RecodeXR uses Absen LED walls with Brompton processing for its Manchester virtual production studio

With over two decades of experience creating content based on world-class game engines and visual effects for clients such as ITV, Sky, Netflix and Manchester City FC and various advertising agencies, RecodeXR launches a new virtual production studio with LED panels of Roll call Powered by LED processing Brompton Technology.

RecodeXR was co-founded by CTO Gareth Turner and the virtual production director Paul McHugh, passionate about producing high-fidelity visual effects. "We can do anything from real-time content creation, a full-service virtual production shoot, to world-class visual effects and post-production. Being a full-service virtual production center means we can offer an efficient and agile integrated service to suit our clients' production requirements," McHugh points out proudly.

The RecodeXR team is passionate about game engines, with extensive experience in the gaming industry and 23 years producing high-end visual effects, putting them in a unique position to produce innovative XR content. They have also recently been named ambassadors for Aximmetry Software.

The study has recently moved to Space Studios, a purpose-built facility for high-end television, film and advertising production, a move that McHugh describes as ideal for expanding its resources to multiple venues. The LED configuration features a 10x4 meter curved LED wall composed of Absent LED paneles 2.5 mm, purchased through PSCo, and is powered by two procesadores LED 4K Tessera SX40 and three data distribution units XD 10G card.

“We were very interested in using Tessera's software features, such as frame remapping and custom markers, which allow us to insert green frames with a single camera capture,” explains McHugh. The team also uses extremely powerful Scan computers, equipped with graphics cards Nvidia RTX 6000 ADA, the processors AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO faster and 256 GB of RAM. "These monster machines offer enormous rendering power. Combined with Brompton's LED processors and Absen displays, they make content look exceptionally good on camera," he adds.

As for the camera equipment, the team uses everything from professional 3D cameras to GoPros e insta360 to create content. “We have just incorporated a RED V-Raptor X to our team for use in high-end productions,” says McHugh. "It was purchased specifically to work with the Brompton LED processors and allow us to use Frame Remapping. With 8K resolution and enormous dynamic range (17 stops), it is a really interesting addition.

"Our philosophy is to offer a quality service that can be done more easily and cost-effectively. We look at each project critically and ask ourselves: 'Does it look good?' and 'Is there a way to do it more effectively for our client?'. We are always looking for ways to improve. The current configuration of LED screens is perfect for the type of jobs our clients need, so we don't need hundreds of square meters of LED panels. However, we have the capacity to expand this by using the Sound Stage room for larger configurations when our clients or projects require it. require.”

With the calibrated screens Using Brompton's advanced Hydra metering system, McHugh highlights that they have been using Brompton HDR to achieve greater ranges of brightness and color with greater bit depth, offering more detail within shadows and highlights to their customers. “Brompton's LED processing allows us very precise control of the image," he says. "It is powerful and intuitive and offers color correction with 14 Color Corrector, Color Replacement and Color Curve modes, allowing us to make precise color adjustments and corrections whenever we need it.”

Main productions

Notable productions the team has recently worked on include the British comedy-drama television series Brassic for Sky Original, premiering in September 2024. “We did the season finale and it's really good,” McHugh notes. For this particular production, the team built the LED wall with a custom configuration they had never done before, and it had to be laser leveled. "The build was custom shaped to accommodate a large bus from all angles. Not only was it incredibly efficient, it allowed the large cast, with limited availability, to shoot everything from the comfort of a studio for this scene. It's a big plus not having to travel to remote locations and work around the weather. We did a lot of testing and everything worked perfectly. The client was very pleased with the end result, and so were we," he notes.

RecodeXR will also work for the third time on the world's longest-running soap opera, Coronation Street, as well as various commercial projects that will keep the team busy. “Using Brompton LED processing on Coronation Street means we have been able to produce the dark scenes they were looking for,” explains McHugh. "The dynamic range of the Absen panels with the Brompton Tessera SX40 allowed us to achieve those hard-to-achieve deep blacks. We also used the Frame Remapping function to provide a 'safety net' to allow us to make changes in post-production if necessary. Being able to offer these two things really helps reinforce the power and flexibility that Virtual Production offers our customers."

“We are delighted that RecodeXR is employing Brompton LED processing in its new Space Studios facility in Manchester,” he concludes. Patrick Goodden, technical sales director (UK and Ireland) at Brompton Technology. “Thanks to their team’s exceptional experience and high-quality equipment, they can truly lift the lid on the creative potential of their clients’ projects and deliver them to the highest quality possible.”