Along the strip in Las Vegas, a beacon of innovation has emerged, captivating visitors with its awe-inspiring blend of technology and spectacle. Known as the Sphere, this groundbreaking marvel has redefined immersive experiences. Since its grand opening last September with headliner U2, this architectural wonder has become synonymous with the cutting-edge fusion of art, entertainment, and advanced technology.
At the center of the imaginative audiovisual technology is a Hitachi Vantara solution that delivers high-performance storage and computing. Sphere Entertainment Co. and Hitachi Vantara recently unveiled the groundbreaking details on their collaboration to leverage Hitachi Vantara s data processing software to power the Sphere s LED screens. Sphere's 160,000 square-foot interior LED display plane and the 580,000 square-foot fully programmable LED exterior the Exosphere utilize Hitachi Vantara s software as a critical tool to stream high-resolution immersive content.
"Sphere is home to many firsts, one of which is streaming immersive, high-resolution video content on a scale that has never been done before," says Alex Luthwaite, SVP, Show Systems Technology, Sphere Entertainment.
"Hitachi Vantara worked with our team to develop a solution that s fast, reliable, and efficient. Through Hitachi s expertise and technology, Sphere s displays deliver content that is captivating audiences not only in the venue in Las Vegas, but also around the world on social media."
Elevating Visual Experiences with Eye-Popping Throughput
Sphere—which contains the world's highest resolution LED screen inside the venue and the largest LED screen on the exterior—collaborated closely with Hitachi Vantara to deliver solutions for streaming video content on an unprecedented scope. For its original immersive film, Darren Aronofsky's Postcard from Earth, the system handles over 400 gigabytes a second of throughput at sub-5 milliseconds of latency and a 12-bit color display at a 444 subsampling. Hitachi Vantara utilized its storage platform, Hitachi Content Software for File, a high-performance, software-defined, distributed parallel filesystem storage solution.
"Sphere represents a new, completely immersive and visually powerful entertainment experience," explains Octavian Tanase, Chief Product Officer, Hitachi Vantara. "To make sure that the technology behind it was ready to meet the challenge, Hitachi Vantara worked closely with the Sphere team to test, measure, and enhance how the data is processed, streamed, and projected. Quality-wise, the resolution and color are second to none. This project has exceeded our already high expectations."
Record-setting Streaming Capability
The Hitachi Content Software for File system in use consists of 27 nodes with 4PB of flash storage for playback within Sphere and streamed in real-time to 7thSense media servers. The servers are streaming 4K video at 60 frames per second, which is a record-setting first in terms of technology capability at scale. Hitachi Vantara s technology enables Sphere to deliver extremely low latency and high throughput, creating an unforgettable experience for audiences during shows and events.
Hitachi Vantara also partnered with Sphere to produce the same capabilities at Sphere Studios Big Dome. That venue is a 28,000 square-foot, 100-foot-high custom geodesic dome located in Burbank, CA, with a quarter-sized version of the screen at Sphere in Las Vegas. Big Dome functions as a specialized screening, production facility, and lab for the Sphere Studios team to develop original content exclusively for Sphere.
Image Credit: Hitachi Vantara