Understanding 360° and VR Video Editing

With the 2026 release, Premiere Elements adds support for 360° and VR video editing, giving you the tools to create immersive storytelling experiences. You can import stitched 360° or VR footage, navigate it interactively in the Monitor panel, and enhance it with transitions, effects, titles, and overlays, all while maintaining the spherical format. When your edit is complete, export the video with embedded VR metadata, making it ready to share on platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Vimeo..

Overview of 360° and VR Video editing

Importing and Working with 360° Footage

360° videos are typically captured using dual-lens cameras, where each lens records a 180°+ field of view. When combined, these recordings create a fully stitched, equirectangular video, representing a 360° by 180° view of the environment. Cameras like the Samsung Gear 360, Ricoh Theta S, Insta360, Kodak PIXPRO SP360 4K, and LG 360 Cam offer this functionality, along with companion apps to stitch the footage before editing.

Premiere Elements requires pre-stitched footage to ensure compatibility. After importing the media into Project Assets, right-click the clip and choose Properties to review metadata. Confirm that the Projection is set to Equirectangular, Layout is Monoscopic (or Stereoscopic), and that the Field of View is 360° horizontal by 180° vertical. These properties ensure the footage is recognized correctly and that immersive features work as intended.

Capturing and Viewing VR Video

Cameras designed for 360° media capture, such as the Kodak PIXPRO SP360 4K VR Camera and Ricoh Theta S, also support VR media creation. For a fully immersive experience, VR headsets from Apple, Meta (Oculus), and PlayStation can be used. Meta also offers a dedicated digital store for its Quest devices.

360° and VR Video editing: Understanding the Difference

While often used interchangeably, 360° video and VR video serve different purposes. 360° video is non-interactive and best suited for web and social media viewing. It allows the viewer to look in any direction within the environment but doesn't allow interaction with elements inside the scene.

VR video, on the other hand, is designed for headset-based consumption and often includes stereoscopic visuals and spatial audio, which reacts to the viewer’s position and head movement. Premiere Elements supports editing both types of footage, though interactive VR experiences (like click-based navigation or object manipulation) are not supported.

Everyday Uses of 360° and VR Video Editing

360° video opens up a world of possibilities for everyday creators. From documenting adventures to crafting interactive experiences, consumers can use 360° editing in Premiere Elements to bring their stories to life in immersive ways. Common use cases include:

• Travel Vlogs: Capture immersive travel experiences that let viewers explore destinations as if they were there.
• Virtual Tours: Create interactive tours of homes, museums, or other locations.
• Event Coverage: Record weddings, concerts, or sports events in 360°, providing a complete view of the action.
• Adventure Sports: Document skydiving, scuba diving, water sports, winter sports, or mountain biking with a thrilling perspective.
• Educational Content: Produce interactive videos like virtual field trips or science experiments.
• Gaming: Share 360° gameplay videos or create VR experiences for gaming enthusiasts.
• DIY Projects: Deliver step-by-step tutorials, giving viewers a full-angle view of every step.
• Nature and Wildlife: Film natural landscapes and wildlife habitats for an immersive viewing experience.
• Family Memories: Preserve holidays, gatherings, and special moments in engaging 360° formats.
• Social Media Content: Create standout videos for platforms like YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram.

Editing Workflows in 360° and VR Video in Premiere Elements

Once captured, 360° videos can be enhanced in Premiere Elements using familiar editing tools, adapted to maintain the spherical format. Key workflows include:

• Reframing: Adjust perspectives and angles to focus on specific points of interest. Use keyframes to create smooth transitions between viewpoints.
• Stabilization: Eliminate shakes or jitters to ensure smooth playback. Premiere Elements’ existing Shake Stabilizer supports 360° video.
• Color Correction and Grading: Refine colors and adjust overall tone with Premiere Elements’ robust color tools.
• Adding Text and Graphics: Incorporate titles, captions, and graphics directly into your 360° video.
• Trimming and Cutting: Keep videos concise and engaging with easy-to-use trimming tools.
• Applying Effects and Filters: Add creative touches using 360°-specific effects (rotate sphere, blur, glow, color gradient, sharpen) and transitions (gradient wipe, iris wipe, spherical blur).
• Exporting in Different Formats: Export videos with embedded VR metadata in formats optimized for sharing on YouTube, Facebook, and other platforms.

