LogoLogo
WebsiteSupportDownloadsForumsQuick LinksContact Us
v3.0
v3.0
  • OptiTrack Documentation
  • WHAT'S NEW
    • What's New in Motive 3.0
    • Unreal Engine: OptiTrack InCamera VFX
  • QUICK START GUIDES
    • Quick Start Guide: Getting Started
    • Quick Start Guide: Prime Color Camera Setup
    • Quick Start Guide: Precision Capture
    • Quick Start Guide: Tutorial Videos
    • Quick Start Guide: Active Marker Tracking
    • Quick Start Guide: Outdoor Tracking Setup
  • HARDWARE
    • Cameras
      • Ethernet Cameras
        • PrimeX 41
        • PrimeX 22
        • PrimeX 13
        • PrimeX 13W
        • SlimX 13
        • Prime Color
      • USB Cameras
        • Slim 3U
        • Flex 13
        • Flex 3
        • Duo 3
        • Trio 3
        • Adjusting Global Origin for Tracking Bars
    • Prepare Setup Area
    • Camera Mount Structures
    • Camera Placement
    • Ethernet Camera Network Setup
      • General Overview and Specs
      • Windows 10 Network Settings
      • Cabling and Load Balancing
      • NETGEAR ProSafe GSM7228S: Disabling the Broadcast Storm Control
      • White/Blacklisting Cameras
    • USB Camera System Setup
    • Aiming and Focusing
    • Camera Status Indicators
  • MOTIVE
    • Installation and Activation
    • Motive Basics
    • Calibration
      • Continuous Calibration
      • Calibration Squares
    • Markers
    • Assets
      • Gizmo Tool: Translate, Rotate, and Scale
    • Rigid Body Tracking
      • Aligning Rigid Body Pivot Point with a Replicated 3D Model
    • Skeleton Tracking
    • Data Recording
      • Data Types
    • Labeling
    • Data Editing
    • Data Export
      • Data Export: BVH
      • Data Export: C3D
      • Data Export: CSV
      • Data Export: FBX
      • Data Export: TRC
    • Data Streaming
    • Camera Video Types
    • Audio Recording
    • Motive HotKeys
    • Measurement Probe Kit Guide
    • Motive Batch Processor
    • Reconstruction and 2D Mode
  • MOTIVE UI PANES
    • Settings
      • Settings: General
      • Settings: Assets
      • Settings: Live Pipeline
      • Settings: Streaming
      • Settings: Views
      • Settings: Mouse and Keyboard
      • Settings: Audio
    • Assets Pane
    • Builder Pane
    • Constraints Pane
      • Constraints XML Files
    • Calibration Pane
    • Data Pane
    • Devices Pane
    • Edit Tools Pane
    • Graph View Pane
    • Info Pane
    • Labels Pane
    • Log Pane
    • Probe Pane
    • Properties Pane
      • Properties Pane: Camera
      • Properties Pane: Force Plates
      • Properties Pane: NI-DAQ
      • Properties Pane: OptiHub2
      • Properties Pane: Rigid Body
      • Properties Pane: Skeleton
      • Properties Pane: Take
      • Properties Pane: eSync2
    • Status Panel
    • Toolbar/Command Bar
    • Control Deck
    • Viewport
  • PLUGINS
    • OptiTrack Unreal Engine Plugin
      • Unreal Engine: OptiTrack Live Link Plugin
        • UE5.1 Live Link Retarget External Workaround
      • Unreal Engine: OptiTrack Streaming Client Plugin
      • Unreal Engine: HMD Setup
      • Unreal Engine: MotionBuilder Workflow
      • Unreal Engine VCS Inputs
    • OptiTrack Unity Plugin
      • Unity: HMD Setup
    • OptiTrack OpenVR Driver
    • Autodesk Maya
      • Autodesk Maya: OptiTrack Insight VCS Plugin
    • Autodesk MotionBuilder
      • Autodesk MotionBuilder Plugin
      • Autodesk MotionBuilder: OptiTrack Skeleton Plugin
      • Autodesk MotionBuilder: OptiTrack Optical Plugin
      • Autodesk MotionBuilder: OptiTrack Insight VCS Plugin
      • Autodesk MotionBuilder: Timecode Data
    • OptiTrack Peripheral API
    • External Plugins
      • Houdini 19 Integration
  • ACTIVE COMPONENTS
    • Active Components Hardware
      • Active Puck
      • CinePuck
      • BaseStation
      • Information for Assembling the Active Tags
      • Manus Glove Setup
    • Configuration
      • Active Batch Programmer
      • Active Hardware Configuration: PuTTY
      • Active Component Firmware Compatibility
    • Active Marker Tracking
      • Active Finger Marker Set
      • Active Marker Tracking: IMU Setup
  • SYNCHRONIZATION
    • Synchronization Hardware
      • External Device Sync Guide: eSync 2
      • External Device Sync Guide: OptiHub2
