Vizrt, Motion Analysis Partner On Motion Tracking

While virtual sets offer limitless creative options for live 2D/3D sets, the calibration and alignment of multiple cameras with the synthetic set can be a prohibitively complex and time-consuming process. But with its Viz Virtual Studio, Vizrt provides an intuitive user interface and compatibility with most major camera-tracking solutions.

One such camera tracking system is CamTrak by Motion Analysis Corp. (MAC), which provides reliable, user-friendly motion tracking of studio cameras and virtual set systems, such as Viz Virtual Studio.

Vizrt and MAC have entered a partnership to promote and market their combined offers. Visitors to MAC’s booth (SL3805) — at the 2011 NAB show from April 11-14 in Las Vegas — will see an HD virtual studio demonstration, featuring MAC’s CamTrak working with two Viz Engine 3.5 real-time rendering engines outputting HD-SDI graphics created in Viz Virtual Studio.

“This Vizrt/MAC solution provides a cost-effective, intuitive way for broadcasters to track multiple studio cameras and align each camera view with the 3D graphical scene so that proper perspective is always maintained regardless of how cameras are moved or switched during the live program,” said Tom Whitaker, MAP chairman-CEO.

CamTrak software tracks the placement of “marker arrays” on studio cameras and aligns that motion data in accordance with the optical axis of the virtual camera. That same motion data is automatically mapped to multiple cameras, which rove freely within a 40 to 50 foot area, to coordinate their views of the same 3D virtual scene.