Creating a Sequence

Before you start editing, you need to create a new sequence that includes the VR properties. This ensures your project is set up correctly for 360° & VR video and preserves the immersive format throughout the editing process.

To create a new sequence with VR properties, go to File > New Project, and in the New Project dialog, select View All Presets. From there, choose Sequence Presets > VR Properties, specify the required VR settings, and click OK to create the sequence.

For a detailed description of this, see Creating a New Sequence.

Step-by-Step Workflow of 360° and VR Video Editing

This section explains the complete workflow of 360° and VR Video in detail. The earlier overview introduced the key highlights, while the steps below cover every aspect of the feature to help you apply it effectively in your projects.

Creating a new Sequence

You can create a new project sequence with VR properties to edit immersive content. Premiere Elements provides preset options for VR projects, allowing you to choose between monoscopic and stereoscopic variations depending on your editing needs. These presets ensure that your project is set up correctly for a VR workflow from the very beginning.

Use the following steps to create and configure your VR project sequence:

When you import VR footage into your project, Premiere Elements automatically analyzes the media. If the clip or sequence contains VR properties, the application detects them and configures the VR viewer accordingly. This ensures your content is displayed in the correct immersive format without requiring additional setup.

To determine if a clip has VR properties assigned to it:

Interpret VR footage

If your VR clips don’t display correctly, you can interpret the footage by adjusting its VR properties. This ensures that the projection, layout, and captured view are read accurately, so the clip plays back as intended.

You may need to interpret VR footage in the following situations:

• When a clip is VR but the VR Properties are not present.
• When the VR Projection, VR Layout, or VR Captured View properties are present but set to incorrect values.

To interpret VR footage, do the following:

Assign VR properties to sequences

Add VR properties to an existing sequence

When you are working with VR clips inside a sequence, you need to assign VR properties so that the footage plays back correctly in the monitors. Adding these properties ensures that the sequence supports VR projection, layout, and viewing options.

To determine if a sequence has VR properties assigned to it, select the Sequence Settings option from the Edit menu when the clip is open in the Timeline panel. The Source and Program Monitor Settings options for VR Video remain disabled when a sequence that does not have VR properties is viewed.

To assign VR properties to a sequence, do the following:

Hide VR video view controls

In the Source and Program Monitors, the VR view lets you adjust pan and tilt using scroll bars, hot-text controls, or a dial for continuous panning. You can also hide these controls if you prefer a larger viewing area.

Export settings for VR footage

When exporting VR projects, Premiere Elements automatically applies the VR properties of your clips and sequences. These settings ensure that the output retains the correct projection, layout, and viewing experience.

You may need to review or adjust VR export settings in the following situations:

• When exporting VR clips or sequences in H.264 format.
• When you want to confirm or customize the VR properties before finalizing the output.

To review or customize VR export settings, do the following:

360-degree panning

The VR view lets you explore your footage interactively by panning in any direction. You can use simple controls to adjust your perspective while the video is playing or paused. Use the dial at the bottom to pan continuously in 360 degrees, indicating the direction of your current view.

You may want to use 360-degree panning in the following situations:

• When you want to continuously pan around the VR environment.
• When you need to re-center your view within the video frame.
• When switching between VR display and the normal monitor view.

To pan and adjust the VR view, do the following:

Use either of these methods to change the view interactively during playback and while the video is paused.

Using Scroll Buttons

Along with the 360-degree Pan Scroll Dial, you can also navigate your 360° and VR videos using the Scroll Buttons. These controls are available in both the Program Monitor and the Source Monitor, ensuring consistent navigation across panels.

