LONDON—Ncam has begun shipping Ncam Reality 2021, an advanced real-time tracking solution for film, broadcast and live events, that enables users to track on any camera, lens or rig regardless of the environment and opens up new possibilities for producers wanting to add virtual graphics to productions.

“COVID-19 forced all of us to rethink how content gets created, from safety requirements to the logistics of working from home,” said Nic Hatch, CEO of Ncam. “The beauty of virtual graphics is their flexibility. With the right tracking equipment, you can visualize live XR, real-time CGI, set extensions and more directly in-camera, on-site or remotely, giving productions a way to stay on track during trying times.”

Ncam Reality provides everything needed for real-time camera tracking. The solution consists of an Mk2 Camera Bar, Mk2 Server and Ncam Reality 2021 software. The Mk2 Camera Bar, built on modified Intel RealSense hardware, offers advanced tracking indoors and out. It is lightweight and fits on any camera. Ncam Reality’s hybrid sensors handle every tracking technique, the company said.

Seamless integration with Unreal Engine and native support for LED walls lets Ncam Reality allow VFX teams to explore virtual locations, character designs and shot options with the director and cinematographer much earlier in the process, it said.

By creating a 3-D point cloud of the surrounding environment, the software can automatically determine the optimum tracking algorithm for any point in time, Ncam said.

Ncam Reality can be incorporated into a live or pre-taped production in a matter of minutes. It opens up the world of smart stages and XR to broadcasters in the smallest package possible.

With a new GUI and simplified controls, Ncam Reality’s software is even more approachable for live and specialty productions. All data is processed locally, eliminating complicated setups, the company said.
Ncam is booking demos online.

LAS VEGAS—At the 2016 NAB Show, Ncam will demonstrate groundbreaking advances in photorealistic augmented reality enabled by tapping into the real-time power of Epic Games’ Unreal Engine technology. Ncam’s technological capabilities—including camera tracking and augmented reality—will be shown working with Epic Games’ Unreal Engine to demonstrate real-time photorealistic augmented reality using multiple, freely moving cameras.

For episodic television, it creates production efficiencies by slashing post-production time and budgets because many or all graphics elements can be added in real time. For movies, photorealistic pre-visualization will give directors and cinematographers greater confidence in their camera moves and cast placements.

Photorealistic augmented reality also benefits from Ncam’s Relight and Depth Data. Ncam will demonstrate how Relight measures and models light in a scene, allowing virtual elements to cast shadows on actual objects and respond to lighting changes based on the surrounding environment in real time.

With Depth Data, which is the latest addition to the data output of Ncam’s camera tracking, augmented reality graphics will allow presenters to walk around and through virtual graphics in such broadcast applications as sports analysis.

The 2016 NAB Show takes place in Las Vegas, April 18-21. Ncam will be in booth C10345. For more information, visit www.nabshow.com.

Ncam PTZ camera tracking system

LONDON – Ncam will use IBC 2015 as the launching pad for its new entry-level camera tracking product. This PTZ system is designed for broadcasters who want to use virtual graphics and augmented reality but only need pan, tilt and zoom functionality.

The new PTZ product provides similar functionality as Ncam’s Live 7D, which uses a lightweight sensor bar attached to the camera to track natural markers in the environment. The difference is the PTZ product only works on fixed position cameras. It works on any camera, tripod or pedestal and it can also use encoded lenses to add focus and zoom to the Ncam data stream. This new Ncam camera tracking system also is able to detect movements of the camera itself, not just the camera head.

Ncam will have its PTZ product on display, along with other broadcast and film products, at booth 11.E55 during IBC 2015, which runs from Sept. 11-15 in Amsterdam.