Creating 360 Degree Media for VR
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      1. ELB Learning Knowledge Base
      2. CenarioVR®
      3. Creating 360 Degree Media for VR

      Using Ambisonic Video in CenarioVR (User Guide)

      This guide explains how to prepare, enable, and publish 360° videos with ambisonic (spatial) audio in CenarioVR. Ambisonic playback is best experienced in VR headsets with headphones.

      Ambisonic Video Support

      Bring your training scenarios to life with realistic, 360° spatial sound. Ambisonic video lets you capture the entire soundfield of a real environment, so audio moves naturally with the learner’s view. This pro-level feature brings your scenarios to life with natural, directional sound, ideal for high-emotion, high-context training like healthcare, public safety, or operations.

      What is ambisonic Video?

      Ambisonic video refers to the combination of 360-degree video with ambisonic audio.  Ambisonic audio is a full‑sphere (3D) recording and playback technique that captures sound from every direction, including above and below, and then recreates that soundfield around the listener. Unlike stereo or 5.1/7.1 (which are tied to fixed speaker locations), ambisonics encodes the soundfield and later decodes it for headphones or speakers. In CenarioVR:

      • We support First Order Ambisonics (FOA) in AmbiX format (4 channels, ACN channel order with SN3D normalization).
      • During playback, the sound field rotates with your head movements, so what you hear always matches where you look.
      • Best experienced in VR headsets with headphones.

      Requirements (before you upload)

      • Ambisonic order: First Order (FOA) only
      • Format: AmbiX (SN3D normalization, ACN channel order)
      • Channels: Exactly 4 audio channels
      • Container: Your source can be MP4, but when ambisonic is enabled, CenarioVR will convert the stored video to MKV for compatibility

      If your video has standard stereo audio, leave ambisonic disabled.

      Enable ambisonic for a scene (step-by-step)

      1. Open or create a scenario, then open the target scene.
      2. Add or select a 360° video in the media dialog.
      3. Toggle the Ambisonic switch in the dialog.
           - You’ll see a confirmation prompt explaining what ambisonic is.
      4. Click Proceed to confirm.
      5. Click Done to save the scene.
           - You’ll see a brief “Converting video format…” indicator. The app converts the file extension for ambisonic playback (to MKV). The asset ID remains the same.

      Notes:

      • The conversion step runs when editing an existing scene or adding a scene to an existing scenario. It’s not applied during initial new-scenario creation flows where scene properties aren’t yet configurable.
      • If you later disable ambisonic and save, the system switches the stored file back to MP4.

      Playback behavior (what to expect)

      • When ambisonic is enabled, the VR player sets up a spatial audio pipeline that rotates with your head movement (desktop drag, device motion, or VR headset tracking).
      • Works in desktop, mobile browsers, and headset apps
      • Audio volume/mute controls still work as usual.
      • Best experienced in VR headsets with headphones.

      Publishing and viewing

      • Published viewers play ambisonic audio the same way as the editor preview.
      • No extra steps are needed during publish; ensure the scene’s ambisonic toggle is enabled before you publish.
      • Ambisonic playback is also supported in the CenarioVR Headset apps. If your scene has ambisonic enabled, it will play spatially in the headset app.

      Best practices

      • Verify your source is FOA AmbiX (W, Y, Z, X channel order). HOA (higher than first order) is not supported.
      • Avoid downmixing to stereo after export—keep the 4-channel AmbiX audio track.
      • Use headphones to evaluate spatial rotation accurately.

      Troubleshooting

      • No rotation effect when you turn your head
          - Confirm the scene’s Ambisonic switch is enabled and saved
          - Make sure your source actually contains 4-channel AmbiX ambisonic audio
          - Check that device motion/VR is allowed by your browser (and permissions granted)
      • Video stopped at “Converting video format…”
          - Ensure you clicked Done to trigger the conversion
          - Check your network connection and try again
      • Audio is distorted or sounds “wrong”
          - Verify the export is FOA AmbiX (not FuMa, not HOA)
          - Confirm the channel order is correct (AmbiX ACN/SN3D)
      • No sound on mobile
          - Some browsers block auto-play with sound; press play or tap the video to allow audio

      Quick reference for advanced users

      • Scene setting: ambisonic: true
      • Supported audio: 4-channel FOA AmbiX