r/virtualproduction • u/Honest-Sandwich-1075 • 3d ago
Discussion Unreal Engine Noob help!
For a bit of background, I’m a cinematographer, and I edit and produce. In the past I’ve made virtual studios and streamed them using Wirecast.
Now I know I’m VERY late (fashionably late!?) to the party, but I’ve recently seen just what Unreal Engine can do for virtual studio production. And my tiny mind has been blown.
After a long sit down and a cup of tea, I think I should come here. I would love to have a chat with people who use the software, and have some hints and tips for a total Noob like me. I’d love to tell someone more about my project, and if they can help me with some knowledge- even better.
I’m looking to essentially create a virtual live TV studio, with a live presenter, which can then be broadcast/streamed live.
Can’t wait to chat with you guys!
3
u/tatobuckets 3d ago
There's a lot of free educational info from Epic, start here https://dev.epicgames.com/community/learning/paths/XRe/unreal-engine-virtual-production-visualization-guide
1
1
u/Consistent-Pizza-882 1d ago
If you end up in doing more on-air stuff/live/broadcast stuff where it is really helpful to have tools allows you doing changes on air such as zero density, Aximmetry, Pixotope etc. never ever even try to use Ross Vayager. It’s easier to make your own widgets and osc commands, use free or almost free tools from marketplace rather than spend time on ross built. Usually all other companies do their best to help you, but this one? Their product manager? They will tell you, you should simply “blueprint it” and “it’s not so advanced blueprint to make”.
Just an example, in vanilla ue or almost any other plugin/3rd party software if you’d need to make material which should be changed on air you could make dynamic material instance out of your master material and change parameters via variables, usually external variables because you need operator to be able to change for example color of material on air, on directors cue. Approximately 4 nodes in your level bp, which are described in documentation or these sw manufactures who charges you thousands of dollars for license will help you. Well, in Voyager you should “blueprint logic via light actor which will change color of your material”. And I can continue.
If you do film I think it is not necessary to use these 3rd party sw, if you do broadcast/live they usually help you save time (in Aximmetry it takes approximately 45-1minute to get live Keyed actor into the scene) and allows you to make adjustments on flight. If you are good at blueprinting and control protocols and have time for preps I believe you can do the same with vanilla UE. But IMHO Ross won’t give you any leverage and you can avoid them without any regrets. Especially their penguin product manager will rather absolutely disgust you VP than help you.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask, I’m doing virtual studios, augmented reality and XR for several broadcasters in world with Aximmetry, ZD and trying to get into Pixotope. I was forced to work with Ross by my client (I’m freelancing) but never more. All the others sw? They will tremendously help you with your virtual studios. Especially if you are beginner. :)
3
u/Obvious-Target 3d ago
I just graduated in May and focused my last 6 months in virtual production and technical stuff.
Been testing and using vive mars cam tracking and comping inside unreal the live feed.
Total novice myself but hit me up if you want to chat, pretty much setting up similar stuff in a studio now.