ERR Estonia Use RT Software and Stype Grip

Going on air during the run up to Christmas 2014, ERR’s concept was to bring discussions to life by inserting virtual scenes into the real studio. As presenters discuss a topic, the camera pans to show a real scene relevant to the discussion as if they are part of an infinitely extended studio. RT Creative provided two scenes in response to ERR’s brief, a sunny Beach Scene with rolling waves and a wintry Forest Scene complete with falling snowflakes and a beautifully lit village in the distance.

StypeGRIP provided the camera tracking data via one of their kits fitted to a Jimmy Jib, allowing good freedom of movement of the studio camera around the virtual graphics.  RT Software’s tOG-VR inserted the virtual scene into the studio with the sand and snow merging seamlessly with the real studio floor. In order to look convincing to the eye, the real and the virtual needed to be locked together at all times. This was achieved by combining the accurate camera tracking data available from Stype with tOG-VRs ability to handle lens distortions as the camera zoomed in and out - the results over the entire wide range of camera movements  possible with the jib were flawless.

Risto Sirts, ERR CTO said “Not only were we impressed with the way tOG-VR was able to render such complex and realistic scenes, but also by the support given by RT Software’s creative team in the design and implementation. With the design done at RT Software, all that was required was a two day visit to ERR from one of their team and we were confident enough to go to air the following week”.

Stjepan Cajic, Stype CEO said “This job was special for us since it was the first one on which RT software used our new protocol and the new way of calibrating the lens. We are glad that people are starting to grasp the value of great calibration performed inside the Stype kit. It enabled the creative guys to focus all of their energy into creating the effects and not having to worry on locking the graphics to the floor. No one had to mention the tracking which made  us very happy. Thumbs up to RT software experts for a quick support of our newest development”.

Whilst RT Software and Stype integration has already been used for on air productions in the Southern Hemisphere,  this is the first use in Europe.

About ERR:
Estonian Public Broadcasting Company (ERR) came into existence on June 1st 2007; this followed the adoption of the Law on Public Broadcasting Quantity 18 January 2007, which established the Estonian Radio and Television unification arising out of the Estonian National Broadcasting.  ERR delivers both radio and television programs nationally with a myriad of news, entertainment and sports content.

About RT Software:
RT Software is a provider of leading real time graphics solutions worldwide. The product set spans CG, template driven 2D and 3D graphic overlays, election and newsroom graphics, specialist sports graphics and virtual studios. From its beginnings as an off shoot of the BBC 3D Graphics Department in 2004, it now has installations from Iceland to New Zealand and includes the BBC, Sky Sports, Fox Sports, BT Sport and many other Tier 1 broadcasters in its growing customer base.

About StypeGRIP:
StypeGRIP provides camera tracking hardware, software and integration for real-time augmented reality and virtual studio broadcasting. Our flagship product, the Stype kit (system for tracking the camera position in 3D space), is currently being used by industry’s leading edge broadcasters such as Fox Sports Australia, the BBC, BBC Sport, Viasat Sport and many others. StypeGRIP is able to provide turnkey solutions for clients looking to spice up their broadcasts with real-time 3D graphics, sports analysis and much more!