    • Synchronization Setup
    • OptiTrack Timecode
  • VIRTUAL PRODUCTION
    • Unreal Engine: OptiTrack InCamera VFX
    • Entertainment Marker Sets
    • PrimeX 41
  • MOVEMENT SCIENCES
    • Movement Sciences Hardware
      • General Motive Force Plate Setup
      • AMTI Force Plate Setup
      • Bertec Force Plate Setup
      • Kistler Force Plate Setup
      • Delsys EMG Setup
      • NI-DAQ Setup
      • Multiple Device Setup
    • Movement Sciences Marker Sets
      • Biomechanics Marker Sets
      • Biomech (57)
      • Rizzoli Marker Sets
    • For Visual3D Users
    • Prime Color Camera Setup
      • Prime Color Setup: Required Components
      • Prime Color Setup: Hardware Setup
      • Prime Color Camera Setup: Camera Settings
      • Prime Color Camera Setup: Prime Color FS Calibration
      • Prime Color Setup: Data Recording / Export
      • Prime Color Camera Setup: FAQ / Troubleshooting
      • Prime Color Camera Setup: Windows 10 Network Settings
  • VIRTUAL REALITY
    • VR Plugins
      • VR Unreal Engine
        • OptiTrack Unreal Engine Plugin
        • Unreal Engine: OptiTrack Live Link Plugin
          • UE5.1 Live Link Retarget External Workaround
        • Unreal Engine: OptiTrack Streaming Client Plugin
        • Unreal Engine VCS Inputs
      • VR Unity
        • OptiTrack Unity Plugin
      • VR OpenVR
        • OptiTrack OpenVR Driver
    • VR HMD Setup
      • Unreal Engine: HMD Setup
      • Unity: HMD Setup
      • Manually Calibrating the HMD Pivot Point
      • Sync Configuration with an HTC Vive System
    • SlimX 13
    • Active Marker Tracking
      • Active Finger Marker Set
      • Active Marker Tracking: IMU Setup
    • Synchronization Hardware
      • External Device Sync Guide: eSync 2
      • External Device Sync Guide: OptiHub2
  • ANIMATION
    • Autodesk Maya
      • Autodesk Maya: OptiTrack Insight VCS Plugin
    • Autodesk MotionBuilder
      • Autodesk MotionBuilder Plugin
      • Autodesk MotionBuilder: OptiTrack Skeleton Plugin
      • Autodesk MotionBuilder: OptiTrack Optical Plugin
      • Autodesk MotionBuilder: OptiTrack Insight VCS Plugin
      • Autodesk MotionBuilder: Timecode Data
  • ROBOTICS
    • PrimeX 22
    • Outdoor Tracking Setup
  • DEVELOPER TOOLS
    • Developer Tools Overview
    • NatNet SDK
      • NatNet 4.0
      • NatNet: Class/Function Reference
      • NatNet: Creating a Managed (C sharp) Client Application
      • NatNet: Creating a Native (C++) Client Application
      • NatNet: Data Types
      • NatNet: Matlab Wrapper
      • NatNet: Migration to NatNet 3.0 libraries
      • NatNet: RebroadcastMotiveData Sample
      • NatNet: Remote Requests/Commands
      • NatNet: Sample Projects
      • NatNet: Unicast Data Subscription Commands
      • Latency Measurements
    • Motive API
      • Motive API: Quick Start Guide
      • Motive API Overview
      • Motive API: Function Reference
      • Motive API Camera Calibration
    • Camera SDK
  • SKELETON MARKER SETS
    • Full Body
      • Baseline (41)
      • Core (50)
      • Biomech (57)
      • Conventional (39)
    • Full Body + Fingers
      • Baseline + Passive Fingers (49)
      • Baseline + Active Fingers (57)
      • Core + Passive Fingers (54)
      • Core + Active Fingers (62)
    • Upper
      • Baseline Upper (25)
      • Conventional Upper (27)
    • Lower
      • Baseline Lower (20)
      • Helen Hayes Lower (19)
      • Conventional Lower (16)
    • Hand and Fingers
      • Left/Right Hand (4) Active
      • Left/Right Hand (10) Active + Passive
      • Active Finger Marker Set
    • Glove Device Setup
      • Manus Glove Setup
      • StretchSense Glove Setup
    • Rizzoli Marker Sets
    • Entertainment Marker Sets
    • Rigid Body Skeleton Marker Set
  • GENERAL TROUBLESHOOTING
    • Network Troubleshooting
    • Authenticating Cameras Without an Internet Connection
    • Troubleshooting Q&A
    • Running Motive on High DPI Displays
    • Firewall Settings
Powered by GitBook
On this page
  • Live Mode and Edit Mode
  • Recording
  • Control Deck
  • Recorded Data Management
  • Recorded Data Types
  • Marker Types in Motive
  • Unlabeled and Labeled
  • Marker Constraints: Rigid Body Markers and Bone Markers

