The Hyperbowl studio has just opened its doors at Expo Munich
Germany - The Hyperbowl studio has just opened its doors at Expo Munich, offering the largest virtual production space in Europe.
ROE Visual was selected as preferred partner to provide all LED screens for the studio, a concept by ACHT and NSYNK, realised by TFN in corporation with Fournell.
Trying to find alternative platforms for tradeshows and live events while the COVID-19 restrictions are in place for large scale events, companies are offering inventive solutions that involve a mix of live presentation with virtual audiences, so-called hybrid events. ROE Visual LED screens are increasingly used to create large, visual displays for these types of events, due to their perfect on-site as well as on-camera performance.
Early April, TFN set out to present their format to several interested parties, after which they were contacted by the Expo Munich. The Expo Munich fortified its interest, based on feedback from several of its clients, some of which from the automotive industry, and continued the conversation with TFN. The decisive factor being the Expo Munich providing a 10,000sq.m venue to build the virtual environment.
The virtual studio could be employed at least till September 2021, encompassing the annual car show, normally planned at this time. This interest in a virtual studio environment for an extended period, opened doors to look int the actual investments needed and parties to involve in the implementation and execution of the work involved.
Appointed to supply the LED screens and further technical infrastructure Fournell turned to ROE Visual to provide the screens for this project. With ROE Visual’s sales representative Erik Baum based in Germany, the contact was easily established. “With short communication lines and extensive knowledge of the German market, this project has both been rewarding and fun to work on”, comments Erik Baum. “I’m very pleased that a project off this scale kicks off in Germany, especially now, when the whole entertainment industry is suffering from the COVID-19 measures”.
The virtual studio comprises of one continuous, huge curved LED wall of 5,5m. high, consisting of ROE Visual Diamond DM2.6 panels, divided in 40 columns, creating a circular event space with a diameter of nearly 20m. On top of the curved video wall is a LED ceiling, also composed of Diamond DM2.6 panels, supported with a huge trussing substructure. Thereby creating a seamless LED environment.
In order to make the whole structure compliant to the strict German safety regulations, special structural reports were issued for the ballast needed for the support wall and for the ceiling structure. Working closely with a German Engineering Bureau for the static calculations, building the complete set in compliance to the regulations proved to be no problem at all.
Before the final build, a team of LED technicians from Fournell was invited to the ROE Visual showroom in Leek to undergo initial training.
“The training really touched on all the basics, from how to build the stacking system, aligning the wall and all the specific tips and tricks that make building easy. It gave us confidence to build the huge complicated, curved LED wall on-site”, commented Nikolaus Schmidt, AV technician at Fournell. “The training was very interesting, Victor Kortekaas, technical director for ROE Visual, is an easy-going guy who really can explain the technology very well, he knows what it takes to makes things work on-site. This made the training to the point and fun! We have learned many new things about LED technology.”

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