Stream to 3D 6.2: Smoother 3D Viewing and Easier PC Screen Capture with Sound
Stream to 3D 6.2 makes watching ordinary 2D video in 3D smoother and setting up live PC screen viewing easier. It improves Temporal viewing, guides you through capturing a browser or another application with sound, and fixes problems with playback, filename handling and supporting-tool setup.
Watch PC screen conversion in Virtual Desktop
See the complete setup, from choosing the source display and preparing sound to watching live Depth Guided conversion in a Quest headset. This captioned example follows one session from start to playback.
Follow the illustrated walkthrough for the written steps and screenshots.
Example footage: FROM EARTH TO SPACE, by Free HD videos - no copyright.
What is new in 6.2
- Smoother, more comfortable Temporal viewing. Improved handling of scene changes, rapid motion and video frames reduces sudden jumps and intermittent visual glitches in both video files and Live Sources. Eye-view stabilization remains available to make moving footage more comfortable.
- Watch your PC screen in 3D with sound. The new preparation screens help you put the original video and converted output on separate displays, select the source application and hear its sound without also hearing the original twice. Audio and video are captured together to help keep them in sync.
- More reliable playback and seeking. Fixes to video reading and frame delivery address intermittent playback glitches. Improved filename handling helps files open correctly from local and network folders.
- Easier setup and repair. The Check tools button in Tools shows whether the applications you need are ready and explains how to fix a missing item. You do not need to install every optional player or plugin. Switching from a trial to a purchased edition is less likely to leave Stream to 3D looking in the old installation folder.
- Clearer controls. Selecting a player starts in its current folder with its filename filled in. Tool-check messages fit the screen, and screen-capture setup only offers Continue when the required displays are ready. The Live Capture dialog also has clearer, correctly fitting controls.
- Simpler ways to end playback. Close the MPC-HC window opened by Stream to 3D, or select Stop in Stream to 3D. Closing that player ends the conversion for that session and restores temporary sound settings. If a display disappears or changes unexpectedly, Stream to 3D can stop the affected session so you can reconnect and start again.
- Clearer help when a graphics driver needs updating. Before file conversion or streaming starts, Stream to 3D checks whether GPU video encoding is available. If the driver is incompatible, it asks you to update it. GPU encoding can make a substantial difference to conversion time and streaming performance.
Choose the picture and performance you prefer
Temporal and Depth Guided remain the two conversion methods. Temporal is the less demanding starting point for live viewing. Depth Guided uses AI to estimate depth and can create a different result, including in still or low-motion scenes. Both process your video locally on your PC.
In the Wizard, select Compare and recommend to check which settings your PC can sustain with the selected source. You can also choose a method directly when you already know your preferred setup. For Depth Guided, Balanced Quality and Performance is a useful starting point for live viewing. Maximum Quality uses more demanding depth processing and doubles the output frame rate, so it can require considerably more processing.
Convert lets you create a 3D file for later viewing even when the chosen settings are too demanding for live playback. Higher resolutions, upscaled output and higher frame rates increase conversion time and the size of the resulting file. Choose the format your intended player supports.
A more guided Virtual Desktop setup
Connect Virtual Desktop before starting PC screen conversion. Use two Windows displays in Extend mode: one showing the original 2D video and one showing Stream to 3D and its converted output. A physical display and a virtual monitor can be used; start with both at 1920 × 1080.
Select Play > Live Sources > Screen Capture.s3dsc, then follow the preparation screens. Leave Include sound on if you want audio, and choose the matching SBS or Top/Bottom mode in Virtual Desktop. Use the advanced audio settings only if the detected application or listening device needs changing.
Audio-delay adjustment is still available when a source needs it. Cameras and capture devices remain supported through their existing Live Sources setup. The new guided application-audio setup described here is for PC screen capture.
End playback before deliberately removing a display or putting Windows to sleep. After reconnecting a headset, check the display arrangement and audio devices before starting a new session.
Updating to 6.2
Use the latest update from the store where you purchased Stream to 3D. Close the application and its player before installation, then open Tools > Check tools and try a familiar video before setting up a live source. The application and converter version numbers can differ; this is normal.
No additional paid feature upgrade is needed for the improvements in 6.2. They apply to the features you already own. A separate purchase may be needed for a feature you have not bought, such as Depth Guided or Live Sources, depending on your edition. Updating does not require you to buy those features again.
Settings that suit your PC
Live conversion needs the PC to keep up for the whole viewing session. Source resolution, frame rate, output format, other applications, power mode and cooling all affect that. Use mains power on a laptop, keep its vents clear, and choose settings that stay smooth during normal viewing.
If playback slows after several minutes, try a lighter Wizard profile or a lower capture rate. A laptop's highest-performance mode can also produce more heat; a manufacturer-supported balanced or custom mode may give more consistent results. An external cooler may help some laptops, but it is not a general requirement. If the whole PC becomes unusually slow or unstable, check the machine and its drivers as well as the video settings. Normal video conversion and VR viewing are appropriate uses of a suitably capable PC.
Some protected video services prevent screen capture. Use a source that allows capture and check your own viewing setup with a short example.