Paris (France), 10th January 2024 – Smode Japan, a subsidiary of France’s Smode Tech, is supporting Sony PCL for Sony’s eagerly anticipated showcase of its Virtual Production solutions at CES 2024, the world’s largest technology event in Las Vegas, Nevada, the United States.

Smode Japan supplied and verified a SMODE XR system – Smode Tech’s dedicated solution for Virtual Production and extended reality (XR) projects – for Sony’s Virtual Production exhibit in their booth at CES 2024. The Smode Japan team is also on site throughout the event, which returns to Las Vegas from 9th to 12th January 2024.

At the heart of the XR system are SMODE software and a SMODE media server, which support and complement Virtual Production solutions with its large scale LED display, Crystal LED. The CES partnership builds on the already successful collaboration between Smode Japan and Sony PCL, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation specialising in technical solutions for AV contents creation for broadcasting and event, which takes advantage of the capabilities of SMODE XR at its large-scale Virtual Production stage at KIYOSUMI-SHIRAKAWA BASE in Tokyo.

Sony PCL’s Yoshihisa Sukeda, the company’s XR coordinator for CES 2024, says he favours SMODE technology for its intuitiveness and ease of use. Additionally, “as well as being able to realise seamless scene changes as a media server, it also supports content production,” he adds, “so it is perfect for show control at event booths like this year’s CES, where real-time operation is important.”

According to Sukeda, the purpose of Sony’s Virtual Production exhibit in their booth at CES is to allow visitors “to actually experience Virtual Production and deepen their understanding of the technology”. “At the same time”, he adds, “I wanted to provide a little surprise by incorporating set extensions.”

These set extensions were another piece of the puzzle made possible by SMODE XR, which enabled the Sony team to achieve free shooting angles regardless of LED size.

By leveraging XR technology, which allows users to merge the real and virtual worlds, SMODE XR allows for the easy creation and calibration of immersive experiences for virtual production shoots, as well as TV shows, films and live events. In addition to providing SMODE’s flagship real-time compositing capabilities, SMODE XR orchestrates LED, real-time content and camera tracking to power virtual production environments.

Content in SMODE XR can be created within third-party 3D engines, such as Unreal Engine or Notch, or SMODE’s internal engine, and it is compatible with the majority of tracking systems and technologies currently available.

Over the past 12 months, Smode Japan and Sony PCL have collaborated on various projects. These include a music video where SMODE was utilised for XR and AR effects, a short film showcasing an impossible car chase through the city using XR technology, and so on.

“Over the past year, Smode Japan has worked closely with Sony PCL at KIYOSUMI-SHIRAKAWA BASE in Tokyo and had the opportunity to work with their talented technical team on various projects,” comments Smode Japan head Jamie Goodenough. “As we take our relationship to the next level, we are delighted that Sony has chosen SMODE XR for its virtual production showcase and look forward to supporting them in Las Vegas.”

Sony is exhibiting on stand #21800 at CES, which takes place at the Las Vegas Convention Center 9–12 January 2024.