Inexpensive Motion Capture that works

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jeffroig
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Inexpensive Motion Capture that works

Post by jeffroig »

I have recently been doing some reading and researching about doing motion capture using the Kinect sensor.
So I bought the Kinect starter kit off ebay and downloaded a FREE software called Brekel.
I have to say I am very amazed as it does work and it does what it is supposed to do.
For about $150.00 you can be doing your own motion captures.
There are a couple downsides to doing it this way.
1) The head movements are not tracked.
2) There is no joint for the abdomen so when you sway your hips from right to left the upper body moves.
3) The current tracking for hand movements is quirky so you will have to play with the settings so that you dont get strange movements.

I have posted a video on YouTube of a quick capture I did of a old man walking and holding a cane.
I have in no way changed or fixed anything on this capture, this is exactly what I got from what I captured.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0ndth_JEyk

Here is a link to the software if you are interested in trying it.

http://www.brekel.com/?page_id=155

This sure does beat having to Key frame everything, you will still have to key frame head movements and the abdomen.
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pugman 1
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Re: Inexpensive Motion Capture that works

Post by pugman 1 »

Hi jeffroig, do you have to have the camera connected for the program to run.
because i just tryed it without the camera to have a look and it did not run .
win 7
jeffroig
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Re: Inexpensive Motion Capture that works

Post by jeffroig »

The software will run but you must make sure you have installed all the needed drivers such as openNI and nite and you must have .net framework 4.0 installed.
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pugman 1
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Re: Inexpensive Motion Capture that works

Post by pugman 1 »

Thanks ill give it a go, just need the cam
jeffroig
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Re: Inexpensive Motion Capture that works

Post by jeffroig »

Here is another one.
This took a few moments to capture and about a half hour to adjust the head and chest and add motion to the tail.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzKGrUWOlZo
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jeffroig
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Re: Inexpensive Motion Capture that works

Post by jeffroig »

Here is yet some more information on the software and Kinect sensor.
Currently there is a animation under production that is using the Brekel software and the Kinect to produce.
Here is a link to the video.
One more suggestion if you use this software and the Kinect, do not try and do any extremely fast moves as they will not capture correctly.
Instead perform the moves as if you are in slow motion and then change the speed in the animation software.
For most normal moves like walk and jogging and gestures you are ok but any real fast action needs to be thought out and planned and then performed in a slower speed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPt_944t9Lc
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