This server and all its accessories have been tested on hundreds of Virtual Production sets and is built to replicate the same capabilities that has been established on award-winning sets that ARwall has been working on since 2017. This is great for stages looking to add Virtual Production for their clients.
Our tools are creator friendly and require no previous Unreal Engine or Virtual Production knowledge. Our tools are built to work without the need for coding, scripting, or 3D design experience. Included with the purchase of the ARFX Pro Server System are 4 training sessions either virtually or in-person, and licenses to our ARFX Pro Plugin and ARFX Launcher with Starter Scenepack. In addition, for the first 90 days after purchase, you can request that ARwall support staff be available on-call remotely for up to 20 hours per month, to ensure that your test shoots or initial productions go smoothly. In short, this ARFX Pro Server System is the perfect turnkey addition to your stage’s videowalls.
In short, our technology can save a production time and money that, compared to traditional green screen VFX, would normally go to a small army of compositors and post-production effects specialists. Check out our Nightflyers Case Study that shows a savings of 62-73% off their VFX budget by using ARFX and an LED videowall instead. Perhaps more important is the saved time, you’ll have your finished shot with the live action and CG elements composited together as soon as you finish the take, no post-production required. That means the technology is a particularly good fit for those productions looking to significantly cut post-production cost and time.
First time setup will be as simple as adding an external display and tracker hardware to your ARFX Pro System Kit server, then starting the ARFX Launcher app or Unreal Engine with ARFX Pro Plugin. Once you're ready to shoot, it will take 15-60 minutes to configure the system for the first time, then 5 minutes each time afterwards. Once the Scenepack or Unreal Engine scene has been loaded, the in-engine menu and control system will guide you on calibration, hotkeys, button mapping, color, graphics, and more. The interface for selecting a backdrop will be familiar like using a camera menu or playing a AAA video game.
We recommend having these additional items ready, which are not included in the kit:
• A powered TV, projector, LED videowall, or other backdrop display that can receive HDMI or DP.
- If using an LED videowall, be sure that the LED processor (like the Novastar or Brompton) are already configured properly for the screen. We highly recommend working directly with the LED processor and display manufacturers ahead of time to achieve this.
• HDMI 2.1 (male) to DP 1.4 (male) cable or DP 1.4 (male to male) cable to connect the backdrop display to the ARFX Pro System Server
• An extra computer monitor and HDMI/DP cable that will not be used as the ARFX backdrop (for ease of editing and making changes when the backdrop is being used on set)
- Either HDMI or DP cable will need to plug into a DP 1.4 port on the server end
- HDMI/DP cable is recommended to be at least 25-50 ft in length depending on size of stage (fiber optic cables recommended for longer lengths)
• A rollable desk on which to operate the extra computer monitor, wireless keyboard (provided in kit), and USB hub (provided in kit)
• Power requirements:
- Enough power and ports to support the TV, projector, LED wall or other backdrop display being used (inquire with screen manufacturer for power requirements)
- 1 power strip with minimum of 2 AC ports for powering rollable desk for:
- 1 for Extra computer monitor
- 1 for USB Hub power
- 1 power strip with minimum 3 AC Ports for powering ARFX Pro System for:
- 1 for ARFX Pro System Server machine power
- 1 for LED processor (if using)
- 1 for Genlock Master Clock (if using)
- 4 open AC power ports (likely to be separate from each other)
- 1 each for the 4 base stations (if using Vive Pro tracking system)
- For LED videowalls, please consult a certified electrician on proper power requirements.
• Enough empty space to set up 4 base stations with at least 8 feet distance between each base station (if using Vive Pro tracking system)
• 4 - ¼ inch Ball Head Adapters to easily mount and manipulate base stations
- Recommended with Clamps or relevant mount depending on stage requirements
• ¼ inch adapter to attach Vive Pro Tracker (if using) to camera of choice
- Recommended hot shoe to ¼ inch adapter
• Suggested:
- Ethernet cable to connect ARFX Pro System Setrver
- Wi-Fi extender is included, but wired internet connection is highly recommended
- At least one 10+ feet AC power extension cable
- A table, chair, stool, or apple box to place the two puck trackers
- Xbox Wireless Controller and Microsoft Xbox Wireless Adapter dongle to connect to PC
- Genlock
- Genlock Master Clock such as:
- Blackmagic Mini Converter Sync Generator
- AJA Gen 10
- Rosendahl Nanosyncs HD
- Evertz 5601 MSC or newer
- BNC cables for connecting:
- ARFX Pro System Server and Master Clock
- Recommended 3 ft
- LED Processor and Master Clock
- Recommended 3 ft
- Camera and Master Clock
- Recommended 50 ft
The ARFX Pro Server System is powered by the Nvidia RTX A6000 professional grade GPU and the AMD Threadripper CPU, which allow unprecedented real-time graphics performance, as well as Genlock capabilities through an integration with the Quadro Sync Card II (included and installed), and support for multiscreen LED Volumes and curved screens. The server also contains a Decklink SDI video capture card providing future proof compatibility for AR and realtime chromakey. This professional kit also includes extra tracking and cabling hardware to support a stage space up to 40x40ft. Along with the ARFX Pro Plugin and ARFX Launcher software, server, and tracking equipment, the ARFX Pro Server System includes partner-level support that is unavailable with the home system.
Alternatively, the ARFX Home Studio is built using high-end consumer parts, and does not support multiscreen mosaicking or genlock/sync.
This is a complicated question, as the short answer is “No, for some instances and cameras genlock is not required.”However, we have found that in order to be commercially viable an LED virtual stage needs to be able to allow DPs and filmmakers to use the camera of their choice, and some cameras will absolutely require genlock, particularly those with rolling shutter. In addition, LED virtual backdrops generally perform better for in-camera work when they’re genlocked and synced to the framerate of the camera, resulting in more convincing imagery and motion.
We plan to implement a method for users to purchase individual components on our website soon!