• Left/Right buttons – Drag horizontally to move the view sideways and reveal different angles of the scene.
• Up/Down buttons – Drag vertically to tilt the view and look above or below within the 360° space.

Scroll Buttons offer precise control over your viewing angle and are useful when you want to adjust perspective.

Add VR video effects and transitions

Premiere Elements offers a dedicated set of effects and transitions tailored for 360° and VR projects. You will find them organized under Video Effects > VR and 360 Video and Video Transitions > VR and 360 Video, making it easy to enhance and refine your videos.

Here is a list of the effects and transitions that are available, each with a brief description to explain its purpose and usage.

List of VR effects in Premiere Elements

• VR Blur - Applies a seamless blur across 360° or VR footage without creating edge artifacts - ideal for softening or focusing attention.
• VR Color Gradients - Applies smooth, customizable color gradients across the spherical view, useful for stylization or mood enhancement.
  
• VR De-Noise - Reduces grain and noise in low-light or compressed VR footage while preserving detail.
• VR Glow - Adds a glowing effect based on brightness levels, creating a dreamy or sci-fi look in VR environments.
• VR Plane to Sphere - Wraps flat (2D) elements like text or graphics onto a spherical surface, making them appear naturally embedded in VR space.
• VR Projection - Helps resize and stretch footage to fill frame. This removes seamlines and fits footage on monitor.
• VR Rotate Sphere - Rotates the entire 360° sphere, letting you reorient the viewer’s perspective without moving the camera.
• VR Sharpen - Enhances detail in immersive footage while maintaining spatial consistency across the spherical view.

List of VR transitions in Premiere Elements

• VR Chroma Leaks - Creates vibrant, color-rich leaks that transition between scenes with a dreamy, psychedelic effect, ideal for stylized or music-driven edits.
• VR Gradient Wipe - Uses a gradient map to control the transition between clips, allowing for custom directional or shape-based wipes.
• VR Iris Wipe - Opens or closes a circular transition that expands or contracts across the spherical view, ideal for dramatic scene changes.
  
• VR Light Leaks - Simulates natural lens flares and light spills that wash over the frame during a transition, adds warmth, softness, and a cinematic glow to immersive footage.
• VR Light Rays - Creates a burst of light that radiates outward during the transition, simulating a lens flare or sunburst effect in 360° space.
• VR Mobius Zoom - Warps the viewer’s perspective through a twisting zoom effect, giving a surreal, tunnel-like transition between clips.
  
• VR Random Blocks - Breaks the image into randomized 3D blocks that dissolve and reassemble into the next scene, great for glitchy or techy vibes.
• VR Spherical Blur - Applies a radial blur that intensifies toward the edges of the sphere, creating a smooth, immersive fade between scenes.

Three-axis video rotation

You can also mix and match different resolutions and stereoscopic/monoscopic layouts in the same sequence. When you mix various equirectangular VR clips into a sequence, some match the resolution and match the stereoscopic layout while some do not. Use the VR Projection effect and choose the appropriate layout and video to properly fill the frame. In addition, you may need to correct the zero angle because of improper camera placement or subject matter focus. You can correct this by choosing to rotate the video using pan, roll, and tilt controls.

You can also play this rotation back in real time, when doing this ensure that GPU acceleration is turned on. 

Spatial and Ambisonics Audio

What it is

Premiere Elements 2026 introduces support for spatial sound, letting you edit and export multichannel audio for immersive experiences. Spatial audio creates the illusion of sound coming from different directions - above, below, behind, or around you, just like in real life.

This is commonly used in:

• VR/AR experiences
• 360° videos
• Gaming
• Dolby Atmos and Apple Spatial Audio

It makes your projects more lifelike, as audio responds naturally to head movements or viewer orientation.

Ambisonics explained

Ambisonics is one format of spatial audio. Instead of just left–right channels, it captures sound from multiple directions using a special spherical microphone array. That audio is then encoded into multiple channels (commonly four for first-order ambisonics).

