The pioneering toolset unites LED and camera technology to create an innovative solution for the virtual production, broadcast, and live production spheres.
Technology does not remain static as new innovations and applications are constantly being discovered. The emergence of virtual production has led ROE Visual to tailor their high-end LED screens and to enter into partnerships with other companies such as disguise, Epic Games and ARRI to meet the needs of television and film productions.
“It was and is important to understand how their technology works and where improvements can be made and have the best effect,” states Erik Baum, who works in business development EU, ROE Visual Europe. “Some challenges are only being experienced on set and with the cooperation between hardware and software manufacturers, we aim to improve these upfront. We learned a lot and we’re still learning. Cooperations are key to provide best solutions and best service and support to our clients. It’s topics like sync between servers, LED and camera, or color management and avoiding artefacts. The list is long and we keep on improving.”
The development approach has changed to meet the needs and requirements of virtual production. “[It has gone] from ‘what it looks like to the human eye’ to ‘what it looks like to the camera and what the needs are to reduce needed work in colour grading and post,’” notes Baum. “It’s about the direct result in the in-camera recording.”
The latest initiative for ROE Visual, in cooperation with its partners AGS and Megapixel VR, is GhostFrame, a virtual production, broadcast, and live production toolset that allows for multiple content feeds to be played out that can be selectively captured by the camera while the human eye only sees one image.
“Multiple images have been used on perimeter boards for years, but a flicker occurs going quickly between images,” says Baum. “This has been improved for XR stages and film. The more often the LED screen refreshes, the less likely the camera captures artefacts. However, there is a maximum amount of data that you can run on a fibre which can result in the loss of colour depth.”
In partnership with AGS, and leveraging the processing expertise of Megapixel VR, GhostFrame was developed as the solution that makes your production workflow much more efficient. “Even today we are surprised by what potential clients are seeing what they can do [with GhostFrame] in their business,” remarks Baum. “The biggest steps are to be made with broadcast and film. You can put a camera on a screen and capture four independent images. This can help in the studio where the audience sees one thing and you can capture something else in the camera. You can put the teleprompter in so that it is visible for the host and a few folks in the studio, but the camera doesn’t see it.
“People don’t want to shoot in front of a green screen anymore. You can shoot live content that is only 60 percent finished and just capture the green and put it in your own way after it is finished. Or having talent action in front of live-rendered content and still being able to make changes afterwards when simultaneously filmed on green with a second camera; that’s already doable.”
More new specific products for film and virtual production are being developed by ROE Visual. “We’re working on higher contrast, less reflections, more colour space, more features, hardware interfaces for faster and better data transmission, and software interfaces to share metadata and allow system control over one user interface,” states Baum. “ROE Visual has always strived for offering best in class products, best in class service and support, and to listen carefully to its customers. We’re continuing this approach by completing our team with people who are not necessarily coming from the AV and LED industry but from virtual production, film and colour science.”
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GhostFrame is a collaboration between AGS, Megapixel VR, and ROE Visual. Joining forces and technological expertise, they have formed GhostFrame and made it possible to deploy the technology in the field. Exclusively available for ROE Visual LED panels and HELIOS processing, you can use your existing hardware and a GhostFrame license key to release this multi-patented touch of magic.
GhostFrame will be showcased with live demos during the IBC Exhibition in Hall 7, Stand C11.
Roe Visual is debuting the Ruby 1.9BV2, a high-performance, broadcast-grade HD-LED panel, at IBC.
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This article is sponsored by ROE Visual
Words by Trevor Hogg
