ASSIMILATE achieves another virtual reality (VR) breakthrough with its SCRATCH VR Suite 8.6, the new version of its real-time post-production tools and workflow for VR/360 content. With added GPU stitching of 360-video and ambisonic-audio support, as well as live streaming, and more. The SCRATCH VR Suite 8.6 now enables VR content creators – DPs, DITS, post-production artists – with the only professional, streamlined, end-to-end workflow for VR/360 content on the market.

See how it works at https://vimeo.com/202186457, with additional VR tutorials at the movie: https://vimeo.com/156395178 and the sequel: https://vimeo.com/162653407

SCRATCH VR Suite 8.6 Highlights

Creating VR/360 experiences requires focused attention to complex details and most usually fast time-to-market. SCRATCH VR Suite 8.6 simplifies the VR post-production process with one-stop shopping – a single, streamlined VR/360 workflow that includes all the needed functions for creating impactful VR/360 experiences – saving enormous amounts of time, hassles, and money.

The SCRATCH VR Suite 8.6 workflow automatically includes all the basic post-production tools: dailies, color grading, compositing, playback, cloud-based reviews, finishing, and mastering.

New Features & Functions for the Only Complete End-to-End VR Workflow on the Market:

  • 360 stitching functionality: load the source media of multiple shots from your 360 cameras into SCRATCH VR and easily wrap them into a stitch node to combine the sources into a equirectangular image.
  • Support for various stitch template format, such as: AutoPano, Hugin, PTGui and PTStitch scripts.
  • Either render out the equirectangular format first or just continue to edit, grade and composite on top of the stitched nodes and render the final result.
  • Ambisonic audio: Load, set and playback ambisonic audio files to complete the 360 immersive experience.
  • Video with 360 sound can be published directly to YouTube 360.
  • Additional overlay handles to the existing 2D-equirectangular feature for more easily positioning 2D elements in a 360 scene.
  • Support for all headsets: Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR, HTC Vive, and Google Cardboard, and other headsets when announced.

Greatly Increased HDR Support – Several new features and functions make working in HDR just as easy as SDR.

Increased Format Support – Added support for all the latest formats for even greater efficiency in the DIT and post-production processes.

More Simplified DIT Reporting Function – Added features and functions enables even greater efficiencies in a single, streamlined workflow.

User Interface
Numerous updates have been made to enhance and simplify the UI for content creators, such as for the log-in screen, matrix layout, swipe sensitivity, Player stack, tool bar, and tool-tips.

Real-World VR Project in SCRATCH VR Suite 8.6: For a recent 360 video shown at CeBit March 2017, harvest Digital Agriculture’s (http://www.harvest-technology.de) finishing artist and workflow supervisor, Julian Martinz, had to composite a lot of 2D graphics and videos onto a 360-video that was recorded with the Nokia OZO. “With SCRATCH VR 8.6, along with the Oculus Rift headset, the entire on-line grading and approval process could be accomplished in one software workflow. The ability to view the color grading in VR, in real time, and the possibility to playback ambisonic audio enabled a very straightforward, fast, and immediate working process with the director. Had we done the on-line grading another way, we would need to have used multiple software tools; do a lot of correction loops; render the work done several times; and import the video in some playback-device for approval. The SCRATCH VR Suite 8.6 gave us a single, streamlined workflow that allowed us to save enormous amounts of time, meet our deadline, and achieve the client’s creative goals.”

See SCRATCH VR Suite demos at NAB 2017!

  • Z-Cam: C1052
  • Bluefish444: SL10021
  • The Studio, B&H: C10415, April 24, 11:15 – 11:45 – Live presentation by Alex Regeffe, VR post-production manager at Neotopy (Paris), discusses his unique post-production approach to creating impactful VR post experiences.

Watch for more noteworthy announcements to come pre NAB! 

SCRATCH VR Suite - Real World VR Projects

“Invisible” VR scripted series, produced by Jaunt VR; VR post-production by Local Hero
Directed by Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Edge of Tomorrow), “Invisible” is the first major scripted series designed specifically for 360-degree VR. See the videos at https://www.jauntvr.com/. Local Hero post-production facility in Santa Monica, CA has developed a VR pipeline with the SCRATCH VR Suite.

“Timeliness: Continuum Recon”, produced by Jaunt VR; 360/VR post production by Dave Franks
You are blasted back to July 20, 1969 at NASA Mission Control where the Apollo 11 moon landing is just minutes away. With special “ghost mode” technology you can help “Protect The Past. Save The Future.”

https://www.jauntvr.com/title/430426b74d

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzNHxjVqVfM

“Pure McCartney VR”, produced by JauntVR; VR post-production by Dave Franks

“Pure McCartney VR is a five-part series of stereoscopic virtual reality (VR) experiences, produced by Jaunt Studios (www.jauntvr.com) Each is a unique vignette of McCartney discussing the origins of his most iconic music and other anecdotes. http://www.assimilateinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/McCartney_CS.pdf

“Yael Naim VR Concert”, produced for Unibail-Rodamco; VR post-production by Alexandre Regeffe at Neotopy

The VR mini-concert features leading French artist, Yael Naim. The concert was shot specifically for VR viewing and has run as a roadshow throughout Europe. Neotopy in Paris, France, has developed a VR pipeline with the SCRATCH VR Suite.

http://www.assimilateinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Neotopy_CS_v1.pdf

“Expedition Antarctica”, directed by Luc Jacquet; VR post-production by Alexandre Regeffe at Neotopy

“Expedition Antarctica” is the first return to Antarctica by famous French director Luc Jacquet, who directed the documentary “La Marche de l’Empereur” in 2006, which won the Oscar at the Academy Awards in 2006.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7tWNwhSocE

Price and Availability
The SCRATCH VR Suite 8.6 available immediately at $1,195.00 USD. Learn more about the SCRATCH VR Suite at http://www.assimilateinc.com/products/scratch-vr/.

About ASSIMILATE
ASSIMILATE provides real-time post-production and workflow tools that have proven essential to productivity and creativity in the creation of 2D/3D/VR studio and independent feature films, documentaries, TV episodes, and music videos. The SCRATCH product line, running on Windows and OS X, equips directors, DPs, on-set DITs and post-production artists with the latest, state-of-the-art, cost-effective tools and workflows they need to simplify the post-production process for challenging productions. SCRATCH is resolution independent, supporting nearly all formats, including ARRI RAW, KineRAW, Sony F5/55/65 and Cyber Shot s700, Phantom, Panasonic Varicam 4K, Canon C300/C500, Canon 3DGoPro, as well as enhanced support for all RED cameras. SCRATCH is the only post-production tool to support native Kinefinity RAW (KRW and DNG) files. SCRATCH enables mixing and matching of any camera format, resolution or color space (including ACES) on the same timeline. Additionally, ASSIMILATE offers the only professional end-to-end VR workflow and tools – including stitching, ambisonic sound, and live streaming -- in the SCRATCH VR Suite. Learn more at www.assimilateinc.com.