Month: May 2020

Whether used in film, live broadcast, or corporate conferences, Mo-Sys’s technology helps production teams to create an immersive experience for the audience. In the latest edition of our on-going LiveLab series, we spoke to Netick Group Evolution and Disguise about how they’re using our StarTracker system as part of an engaging LED wall workflow. In case you missed it, here are the main takeaways. 

xR – The future of production? 

Italian-based company, Netick Group Evolution, uses Mo-Sys’ StarTracker system as part of their xR (extended reality) stage, which can be used across film, broadcast, and in-person live events. 

Their LED wall workflow draws on three separate systems in order to produce an augmented set that’s as enveloping for the audience as it is usable for hosts, presenters, and actors. The three systems that overlap to provide this solution are camera tracking (by Mo-Sys), graphics engine (by Notch), and media server playback (by disguise). 

By seamlessly linking up these three components and pairing with a high-quality LED wall, Netick offers producers an incredibly versatile and reliable tool with which to create virtually-enhanced production. 

An alternative to green screen…

An xR set is a viable alternative to using a green screen for virtual production. In essence, such a set simply comprises three LED walls at right-angles, forming a corner space. This area then serves as the central position for the live presenters or actors, with the background being displayed on the LED screens behind and extended beyond using virtual production. 

In order to reliably track the absolute position of cameras in the space, the Mo-Sys StarTracker system is used. Retro-Reflective ‘stars’ are attached to the studio ceiling (or floor) and a sensor is attached to the top of the camera. Within a matter of minutes the cameras are calibrated to the LED walls and virtual environment, and shooting can commence. 

While StarTracker can work with both green screen and LED walls, the latter offers some interesting benefits: 

• Actors and presenters can actually see and respond to virtual environment elements displayed on the LED screens. 
• The lights, shadows, and reflections rendered on the LED screens are real.
• There’s no ‘green spill’ around actors or presenters 
• There’s no need for ‘comfort monitors’ in studios, reducing costs and increasing space. 

The uses of xR sets 

Aside from representing a viable alternative to green screens in professional studios, xR sets may also prove particularly useful to a range of other sectors in the coming months. With social distancing rules likely to be maintained for the foreseeable future, they could be utilised in everything from live university lectures to corporate presentations and religious ceremonies. By allowing presenters to visualise and interact with a computer-generated environment, xR sets provide a convincing, engaging way of communicating with different types of audiences. 

To watch the webinar in full, please click here.

If you’re interested in the potential of xR sets for your production, please get in contact with one of our expert technicians. They’ll be able to advise on your specific needs and provide a bespoke solution that allows you to create engaging, computer-augmented broadcasts. 

Exploring LED-Wall Technology for Real-Time Production with Netick Group and disguise

In this LiveLab Stories webinar we explore real-time immersive video environments and how they can transform your live productions.

With insights from Netick Group, disguise and Mo-Sys, we take a closer look at the entire workflow and understanding how our camera tracking, Notch’s real-time rendering engine and diguise’s media server all come together for LED-wall workflows.

Located in the heart of Universal Studios, Florida, DAVE School develops the skills of budding Visual Effects, Production, and Game Design professionals. It draws on the experience of its award-winning alumni as well as the latest developments in production technology to give students a head-start once they enter industry. 

A recent project put together by Dave School and On-Set Facilities, saw students from the Game and VFX programmes collaborate to produce a sci-fi-inspired movie trailer, titled Deception. Shot exclusively with the Mo-SysVP workflow, the 2-minute trailer depicts a high-energy intergalactic battle scene in which the protagonists are ultimately stranded on a deserted, barren planet. 

Realtime virtual production 

DAVE School students employed real-time virtual production methods in the making of Deception in order to reduce time spent in post-production, and improve the overall quality of the trailer. The entire studio set-up and Mo-Sys VP system was put together by virtual production specialists On-Set Facilities and Mo-Sys’ own virtual production engineer, Marcus Masdammer.

Real-time virtual production relies on various technologies to give filmmakers the ability to shoot and edit virtual or augmented reality scenes whilst on location. Effects, graphics, and animations can all be created before shooting takes place, meaning that producers and actors can actually visualise a near-finished scene during filming and as soon as they’ve completed it on set. This doesn’t only give a greater level of creative freedom to all involved, but reduces production time and costs as post-production editing is minimised. 

Among the technologies required for real-time virtual production are camera tracking and graphics plug-ins. 

Virtual Production – Unreal Engine

The graphics for DAVE School’s Deception trailer were rendered in Unreal Engine (UE). As one of the world’s most advanced graphics engines, UE is regarded as the gold-standard across the film and gaming industry.

When used in films, however, UE traditionally only enters the picture during post-production; many virtual studios use lower quality, proprietary graphics systems during filming before adding UE later on. 

Mo-Sys VP helps productions to cut out this later editing phase by acting as a direct interface between camera tracking systems and UE. With this technology, producers are able to integrate the power of Unreal Engine into their realtime VR shots, gaining a better impression of the final product and again, saving time and money. 

In the case of DAVE School’s production of Deception, Mo-Sys VP was paired with our own StarTracker system. Using retro-reflective ‘stars’ attached to the studio ceiling and camera-mounted sensors, StarTracker allows cameras to calculate their absolute position in a computer-generated environment. Syncing seamlessly with Mo-Sys VP, StarTracker further enables real-time production techniques and reduces the resources spent on the post-production phase. 

Next-gen virtual film production

DAVE School is dedicated to providing its students with the best preparation to enter the film industry. Whilst drawing on the expertise of its veteran tutors, it also integrates the latest production technologies into its curricula. Nowhere has this been more evident than in the making of Deception. Relying on StarTracker and Mo-Sys VP, students learnt that real-time virtual production not only provides producers with unparalleled creative freedom whilst on set, but also significantly reduces costs and time spent in post-production. 

Mo-Sys is leading the way in camera tracking and virtual production techniques. If your organisation is looking to integrate VR production into its curricula, or you’d like to explore the potential of this technology more generally, please get in touch with our team.