at the counter just before signing, and it is a very healthy one: “will my computer hold up?” ". A 360 camera is the only equipment in our catalog whose use continues largely after restitution - filming lasts a day, editing can last a week. You might as well check before booking rather than discovering it on Sunday evening.
Why does a 360 file weigh more on the machine?
A 360 camera films two hemispheres simultaneously, then assembles them into a complete sphere. Three consequences for your computer.
First, the image covers the entire sphere while you will only be looking at a fraction of it: the definition must therefore be much higher than that of a classic video so that the final framing remains clear. Next, the software must recalculate the projection in real time as you navigate through the image — it's this step that brings the graphics card to its knees. Finally, the reframing is done after the fact, frame by frame: you don't edit a shot, you create the shot during editing. The work is richer, and much more demanding.
The configuration officially requested by Insta360 Studio
The manufacturer's desktop software, Insta360 Studio, publishes its prerequisites. Here they are as documented:
- System: Windows 10 or 11 and later, or macOS 13 and later.
- Processor: 8th generation Intel Core or higher, or AMD Ryzen 3000 series; on the Mac side, an Apple M1 chip or newer.
- Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 or higher; the documentation specifies that the card must be more efficient than a GTX 1060 6 GB.
- Memory: 16 GB of RAM recommended.
- Storage: SSD of 128 GB or more, recommended.
One point is worth noting because it surprises many people: the software does not support ARM processors under Windows. If you recently bought a thin, quiet laptop with very long battery life, check this detail before anything else - it's the stupidest and most permanent failure.
Getting on the phone: what it really changes
The other path exists, and it is far from being a second best. The manufacturer's mobile application retrieves the camera files, allows you to choose the frames, export a classic shot and publish it directly. For short videos intended for networks, this is often the quickest route, by far.
Its limitations are real, however: copying files from the camera takes time, free space is used up very quickly, and the phone heats up during long exports. On a two-week trip, plan to empty the card regularly rather than hoping to process everything on the last evening. And keep in mind that editing with several dozen shots is much more comfortable on a computer screen.
Four reflexes before booking
- Check your graphics card, not your processor. It is she who decides whether the reading will be fluid or jerky.
- Free up storage in advance, both on the machine and on the phone. 360 dailies fill a disc faster than any other format.
- Do a test on the first day. Film two minutes, retrieve them, open them, export a short shot. You will know immediately where you are, while you still have time to adapt your way of turning.
- Shoot less, but better. In 360, the temptation is to record continuously. Short, selected sequences will save you hours of sorting and endless exports.
Choose your camera based on your machine, not the other way around
This is the most useful tip in this article: the real constraint isn't the camera model, it's your assembly line. If your computer meets the above requirements, you can aim for Insta360 X5 without a second thought and take full advantage of what the camera records. If your machine is below, or you know you'll only be editing on phone, the Insta360 X4 is still a great entry point into the 360 — the workflow is the same, and you won't be paying for capacity that your station can't keep up with.
In both cases, renting has an advantage that is difficult to dispute: it allows you to test your own assembly line on real rushes, before investing in a camera that your current equipment cannot use.