eMotimo's Unreal Engine, Virtual Production Beta Test: An Exclusive Look from thejohnsonbros.tv
We've had the incredible opportunity to beta test the firmware for eMotimo's Unreal Engine, Virtual Production integration since May 2023. This integration merges eMotimo's flagship Spectrum ST4.3 with Virtual Production using Unreal Engine 5, ushering in a new realm of possibilities for the creative landscape.
As we delved into testing, the integration brought Virtual Production right into our studio without the need for a large led wall. The setup was the eMotimo Spectrum ST4.3 + Dana Dolly + 85" Sony TV + Windows PC. It’s truly a game changer allowing one to go everywhere without having to go anywhere. We can have never-ending sunsets over a beach or grapes in season in a vineyard without ever having to worry about the weather, travel costs, transportation logistics, permits, lodging, equipment. The list goes on, and it's solved with the perfect "level" or world for Unreal Engine. The possibilities are endless. This merely touches on the basic fundamentals. We've been testing an array of remarkable features that we plan to showcase on our instagram.
When you combine eMotimo with Virtual Production, which is still very new and relies on multiple plugins that need to be setup in a precise manner to cohesively work, everything begins to feel like the Wild West, where maps and guides are few and far between. While the eMotimo Team has always been an invaluable support resource, it's crucial to remember that you're now working with Unreal Engine and its new Plugins for Virtual Production, software not created by eMotimo. While eMotimo provided rough setup documents for connecting to ST4.3, they empowered us to find solutions to get it all to working cohesively and intend to have complete setup guides available before the public launch.
Many companies use the term 'democratize Virtual Production' while offering tracking systems for over $5,000 with limitations on additional functionalities like Focus, Iris, and Zoom. We believe eMotimo will be the company to truly democratize Virtual Production with their upcoming Sa2.6 which already promises Unreal Engine support for those that already own DJI Gimbals and the simple addition of a Network adapter to ST4.3 customers. The biggest barrier will be computing power. Unreal Engine is compatible with Apple's MAC but, It's not recommended for Virtual Production, forcing users to look to a Windows PC, and the hardware requirements are entirely dependent on the level/world you have loaded.
We invite you to follow TheJohnsonBros.tv on Instagram to check out our test footage of eMotimo's Virtual Production. A link to our account can be found below.
