As LED-based XR is becoming increasingly used, Brainstorm has developed new features that allow for easier, faster and more integrated creation of immersive XR content specifically designed to be displayed on large LED videowalls. With these features, Brainstorm’s clients will see their XR content creation significantly accelerated when creating in-context AR in LED walls, XR Set extensions, or even backgrounds for film and drama production. Suite 5 has a dedicated interface for creating XR installations, which allows for modelling any kind of video wall, including curved, shaped and corner installations, and map the desired 3D content in such model. This facilitates the creation of virtual AR content to be directly displayed and seen by the camera with the correct perspective at all times. Also, by taking advantage of the Layers and Stacking features of InfinitySet, different renders, even with different resolutions and aspect ratios, can be mapped in a canvas of any size and aspect.

In addition, the unique integration of InfinitySet and eStudio with Unreal Engine is now even tighter, allowing for the inclusion of fully editable Brainstorm scenes and templates within an Unreal project, and vice-versa. This is especially useful when creating AR projects within Unreal, which benefit from Brainstorm’s advanced data-driven graphics and broadcast workflows compatibility. This is coupled with the acclaimed UnrealControl feature which supports editing the Unreal Projects directly within InfinitySet’s familiar interface with total ease and control of blueprints, objects and parameters. Suite 5 also features a new, redesigned internal chroma keyer that includes a new mode that embeds the Unreal Engine chroma keyer directly into InfinitySet. Brainstorm Suite 5 is fully compatible with Unreal Engine 4.27 and will be with UE 5.

“Brainstorm has been deeply involved with Augmented Reality and Virtual Production for decades now, and Suite 5 is the result of applying our expertise to the new display methods that broadcasters and filmmakers are introducing into their workflows” says Hector Viguer, Brainstorm’s COO and Engineering Director. “The advanced features of Suite 5 will allow any user to comply with any kind of VR/AR/XR requirement, regardless of how complex it is, and leaving them free to choose the production workflow they feel is best for their production, whether LED walls or chroma keying. We want to be agnostic so we can provide a solution for any requirement.”

Some other features are included, like improved HDR workflows, and better integration with robotic heads from manufacturers such as Panasonic or Sony. Also, Edison, the company’s virtual studio in a box product designed for live events and presentations, will also benefit from some of the above plus its own features as a result of its upgrade to V5.

Brainstorm Suite 5 will be available on March 1st, and will also be demonstrated at NAB 2022 at the Brainstorm booth N2608.

InfinitySet takes full advantage of the latest hardware developments found in NVIDIA RTX GPU technology, to deliver the best rendering quality available in the market. In addition, by using NVIDIA RTX GPUs, InfinitySet can deliver real-time ray tracing, which provides a much more accurate rendering, especially with complex light conditions. Ray tracing offers more natural, more realistic rendered images, which is essential for photorealistic content generation.

Using these technologies along with other advanced rendering capabilities like the Combined Render Engine with Unreal Engine, PBR materials and HDR, InfinitySet can create virtual content that can’t be distinguished from reality. This opens the door for content providers to use InfinitySet to create amazingly rendered backgrounds and scenes for drama or even film production, significantly reducing costs while opening new sources of revenue. For other broadcast applications such as virtual sets or augmented reality, InfinitySet provides unmatched, hyper-realistic quality both for backgrounds and graphics.

InfinitySet performs at its best within complex broadcast environments, working as a hub system for a number of technologies and hardware required for virtual set and augmented reality operation, such as hardware chroma keyers, tracking devices, cameras, mixers and many other. This puts InfinitySet firmly at the centre of the virtual operation as well as transcending the real-time broadcast boundaries by entering the drama and film markets by providing real-time virtual production capabilities.

Héctor Viguer, Brainstorm’s CTO and Innovation Director, says: “Because of Brainstorm’s continuous innovation, InfinitySet is ahead of the game in terms of flexibility, feature set and content quality. Its latest features, coupled with the amazing hardware innovations provided by NVIDIA, provide unseen possibilities for advanced content creation and virtual production in broadcast, drama and film”.

InfinitySet will also showcase a new module to enhance presentations by creating advanced AR content using material from any presentation tool, such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Adobe PDF, and including keyed talents. For News, Shows or other content involving talents and additional AV material, this module simplifies content production by creating a new interface that minimises complexity in the setup and display of the different assets that integrate the presentation/show: slides, pictures, movies, PDF or PPT presentations, 3D objects and many more, including Aston projects and forms.

InfinitySet takes full advantage of the latest hardware developments announced by NVIDIA, such as NVIDIA RTX GPU, to deliver the best rendering quality available in the market. By using NVIDIA RTX GPUs, InfinitySet can deliver real-time ray tracing, which provides a much more accurate rendering, especially with complex light conditions. Ray tracing offers more natural, more realistic rendered images, which is essential for photorealistic content generation.

Using these technologies, along with other advanced rendering capabilities like the Combined Render Engine with Unreal Engine 4.22, PBR (Physically Based Rendering) materials or HDR (High Dynamic Range), InfinitySet can create virtual content which can’t be distinguished from reality. This opens the door for content providers to use InfinitySet to create amazingly rendered backgrounds and scenes for drama or even film production, significantly reducing costs while opening new sources of revenue. For other broadcast applications such as virtual sets or augmented reality, InfinitySet provides unmatched, hyper-realistic quality both for backgrounds and graphics. Aston, Brainstorm’s 2D/3D motion graphics creation, CG and playout, also takes advantage of the PBR materials, so its compositions can be integrated seamlessly into AR environments created by InfinitySet, matching the image quality obtained with InfinitySet.

Rendering quality not only delivers an enhanced visual experience for the viewers but also represents a significant cost saving feature when using virtual scenes that can’t be distinguished from reality. And going far beyond broadcast, InfinitySet allows for using this technology to get substantial savings in the costs of filming and post-production, ensuring the adjustment of different shots (chroma, camera movements, background tracking, etc). Once everything is prepared in preview, InfinitySet can export the camera data, tracking and movement of the set to enter postproduction in the final format required, either 4K or 8K, with full quality.