Biped Motion-Capturing for 3ds max with the Kinect (2)

There’s a simple workaround to load BVH-Files directly from Brekel to 3ds Max without using MotionBuilder:

What you need

• Microsoft Kinect with USB-Adapter for PC
• 3ds max 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

Download

• The OpenNI Driver
• The Brekel Kinect Driver
• or use the Auto-Installer with OpenNI and Brekel
• you also need the Brekel Kinect MotionBuilder Device Driver

Install the Drivers

1. Install OpenNI first
2. Install Brekel

Confirm all security messages and continue.

Connect & Test

1. Connect the Kinect via USB and wait for windows driver confirmation at your taskbar.
2. Start Brekel (Start -> Programs -> Brekel Kinect -> Brekel Kinect). This software is a standalone software for recording motions (MoCap).

Calibrate user

• Make sure ‘Nite User Tracking’ is enabled.
• Place your Kinect on a planar surface and horizontal to the room
• The complete user have to be visible in color mode
• Calibrate in T-Pose (unnecessary when the official Microsoft driver for PC is published)
• Don’t move until Brekel is calibrating
• The calibration was succesful when the points in 3D and Depth mode are found
• Jump around!

Recording Motions without using MotionBuilder

• When the actors skeleton is detected you’re able to record as BVH.
• Select your capture folder
• Use Biped (3DMax) and set Write positions on
• Set your delay and click “Start Capture BVH”
• Jump around…
• … and click stop (when you record again the capture number will be increase

Biped in 3ds max

• Open 3ds max
• Create a Biped (Main Menu -> Create -> Systems -> Biped)
• Go to Figure Mode (Motion-Panel) and set its height to ca. 170 – 180 cm
• Leave Figure Mode
• Load Motion Capture File in the Motion Capture-Rollout (A)
• Select BVH file type and open your capture file (B)
• Set Limb Orientation (bottom right of the window) for the Knees and Elbows to Angle, instead of Point (C and D)
• Click Ok (E)
• Save your Motion as BIP-File… (F)
• …and load the .BIP file onto your own Biped (G)

This workaround is much easier than recording a MoCap-File with MotionBuilder. For professional users MotionBuilder is the right choice to correct noisy motions and re-animate your takes.

Greetz

Vali