Takes – Merging key data between takes

Issue

You have keyframe data across multiple take’s in MotionBuilder and would like information on how to combine the data from each take into single take for edit. Some examples of where this could be an issue are as follows:-

You have recorded Mo-Cap data from capture session stored on multiple takes. You wish to combine the different capture sessions into single performance edit in single take in MotionBuilder.

-or-

You have multiple scene files with keyframe data on separate takes. You would like to merge the data from the individual scene files. Using File>Merge, it is possible to merge multiple takes of data from separate files into single file. After merge of the takes, you would like to combine the data to single take for edit. Screenshot showing Merge Options>Takes import is below:-

Solution

There are several different workflows you can use to combine key data stored on different takes in a scene in MotionBuilder:-

Copy / Paste Key data.

The simplest approach to combine the different data across the takes is to use the Copy/Paste Key data function in the Transport Controls>Action Timeline. Workflow for this method is outlined below:

1. Multiple takes are available in the current scene file. The takes have either been created as new or merged from other scene files as outlined above.

2. A New Take has been created from the Transport Controls>Current Take Menu drop-down.

3. All of the objects and elements in scene that are animated have been selected. For characters that you wish to copy key data between takes for, you will need to select all of the character Control Rig Effectors. The easiest way to do this is to either branch select the Control Rig in the Schematic View or double-click in the Character Controls window which will select all the IK effectors. This is shown in screenshot below:-

5. With the objects selected as in step 3 above, all of the key data for the current take should be displayed in the Transport Controls>Action Timeline. From Transport Controls>Action Timeline, all of the keys have been selected by choosing Right-Click >Select All. The selected keys will display as highlighted in green as shown below:-

6. With all the keys selected on current take for current objects, choose Right-Click>Copy. Then switch to the new Take as created at step 2 above. On the new take, choose Right-Click>Paste to paste the copied Key data.

7. This process will need to be repeated for each Take in the scene(repeat steps 4-6 above).

Note: the Key data will be pasted at the currently selected key point in Transport Controls>Action Timeline. Therefore if your original Takes overlap in Time you will need to offset the point you wish to paste the keys at.

Story Mode-

With Story Mode it is possible to combine different takes by inserting them as clips into the track. After combining or syncing the clips in Story mode, the data can be plotted back to a new Take for further edit. Workflow for this method is outlined below:-

1. Multiple takes are available in the current scene file. The takes have either been created as new or merged from other scene files as outlined above.

2. In Story window, new Generic Animation or Story Character Tracks have been created for each element in the scene that you wish to merge the Take data on.

3. From the Transport Controls>Takes drop-down menu, each individual take has been selected in turn as shown in screenshot below:-

4. In each Story Track, the key data from each take has been inserted as new Clip. This can be done by right-Click>Insert Current Take in each Story Track. Note: The process will need to be repeated for each element in the scene that has a corresponding Story Track. To insert the key data from each take, you will need to select each individual take in turn before choosing Right-Click>Insert Current Take. Screenshot below shows Take data inserted from three separate takes(MyTake01/02/03 in scene into Story Track. The screenshot shows the start and end points of each take synced so that the end point of one Take clip corresponds with start of next. The timing can be further edited with the Story mode tools as required.