Virtual Production Software leader Glassbox Technologies has released BeeHive 2.0, an upgrade to its collaborative, all-in-one, real-time change management solution for Unreal and Maya.
With enhanced, real-time version control, support for multiple levels in UE5, and for specific Unreal asset types, BeeHive 2.0 lets virtual production teams, whether onset or remote, more easily visualize and collaborate on real-time content without interruption, resulting in faster iterations, greater spontaneity, and cost efficiencies. The new version is available to download as a Free 30-Day Trial from the Glassbox website.
“BeeHive 2.0 marks a massive efficiency improvement for in-camera VFX (ICVFX) workflows,” said Norman Wang, CEO of Glassbox Technologies. “From the initial scene deployment to the ability to fully preserve all local and remote changes to assets and environments. Beehive 2.0 brings an entirely new level of productivity and collaboration to on-set operators and virtual art departments.”
Built to smooth the bottlenecks in standard virtual production workflows, and streamline collaboration and the real-time exchange of data between Unreal, Maya and physical cameras, the Lumiere award-winning Beehive lets studios work as a team, review and modify assets, troubleshoot lighting and FX, check actors’ faces and body performances in real-time, do scene modifications, or even build entire worlds from scratch for VR experiences, both on-set or remotely.
Real-Time Version Control
A new Asset History tab in BeeHive 2.0 allows teams to access and roll back to previous changes on a per-asset basis, in real-time. This simplifies the process of doing multiple takes in a non-destructive way. The Asset History interface is available on all supported versions for Unreal Engine and Maya. Asset history changes support all BeeHive usage modes, including simple editor-to-editor, nDisplay/PAK mode, and play in editor (PIE).
Multi-Level and Sub-Level Support
BeeHive 2.0 now fully supports working with multiple levels and sublevels in Unreal Engine, ensuring all connected users and nDisplay cluster nodes receive a live, real-time view of the current session, as well as ensuring content is intelligently distributed locally or remotely on a “need-to-receive” basis for automatic per-edit version control. In Maya 2023, BeeHive 2.0 will display all the elements on all open levels and allow users to apply edits, unrestricted. Multi-level support is available in all BeeHive usage modes, including simple editor-to-editor, nDisplay/PAK mode, and play in editor (PIE).
Support for Specific Unreal Asset Types
BeeHive 2.0 introduces dedicated support for the full range of Unreal Engine assets – Unreal Lighting, Lumen, Landscapes, and Foliage – with full interoperability with Maya. Maya editors have access to these asset types in the form of static mesh proxies that can be edited at the vertex level, just like other scene components. BeeHive 2.0 also ensures proper handling of objects with non-ascii names through dedicated support. All asset types, including those newly supported, are available for use in all BeeHive usage modes, including simple editor-to-editor, nDisplay/PAK mode, and play in editor (PIE).
Windows File Share Support
To make content distribution as quick and seamless as possible, BeeHive 2.0 automatically detects and makes use of Windows File Share when the local network allows sending files locally via Network Sharing. When available, Windows Network Share is the fastest option for local network file transfer.
Licensing and Availability
BeeHive 2.0 can be purchased as an annual subscription from the Glassbox website. Perpetual license options available upon request. Glassbox Technologies also offers floating licenses to make work-from-home collaboration and remote sessions easier.
BeeHive is available to download as a Free 30-Day Trial from the Glassbox website.
