What We’re Doing

We’re using a RICOH THETA S to live stream 360 events to Facebook Live 360. The live 360 events can be viewed in VR headsets, on a mobile phone, or in a web browser.

What You Need

RICOH THETA S in live streaming mode

Mac or PC connected to the THETA S with a USB cable

THETA UVC FullHD Blender software from RICOH. Called Live-streaming app on their site. download

OBS or equivalent encoding software

Internet access with good upstream bandwidth

Facebook Live 360

Process

Set up UVC FullHD Blender. We’re assuming that you have the THETA working with THETA UVC FullHD Blender in live streaming mode. If you do not, refer to the live streaming guide for detailed instructions. Set up Facebook Live 360 Configure OBS with information from Facebook Live 360 event Stream from OBS to Facebook Live From FB Live, stream the event to your audience

Configure Facebook Live

Click on Create Live Stream

Select Location to Post

Show on your own timeline, a group, create an event, or broadcast to a page you manage.

Select 360 video

Make sure you check, This live stream is a 360 video

Get Streaming Information

On Facebook, get the Server URL and Stream Key

Configure OBS

Create Source

Configuration Overview

Target Resolution: 1080p at 2:1 aspect ratio (1920x960) • Frame Rate: 30fps

Target bitrate: 4 Mbps (megabits)

Keyframe frequency: 1 I-frame every 2 seconds (minimum) • Audio: AAC

Audio Sample Rate: 44.1 KHz

Audio Bitrate: 128 Kbps (kilobits)

Configure Video

Device: THETA UVC FullHD Blender

Resolution: 1920x1080 (if using driver above)

FPS: Match Output FPS (which is 30 fps)

Configure Stream

Under Settings -> Stream



Configure Video

Preview Live Stream on OBS

Note that if you do not see an equirectangular video in live streaming mode, please refer to the live streaming guide.

Start Stream on OBS

Go Live 360 Broadcast on Facebook

View Live on Facebook

Automatically Promote Saved Event on Facebook Timeline

Adjust Sharing, Expiration or Delete

Troubleshooting

Make sure the THETA is in live streaming mode.

