TRANSMIXR is much more than just a platform consisting of AI and XR-tools. At its core lies a deep understanding of existing production workflows for major sectors like the performing arts, cultural heritage, news media, and broadcasting. The rapid evolution of immersive technology has left traditional production workflows obsolete. To bridge this gap, the DIS group collaborated closely with creative practitioners to design a completely new workflow. Instead of treating AI and XR as disruptive threats, this new approach integrates AI tools directly into the creative process, allowing creators to naturally adapt as the technology evolves. The new workflows were validated through pilots together with professionals from the creative and cultural sectors. This resulted in TRANSMIXR: a platform with a modular architecture that integrates a wide range of services and workflows. Those are designed to support the entire lifecycle of a production, from initial media processing to the final audience experience.
VR2Gather: An Award-Winning Social XR Framework Goes Open-Source
A great illustration of such services is how VR2Gather was developed within TRANSMIXR. VR2Gather is a framework which is composed of several components that allows the creation of Social VR Experiences. It is based on Unity: a software that developers use to build 2D, 3D, virtual reality, and augmented reality games or simulations. With VR2Gather, the DIS group provided a customizable, open-source framework for Unity. It was used to create two distinct, cutting-edge use cases:
- A virtual control room (for news & media broadcasting):
This allows real-time production of immersive live broadcat. You can read more about it on the website of TRANSMIXR. Instead of just handling standard camera feeds, the framework gave directors and production teams the power to fluidly mix and match audio, video, and volumetric video - A Social XR platform (cultural heritage):
This platform allows multiple remote users to put on VR headsets and log into the exact same digital space simultaneously. Because it can stream live 3D representations of the participants, it enables them to enjoy interactive and immersive experiences as if they were in the same location in the cultural heritage domain. You can read more about this on the website of TRANSMIXR.
Regional and International Adoption
At the moment, VR2Gather is permanently installed in the lab at CWI, and with external rooms at the TU Delt (read more information about the Insight Lab here) and at the UvA (read more information about the Visualisation Lab here). In addition, it has been adopted by several institutions in Spain (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid), Belgium (Ghent University), and Austria (Klagenfurt University).
Future-Proofing Europe’s Creative and Cultural Sector
All these ground-breaking innovations will help the creative and cultural sector navigate an uncertain future, where novel developments in AI and immersive media are seen as disruptive and threats. The outputs of the project, standards in ITU, white papers guiding new EU programmes, open-source software packages and impactful training programs that will help the sector to use the novel tools as allies and supporters, position Europe at the forefront of innovation. An insightful reflection over the project can be seen in this panel at: United XR Europe 2025.
