Germany’s first Sony Crystal LED VERONA video wall for virtual production has been installed in Munich.
The CreatiF Centre, a unique innovation laboratory for the development and testing of new technologies in film and television production at the University of Television and Film Munich (HFF), has integrated the Sony VERONA LED screen within one of its film studios.
The wall measures 4 x 2.5 metres and consists of a total of 40 modules, each equipped with four LED panels. It is intended to familiarise HFF students with the new standards in virtual production. The VERONA screen also serves as a technology platform for the CreatiF Centre – an HFF-funded research project – to research new approaches to the film production process, postproduction and the usage of content. The partner and system integrator for this project is media technology specialist Pro Video GmbH, based in Berlin. The planning was carried out by macom GmbH.
Rolling training and research laboratory
The virtual production wall enables digital backdrops and realistic backgrounds to be projected in real time on a huge screen surface, revolutionising conventional green screen technology. Through the live interaction of physical and digital elements, film scenes can be visualised directly on set, offering new opportunities for creative collaboration and cost efficiency. This is a milestone for the university, which is setting new standards in film production and underlining its role as a leading training centre for the next generation of creatives and filmmakers. The ten-square-metre Sony Crystal LED VERONA is installed on a rolling structure; this means that it can be used flexibly by students and researchers within the studio.
Deep blacks and maximum colour rendering
The VERONA is optimised for demanding virtual production applications. The HFF uses VERONA modules with a 1.5mm pixel pitch (ZRD-VP15EB), which can be controlled via the Brompton Tessera SX40 processor. VERONA builds on Sony’s leading technology for film and entertainment production and offers content developers, creators and AV distributors a combination of exceptional image quality, installation flexibility, ease of maintenance and low cost of ownership to meet the needs of today’s virtual production studios.
Sony’s newly developed Deep Black and Anti-Reflection surface technology delivers very high picture quality with an impressive brightness of 1,500 cd/m2 , a wide colour spectrum and a high refresh rate, complemented by extremely deep black levels that make it possible to create the most realistic virtual sets possible. The VERONA series uses high-performance LED driver ICs (integrated circuits) that achieve extremely high refresh rates of up to 7,680 Hz. This is significantly higher than other commercially available LED solutions for use in virtual production studios. A low refresh rate of an LED display can lead to flickering and image artefacts, which are particularly disruptive withtoday’s high frame rates in virtual production environments.
New opportunities for filmmakers
“The Virtual Production System allows us to explore the limits of technology in a very flexible way and to develop new innovative approaches,” says Simon von der Au, project manager of the CreatiF Centre. “This expands creativity and technical feasibility in film production. With this system, HFF Munich can train its students in state-of-the-art technology and prepare them for the future of work. At the same time, we are opening up completely new opportunities for filmmakers to realise their visions.”
Learn virtual production workflows
“We are delighted to have integrated such a modern virtual production system at HFF Munich,” says Slava Luft, Project Manager at Pro Video. “With this project, we are continuing our pioneering work in the field of studio LED walls and our ongoing support for the education sector throughout Germany. This innovative system gives HFF students and teaching staff the opportunity to learn and further explore both current and future virtual production workflows. Thank you to everyone involved for the great collaboration and enthusiasm in bringing this project to life.”
“We are particularly pleased that the first Crystal LED VERONA screen for virtual production in Germany is located at the HFF in Munich,” says Georg Armborst, Key Account Manager Media Solutions at Sony Europe. “This underlines HFF’s pioneering role and commitment to operating at a top international level and helping to shape future trends in the film industry. In addition, thanks to its modular design, our Crystal LED VERONA system offers flexible application options for the HFF and its students.”
The official launch of Sony’s Crystal LED VERONA at the HFF is scheduled for spring 2025.
