Journal of the Korea Computer Graphics Society (한국컴퓨터그래픽스학회논문지)

Korea Computer Graphics Society (한국컴퓨터그래픽스학회)
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A Simulcast System for Live Streaming and Virtual Avatar Concerts

라이브 스트리밍 및 가상 아바타 공연을 위한 동시 송출 시스템

  • Received : 2023.02.18
  • Accepted : 2023.04.03
  • Published : 2023.06.01
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Abstract

Due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, many performances have been conducted using computer-medicated communication technologies. Many performances took the form of online concerts that utilize live streaming technologies. Some artists held virtual avatar concerts on virtual reality platforms to provide a higher level of immersion and various scenes and effects. Conventional virtual avatar concerts typically require performers to wear motion capture equipment to track their movements on the fly, limiting performers' choice of outfits and making it challenging to simultaneously perform virtual and online concerts in a single performance. In this study, to overcome these limitations, we propose a simulcast system design for live streaming and virtual avatar concerts. The proposed system allows performers to wear desired costumes by tracking performers' movements using RGB-D sensors. We implemented the prototype system proposed in this study using 3 Microsoft Azure Kinects and 1 iPhone and examined the system's performance. We validated the prototype system by conducting a test performance with a famous Korean singer, Kyung-rok Kim, of the group V.O.S. Finally, given the limitations of this study, we suggested the future research directions of developing a virtual avatar concert system that allows for greater flexibility and creativity in performers' outfits and movements. We expect that the proposed system will enhance the efficiency of concert production by enabling the simultaneous broadcasting of a single concert across multiple platforms. This, in turn, will help attract a larger audience, increasing the concert's exposure and reach.

최근의 COVID-19 팬데믹으로 인하여 많은 공연이 컴퓨터 매개 통신 기술을 이용하여 수행되었다. 많은 공연이 공연자의 모습을 생중계하는 온라인 콘서트의 형태를 취했으며, 일부 아티스트들은 더욱 높은 몰입감과 다양한 연출을 선보이기 위해 가상 현실 플랫폼을 활용한 가상 아바타 콘서트를 진행하기도 했다. 일반적인 가상 아바타 콘서트는 공연자의 움직임을 실시간으로 추적하기 위해 불가피하게 모션캡쳐 장비의 착용을 요구하는데, 이는 하나의 공연을 가상 아바타 콘서트와 온라인 콘서트로 동시에 수행하기 어렵게 만드는 장애물로 작용했다. 본 연구에서는 공연자의 의상에 제약을 주는 기존 가상 아바타 공연의 한계를 극복하기 위해 RGB-D 센서를 이용하여 공연자의 움직임을 추적함으로써 가상 아바타 콘서트와 온라인 콘서트를 동시에 수행할 수 있는 시스템을 제안한다. 우리는 Microsoft Azure Kinect 3대와 iPhone 1대를 이용하여 제안된 시스템의 프로토타입을 구현하고, 시스템의 성능을 측정하였다. 또한, 국내 유명 아티스트, 그룹 V.O.S의 김경록과 함께 시험 공연을 시행하여 본 연구의 프로토타입 시스템을 검증하였다. 마지막으로, 본 연구에서 확인한 한계점들을 바탕으로 공연자의 의상과 움직임에 있어 더욱 유연하고 창의성을 발휘할 수 있는 가상 아바타 콘서트 시스템의 향후 연구 방향을 제언하였다. 우리는 본 연구의 시스템이 하나의 공연을 여러 플랫폼에서 동시에 활용할 수 있도록 하여 공연 제작의 효율성을 높이고, 다양한 공연 콘텐츠를 제작하여 더 많은 관객을 모집하는 데 도움이 될 수 있을 것으로 기대한다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 공연의 가상공간 구현에 도움을 주신 지명구 대표님, 박정운감독님을 비롯하여 IOFX 임직원에게 감사의 말씀을 드립니다. 본 연구는 문화체육관광부 및 한국콘텐츠진흥원의 2022년도 문화체육관광연구개발사업으로 수행되었음(과제명: 5G 기반 실시간 자유 시점 원격 관람이 가능한 다채널 콘텐츠 제작 프로덕션 플랫폼 기술 개발, 과제번호: R2020040275, 기여율: 100%)

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