RecodeXR utilises Brompton LED processing for Manchester-based VP studio

RecodeXR provides turn-key services from their state-of-the-art virtual production studio in Manchester, UK.

With over two decades of expertise, they create world-class game-engine and VFX-based content for clients like ITV, Sky, Netflix and Manchester City FC and various advertising agencies. Their advanced LED volume, powered by Brompton Technology LED processing, is what makes this possible.

RecodeXR was co-founded by Technical Director Gareth Turner and Virtual Production Director Paul McHugh, who are passionate about producing high-fidelity visuals. “We can do anything from real time content creation, a fully serviced virtual production shoot, through to world-class visual effects and post-production. Being a full-service virtual production facility means we can offer an efficient and agile, integrated service to suit our clients’ production requirements,” McHugh proudly notes. The RecodeXR team are passionate games engine devotees with a heritage working in the games industry and 23 years producing high-end VFX, placing them in a unique position to produce ground-breaking XR content. They have also recently been appointed as ambassadors to Aximmetry Software.

The studio recently relocated to Space Studios, a purpose-built facility for high-end TV, film and commercial production, a move McHugh describes as ideal for scaling their resources across multiple stages. The LED setup features a 10m by 4m curved LED wall comprising Absen 2.5mm LED panels, purchased through PSCo, and is powered by two 4K Tessera SX40 LED processors and three Tessera XD 10G data distribution units.

“We were keen to use Tessera software features like Frame Remapping and Custom Markers, with the latter allowing us to do green frame insertion with one camera capture,” says McHugh. The team also utilises extremely powerful Scan computers, equipped with NVIDIA RTX 6000 ADA graphics cards, the fastest AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO processors, and 256GB of RAM. “These monster machines offer enormous rendering power. Combined with Brompton’s LED processors and Absen screens, they make the content look exceptionally good on-camera,” he adds.

When it comes to camera equipment, the team utilises everything from professional 3D camera rigs to GoPros and the Insta360 to create content. “We have just added a RED V-Raptor X™ to our kit for use on high-end productions,” says McHugh. “It was bought specifically to work with the Brompton LED processors to enable us to utilise Frame Remapping. At 8K res and with a huge dynamic range (17 stops), it is a really exciting addition.

“Our ethos is delivering a premium service that can be done more easily and cost-effectively. We look at every project with a critical eye and ask ‘Does it look good?’ and ‘Is there a way it can be done more effectively for our client?’ We are always looking for ways to improve. The current LED screen setup is perfect for the types of jobs our clients need, so we don’t require hundreds of square metres of LED panels. However, we have the capacity to scale up by using the Sound Stage room for larger configurations as and when our clients or projects demand it.”

With the screens calibrated using Brompton’s Hydra advanced measurement system, McHugh emphasises that they have been utilising Brompton HDR to achieve greater brightness and colour ranges with a higher bit depth, delivering more detail within the shadows and highlights to their clients. “Brompton LED processing gives us such fine control over the image,” he states. “It’s powerful and intuitive and offers colour correction with 14-way Colour Corrector, Colour Replace and Colour Curves, which enables us to make precise adjustments and corrections to the colours anytime we need it.”

Notable productions the team has worked on recently include the British comedy-drama television series Brassic for Sky Original, released in September 2024. “We did the season finale and it’s really good; McHugh exclaims. For this particular production, the team built the LED wall in a custom configuration they had never done before, and it had to be laser-level right. “The build was a custom shape to house a large bus from all angles. Not only was this incredibly effective but it meant that the large cast, with restricted availabilities, were able to shoot everything from within the comfort of one studio for this scene. It’s a huge plus to remove the need to travel to remote locations and work around the weather. We did a lot of testing and everything worked perfectly. The client was very pleased with the final result and so were we!” he notes.

RecodeXR will also be working on the world’s longest-running television soap, Coronation Street, for the third time, along with several commercial projects that will keep the team busy. “Using Brompton LED processing on Coronation Street means we have been able to produce the dark scenes they were after,” McHugh explains. “The dynamic range of the Absen panels with  Brompton’s Tessera SX40 enabled us to achieve the difficult to attain deep blacks. We also used Frame Remapping feature to enable a ‘safety-net’ for any changes to be made in post if required. Being able to offer both of these things really helps to bolster the power and flexibility Virtual Production offers to our clients.”

“We’re delighted to see RecodeXR employing Brompton LED processing at their new facility at Space Studios in Manchester,” concludes Patrick Goodden, Technical Sales Manager (UK and Ireland) at Brompton Technology. “Thanks to their team’s exceptional expertise and high-quality equipment, they can really lift the lid on the creative potential for their clients’ projects and deliver them at the highest possible quality.”