Apple held a two-day seminar at its Cupertino developer center, presenting workflow updates for Apple Immersive Video (AIV).
Sessions focused on the full production pipeline, from the Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive camera through post-production and delivery.
Focus on Immersive Video Workflows
Unlike last year’s 3D-focused event, this seminar centered on AIV production. Apple repeated its commitment to Vision Pro amid market speculation, pointing to ongoing hardware updates and production investments.
Static Foveation Explained
Apple detailed static foveation, which maintains 40 PPD in the center of the frame while reducing detail in peripheral areas. Metadata stores foveation parameters so Vision Pro can reconstruct the image during playback. Upcoming versions of DaVinci Resolve Studio, Colorfront, and SpatialGen will support preset static foveation controls.
Live AIV Streaming in 2026
Apple confirmed that live AIV streaming launches with LA Lakers games in early 2026. Compressor will produce AIV HLS segments required for adaptive bitrate streaming. SpatialGen has already built foundational infrastructure with Apple’s early access.
Two AIV Formats
Apple clarified that AIV exists in production and delivery versions.
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Production AIV: RAW or ProRes video, uncompressed audio, full metadata, and optional .exr or .usdz elements. Files reach terabyte sizes.
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Delivery AIV: MV-HEVC at 4320×4320 per eye, 90–100 Mbps, APAC spatial audio.
This dual format creates friction because creators need early access to delivery-quality previews.
Image Quality Recommendations
Apple advised heavy denoising combined with sharpening and AI enhancement to reduce noise artifacts and preserve stereo consistency. Recommended production exports target 200–300 Mbps before final compression to delivery bitrate.
Spatial Audio Workflow
Apple Spatial Audio Format merges ambisonics, audio objects, and channels. The Positional Audio Codec compresses typical mixes to 512–1024 Kbps. Tooling centers on DaVinci Resolve Fairlight and Apple AAX plugins.
Motion Comfort Guidelines
Apple presented “motion intensity” as the key metric affecting user comfort. Smooth, predictable motion and limited object size reduce discomfort. visionOS 26 can dim or pause playback when detecting excessive motion.
DaVinci Resolve Workflow
Blackmagic demonstrated immersive capabilities including wireless media transfer, immersive preview, projection tools, disparity generation, and interpolation for stereo cleanup. Delivery presets include Vision Pro Review, Vision Pro Bundle, ASAF, and VR180 exports.
Production Insights
Apple’s internal creators emphasized game-engine previsualization, subject distance of 2–6 feet, and camera height around 130–150 cm for comfort. Clear viewer identity within the scene improves narrative coherence.
Business Considerations
Monetization remains limited due to small Vision Pro market size. Apple provides no funding programs. Viable models currently include location-based entertainment, enterprise work, content licensing, and premium custom content. Technical tools are advancing, but the broader business ecosystem is still developing.
