Welcome to Study 3
Before you begin capturing, please watch the onboarding call below. It walks you through everything you need to know to get started quickly and produce quality work.
Please Watch This First
We strongly encourage every provider to watch this onboarding call in full before starting Study 3. It will save you time, answer common questions, and help ensure your videos are accepted.
How to Use the Mango Portal
A quick walkthrough of the Mango portal so you know how to claim activities and submit your captures.
Study 3 Onboarding Call
Provider Testimonial
Hear from one of our providers who's having success with these captures
“Hi, my name is Ines. I'm from Raleigh, North Carolina, and I just made $970 working with CloudPano on data capture. Had a great experience — thank you so much for considering me. Can't wait for the next project. I loved working with you guys! It felt like a one-on-one experience; you guys were always available and willing to help, you adapted and were open to feedback, created a great platform and made the tasks fun and engaging. See you soon!”
Marcela Ines Rios Correal
Raleigh, North Carolina
Next Step: Camera Placement
Horizontal mount only — set this up before filming
The camera must be mounted HORIZONTALLY
The X5 must be turned on its side so it records horizontally (landscape) in a wide frame — do not leave it vertical (portrait) on the head strap. This requires the horizontal head mount adapter. Clips submitted in the vertical orientation will not be accepted for Study 3.
Vertical (portrait)
Don't mount the camera upright like this for Study 3
Horizontal (landscape)
Wide frame, camera turned on its side on your forehead
- Use the horizontal mount adapter on every shoot. The L-bracket rotates the X5 onto its side so the footage comes out landscape. Double-check the orientation in the app before you start recording.
- Avoid mounting the device too high. If the camera sits too high, your face ends up in the field of view (FOV). Keep it positioned so your face stays out of frame.
- Mount the X5 closer to your left eye rather than the middle of your forehead. This gives us the best first-person perspective.
- Keep the camera angled high. Angling it too far down will capture your own face and chest instead of the task in front of you.
Head Strap & Hardware Setup
You need all three pieces below to capture Study 3 correctly. The camera clips into the head strap, and the horizontal adapter turns it on its side for the landscape frame shown above.
Insta360 X5 Camera
The required 360 camera for all Study 3 captures
Buy on Amazon
Head Strap Mount
Required head mount for hands-free first-person capture
Buy on Amazon
Horizontal Mount Adapter
L-bracket that rotates the X5 on its side so Study 3 clips record horizontally
Buy on AmazonRentals Are Also Available!
Rentals are a great option for those who don't own the camera or don't want to purchase it. You can rent temporarily to complete the project and then return it. We've seen different rental services online, and we recommend them — sometimes as low as $50 for a week of rental.
Next Step: Know Your Activity
Study 3 is single-activity — one continuous 10-minute clip each
Every Study 3 capture is a single activity from the catalog, filmed as one continuous ~10-minute clip. Each activity lists its environment (indoor / outdoor), suggested objects, and any notes. Review your assigned activity carefully before you press record.
Check the requested counts before filming.Activities marked Maxed out have reached their quota and are no longer being accepted — pick one that's still open.
- Read your assigned activity end to end before you start filming — each one describes exactly what to capture.
- Capture one activity per clip, as a single continuous ~10-minute take.
- Check the activity's environment (indoor / outdoor) and suggested objects, and try to bring those objects into frame.
- Activities marked Maxed out have reached their quota — do not film those; they will not be accepted.
- Keep every clip solo — you are the only person in frame (see the no-faces rule below).
Critical Rule: No Faces In Your Captures
You must be the only person in frame
Our goal is to limit any faces in the captures.
Do not record other people. No faces, no group activities, no one sitting across from you. Plan every shoot so you are the only person in frame — film at home when others are out, pick off-peak hours for public activities, and keep the camera aimed at your own hands and the task in front of you instead of panning across a room.
Not acceptableOther people's faces in frame
Clips built around other people will be rejected. This includes family, friends, coworkers, and anyone seated or standing in your field of view.
CorrectOnly you and the task
Your own hands, the objects you're using, and the space in front of you. This is the framing we need for every activity.
If it happens anyway, that's okay. Someone may walk past you in a store or cross the frame in a restaurant — we will blur those faces in post. Just treat it as the rare exception, not the plan.
