Distortion Studios Launches Bristol Virtual Production Space Powered by Stage Precision Software

Distortion Studios Launches Bristol Virtual Production Space Powered by Stage Precision Software

UK – Virtual production specialists Distortion Studios recently opened the doors to its new studio based in Bristol, supported by an in-house team of exciting digital arts specialists. The space, which houses a state-of-the-art studio stage with the latest and most reliable virtual production technology, can be used by anyone who wants to shoot virtual production content, as well as serving as a training and community center.

“At Distortion Studios, we want to play a part in upskilling the next generation of industry professionals locally,” says Nick Diacre, CTO at Distortion Studios. “So we’re looking to bring in technical people and run training in the space alongside the usual studio hire. So staying technologically agnostic was important to us.”

Diacre first met Stage Precision’s SP during the software’s early beta phase, which coincided with his exploration of XR settings using Disguise technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic. “SP stepped into a void when we needed to take our productions to the next level and be more versatile,” recalls Diacre. “With SP we no longer needed to program custom code from scratch to build integrations. This was a game changer.”

Having been an avid user and contributing to the evolution of the software since then, Diacre designed the VP workflow at Distortion Studio based on Stage Precision. Distortion’s commitment to remain platform independent allows adaptability to different tools and technologies based on project and client requirements. With Stage Precision at the heart of operations, Distortion Studios can switch between platforms, software and systems.

SP’s multi-faceted functionality serves as a “Swiss Army Knife” for Distortion’s VP studio, capable of handling complex workflows from manipulating and viewing camera tracking data to controlling switches and calibrating lenses. This level of control allows the studio to respond to different camera setups and configurations, in turn giving clients a “boundless” playground for creativity.

“Sometimes being tied to an ecosystem of products can be expensive and annoying; Stage Precision eliminates this problem,” explains Diacre. “Because the software is platform independent, there are no constraints on the technology we can use because there are many proprietary systems. This allows us to focus on creative execution rather than technical limitations or finding workarounds when someone wants to use a different camera.”

Going through a list of technologies, Diacre found that SP’s ability to seamlessly interface with all industry-leading VP and XR tools gave the Distortion team creative freedom and agility. “Unreal Engine, TouchDesigner, Pixera: all these can be connected in one interface in SP. The software does its job and outputs the correct data,” says Diacre. “As we see it, it’s a platform-independent pipeline for controlling our equipment.”

Having previously relied on programming to experiment and process data, the Distortion team found the programming-free environment that SP provides to be fast and flexible. “SP gives you more ways to approach problems and data,” continues Diacre. “It’s creating a world where we don’t have to rely on programming. We can quickly debug things, pull data and verify it. We can control any parameter or function from the SP.” For example, Distortion uses SP’s seamless integration with Stream Deck to control camera positions and lighting functions to create quick and easy system controls.

Stage Precision’s Shield plug-in for Unreal Engine 5 is also used in the studio. “Shield has become a powerful tool for us, taking work out of Unreal’s control,” says Diacre. “Our green screen workflow is increased because the Shield facilitates closer control and monitoring of the Unreal Engine. It’s not a complicated tool, but it’s exactly what we need.”

An indispensable asset in the Distortion Studios toolkit, Stage Precision software has revolutionized the traditional approach to virtual production and helped create a space where creativity can thrive. In addition, Deacre and the team cited the ongoing support from the Stage Precision team as a huge advantage.

“I can’t imagine running a studio without him,” notes Diacre. “It is the backbone of our operations and gives us the high level of control, flexibility and methodology we need to run a successful studio. It feels like a golden age for VP right now, and for us as a studio to have a direct relationship with Stage Precision is incredible.”

May 22, 2024