Blurry 3D Videos

[flyegye]

Hey All,

I'm at the end of my rope and desperately need help. I've had the HTC Vive, Oculus Go, and Quest and they were all sharp to me without glasses. But when I got the Valve Index, things are not sharp. I scoured the internet and didn't find much info. I thought that I needed glasses for the Index. I wear glasses for short nearsightedness but did not have a need to wear it for the other VR headsets. So I got new glasses made just for the Index and it's still blurry.

Then I discovered the Super Sampling settings and that helped a little but it still looked bad. Then I discovered that unchecking "Enable Supper Sampling Override" and unchecking "Enable Advance Supersampling Filter" made Virtual Desktop look perfect. It's sharp and the color is awesome. 2D videos look draw-dropping. But 3D videos look like crap. It looks very low res. There's not much details or color there. Increasing the sharpness with Super Sampling just makes it look worse. Watching the 3D video in 2D looks tack sharp but switching to 3D made it look like crap.

I have tried SkyBox, Whirlygig, and Simple VR and it's the same story. 2D looks great but 3D VR videos look bad.

I have Nvidia 1080 and everything looks super sharp with the HTC Vive.

Does anyone know what I'm missing? I've been playing around with this thing for a month now and still can't figure it out.

Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Flye

[--ranXerox--]

well, I'm using the valve index on 500% supersampling on everything i can throw at it. I can see hair now.

[The Maddog]

Originally posted by flyegye:

Does anyone know what I'm missing? I've been playing around with this thing for a month now and still can't figure it out.

Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Flye

Sounds like you need the higher resolution HD versions of the video.


https://www.immersiveshooter.com/2017/08/31/explaining-360-video-resolution-how-measure-quality-comparisons/


Hear me out here.


I had some 360 videos which I thought looked fine on my Vive. Not perfect but I always shrugged it off to being down to the resolution of the Vive. I tried the same video on my index and it looked like someone had smeared vasaline all over my lenses. It really did look worse than it did on my Vive.

Then I remembered the Vive is 1080×1200 per eye where as the Index is 1440 x 1600 pixels per eye. What was passable on one screen type was not on another.

So the old 1 gig video VR file looked pretty bad on my Index but the 11 gig version is crystal clear. Dont even need to super sample imo but some people like to. Weirdly though, if I pop my old Vive on and try the HD version of the vid, it looks nearly the same as the original file, just a tiny bit sharper. Limitations of resolution I guess.

So yes, get the best versions / highest definition of a video you can now. Streamed youtube videos look awful but if you download the highest quality HD versions, they look fine to great. Sucks if you're limited with bandwidth I know but thats the only way to get the best from VR videos with the Index no matter what player you use . Don't phone it in with the smaller resolution files. You'll only be dissapointed.

And forget how it plays back in 2D as well. it's not scaled right for how it plays in your headset.

[--ranXerox--]

In with crap, out with crap. So true what mad stated.

[flyegye]

I think video quality is part of it. But the videos look tack sharp on the Quest but it's very choppy (4k to 6k) and crashes often. I think the Quest has the same resolution as the Index. So I think there's something that is not right.

But then again, the really high resolution stuff looks pretty good, but something just isn't right. The sweet spot is pretty small. I can can look around without moving my head on the Vive and Quest and pretty much every area is sharp but the Index is blurry if I look off the sweet spot.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

[The Maddog]

Originally posted by flyegye:

think the Quest has the same resolution as the Index.

Kinda but no.

The resolution per eyeball is technically the same but refresh rate and display tech is not.

Imagine you have two 28 inch TVs. One is 4K HD, the other is just a bog standard 60hz TV.

If you opt to watch a TV show that was broadcast at 60hz on either TV in theory it should look the same but in reality it will look fine on a 60hz TV but a bit naff on a 4k TV. However...a 4k blu ray movie would look awesome on the 4k TV but pretty average on the 60hz TV.

The point here is, if you want the best image quality, you have to play to the displays format. What looks great on Quest (or any other headset) may not look great on Index and as much as it sucks, I did not need my glasses with the Vive but I have with other HMDs (but resolution was not awesome on the Vive anyway compared to newer headsets).

I honestly cant tell you why things feel off or the sweet spot seems small as I'm having no issues at all. But then again, my PC, it's set up and my own personal experiance is not the same as yours.

Everything should work fine with no problems....in theory.

What PC specs are you running and do you have the newest drivers for your GPU and motherboard (yes, these really can make a huge difference)?

[Gracey Face]

Originally posted by flyegye:

I can can look around without moving my head on the Vive and Quest and pretty much every area is sharp but the Index is blurry if I look off the sweet spot.

