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Why does the timeline suck?

kevdotbadgerkevdotbadger Posts: 0
edited December 1969 in Daz Studio Discussion

Hello all. I'm new to Daz3D, but I'm enjoying working with it. My main purpose was to create models/animations for Unity3d. I've been way more than pleased with the quality of stuff the program exports, however the timeline editor is rubbish.

My problem is that I'm using the free mocap data files (BVH files) from https://sites.google.com/a/cgspeed.com/cgspeed/motion-capture/daz-friendly-release

These import amazing well and I can export a model with the baked animations right into Unity3d. They are all mecanim compatible and very high quality. However, when importing more than 1 BVH files, the whole thing screws up. What I must do is expand the timeline to accommodate the new frames and make sure that I use the settings from the current file when importing (otherwise the current animation gets overwrote). However, the quality is just never as good as a originally imported animation. Positions are screwed up on the second animation, and without major work it's unusable.

I guess my questions is; is Daz3D good enough to use for animating? Does the other program, Poser, give a better experience? What would you guys advise when dealing with this?

Comments

  • TimingisEverythingTimingisEverything Posts: 112
    edited December 1969

    Get KeyMate its like Posers TImeline

  • kevdotbadgerkevdotbadger Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Is there a trial for this? I don't really want to fork out $20 for this, when it might not solve my problem. Do you have it? Could you import a couple of this mocap files and see how they fair? That would be ideal.

  • Virtual MediaVirtual Media Posts: 85
    edited December 1969

    Daz Studio is one of the best programs available for creating human like figures, however the timeline is next to useless. Animate products go a long way to improve the DS Animation capabilities.

    To answer your question. I would highly recommend Animate 2. It is easily the best plugin I ever purchased for DS.

    Rant Warning:

    For the life of me I can't understand why Daz is constantly updating DS yet completely ignores the timeline / animation capabilities. Having so many life like characters that can't move reliably is like owning a warehouse full of sports cars that all have flat tires.

  • TimingisEverythingTimingisEverything Posts: 112
    edited December 1969

    kevdotbadger said:
    Is there a trial for this? I don't really want to fork out $20 for this, when it might not solve my problem. Do you have it? Could you import a couple of this mocap files and see how they fair? That would be ideal.


    Yes I have it, as stated it is like posers timeline. It is a needed item in my opinion even if you dont animate it is useful.

    If you do decide to get it Ill save you some time, Select "TRSV" when you want to save "Shaping" changes on the timeline.

  • JaderailJaderail Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    DAZ Studio started life as a pose then Render STUDIO, think photo studio. It was not built from the ground up with Animation in mind, or even thought of for animation from what I have read. Then they added the Timeline, and now we have AniMate2 and KeyMate as well as GraphMate as DAZ Studio Plugins. All of which has moved Animation in DS much farther than before. It has been said that Animation will be getting some much needed love (read as code) in future updates of DAZ Studio. Until then we need the Plugins and other third party files to improve on the animation tools built in DS at this time. I'm still learning DS animation myself and have found many of the Free Scripts from the FreePozatory very useful as well as the Bought plugins. Other tools like BVH editors from other sites are also very handy, edit the file before use in DS is often one way to fix errors.

  • kitakoredazkitakoredaz Posts: 3,526
    edited February 2014

    My suggesiton is perfectly same as Virtual Media. You can do what you want by animate 2.
    at least it can improve much your bvh.

    If you think you must need aniblock products , I think you do not understand all animate2 usage still.
    (it seems usuall, becaues, often user think animate2 need product aniblock)

    aniblock can made from daz timeline too. that means you can change bvh animation improted on daz timeline
    as aniblock. then modify aniblock as you want. after that you bake the new aniblock on daz timeline.
    then export bvh again.

    you can think animate2 as your bvh (FBX) modifier plug in too.

    eg many of cg speed animation bvh not fit so well for genesis2.
    but I can modify them as aniblock by using subtrack, level layers . I do not know about other 3d tools much.
    but when I export bvh animations, and try to combine or joint smoothy or change speed, etc,
    these steps is usually difficult, but animate can do them as aniblock.

    on the other hand, key mate or graph mate is handy tool, and it is useful to work on daz timeline.
    I recommend these items too.

    but it can not extend your animation easy, or change speed, etc.

    Post edited by kitakoredaz on
  • mullhull_7c51bfb544mullhull_7c51bfb544 Posts: 46
    edited December 1969

    good help files and basic tutorials available for keymate

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