Basic frequently asked questions

When in doubt, ask!

Volumetric video is an advanced technology that captures real-life scenes in 3D, including depth and motion, enabling fully immersive and interactive experiences. Unlike traditional 2D video, volumetric video reconstructs a dynamic 3D model of people, objects, or environments — allowing viewers to move around the scene and view it from any angle.

Our affordable volumetric capture solution uses cutting-edge depth cameras to deliver real-time 3D video recording at a fraction of the usual cost. Whether you’re creating content for virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), interactive holograms, or live 3D performances, our system makes professional volumetric production accessible and easy to use.

Recommended PC Configuration (for advanced setup with up to 9 RGB-D cameras)

  • Motherboard: Intel Z790, recommended for its high number of PCI Express lanes (up to 28 lanes), which is essential when connecting multiple RGB-D sensors simultaneously.
    👉 Each sensor typically uses 1 PCIe lane, making this capacity critical.
    View the Intel Z790 chipset specifications

  • Processor: Intel Core i9-14900K, offering excellent performance for parallel processing and real-time encoding.

  • RAM: 64 GB recommended (32 GB minimum)

  • Graphics card: NVIDIA RTX 4080 or higher, for efficient GPU-based volumetric data processing, ADA serie recommanded.

  • Storage: 1x SSD NVMe Gen 4 – at least 2 TB, to ensure high write speeds and prevent frame loss during recording of volumetric streams.

  • Connectivity:

    • Multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports

    • Dedicated PCIe USB expansion cards required when using more than 2 sensors
      👉 Recommended model: StarTech PEXUSB3S44V

  • Operating System: Windows 11 (64-bit)

USB Cable Recommendations

We recommend using high-quality USB 3.2 cables, with a maximum length of 5 meters.
👉 For longer distances, active (powered) cables are required to ensure signal stability and avoid data loss.

🔗 Example of a recommended cable:
USB 3.1 A Male to Right-Angle C Male – 5 meters (NTC Distributing)

The holograms we capture are fully compatible with all playback platforms: virtual reality (VR) headsets, Android and iOS devices, OpenGL, web browsers, and of course, laptops and desktop computers.

We offer export of our volumetric videos in several formats tailored to different use cases:

  • MP4 video (H264 – YUV 4:2:0): a lightweight format (approx. 4 GB for 30 minutes of content), easily decoded and viewable on any platform via Unity (Unreal Engine support coming soon).

  • Point cloud formats: a sequence of .ply files, ideal for advanced 3D processing.

  • Mesh formats: export available in .usd or as a sequence of .obj files, ready for direct integration into 3D engines or VFX production pipelines.

We also provide native playback of the holograms in Unity, with multiple rendering modes available depending on your needs (Shader Graph, VFX Graph, 3D Texture, Signed Distance Field (SDF), etc.).

🚀 ITHACA Roadmap – Volumetric Video Capture & Processing Software

ITHACA V1.0 – 📅 Official release scheduled for September 2025
The first stable release of ITHACA will provide a complete pipeline for capturing, processing, and post-producing volumetric video using RGB-D depth cameras. This version is optimized for smooth use on laptops and workstations running Windows 10/11.

🔧 ITHACA V1.5 – Distributed Capture with Jetson Nano

Version 1.5 will introduce support for NVIDIA Jetson Nano microcomputers, enabling a cost-effective capture infrastructure while maintaining a stable data stream without frame drops or desynchronization.
👉 A master laptop will control multiple slave Jetson Nano units (1 per RGB-D camera) for a distributed and budget-friendly volumetric capture setup.

🎥 ITHACA V2.0 – High-Resolution Rendering & Gaussian Splatting Export

Version 2.0 will offer:

  • High-resolution rendering modes up to 4K

  • Export options compatible with Gaussian Splatting formats

  • AI-powered processing tools integrated into the software suite to enhance visual fidelity and automate post-production steps.

🌐 HOLOVISION – Real-Time Volumetric Video Streaming Platform

In parallel, we are developing Holovision, our next-generation real-time volumetric video streaming platform, designed for holographic telecommunication.
🎯 It will enable seamless, low-latency streaming in few-to-many configurations, unlocking use cases in telepresence, live events, training, and XR collaboration.

🤝 Join the ITHACA Community on Discord

You’re invited to join our ITHACA Discord community to connect with our team and other users:
🔗 https://discord.gg/rMweujT75u

Our technical and sales team is available to assist you:
🕒 Monday to Thursday – from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (CET – France time)

🎯 Professional studio clients benefit from dedicated support, with up to 8 hours per month of one-on-one assistance from our developers and technicians.