InCinematographer - Issue 2 - September 2017 - 17

17

www.incinematographer.com | Issue 2 | September 2017

Mo-Sys StarTracker
UK's BBC and Canada's Global News select StarTracker from Mo-Sys
for in-studio camera tracking for election graphics...

T

he company's innovative approach to camera
motion tracking for virtual studios and
augmented reality has propelled StarTracker forward
as industry standard.
After making just its third NAB appearance,
StarTracker, the first automatic, real-time optical
camera tracking system, has become a technology
standard-bearer in the dynamic world of camera
motion tracking.
Virtual Reality
Developed by London-based Mo-Sys Engineering,
80 percent of virtual set providers had StarTracker
in their NAB booths. In addition to the Mo-Sys NAB
booth, the company's technology was on display
at: Blackmagic Design/Ultimatte, ChyronHego,
Brainstorm, WASP3D, Zero Density and Ross Video.
Now the world's most prestigious broadcasters
rely on StarTracker for their most high-profile live
events. The BBC repeatedly selected StarTracker, in
The Mo-Sys StarTracker on
a Technocrane for sweeping
shots in a 10-meter high
studio at the BBC

conjunction with Vizrt graphics, for use in election
coverage such as the UK General Elections. Global
News, Canada's largest news organization and
worldwide leader in virtual set technology, used
StarTracker for the first time on election coverage.
"We use a lot of virtual reality," said Gerry Belec,
Director, Operations and Technology, Global News,
Corus Entertainment, "but this was our first time
using a Mo-Sys system. On this election night, our
high-end cameras and jib were already being used, so
we were left with some rather outdated equipment. It
gave our older equipment new life. We learned that
any camera or set can become virtual or augmented.
This equipment used to be so specialized. We created
a temporary virtual set environment with legacy gear
for a great price. Track by putting stickers on the
ceiling, and any place is virtual."
Belec adds that they took delivery just a couple of
days before the May 9 election, and the Mo-Sys team
worked remotely from the UK to walk them through
set up and support questions as they came up. "We
were all very impressed with their level of support,"
he said. "They're really on the ball over there."
Election System
For the BBC, this marks the fourth live election
event the network has employed StarTracker as its
camera tracking system of choice. BBC News ordered
three StarTracker systems for its June coverage of
the General Election.
"It's our approach to camera motion tracking that
continually keeps us a step ahead of competitive
systems," said Michael Geissler, CEO, Mo-Sys
Engineering. We were the first to use reflective
stickers as 'stars,' and StarTracker was purpose built
for virtual studio camera tracking. We've simplified
motion tracking to where it's as easy as switching on
a light, and we've brought the cost way down. We've
created an easy-to-use, robust system that provides
the foundation for tremendous creativity."
Non-Stop R&D
Geissler reports that R&D at Mo-Sys is non-stop,
with a number of industry-first innovations set to

Two pedestal-mounted
StarTrackers tracking
from the same stars as
the crane for live,
green screen shooting
at the BBC

make their debut at IBC2017 in Amsterdam this
September: "We're always creating something new.
We're committed to staying one innovation, one step
ahead of everyone else."
Mo-Sys Engineering
Mo-Sys designs and builds advanced camera
robotics and high-precision camera tracking for AR
and VR for the film and broadcast industry.
Mo-Sys offers the largest portfolio of camera
tracking technologies from mechanical, inertial,
to optical in addition to remote heads, broadcast
robotics with overhead and floor-based camera rail
systems and on-set visualization.
Mo-Sys has delivered its products to large-scale
networks, including the BBC, Warner Bros. and
Disney.
Mo-Sys systems have been used on feature films
including: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,
Social Network, The Departed, Tron - Legacy, Life of
Pi, and Gravity, and by broadcasters including the
BBC, ESPN, FOX, Red Bull TV and Sky Sports.
www.mo-sys.com

http://www.incinematographer.com https://www.mo-sys.com/product/startracker https://youtu.be/pkBsboWYQus http://www.mo-sys.com http://ibc17.mapyourshow.com/7_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?ExhID=2314 http://www.transvideo.eu http://www.transvideo.eu https://www.facebook.com/TransvideoHD/ https://twitter.com/transvideohd https://www.youtube.com/user/transvideoHD https://www.linkedin.com/company-beta/5047682/

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of InCinematographer - Issue 2 - September 2017