Smode Japan, a subsidiary of France’s Smode Tech, supported Sony PCL for Sony’s highly anticipated showcase of its Virtual Production solutions at CES 2024, the world’s largest technology event in Las Vegas, Nevada, the United States.
Smode Japan supplied and verified a SMODE XR system – Smode Tech’s dedicated solution for Virtual Production and extended reality (XR) projects – for Sony’s Virtual Production exhibit in their booth at CES 2024. The Smode Japan team was also on-site throughout the event.
At the heart of the XR system were SMODE software and a SMODE media server, which supported and complemented Virtual Production solutions with its large-scale LED display, Crystal LED. The CES partnership built on the already successful collaboration between Smode Japan and Sony PCL, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation specializing in technical solutions for AV contents creation for broadcasting and events, which took advantage of the capabilities of SMODE XR at its large-scale Virtual Production stage at KIYOSUMI-SHIRAKAWA BASE in Tokyo.
Yoshihisa Sukeda, Sony PCL’s XR coordinator for CES 2024, stated his preference for SMODE technology due to its intuitiveness and ease of use.
As well as being able to realize seamless scene changes as a media server, it also supports content production, making it perfect for show control at event booths like this year's CES, where real-time operation is important, he added.
According to Sukeda, the purpose of Sony’s Virtual Production exhibit in their booth at CES was to allow visitors "to actually experience Virtual Production and deepen their understanding of the technology". "At the same time", he added, "I wanted to provide a little surprise by incorporating set extensions". These set extensions were another piece of the puzzle made possible by SMODE XR, which enabled the Sony team to achieve free shooting angles regardless of LED size.
By leveraging XR technology, which allows users to merge the real and virtual worlds, SMODE XR allowed for the easy creation and calibration of immersive experiences for virtual production shoots, as well as TV shows, films, and live events. In addition to providing SMODE’s flagship real-time compositing capabilities, SMODE XR orchestrated LED, real-time content, and camera tracking to power virtual production environments. Content in SMODE XR could be created within third-party 3D engines, such as Unreal Engine or Notch, or SMODE’s internal engine, and it was compatible with the majority of tracking systems and technologies currently available.
Over the past 12 months, Smode Japan and Sony PCL collaborated on various projects, including a music video where SMODE was utilized for XR and AR effects, a short film showcasing an impossible car chase through the city using XR technology, and more.
Over the past year, Smode Japan has worked closely with Sony PCL at KIYOSUMI-SHIRAKAWA BASE in Tokyo and had the opportunity to work with their talented technical team on various projects. As we take our relationship to the next level, we are delighted that Sony has chosen SMODE XR for its virtual production showcase and look forward to supporting them in Las Vegas, ommented Smode Japan head Jamie Goodenough.
