Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1469382
a p r i l • m ay • j u n e 2 0 2 2 c g w 3 3 Expanded support for photorealistic rendering Artists are now able to utilize the power of select AMD Radeon PRO graphics cards to create photorealistic images with Maxon's production-class Redshi render engine. This allows users to ac- cess Redshi's high-performance rendering capabilities via AMD's GPU programming environment, HIP [Heterogeneous Interface for Portability]. Designed for programming high-performance kernels on GPU hardware, HIP is a C++ runtime API and programming language that accommodates easy migration from existing Nvidia CUDA [Compute Unified Device Architecture Code]. This allows developers to write GPU applications and run code in any environ- ment with comparable performance across platforms, with only minimal adjustments required. Redshi also now supports rendering with mixed devices such as RS CPU and AMD Radeon PRO graphics cards, which allows teams to work with a variety of hardware setups simultaneously with no compatibility issues. "Our ultimate goal is Redshi Every- where, in the hands of every artist on every DCC [digital content creation] application, with the ability to take advantage of all the capabilities of their hardware," announced David McGavran, CEO of Maxon. "This development brings us even closer to that achievement and also satisfies one of the community's most desired feature requests." Powerful workstation, small footprint Designed to power large workflows while taking up minimal space, HP's new Z2 Mini G9 Workstation desktop PC can be placed on a variety of work surface setups, mounted behind a monitor, attached below a desk, rack-mounted in a data center, or easily transported between workspaces. Engineered to evolve with a user's changing needs, a sliding cover design provides tool-free interior access for quick graphics and memory swaps. The workstation, which supports up to eight displays at 4K resolution, combines Nvidia RTX A2000 graphics with PCIe G5 high speed bandwidth for seamless design, rendering, and simulation. Intel Core vPro processors — including the high-performance K-Se- ries — allow users to run multiple applications simultaneously, while 2 DIMMS — for up to 64GB DDR5 memory at an increased speed of up to 4800MHz — deliver high-speed performance for complex design tasks. The system also offers up to 8TB of storage with dual M.2 slots plus RAID data storage capabilities to maximize reliability. Users can easily configure and customize the workstation for their ongoing needs with up to two flexible I/O ports and 13 I/O options to fill them, including DP 1.4, VGA, HDMI, Dual USB Type-A, USB Type-C with Alt-DP or 2nd Serial, and more. The Z2 Mini internal antenna provides higher Wi-Fi bandwidth and more reliable connections on congested networks with full performance Wi-Fi 6E for fast, efficient collaboration. Elevated virtual production workflows Mark Roberts Motion Control (MRMC) partnered with Vū Stu- dio to present the Unreal Ride, a standout exhibit on the NAB 2022 show floor. This virtual production workflow demo gave attendees a chance to experience a hyper-realistic motorcycle ride through a futuristic metropolis, with sharable video footage provided immedi- ately aer via a code. The immersive simulation utilized the Unreal Engine, Puget Systems workstations, Vū Studio's virtual production LED volumes, and MRMC's Bolt X Cinebot for precise motion control. The Bolt X has the longest arm reach of MRMC's high-speed cinema robots — 3.2 meters —allowing for greater flexibility to capture shots at high speed in the studio and on location. Daniel Mallek at Vū Studio stated, "By connecting our LED wall with the Bolt X robot's motion data, we are able to create a virtual environment that is indistinguishable from reality. The possibilities of MRMC's motion control technology paired with our LED volumes are truly endless, that's why they are gamechangers for the industry." The NAB Show will return to Las Vegas in April 2023 for its cen- tennial celebration. ¢ HP's Z2 Mini G9 Workstation MRMC and Vū Studio's Unreal Ride Maxon's Redshi render engine