Hi sorry for the daft question

Im new to Motion builder.
I got the motion capture data into Motionbuilder and it all works fine, the prblem occurs when i want to export it to 3DS MAX. I know all the settings i have selected are correct but the file wont import into 3ds max (my guess is the file is to large) the motion capture data is around 15 mins long so i know this will be the problem.

So what i want to do is cut the data into chunks so that i can use say 40 seconds of this data and most likely split that into smaller chunks again.

So in a long winded rambling way here is my question…

Can i make takes of 1 motion capture data file?
or does the raw data itself have to be split up and filmed in seperate takes?

can anyone help me here with advice or suggestions?

Hello,

This is a good question, actually.  And, the answer is yes, absolutely.  Here are some general guidelines because I don’t know what type of data you are using.  If you need more details, let me know.  (Remember to keep a copy of the data somewhere as a back-up)

If you are using optical motion capture, you can use the optical tool to trim takes down to only what you need. 
1. Import the mocap file into MotionBuilder.
2. In the timeline change to a new take and when asked to copy data in, say “Yes”.
3. Double click on an optical marker to go to the Optical tool pane.
4. Click the Settings tab.
5. Set the timeline (transport controls) to start and end around the data you want to form the new take.
6. Click the Crop Segment Animation button, and this will cut out anything outside the start and end frames you have set.
7. Just keep copying the whole take into new takes and trimming down using these steps.
8.  You may wish to click on the the ‘one take per file’ when saving to save individual takes as individual fbx files.

If you are using mocap that is saved on a skeleton, then cut the animation using the Story tool.
1. Characterize your skeleton in a t-stance.
2. Make a copy of your whole take into a new take and work off the copy.
2. Create a character animation track in the story.
3. Right mouse click in the new track and ‘insert current take’.
4. Then select the clip and rasor using the ‘rasor’ tool in the Story.
6. Delete what you don’t need.
7. Right click on the cut clip and plot back to current take (the copy).
8. Save your scene and the fbx now contains the shortened animation take.
9. Continue making new takes and cutting these as described above.
10.  You may wish to click on the the ‘one take per file’ when saving to save individual takes as individual fbx files.

Out of curiosity, what happens when you take the whole take into Max?

Kelly
MotionBuilder QA

not had a chance to try the suggestions yet, but will get back to you on that on thursday when im next in.

With regards to the crashing. It will say at the bottom importing “armdata legdata etc...” but then it will get to 50% and just hang. i tried a few times on various computers with different processors/RAM all with the same problem.

The computer will carry on running fine but 3ds max will just die and you have to ctrl-alt-del and end the process. I did leave it running for a day to see if that would help but it still died.

Hope this helps you, im not sure if im explaining it very well