Hi ,
I am working on a virtual production setup with Aximmetry and an external hardware keyer, and I would like to ask about the official/recommended way to output a key signal from Aximmetry in the “Aximmetry First” workflow.
I have read the official documentation here:https://aximmetry.com/learn/virtual-production-workflow/green-screen-production/keying/using-aximmetry-with-an-external-keyer/
Our current setup uses the first workflow: the external keyer sends Fill and Key/Matte into Aximmetry, and Aximmetry does the final composite. This works, but the total system latency is relatively high.
We are considering the second workflow to reduce latency, where the external keyer performs the final composite. However, we also need some virtual foreground / AR elements generated by Aximmetry to appear in front of the presenter. Ideally, Aximmetry would output these foreground elements as a Fill + Key pair, similar to a broadcast graphics system.
Questions:
- Can Aximmetry output a separate SDI/NDI Fill + Key pair in this workflow?
- If yes, how should this be configured in Aximmetry?
- In the UE scene, how should we mark which elements should appear in the Key signal / foreground layer?
For example, should we use tags, custom render layers, stencil, or another Aximmetry-supported method? - Is there any recommended official compound or workflow for this setup?
The goal is to keep the low-latency benefit of the external keyer doing the final composite, while still allowing Aximmetry-generated foreground/AR objects to be keyed over the presenter.
Thanks.
Hello CUC_STU,
The easiest way is to allow Aximmetry to render an empty billboard with Allow Virtuals turned off, this will automatically create the mask required to place objects in front of the talent. Set up everything as you would with a non-empty billboard, but without video input.
Then you need to set up the required Mask output. It is important to use the correct, distorted mask. Find your Tracked Camera compound in the Flow Editor, right-click on it, and select Unlink Compound. Then double-click to enter it.
Once inside, find the Composite module and press Unlink Compound on it as well, then go enter it.
Once inside, find If video 18, add a Transmit Video module and connect them like so:
Select the Transmit Video module and set its Into Tunnel property to something unique:
Then go back into the Flow Editor and add another Transmit Video module.
In the Transmit Video module set its From Tunnel property to the recently created Distorted Mask tunnel.
This should output a similar image:
You can then output this mask through SDI/NDI and combine it in your external keyer.
You should combine it similarly:
Best Regards,
Patrik