Similar thing here. I had a Rift S before I got the Index (returned the rift because it was faulty and figured I'd go ham on an index). Rift S the sweet spot was kind of small, but once you got it set to sit on your face right you could look anywhere except the last 10% or so on the FOV and it was clear, and even that last 10% didn't blur too much.

On the index the sweet spot is almost nonexistent due to how small it is, and even if you've got it sat right looking anywhere other than center blurs like crazy, and due to the way the headset is set up I personally can't get it sitting on my head in a way where it stays on the sweet spot.



But then before I bought it I saw reviews saying the Index's sweet spot is relatively large and you get no distortion at all anywhere on the lenses. And MadDog seems to have a similar experience.

Maybe there's large technical differences between manufacturing sites (ie Factory A's headsets are better than Factory B's? I don't know.

[flyegye]

Hey guys, there's definitely something else to it. It can't be resolution, small POV, or bad vision because 2D videos look tack sharp and has so much details and colors. But VR videos just look very low res. Watching 1080p 2D videos look amazing but watching 4K-6K (that look amazing on my PC) videos looks crappy. Oversampling just make it sharp crap. There has to be something that I'm missing.

I have a Ryzen 3900X, Nvidia 1080, DDR4 4600 memory and the latest drivers so my PC is no slouch.

Can it be that it's automatically downsampling for some reason? And how can I force it not to downsample?

Thanks for the input!

[The Maddog]

Originally posted by Richard Stroker:

And MadDog seems to have a similar experience.

Maybe there's large technical differences between manufacturing sites (ie Factory A's headsets are better than Factory B's? I don't know.

Nope...Should have a decent enough sweet spot but I think I know what might be wrong with your vids.

Originally posted by flyegye:

Can it be that it's automatically downsampling for some reason? And how can I force it not to downsample?

Thanks for the input!

Kinda but no.


But for both of you, I think I might have the solution.

At least you can try this and see what happens. When I think back, VR titles ran like manure originally and I had to tweak some stuff for my Vive but it's the kind of thing I do on automatic and forgot about that takes me just moments to do. Hopefully these extra steps are all you need to make things work as they should for the videos.

So...try the following:


1) Select your VR player of choice (do not load it up). Just decide which one you want to use. Personally I use the one built into Virtual desktop but others should function the same.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/382110/Virtual_Desktop/

2) Install VLC media player if you don't have it.

https://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html

It has a pretty solid codec pack built in (which you need) and should update the codecs for whatever player you use and it has some VR functionality...kind of (still in beta last I read).

If you dont want to install VLC then you will need to follow step 3 (but I would suggest you do steps 2 and 3 anyway).

3) Install the latest K-lite codec pack.

https://codecguide.com/


This will add any missing codecs onto your PC.

4) Load up your program and try watching a video.


By all rights, this "should" fix any and all video player problems. It's not VR thats the issue, it;s how your video player is decoding them for your screens...I think!


If this does not work then the only thing left is to point me at an example video that is causing problems so I can see how it plays on my headset and if i can repeat the problem.

[Gracey Face]

Originally posted by The Maddog:

...

The blurriness problem we are referring to is omnipresent, even in the lounge/dashboard/whatever.

[flyegye]

Maddog,

Thanks for taking the time to try and help.

I want to say that installing the codec has fixed it but it could be a placebo effect. 2D is definitely sharper than 180 SBS. The odd thing is that it seems to start out as sharp at first then it just seems to get worse and worse (looks low res). It's as if my vision deteriorates the longer that I use the headset. But then I switch to 2D and everything looks sharp. I'm starting to wonder if my video card just can't handle it and slows down as it gets hotter.


Richard,

Same here. The dashboards look blurry and low res. But the odd thing is that Virtual Desktop app looks sharp. Just the fact that some things look good is telling me that it's not my vision or the headset. It has to be a setting or something.

Thanks for the input guys.
Flye

[The Maddog]

Originally posted by Richard Stroker:

Originally posted by The Maddog:

...

The blurriness problem we are referring to is omnipresent, even in the lounge/dashboard/whatever.

Well in that case then it;s nothing to do with the videos you are watching (which, in fairness is what I thought this was all about). If everything is is blurry at all times (no matter what you are doing in VR) then it is either your GPU's capabilities, your VR settings or how you are positioning the Index.

Since you've obviously messed with settings and tried every adjustment possible, by process of elimination I would have to guess it's the GPU because you where ok with the Rift-S.

Point being here is that the Rift-S is nowhere near as much of a raw power beast the Index is. Oculus opted to focus more on entry level hardware. The Rift S is much better suited for lower level GPUs and only runs at 80 hz compared to the Index's 90, 120 or 144hz options.