Was this helpful?

Export as PDF
  1. MOTIVE

Data Recording

PreviousSkeleton TrackingNextData Types

Last updated 2 years ago

Was this helpful?

Once the capture volume is calibrated and all markers are placed, you are now ready to capture Takes. In this page, we will cover key concepts and tips that are important for the recording pipeline. For real-time tracking applications, you can skip this page and read through the page.

Live Mode and Edit Mode

There are two different modes in Motive: Live mode and Edit mode. You can toggle between two modes from the or by using the (Shift + ~) hotkey.

Live Mode

The Live mode is mainly used when recording new Takes or when streaming a live capture. In this mode, all of the cameras are continuously capturing 2D images and reconstructing the detected reflections into 3D data in real-time.

Edit Mode

The Edit Mode is used for playback of captured Take files. In this mode, you can playback, or stream, recorded data. Also, captured Takes can be post-processed by fixing mislabeling errors or interpolating the occluded trajectories if needed.

Recording

Control Deck

Tip: For Skeleton tracking, always start and end the capture with a T-pose or A-pose, so that the Skeleton assets can be redefined from the recorded data as well.

Recorded Data Management

Tip: Efficient ways of managing Takes


  1. Always start by creating session folders for organizing related Takes. (e.g. name of the tracked subject).

  2. Plan ahead and create a list of captures in a text file or a spreadsheet, and you can create empty takes by copying and pasting the list into the Data Management pane (e.g. walk, jog, run, jump).

  3. Once pasted, empty Takes with the corresponding names will be imported.

  4. Select one of the empty takes and start recording. The capture will be saved with the corresponding name.

  5. When captured successfully, select another empty Take in the list and capture the next one.

Recorded Data Types

  • 2D data: The recorded Take file includes just the 2D object images from each camera.

  • 3D data: The recorded Take file also includes reconstructed 3D marker data in addition to 2D data.

Marker Types in Motive

Unlabeled and Labeled

Marker data, labeled or unlabeled, represent the 3D positions of markers. These markers do not present Rigid Body or Skeleton solver calculations but locate the actual marker position calculated from the camera data. These markers are represented as a solid sphere in the viewport. By default, unlabeled markers are colored in white, and labeled markers will have colors that reflect the color setting in the Rigid Body or the corresponding bone.

Labeled Marker Colors:

  • Colors of the Rigid Body labeled markers can be changed from the properties of the corresponding asset.

  • Colors of the markers can be changed from the Constraints XML file if needed.

Marker Constraints: Rigid Body Markers and Bone Markers

Rigid Body markers or Skeleton bone markers are referred to as Marker Constraints. They appear as transparent spheres within a Rigid Body, or a Skeleton, and each sphere reflect the position that a Rigid Body, or a Skeleton, expects to find a 3D marker. When the asset definitions are created, it is assumed that the markers are fixed at the same location and does not move over the course of capture.

In order to view Marker Constraints, both the Marker Constraints visual aid option in the viewport and the Marker Constraints property on the corresponding asset must be enabled. This is enabled by default for Skeleton assets but this must be enabled for Rigid Bodies to view them. When the Rigid Body solver or Skeleton solver are tracking from the 3D markers, the marker reconstructions and Marker Constraints positions will closely align in the viewport.

Tip: Prime series cameras will illuminate in blue when in live mode, in green when recording, and turned-off in edit mode. See more at .

Recording in Motive is triggered from the when in the Live mode, and the recorded data

In Motive, capture recording is controlled from the . In the Live mode, new Take** name** can be assigned in the name box or you can just simply start the recording and let Motive automatically generate new names on the fly. You can also create empty Takes in the Data Management pane for a better organization. To start the capture, select Live mode and click the recording button (red). In the control deck, record time and frames are displayed in (Hour:Minute:Second:Frames).

In Motive, all of the recorded capture files are managed through the . Each capture will be saved in a Take (TAK) file, which can be played back in the Edit mode later. Related Take files can be grouped within session folders. Simply create a new folder in the desired directory and load the folder onto the . Currently selected session folder is indicated with the flag symbol (), and all newly recorded Takes will be saved in this folder.

If the capture was unsuccessful, simply record the same Take again and another one will be recorded with a incremented suffix added at the end of the given Take name (e.g. walk_001, walk_002, walk_003). The suffix format is defined in the .

When a capture is first recorded, both 2D data and real-time reconstructed 3D data is saved onto the Take. For more details on each data type, refer to the page.

Throughout capture, you might recognize that there are different types of markers that appear in the . In order to correctly interpret the tracking data, it is important to understand the differences between these markers. There are three different displayed marker types: markers, Rigid Body markers, and bone (or Skeleton) markers.

Colors of the unlabeled markers can be changed from the .

For Rigid Body assets, when their asset definition is created, it expects the markers to be fixed in the same location and the object does not deform over the course of capture. Each Rigid Body is given a acceptable property value. As long as the actual marker position is within the allowable deflection from the Marker Constraints position, the marker will be labeled. For Skeleton assets, as the body segments are not perfectly rigid, some amount of offset from the model marker position is allowed.

Camera Status Indicators
Control Deck
Control Deck
Application Settings
Data Types
Application Settings
deflection
Data Streaming
Control Deck
Data pane
Data pane
SelectedFolder.png
3D perspective view
Motive in Live Mode.
Motive in Edit Mode
Click image to enlarge.
Click image to enlarge.
Managing Takes.