Data Export: FBX
Last updated
Last updated
A Motive Body license can export tracking data into FBX files for use in other 3D pipelines. There are two types of FBX files: Binary FBX and ASCII FBX.
Notes for MotionBuilder Users
When exporting tracking data into MotionBuilder in the FBX file format, make sure the exported frame rate is supported in MotionBuilder (Mobu). In Mobu, there is a select set of playback frame rates that are supported, and the rate of the exported FBX file must agree in order to play back the data properly.
If there is a non-standard frame rate selected that is not supported, the closest supported frame rate is applied.
For more information, please visit Autodesk Motionbuilder's Documentation Support site.
Autodesk has discontinued support for FBX ASCII import in MotionBuilder 2018 and above. For alternatives when working in MotionBuilder, please see the Autodesk MotionBuilder: OptiTrack Optical Plugin page.
Exported FBX files in ASCII format can contain reconstructed marker coordinate data as well as 6 Degree of Freedom data for each involved asset depending on the export setting configurations. ASCII files can also be opened and edited using text editor applications.
FBX ASCII Export Options
| Options | Description |
|---|---|
Frame Rate | Number of samples included per every second of exported data. |
Start Frame | |
End Frame | |
Scale | Apply scaling to the exported tracking data. |
Units | Set the unit in exported files. |
Use Timecode | Includes timecode. |
Export FBX Actors | Includes FBX Actors in the exported file. Actor is a type of asset used in animation applications (e.g. MotionBuilder) to display imported motions and connect to a character. In order to animate exported actors, associated markers will need to be exported as well. |
Skeleton Names | Select which skeletons will be exported: All skeletons, selected skeletons, or custom. The custom option will populate the selection field with the names of all the skeletons in the Take. Remove the names of the skeletons you do not wish to include in your export. Names must match the names of actual skeletons in the Take to export. Note: This field is only visible if Export FBX Actors is selected. |
Optical Marker Name Space | Overrides the default name spaces for the optical markers. |
Marker Name Separator | Choose ":" or "_" for marker name separator. The name separator will be used to separate the asset name and the corresponding marker name when exporting the data (e.g. AssetName:MarkerLabel or AssetName_MarkerLabel). When exporting to Autodesk MotionBuilder, use "_" as the separator. |
Markers | Exports each marker's coordinates. |
Unlabeled Markers | Includes unlabeled markers. |
Calculated Marker Positions | Export asset's constraint marker positions as the optical marker data. |
Interpolated Fingertips | Includes virtual reconstructions at the fingertips. Available only with Skeletons that support finger tracking. |
Marker Nulls | Exports the location of each marker. |
Export Skeleton Nulls | |
Rigid Body Nulls |
Binary FBX files are more compact than ASCII FBX files. Reconstructed 3D marker data is not included within this file type, but selected Skeletons are exported by saving corresponding joint angles and segment lengths. For Rigid Bodies, positions and orientations at the defined Rigid Body origin are exported.
Make sure Individual Assets is selected when using the Remove Bone Name Prefixes option to export multiple skeletons, otherwise only one skeleton will be exported.
To include fingertips as nulls (Locators) in the export, the skeleton must contain hand bones. Select the following export options to export this data:
Marker Nulls
Unlabeled Markers
Interpolated Finger Tips
| Options | Descriptions |
|---|---|
Frame Rate | Number of samples included per every second of exported data. |
Start Frame | |
End Frame | |
Scale | Apply scaling to the exported tracking data. |
Units | Sets the unit for exported segment lengths. |
Use Timecode | Includes timecode. |
Export Skeletons | |
Skeleton Names | Select which skeletons will be exported: All skeletons, selected skeletons, or custom. The custom option will populate the selection field with the names of all the skeletons in the Take. Remove the names of the skeletons you do not wish to include in your export. Names must match the names of actual skeletons in the Take to export. |
Name Separator | Choose ":" or "_" for marker name separator. The name separator will be used to separate the asset name and the corresponding marker name when exporting the data (e.g. AssetName:MarkerLabel or AssetName_MarkerLabel). When exporting to Autodesk Motion Builder, use "_" as the separator. |
Bone Naming Convention | Select Motive, FBX, or UnrealEngine. |
Rigid Body Nulls | |
Rigid Body Names | Names of the Rigid Bodies to export into the FBX binary file as 6 DoF nulls. |
Markerset Nulls | |
Markerset Names | Select which markersets will be exported: All markersets, selected markersets, or custom. The custom option will populate the selection field with the names of all the markersets in the Take. Remove the names of the markersets you do not wish to include in your export. Names must match the names of actual markersets in the Take to export. |
Marker Nulls | Exports the location of each marker. This setting must be enabled to export interpolated finger tip data. |
Unlabeled Markers | Includes unlabeled markers. This setting must be enabled to export interpolated finger tip data. |
Interpolated Fingertips | Includes virtual reconstructions at the fingertips. Available only with Skeletons that support finger tracking. Both Marker Nulls and Unlabeled Markers must be enabled also. |
Exclude Fingers | When set to true, exported skeletons will not include the fingers, if they are tracked in the Take file. |
Cameras | Select the cameras to include in your export. Options are All Color Cameras, All Cameras, or none (default). |
Skeleton Stick Mesh | Select this option if exporting to a game engine that requires an FBX mesh asset to apply tracked skeletons to other characters for retargeting purposes. |
Individual Assets | Exports the data for each asset into a separate file. |
Remove Bone Name Prefixes | Removes the skeleton name prefix from the bones to create skeletons that are easily retargetable and interchangeable. Use when exporting into Unreal Engine. |
Start frame of the exported data. You can set it to the recorded first frame of the exported Take (the default option), to the start of the working range (or scope range), as configured under the or in the , or select Custom to enter a specific frame number.
End frame of the exported data. You can set it to the recorded end frame of the exported Take (the default option), to the end of the working range (or scope range), as configured under the of in the , or select Custom to enter a specific frame number.
Can only be exported when is recorded for exported Skeleton assets. Exports 6 Degree of Freedom data for every bone segment in selected Skeletons.
Can only be exported when is recorded for exported Rigid Body assets. Exports 6 Degree of Freedom data for selected Rigid Bodies. Orientation axes are displayed on the geometrical center of each Rigid Body.
Start frame of the exported data. You can set it to the recorded first frame of the exported Take (the default option), to the start of the working range (or scope range), as configured under the or in the , or select Custom to enter a specific frame number.
End frame of the exported data. You can set it to the recorded end frame of the exported Take (the default option), to the end of the working range (or scope range), as configured under the of in the , or select Custom to enter a specific frame number.
Export Skeleton nulls. Please note that the must be recorded for Skeleton bone tracking data to be exported. It exports 6 Degree of Freedom data for every bone segment in exported Skeletons.
Can only be exported when is recorded for exported Rigid Body assets. Exports 6 Degree of Freedom data for selected Rigid Bodies. Orientation axes are displayed on the geometrical center of each Rigid Body.
Can only be exported when is recorded for exported trained markerset assets. Exports 6 Degree of Freedom data for selected assets. Orientation axes are displayed on the geometrical center of each markerset.
