Vega Project Uses Blackmagic Design Workflow for XR Studio in Hilton Tokyo

Blackmagic Design announced today that a number of Blackmagic products, including the URSA Mini Pro 12K digital film camera, Smart Videohub router, HyperDeck Studio 4K Pro disk recorders and ATEM live production switchers, are being used in Vega’s XR Production Studio located on the 3rd floor of the Hilton Tokyo. Vega Project Co.Ltd., an AV/IT system integrator based in Hong Kong, is responsible for the construction and operation of this studio.

Vega Global conducts research on cutting edge technologies such as XR production, and focuses on AV/IT infrastructure development, mostly in Asia. In 2022, the company handled the installation of an XR studio on the 3rd floor of Hilton Tokyo in Shinjuku, as well as a large LED wall in the 4th floor event space. Through this system Vega can support online, hybrid and in person events simultaneously. Vega studio is responsible for the production and studio operation sides of large events that span both spaces.

“Our team tests the potential uses of new XR technology as soon as it is released. We also handle tasks such as shooting, editing and streaming video content, including interviews, commissioned by partner companies,” said Daisuke Kuroda, a studio operator and technical assistant for Vega Studio.

Nicholas Bockman, the technical director at Vega Studio, described the studio: “Through an introduction from the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan (BCCJ), we had the opportunity to set up a studio at the Hilton Tokyo for business purposes. We collaborated with the Hilton Tokyo and other internal teams to plan events and manage AV systems in the studio and other event venues. The Kiku Ballroom, on the 4th floor, features one of the largest curved LED walls in a domestic hotel, and it is possible to live stream from our studio to the event space upstairs. ”

The facility is equipped with ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K switchers, Smart Videohub 12G 40×40 routers, URSA Mini Pro 12K, two URSA Mini Pro 4.6K and multiple Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Cameras. Additionally, they use SmartView 4K, SmartScope Duo 4K, multiple HyperDeck Studio 4K Pro for playback and recording, as well as three DeckLink capture cards for monitoring.

Kuroda explained, “Global corporate clients use this studio for video shoots, with the content being streamed to offices worldwide. Besides this studio, we also have a studio in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, with a similar equipment setup, primarily used for research and development purposes. We own about 30 Blackmagic Design cameras in total.”

Additionally, the company has constructed a mobile production kit, which is equipped with a SmartView 4K, ATEM Mini Extreme ISO and MultiDock recorder. All video-related designs are built with Blackmagic Design products, and this mobile production kit also includes three Pocket Cinema Cameras. This mobile kit proves useful when additional equipment is needed for productions, or when shooting interviews and content outside of Vega’s studio spaces.

Nicholas stated: “One of the best aspects of Blackmagic Design’s products is that they allow us a lot of flexibility in integrating very usable and high-quality cameras at a budget which is friendly for small or medium sized businesses. Blackmagic’s products also allow us to develop production systems for use outside of our studios, which includes a very extensive kit, at a more than reasonable price.

“A lot of Blackmagic devices just communicate with each other and sync settings directly. When you are building systems for clients, it’s really nice to have the whole system with Blackmagic because things just snap into place and work when they are connected together.” He concluded.