Working with Ambisonics audio

• When importing multi-channel audio files, import them as adaptive track audio.
• VR sequence presets are available under the Audio Track Mixer and in the Audio Effects panel.
• Use audio effects to map spatial sound for headphones or VR playback, so you can preview the immersive effect while editing.

Using Ambisonics Audio and AmbisonicS effects

Create a new project with Adaptive settings for Ambisonic sound

To use Ambisonic audio in a new project, you need to set up your sequence with Adaptive tracks. This ensures your project supports multichannel audio from the start, allowing you to add, edit, and apply Ambisonic effects. By default, new projects may be stereo or mono, which limits Ambisonic usage. Setting tracks as Adaptive unlocks up to 8 channels for spatial audio editing.

When you select an Ambisonics preset under VR in Sequence Presets, the Audio in Tracks settings automatically update:

• Mix to Multichannel
• Track Type to Adaptive

If you do not select an Ambisonics preset, the Tracks settings default to:

• Mix is set as Stereo
• Track Type is set as Standard

Follow these steps to create a new project with Adaptive tracks for Ambisonic sound:

How to use Ambisonic sound in imported clips

To apply Ambisonics audio and effects in your project, the clip first needs to be set as Adaptive. This is important because Ambisonic sound requires multiple audio channels to represent the spherical sound field. By default, a clip may be stereo or mono, which limits its use. Setting it as Adaptive unlocks support for multichannel audio, allowing you to work with up to 8 channels and use Ambisonic effects effectively.

Follow these steps to set your clip as Adaptive before applying Ambisonic sound:

Monitoring Ambisonics audio

You can use Premiere Elements to import Ambisonics media and accurately monitor it spatially using a pair of headphones. 

Align video and audio correctly

You can also adjust the position of both the video and audio spheres to the correct location.

Add VR audio effects and transitions

Premiere Elements offers built-in support for spatial sound, along with multichannel audio editing and effects to map 360°/spatial sound for headphone or VR playback. You will find these options under Audio Effects > Spatial Audio and Audio Transitions > Crossfade, making it easy to create immersive, directional soundscapes.

Here is a list of the spatial audio effects and transitions that are available.

List of Spatial Audio Effects in Premiere Elements

• Panner- Ambiosonics - This effect will enable user to position how audio sounds in 360 space. With suitable position of audio sources in 360° space, sounds will move naturally with the viewer’s head movements.
• Binauralizer - Ambiosonics - This effect converts ambiosonic audio to binaural, making it suitable for headphone listening. This helps simulate 3D positioning for immersive playback.
• Multichannel Audio Effects (in the Change Setting dialog box) - Standard effects like Reverb, EQ, and Compressor can be applied to multichannel ambisonic tracks, preserving spatial characteristics.

List of VR Audio Transitions in Premiere Elements

• Exponential Fade - Applies a logarithmic fade, making the audio fade in or out more gradually at first and then more quickly, great for dramatic or subtle immersive effects. New audio transition in PRE26 which can be used for VR and non-VR media.
• Constant Power - Creates a smoother, more natural-sounding crossfade by gradually decreasing the first clip’s volume while increasing the second’s, ideal for immersive audio transitions. Existing audio transition which can also be used for 360 and VR media.
• Constant Gain - Applies a linear fade between two audio clips. It changes volume at a constant rate, which can sometimes sound abrupt. Existing audio transition which can also be used for 360 and VR media.

Export a clip with Ambisonic audio

After editing your project with Ambisonic sounds and effects, you’ll need to export it in a format that supports spatial audio playback. This ensures your audience experiences the full immersive effect on VR headsets, 360° players, or spatial-audio–enabled devices.

This ensures your video and audio play back correctly in VR headsets, 360° platforms, or spatial-audio enabled devices.

Publish VR videos

To publish your VR Video on websites such as YouTube and Facebook:

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