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Yeah, it sounds like you're not setting the initial orientation properly. After you've tracked and cleaned up the body mocap, go to the frame where you're pointing the Move directly at a Kinect. Select the view for that specific Kinect to be sure you're adjusting the selected controller. If it's the correct one, click Match to Camera--the move should snap into position relative to that camera. Note: I find it most helpful to use the device preview that looks like the actual Move device.
Now you need to go to a frame in the video where you can clearly see the orientation of the device relative to your performer's hand--if necessary, make a manual adjustment to the rotation of the device. Now click the Apply Motion button. If your grip was firm and consistent throughout the capture, the tracking should be pretty solid.
Repeat this process for the other hand and the head. It may seem complicated at first but the procedure is actually very simple after you've done it a few times.
Tips:
- Make sure you maintain a firm and consistent grip on the controller. If you change your grip during capture, you may as well stop and reset. To reset, just point the device directly as a Kinect again, and use this as your reference from this frame forward.
- When adjusting the base rotation manually, I sometimes find I want a slightly different orientation depending on what the character is doing with their hands. Typically, I'll want the wrist to be slightly more forward or backward than what I've actually captured for the motion. This is a matter of taste of course.
- Be aware of electronic appliances that can interfere with the bluetooth device, like the computer or a large TV. I like to attach my bluetooth dongle to a USB repeater cable and draw it out to just outside the performance space. This not only minimizes interference, it improves the signal strength because the dongle is physically closer to the Moves.
- For the same reason, it's best to do your initial setup away from the computer and TV. Once you have this set, you should be good for future sessions unless you somehow unpair the Move devices. (My Move devices are still capturing accurately and they were last paired about a year ago.)
- Remember that you can operate iPi Recorder remotely using the Move devices. To do this, just press and hold the button on the right side of the controller. When it vibrates, you are recording. Press and hold again to stop recording. If you do this again, iPi Recorder will start recording to a new file. (Recorder automatically uses a time stamp in the file name to make it unique, and you can append a custom default name if you wish.)
- I have my Move devices clearly labeled 'Left', 'Right' and 'Head', and I'm careful to make sure I always use the devices accordingly. This eliminates any confusion about which device to choose when assigning each device to the rig in Mocap Studio.
- Get a multi-charger for your Move devices. I use a type that has four vertical tubes that hold each device. The devices will stay charged for many hours but I always drop the devices into the charger tubes when I'm done. When the devices are charged to capacity, I power off the charger. Fully charged devices seem able to maintain their charge for many months, but if I know in advance that I need to capture some motions, I'll check the battery a day or two ahead.
Hope this helps.
G.
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