Next Step: Consent & Release Forms
Backup only — the goal is that no one else appears in your video
Study 3 is solo-only, and no one else should be a planned part of your video. Plan every shoot as a solo capture — you are the only person in frame. Public activities in the U.S. are allowed, and in those settings other people will naturally pass through the frame — that's okay and we will blur them. Just don't plan clips that are built around other people.
If another person is deliberately part of the recording, you must still collect a signed consent form from them before submitting. This applies to anyone whose image, likeness, or voice is captured — including family, friends, or bystanders. You must keep a copy for your records and send the signed form(s) over to us along with your footage. Recordings that include people without a signed consent form cannot be accepted.
Participant Consent & Release Form
Use this form for any adult (18 or older) who appears in your recording. Each adult participant must read and sign their own copy. Open the document, then go to File → Make a copy to create your own version — please do not request edit access to the original.
Open Adult FormParent / Guardian Consent Form (Minors)
Use this form for anyone under 18 who appears in your recording. It must be completed and signed by the minor's parent or legal guardian. Open the document, then go to File → Make a copy to create your own version — please do not request edit access to the original.
Open Minor FormNext Step: File Naming for Uploads
Make sure each video lands on the right team member
Two ways to make sure each video lands on the right team member. Pick whichever fits how you work.
Name on the slot
We put each person's name on the slot when we create them in bulk. You upload with the slot number only, and each video takes the name from its slot. Simplest path if your slots are already assigned.
Person number in the filename
Put the slot and the person in the file name and bulk upload tags it automatically.
V07-P12.mp4slot 7, person 12
The P is what matters
Every team member has a number in your account. Main is the main provider, then P1, P2, P3 and so on. Put a P in front of the number and bulk upload finds it — no manual assigning.
V07-P12.mp4V103-P4.mp4P12-V07.mp4 (slot comes first)video_07_person_12.mp4 (use the V and P prefixes)Assigning one at a time still works — open a slot, click it, and choose the team member inside. Use that for a handful. For volume, use the file name.
Next Step: Uploading Your Videos
Follow these tips for smooth, successful uploads
What's New
- Google Drive link uploads — You can now submit a slot by pasting a Google Drive file link right from the upload screen, alongside the regular file upload. Whichever is easier for you.
- Clearer error messages— If something goes wrong on the Uploads page, you'll now see a specific reason (e.g. "File never reached storage" or "Upload failed") instead of a vague message, so it's obvious what to do next.
Uploading with Google Drive
On the upload screen you'll see two tabs: Upload files and Google Drive. If you'd rather not upload directly, switch to the Google Drive tab and connect your account, then choose the 360 video for that slot. We import it on our servers, so you don't need to keep the tab open after submitting — making it a great option for large files or slower connections.
Single Video Upload from Google Drive
If you're using Google Drive, optimize your file names to help you map bulk uploads. For example, P1 goes to provider 1, P2 goes to provider 2, etc.
Example Bulk Uploading with Multiple Team Members
Tips to Avoid Upload Issues
- Keep the browser tab open until the upload hits 100%.
- Use wired or strong Wi-Fi — not a mobile hotspot.
- Plug in your laptop so it doesn't go to sleep.
- Don't move or rename the file while it's uploading.
- For Google Drive: share the file (not the folder) and set it to "Anyone with the link can view."
- Only upload .mp4 or .insv files.
Troubleshooting Guide
File never reached storage
Browser closed or internet dropped. Retry, and keep the tab open until 100%.
Upload failed
Network error. Confirm the file is still on your computer and retry.
Pending for too long
Upload was abandoned. Retry.
Preview failed
Wrong or corrupted file. Re-check it's the right .mp4 / .insv and re-upload.
Preview stuck on processing
No action needed; an admin will regenerate the preview.
Big file stuck
Don't close the tab, use wired internet, and keep your laptop awake.
"Folder links aren't supported"
Copy the link to the file, not the folder.
Drive link won't open
Set sharing to "Anyone with the link can view."
Delivery failed
No action needed; an admin will retry delivery.
Wrong file type
Only .mp4 or .insv files are accepted.
As always, reach out if you hit something not covered here and we'll help you sort it out.
Finished Watching?
Once you've watched the onboarding call, review the full Study 3 activity list and eligibility rules, then start capturing your assigned activities.
Having trouble? Contact us at support@cloudpano.com