MixCast VR – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

July 9, 2018

MixCast Livestreaming Application Now Available

MixCast, the livestreaming program for virtual reality (VR), has finally released making its powerful streaming features available to anyone. MixCast allows users to create, share and broadcast mixed reality (MR) content to any audience, with almost any equipment, application and filming environment.

With livestreaming being such a popular entertainment source and marketing tool for developers and content creators around the world, the power to stream MR content is a big set forward for the industry. Normally users would need to set up a complex filming environment making use of green screens and software to blend the real world with the virtual one. MixCast allows users to do that with a simple, easy to use solution that walks them through the process of setting up the scene, removing the background and preparing to broadcast.

Thanks to MixCast’s WildKey feature, there is no need for a green screen. Depending on the location you are playing in the software is able to adapt and remove the background with ease including expanded capabilities for depth cameras, and support for a large range of cameras and features.

Once everything is calibrated and set up, MixCast is able to communicate with almost any Unreal Engine or Unity VR application to enable real-time MR streaming and recording. The applications of this range of creating trailers and trade show demonstrations to livestreaming the latest VR title to an audience of any size. Thanks to the flexibility of MixCast, users and leverage the technology for any situation and make use of the powerful solution to fit there needs.

The team behind MixCast, Blueprint Reality talked about the recent 2.0 update back in June where Ben Sheftel, co-founder and CTO said: “We painstakingly architected the MixCast 2.0 feature set based on the wants and needs of our MixCast developer, creator and user community. We are introducing a new level of freedom to every aspect of the platform – from no green screen capture, to multiple camera support, to our own recording and streaming tools. MixCast 2.0 equips all levels of users with the tools they need to create and share in mixed reality.”

MixCast is available now on Steam for free and for more on the application and Blueprint Reality, keep reading VRFocus.

June 4, 2018

Streaming Mixed Reality Without A Green Screen

Videogaming livestreaming has become a staple of many people’s lives, wether that involves just watching, or producing. For streamers who show virtual reality (VR), presenting a smoother and simpler mixed reality livestream just got easier with MixCast 2.0 from Blueprint Reality.

Usually when streaming VR titles, in order to give the audience a full idea of what’s happening a green screen is needed behind the player to they can be superimposed on the VR environment. The new version of the MixCast software eliminates the need for green screen.

The new version of the software induces the ‘no green screen’ or WildKey mode, which allows subjects to be isolated using multiple methods of background removal. MixCast 2.0 also incorporates support for Intel RealSense depth cameras, and integrated support for most major streaming platforms, so users will no longer need to use third-party software.

“Blueprint Reality’s roots in virtual, augmented, and mixed reality development run deep – we are creators and huge fans who want to bring the experience to the masses,” said Tarrnie Williams, co-founder and CEO, Blueprint Reality. “MixCast 2.0 will expand the market for VR experiences through social sharing, live spectation, and by empowering a larger, more diverse community of content creators.”

“We painstakingly architected the MixCast 2.0 feature set based on the wants and needs of our MixCast developer, creator and user community.” said Ben Sheftel, co-founder and CTO, Blueprint Reality. “We are introducing a new level of freedom to every aspect of the platform – from no green screen capture, to multiple camera support, to our own recording and streaming tools. MixCast 2.0 equips all levels of users with the tools they need to create and share in mixed reality.”

The Blueprint Reality team are keen to engage with the community for ways to further improve the product for livestreamers, developers and creators. Further news on MixCast and other mixed reality products will be covered here on VRFocus.

September 21, 2017

Intel and Blueprint Reality Collaborate on Mixed Reality Tool MixCast

Earlier this year Blueprint Reality released a suite of tools called MixCast VR designed to make the creation and distribution of mixed reality (MR) videos simple. Today the company has announced a partnership with Intel to help bolster and expand the suite.

Virtual reality (VR) developers are beginning to utilise MR videos as a way of showcasing what it’s like to be in their VR title. Unless you’ve actually got the headset on and are playing whatever videogame or experience it may be, trying to convey that sense of immersion to the public – especially if they’ve never tried VR before – can be especially difficult.

MixCast VR Studio image 2

Quite what the partnership aims to achieve hasn’t been overly detailed, with Intel press release simply stating the: “Blueprint Reality partnership marks a milestone in Intel’s ongoing commitment to evolve the VR experience.” Followed by: “For developers of VR content, educators demonstrating complex concepts or Twitch personalities who livestream their experiences, Intel’s compute power enables MixCast to provide near-instantaneous renderings of content.”

The MixCast Studio application is available today as a monthly subscription on Steam. For VR content developers seeking to enable MixCast support within VR games and experiences, the free MixCast SDK can be found at the Blueprint Reality website.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Intel and Blueprint Reality, reporting back with further updates.

February 22, 2017

Blueprint Reality’s MixCast VR Arrives to Simplify Mixed Reality Production

It’s becoming increasing commonplace for virtual reality (VR) developers to utilise mixed reality (MR) in their videos. The method allows viewers to actually watch someone play a VR experience, giving a better understanding of the final product. Today Canadian videogame and VR tool developer Blueprint Reality has released MixCast VR, a suite of tools designed to make the creation and distribution of MR videos easy.

A lot of current systems for creating MR videos require multiple applications which can be time consuming to setup. Blueprint Reality’s MixCast VR looks to simplify the process with a one time setup. Developers can add support for MixCast VR with a free drag and drop SDK for Unity, allowing users to showcase their experience.

MixCast VR Studio image 2

Working with a range of camera equipment, from cheap off-the-shelf webcams to high-end video cameras, MixCast VR includes chroma calibration to key out background colours – normally green screen but it can work with others.

“Mixed reality is the best way to communicate what’s happening inside the virtual world via traditional 2D broadcast media,” said Ben Sheftel, CTO of Blueprint Reality in a statement. “Our goal with MixCast VR is to provide an intuitive system for developers, designers, reviewers, presenters, educators, and other end-users to share and broadcast in a simple yet powerful way.”

If you’re interested in creating your own MR video, the MixCast VR Studio software is available on Steam or via the company’s website for £6.99 GBP/$9.99 USD per month or £14.99/$19.99 for a three month subscription. The MixCast VR SDK can also be found on Blueprint Reality’s website.

For any further updates from Blueprint Reality keep reading VRFocus.