Real-time Playback via Configuration Wizard

Updated 4 September 2026

Configuration Wizard overview

The Configuration Wizard selects settings for the chosen 2D video, Windows PC, media player and viewing device. In Release 6, Play can compare compatible Temporal and Depth Guided options or apply either method directly.

Use an ordinary 2D video file for the first test. A camera, capture device or PC screen is a Live Source and adds device and capture-rate considerations.

Before starting

Connect a laptop to mains power.
Install or select a supported player under Settings > Tools. MPC-HC is the default.
Choose On under Settings > Wizard when you want to review each question.
Use a short, familiar source without encoded black borders for the first test.

Select the source and viewing route

Select Play, choose the 2D video, and review the source notes. The Wizard then asks the questions needed for the selected player and viewing device. Device presets set the nominal per-eye output resolution; they do not connect or configure the headset, display or viewing application.

Stream to 3D Play source browser with the licensed Pexels demonstration video selected — Choose an ordinary 2D video file for the simplest first playback test.

Stream to 3D Configuration Wizard introduction explaining On, Auto and Off modes — The Wizard explains how guided, saved and manual settings are applied.

Configuration Wizard reporting the selected video's resolution, aspect ratio, frame rate, duration, bitrate and streams — Source characteristics inform the settings used for this video.

Configuration Wizard media-player selection with MPC-HC selected — Select the installed Windows player that will show the converted output.

Configuration Wizard offering the current device, VR or MR headset, XR glasses, 3D projector, 3D TV and other device types — Choose the viewing-device family or retain the current selection.

Configuration Wizard VR and MR vendor selection showing Meta, Valve, Pico, HTC and VIVE, Sony and Other — For a VR or MR headset, choose its vendor before selecting the specific device.

Configuration Wizard showing current Meta Quest devices and an option for earlier Oculus devices — A named device applies its nominal per-eye display resolution.

The selected player and display route must support the resulting Side-by-Side or Top-and-Bottom layout. If unsure, start with a Half format and select the matching 3D mode in the viewer.

Configuration Wizard asking whether the selected player and display route support Full or Half stereoscopic layouts — Choose Full only when the complete player and display route supports it.

Choose how the conversion method is selected

Configuration Wizard offering Compare and recommend, Use Temporal and Use Depth Guided for Play — Compare and recommend measures real-time performance; either direct method choice skips proving.

Compare and recommend tests a bounded, quality-ranked set of compatible settings against the selected video and current PC.
Use Temporal asks for the applicable Temporal quality, depth and comfort preferences, then applies them directly.
Use Depth Guided asks for its Quality or Performance processing mode, then applies it directly.

Direct selection means that Stream to 3D has not proved the choice can maintain real-time playback. Depth Guided also requires feature access, the installed component and compatible graphics support.

The comparison measures the complete playback graph using the selected source, output layout, resolution and frame-rate target. It starts with preferred high-quality candidates and tests lighter choices only when needed. The source video remains on the PC.

Configuration Wizard assessing Temporal and Depth Guided real-time playback options — The Wizard evaluates compatible candidates until it has enough evidence to make a useful recommendation.

The recommended option appears first. The nearest measured alternative is also shown so you can make an informed choice. Measured frame rate is performance evidence, not a score for perceived 3D quality.

Configuration Wizard recommending Depth Guided Quality and showing a measured Temporal alternative — A Depth Guided recommendation with the nearest measured Temporal alternative still available.

Configuration Wizard recommending a Temporal option and showing a measured Depth Guided alternative — The result is source-specific, so another video or PC load can produce a Temporal recommendation instead.

A near-target result can change between runs because of background load, power mode and temperature. Repeat the comparison under representative conditions when a result is close to its target.

Use Depth Guided directly

Choose Quality for the preferred Depth Guided output or Performance when reducing processing demand matters more. Output-rate interpolation can follow either processing mode, so a doubled player frame rate does not indicate that Temporal was used.

Configuration Wizard offering Depth Guided Quality and Performance processing modes — Direct Depth Guided selection applies the chosen processing mode without real-time proving.

Use Temporal directly

The direct Temporal branch asks for the preferred quality, depth and comfort/stabilization settings. Stronger depth and stabilization choices can require more processing, but the direct branch intentionally does not measure them.

Configuration Wizard offering Temporal quality and performance preferences — Quality controls output layout and whether the sample frame rate is doubled.

Configuration Wizard offering Subtle, Balanced and Intense Temporal depth preferences — The depth preference controls the Temporal depth effect.

Configuration Wizard offering Comfortable, Immersive and Wild Temporal stabilization preferences — The comfort preference controls Temporal motion stabilization.

Review the settings

The report identifies the method that will actually be used, the output layout, resolution and output frame rate. A compared result includes measured evidence; a direct result explicitly says that real-time performance was not measured.

Configuration Wizard Report summarising a proven Depth Guided playback recommendation — The Summary keeps the selected playback settings concise.

Select Details for the source analysis, recommendation rationale, player and device decisions, and other measured option.

Detailed Configuration Wizard report showing source analysis and measured playback evidence — Details explains the recommendation without crowding the main report.

Configuration Wizard report showing Depth Guided Quality selected directly without performance proving — A direct-method report distinguishes selection from a proven real-time result.

If no option meets the target

The Wizard can continue to lighter candidates, including sample-rate or reduced-layout options. If no tested choice meets the real-time target, it explains that result rather than presenting an unproven setting as recommended. You can return and choose a direct method for controlled experimentation, reduce the source or output demand, or use Convert where there is no real-time deadline.

Configuration Wizard explaining that no tested playback option met the real-time target — An unproven option remains an explicit user choice, not an automatic recommendation.

Start playback

Select Play in the report. Stream to 3D starts the supported player selected in the Wizard in full-screen automatically. Select the matching stereoscopic layout in the headset, desktop-to-XR application, 3D display or projector.

Pexels sea-turtle footage playing as a Top-and-Bottom stereoscopic video — The licensed Pexels source playing in a Top-and-Bottom stereoscopic layout.

On, Auto and Off

On shows the applicable questions for each workflow.
Auto reuses the saved Play policy and answers without showing the questionnaire. A saved comparison runs proving; a saved direct method does not.
Off uses the current manual Settings without performance proving.

Play and Stream store their method policies independently. See Settings - Wizard and Choosing Temporal or Depth Guided Conversion.

Return to Stream to 3D Documentation.