Motion capture using Kinect and MotionBuilder

Today I finished a tiny app that uses the Microsoft Kinect to capture BVH files that contain motions for 3d models. Those files can easily be imported into Autodesk MotionBuilder and used, for example, with Autodesk Pinocchio.

To use it, simple click the record button and recording starts in 2 seconds. Move infront of your Kinect and make sure that your body is fully visible. Move around and when you are done, click the stop button. Then select the frames that should not be included in the motion and delete them (Select multiple frames holding the shift key). Then klick Export bvh… and save your file.

The archive contains an additional XML file that does the bone mapping in MotionBuilder for you. When you create your skeleton, use this file to match the exported names from my application to the character in MotionBuilder. In the options tab there is a checkbox that automatically converts the bone names to the names used in MotionBuilder. This feature does not worl 100% correct, you have to assign 1-2 body parts yourself, so it is easier to deselect the box and use the transformation file.

Have fun with it and if you like it, please donate 🙂

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7 thoughts on “Motion capture using Kinect and MotionBuilder”

  1. I really thank you for this app, It will be very useful for me in a project I’m planning to do.
    Again, thank you very much.

  2. I tried to import the .bvh to blender, but I cant see the skeleton.
    Can you help me? If I choose .bvh files from internet it works.

    Best regard und viele Grüße aus NRW

    1. Hi Sascha, unfortunately not… did you try any other 3d modelling tool to test if the skeleton can be found within the bvh file?

  3. Actually I tried to install. But it doesnt work. Only in Mode WinXP the installer starts but then nothing happend.

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