LAS VEGAS -- (SPW) --

Z CAM and ASSIMILATE^® have joined forces to lower the threshold to entry for producing high-quality VR productions, making it a viable media for all content creators. Creating professional VR/360 experiences has generally been complex and costly, with the myriad decisions and tools needed for a VR workflow – cameras, stitching, and a mix of post-production software. Z CAM and ASSIMILATE have partnered to simplify and demystify VR content creation, offering the first, complete, integrated VR workflow with the Z CAM S1/SCRATCH VR Z Bundle: from image acquisition with Z CAM’s high-performance S1 Professional VR Camera, and stitching with its optimal WonderStitch software, through to a streamlined VR post-production workflow with ASSIMILATE’s real-time SCRATCH VR Z tools. The ultimate benefit is that content creators can now focus on their creativity and storytelling rather than wrangling the complexities of the technology.

Live Streaming: Stream live 360 from the Z CAM S1 through SCRATCH VR Z and easily use advanced, real-time features like inserting/composting graphics/text overlays, including animations, and keying for elements like green screen – all then streaming live to Facebook Live 360.

360 Post Production: Creating 360 video is also simplified because this product bundle offers an integrated VR workflow that makes it easy to switch back and forth between the S1 functions and the SCRATCH VR Z tools. SCRATCH VR Z can be used to do live camera preview, prior to shooting with the S1. Once the shoot begins with the S1, SCRATCH VR Z is then used for dailies and data management, including meta-data. No more removing of SD cards and copying; it’s a direct connect to the PC and then to the camera via a high-speed Ethernet port. Stitching of the imagery is then done in Z CAM’s WonderStitch, now integrated into SCRATCH VR Z, and then follow on with traditional editing, color grading, compositing, multichannel audio from the S1 or adding external ambisonic sound, finishing, and publishing to all final online or stand-alone 360 platforms.

“VR is proving to be a game changer in the way people enjoy entertainment, communicate, and learn. Our goal is to empower all content creators with a user friendly and affordable process for creating high-impact, high-quality VR experiences and 360 content,” said Kinson Loo, CEO at Z CAM. “The ease-of-use and price/performance value of the integrated S1/SCRATCH VR Z bundle opens the doors to all content creators and professional users in a wide variety of markets – entertainment, medical, engineering, education, simulation, games, and more. The focus shifts to pushing their creative limits rather than spending days piecing together a complex hardware/software solution.”

“To date, developing VR experiences has been about the technology, not the creation of content. And the market has been fragmented by a complex mix of cameras and software tools that often results in hours of frustration,” said Jeff Edson, CEO at ASSIMILATE. “By partnering with Z CAM to develop and deliver the first integrated VR workflow, we’ve eliminated the hassles of working in a new technology. Ease-of-use and affordability are now factors in the VR equation, which will drive the growth of VR productions, making VR/360 content a ubiquitous way to experience the world.”

“VR will be one of the best forms of communication and entertainment in the near future. Audiences become even more emotionally connected in a VR experience whether it’s a video game, narrative or journalistic content,” said Josh Diamond, VR producer at SuperSphere. “We are heavily focused on creating all forms of VR experiences and through that have worked with all kinds of cameras and software to get the highest quality results. We now own both the Z CAM S1 and S1 Pro cameras and have used SCRATCH VR for the post-production on several productions. This

Z CAM S1/SCRATCH VR Z integrated workflow is going to really help streamline our workflow, eliminate the back-and-forth hassles, and make things much easier.”  Learn more about Josh and Jason Diamond and SuperSphere at www.superspherevr.com.

Z CAM S1/SCRATCH VR Z Bundle:

• Z CAM S1 VR Camera  The feature-rich S1 makes a professional VR camera more affordable for all content creators, significantly lowering the threshold for the production of high-quality VR content in a wide range of applications and broadening access to VR experiences worldwide. Learn all about the S1 Professional VR Camera, WonderStitch, and technical specifications at www.z-cam.com/s1.
• SCRATCH VR Z  Creating VR/360 experiences requires focused attention to complex details and most usually fast time-to-market. The new real-time SCRATCH VR Z is the only professional VR end-to-end, post-production workflow with an all-inclusive, real-time toolset – data management, dailies, conform, color grading, compositing, multichannel and ambisonic sound, and finishing – for working naturally within a 360 environment, in any format, any resolution, now integrated with the Z CAM S1 camera. Expect the highest levels of productivity, quality results, and price/performance value. Learn about the product and see the tutorials at www.assimilateinc.com.

NAB 2017 Demos: Z CAM S1/SCRATCH VR Z Bundle

Learn how the Z CAM S1/SCRATCH VR Z bundle enables you to create amazing VR/360 videos and live streaming VR experiences. Visit the Z CAM booth, C1052.

Price and Availability

The Z CAM S1/SCRATCH VR Z bundle is available within 30 days of ordering. Priced at $4,999.00 (USD), the bundle includes the following.

1  Z CAM S1 Camera Main Unit

Z CAM S1 Lens Protector

Z CAM S1 Battery Unit (w/o battery cells)

AC/DC Power Adapter Unit

Power Connection Cables (US, UK, EU)

Quick User Guide

1    Z CAM WonderStitch license:  optical flow-based stitching feature that performs off-line stitching of files from Z CAM S1.

Z CAM WonderStitch requires a valid software license associated with a designated Z CAM S1 to use and is nontransferable.  

Quick User Guide

1    SCRATCH VR Z permanent license:  professional VR end-to-end, post-production workflow with an all-inclusive, real-time toolset – data management, dailies, conform, color grading, compositing, multichannel and ambisonic sound, and finishing, all integrated with the Z CAM S1 camera. One-year of support/updates.

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 Z CAM S1, 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.

Z CAM
Z CAM is a product line created by a team of innovative and creative people dedicated to develop high performance imaging products and solutions. The world's smallest MFT interchangeable lens mount 4K camera, Z CAM E1, was developed by the team and successfully launched in 2015. Leveraging on the complete end-to-end know how of VR and professional camera mass-production experiences, the team has successfully developed and launched its first professional VR camera, the Z CAM S1 at the end of 2016. Z CAM is well positioned to become a leader in the professional VR camera market.  Learn more at www.z-cam.com.