What is The Micro-Studio?
The Micro-Studio is a set of small spaces and computers that can be reserved for XR experimentation, project development which requires significant GPU-usage, and trying out VR experiences. It’s located next to the kitchen on the 4th floor of 370 Jay.
The Micro-Studio is made up of three labs, each with their own usage, equipment, reservation links, and community expectations. They are:
Seated VR Lab
The Seated VR Lab is a collection of Desktop computers with Sitting / Non-Room Scale VR options. Each computer is independently reservable and permanently exists in the lab. The computers also have a variety of software installed for computer graphic heavy applications. The computers are currently outfitted with Oculus Rift headsets, but can also be used with Oculus Quest headsets, which can be checked out from the ER as needed.
Hardware
- 4 VR-ready PCs
Software
- Unity Hub + Recent Official Releases
- Unreal Engine
- Oculus Software
- SteamVR
- OBS (screen capture software for documentation)
- Cinema4d
- Blender
- Maya
- Autodesk Recap Pro
- Autodesk Recap Photo
- Meshmixer
- Substance Painter
- Adobe CC Suite
- VR Experience Library
- Tilt Brush
- Vestige
- Spheres
- Zero Days
- Where Thoughts Go
- Dear Angelica
- Alteration
- Google Earth
- Super Hot
Booking
Standing VR Lab
The Standing VR Lab is a space for roomscale VR, AR, and XR work that have movement needs. The studio has two desktop computers each with a Vive headset.
Hardware
- 2x Motion Capture Desktops w/ Vive headsets, controllers, and shared base stations
- 3x Roko Motion Capture suits
Software
- Unity Hub + Latest Official Releases
- Unreal Engine
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Wrap3d
- DAZ Studio
- Maya
- Cinema4d
- Blender
- OBS
- SteamVR
- Depthkit
- Rokoko Pro License
- iClone7 (Rokoko Animation Bundle)
Booking
Development Lab
The Development Lab is a collection of high performance desktop computers. Each computer is independently reservable and permanently exists in the lab. The primary use of these computers is developing and using non-VR applications.
Hardware
Software
- Unity
- Unreal Engine
- Maya
- Blender
- Cinema4d
- Photoshop
- Oculus
- Steam
Booking
Community Guidelines
The Micro-Studio is a community resource. In order for it to function and thrive we ask that everyone follow these guidelines to ensure that the spaces and equipment are readily available for the community.
Reservations
- 1 hour reservation slots
- No more than 4 hours a day
- Please cancel reservations you don’t plan to use
Cleaning
Please clean equipment before and after usage with cleansing wipes. If cleaning supplies are missing from the area, contact ASKITP@ITP.NYU.EDU
Equipment
- Equipment stored in the Micro-Studio should not be removed from the space.
- Equipment should be properly restored and put away at the end of a reservation. Any equipment that needs to be charged should be plugged back in.
Leave No Trace
- The room should be returned to the state in which you found it or to its neutral state before your reservation is finished.
Project Storage
- It is recommended that you purchase a Solid State Drive (SSD) with USB 3.0 or USB C connector to store your project. Drive memory size is up to the student based on cost and anticipation of project needs.
- Each student can use up to 10 gigs of storage each semester on these computers’ local storage by saving it in a folder named with your NetID inside of /Student_Storage on the D: drive. Anything that does not follow these protocols will be automatically deleted, and the space will also be cleared at the end of the semester. This is at your own risk, so be sure to back up your files.
Development Best Practices
- If you are starting a new Unity project select the latest “official release” from Unity Hub. The most recent official releases will be available on the computers so you do not need to update the software
Questions?
For community troubleshooting XR projects, join the itp-ima-xr slack.
Suggestions?
Suggestions for the future of the micro-studio can be made via this suggestions box link.