Obviously without knowing what GPU you have I cant say for sure though.

But I can say is that at default SteamVR settings, with a 2080 ti everything is clear in my experience.

Originally posted by flyegye:

I'm starting to wonder if my video card just can't handle it and slows down as it gets hotter.

This could be the answer. Easy way to find out is to download something like "speccy" and check your temps as the videos start to degrade.

https://www.ccleaner.com/speccy


You have to remember, the more your PC is doing, the more it's taxing the hardware causing reduced performance. If it is the GPU overheating then thats something you'll need to fix.

If it is going into the orange / red when in use then you can try shutting down background programs you don't need or improving cooling for your PC but you'll have to check to see if that is the cause first.

[flyegye]

Hi Maddog,

I have a Nvidia GTX 1080 and while it's playing a 4K 120fps 180 SBS 18GB (yeah it's pron) video, the GPU load is only 35-40% and the temp is about 65-70% and the video looks low res. The Virtual Desktop overlay looks tack sharp while the video looks low res and crappy color. I don't think it's the video card. I'm thinking about getting a 2080 Ti but it would suck to spend that much if it doesn't help much.

Thanks,
Flye

[The Maddog]

Originally posted by flyegye:

Hi Maddog,

I have a Nvidia GTX 1080 and while it's playing a 4K 120fps 180 SBS 18GB (yeah it's pron) video, the GPU load is only 35-40% and the temp is about 65-70% and the video looks low res. The Virtual Desktop overlay looks tack sharp while the video looks low res and crappy color. I don't think it's the video card. I'm thinking about getting a 2080 Ti but it would suck to spend that much if it doesn't help much.

Thanks,
Flye

Each to their own but I know now what the issue is.


Ok..first things first. Watch this first.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJpOvIHHF5g


This will explain why you are seeing what you are seeing with a 4k video and yes, this totally applies to non youtube videos.


Dont look for 4k vids. Look for 5k ones that are 1920p HQ (not standard 1920p).

The problem is, most VR videos are made with something like Google cardboard or gear VR in mind and those videos do not scale up correctly onto a Vive, Index or even Rift in some cases. They're also only 60fps most of the time.

Obviously I can not see the videos you are watching (and no offence, I don't want to) but there are videos out there are high def on the index and do look as good as you would hope.

Buying a new GPU isn't going to change much if anything for the videos (like I said..gotta find the right type) so at least you wont have to throw down cash there (though I highly recommend a 2080 ti for VR gaming).

I would suggest you maybe try something like the SLR app which (if reddit is correct) caters towards higher resolution videos and high def videos for people using PC Vr headsets rather than the videos designed for things like Google cardboard or daydream type units.

[Gracey Face]

Originally posted by The Maddog:

Since you've obviously messed with settings and tried every adjustment possible, by process of elimination I would have to guess it's the GPU because you where ok with the Rift-S.

No, it's not the GPU, it's the headset. If I dedicate a hand to holding the headset perfectly in place then everything except the edge distortion is clear, but of course problem there is that you use up a hand. Unfortunately the headset strap doesn't hold it securely and any minor movement becomes an immediate unusable image due to the very narrow "sweet spot".


The fact you say it's clear to the edge, whereas for me and I will have to wait for Fly it's not, either you're making things up or there's quality control issues in manufacturing, which we already know is true (thumbsticks anyone?).

Indeed, I distinctly remember reading about valve changing the manufacturer on thier screens because the original manufacturer ♥♥♥♥ the bed. Wouldn't be outlandish for similar dynamics to occur elsewhere. And then it's just the luck of the draw whether you get a good set or not (ie Saitek).

Originally posted by flyegye:

Richard,

Same here. The dashboards look blurry and low res. But the odd thing is that Virtual Desktop app looks sharp. Just the fact that some things look good is telling me that it's not my vision or the headset. It has to be a setting or something.

Thanks for the input guys.
Flye

Does the virtual desktop look good when facing directly at it only, or is it good anywhere on your FOV?

I ask as because it's simply a video projected on to a plane taking up a small portion of your FOV any issues in it will be less obvious.

[The Maddog]

Originally posted by Richard Stroker:

The fact you say it's clear to the edge, whereas for me and I will have to wait for Fly it's not, either you're making things up or there's quality control issues in manufacturing, which we already know is true (thumbsticks anyone?).

Where when did I say "clear to the edges"? I didn't, not once and not a single headset on the market is "clear to the edge".

But since you think I'm "making things up"...whatever. Sort it yourself.