GoPro Stitching up NAB

[donaldk]

At NAB 2016, April 18-21 in Las Vegas, GoPro (NASDAQ:GPRO) will showcase Omni, its synchronized six-camera spherical array that produces high-resolution, stunning image quality. Proprietary hardware at the center of Omni enables pixel-level synchronization between all six HERO4 Blacks.



Other features include; Six Cameras that act as one. Proven image quality of the HERO4 Black…times six and GoPro Kolor software optimized.

GoPro will also show new spherical content and other professional solutions at Booth C2207.

GoPro Stitched video [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj1E-Gc5RyQ&list=PLSSPBo7OVSZt1kg5D2Z13-sBn9TqzTbUV]collection/url].

[donaldk]

Pricing announced:

Omni
Pre-orders begin on Monday, April 18th, 8am PT, at Booth C2207, and by visiting: http://shop.gopro.com/vr-cameras/omni---all-inclusive/MHDHX-006.html

Omni is GoPro's synchronized six-camera spherical array that produces high-resolution, stunning image quality and works seamlessly with Kolor™ stitching software to produce immersive content. Proprietary hardware at the center of Omni enables pixel-level synchronization between all six HERO4 Black cameras. Other features include:

Six cameras act as one: Interact with the primary camera in the array to configure settings or initiate the start/stop of recording for all six cameras.
The proven image quality of the HERO4 Black...times six: Produce high-res images that virtual reality viewers will notice. Omni may also be used for "over capture"; capture at 8K and extract an HD deliverable.

Optimized workflow: capture using Omni, use GoPro Omni Importer for preview, data management and rendering, fine tune the content in Kolor Autopano® Video, then proof the content in GoPro VR player and publish it to the GoPro VR website.
By collaborating with Adobe®, GoPro further solves the pain points of editing spherical content by enabling native handling of 360-degree video up to 8K resolution within Adobe® Premiere® Pro CC, and Adobe After Effects® CC.
The all-inclusive Omni package will be offered at $4,999.99 and it includes:

One GoPro Omni Sync Rig
GoPro Kolor Software License
Six GoPro HERO4 Black cameras and batteries
GoPro Smart Remote
Six GoPro Mini USB Cables, 32GB microSD Cards and card readers
Ultra compact, rugged shipping case
And more
An additional Omni SKU is offered at $1,499.99. Interested parties can sign up for pre-order starting Monday, April 18th at 8am PT by visiting: http://shop.gopro.com/vr-cameras/omni---rig-only/MHDHX-007.html

[DCI forum]

GoPro shows off VR solutions with new Omni rig and online portal
Digital Trends By Les Shu

GoPro’s six-camera rig has made its official debut at the 2016 NAB conference. Designed to capture 360-degree videos that can be used for virtual reality experiences, the spherical array, called the Omni, is now available for pre-order at $5,000 for a complete package. The Omni has an availability date of August 17.

First teased during last year’s Re/code’s Code conference and announced last week, the Omni is a rig outfitted with six GoPro Hero4 Black action cameras — all synced to capture what becomes a 360-degree video. Because each Hero4 Black can shoot up to 4K, the final product is a video with resolutions at up to 8K; you can view the high-resolution video through a headset, or downscale it for desktop viewing on YouTube. To handle the stitching, GoPro includes Kolor Software, a VR startup it acquired last year.

Here’s a typical Omni workflow: After a video is shot (or videos, rather), the content is sent to a computer via the Omni Importer, which lets the user preview, manage, and render the footage. Kolor Autopano Video is used for “fine-tuning,” and the final product is proofed via the GoPro VR player and published on the GoPro VR website or free mobile app. GoPro is also working with Adobe to give pro users precision editing via Premiere Pro CC and After Effects CC, which can natively handle 360-degree video at 8K, GoPro says. (Adobe recently announced 360/VR support in the latest version of Premiere Pro CC).

Besides the rig and six Hero4 Black cameras, the full Omni package includes Kolor software license, six batteries, a GoPro Smart Remote (to initiate synchronized recording, although that can also be done via the GoPro smartphone app), six Mini USB cables, six 32GB MicroSD cards and card readers, and case.

If you want just the rig, it will cost you $1,500, and you’ll need to supply your own cameras and editing software. This is ideal for those who already own Hero4 cameras and utilize software like Premiere Pro CC.

While $5,000 puts it out of casual use among ordinary consumers, it’s an attractive price for VR enthusiasts or budding filmmakers, particularly those who want a complete setup, without needing to cobble one together using different parts (although there are less-expensive rigs designed to do the same thing, but you’ll still need the stitching software). The Omni is a considerable bargain when compared to GoPro’s pro-centric Odysssey, a stereoscopic capture system that uses 16 Hero4 Black cameras and designed for Google’s VR Jump platform; this rig costs $15,000.

GoPro says the Omni is designed for capturing sporting events, museum and tourism installations, hotel and real estate tours, and educational tutorials, which puts the Omni toward the consumer end while the Odyssey is geared toward high-end productions (you can see examples at the GoPro VR portal). It’s also possible that this rig could be designed for drone use, considering GoPro is developing one, called the Karma.

It will be interesting to see the quality difference between a 16-camera rig and a six-camera version, although it should be considerable higher than single or dual-sensor cameras. There’s also no mention about YouTube or Facebook support, or about sound quality; the Hero4’s onboard mic isn’t the best, and audio is an important part of an immersive VR experience (the Odysssey supports external mics). GoPro is presenting various VR solutions at NAB this week, including the Odyssey and the launch of the aforementioned GoPro VR platform, which is available on the Web, and for iOS and Android devices. GoPro VR will be a place for users to host and share their 360-degree captures, much like the existing GoPro Channel for non-panoramic videos.