Full Sail University First in U.S. to Adopt Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive Camera

Full Sail University has become the first university in the United States to integrate the Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive camera into its educational programs. Designed for Apple Immersive Video production, the camera allows for high-end stereoscopic 3D content capture, fully optimized for the Apple Vision Pro headset.

Developed by Blackmagic Design in partnership with Apple, the URSA Cine Immersive is purpose-built for spatial video. With dual 8K sensors, a custom stereoscopic lens system, and wide dynamic range, it delivers immersive video quality that places viewers inside the scene.

“For decades, we’ve educated students via powerful professional technology, inspiring them to create, build, and explore in their chosen fields of study. Simultaneously, Full Sail has propelled our graduates and the industries they serve by enabling them to lean forward, embracing the very technologies these industries utilize and innovate within,” said Isis Jones, CIO of Full Sail University. “The Spatial Computing Innovation Lab is the latest evolution of our longstanding educational mission.”

The URSA Cine Immersive will be deployed across programs including film, digital cinematography, and emerging technologies, giving students hands-on experience from camera operation to editing in platforms. 

What is the URSA Cine Immersive Camera?

To recognize the import of Full Sail’s acquisition, it helps to understand what makes Blackmagic URSA significant. 

• Dual 8K sensors, each capturing 8,160 x 7,200 pixels per eye. That’s ultra-high resolution stereoscopic 3D.
• Stereo/immersive vision via a custom dual-lens system, which is designed to span nearly 180 degree field of view (horizontally and vertically) and to produce images in stereoscopic pairs. 
• High frame rates up to 90 fps in stereoscopic 3D/immersive mode, giving smoother motion and better realism in immersive playback. 
• Wide dynamic range (16 stops), which helps to preserve detail in shadows and highlights — essential in immersive content where lighting and depth can shift abruptly. 
• Built-in 8TB media storage, high-speed connectivity (10G Ethernet, WiFi), and workflow support including Blackmagic RAW format and software integration are all part of the package. 

What this means is that creators now have tools capable of matching a device like Apple Vision Pro with high resolution, wide field of view, stereo content, smooth motion, and accurate color/detail across light and dark. This helps students gain traction in film, live events, education, and digital storytelling. 

Full Sail University has long positioned itself as a leader in programs involving film, digital production, virtual/augmented/reality, and immersive technologies. The addition of the URSA Cine Immersive camera gives it a tangible edge in several areas: 

1. Curriculum relevance & hands-on experience.
2. Leadership in immersive storytelling.
3. Student preparation for new roles.

By incorporating this technology into its curriculum, Full Sail is offering students direct access to tools shaping the future of media creation. 

This move not only prepares students for careers in an evolving media world, but also opens the door to industry collaboration in content development.