Archive for the ‘Software Release’ Category

iPi Soft Announces iPi Motion Capture Version 4

Advanced Markerless Mocap Solution Delivers Real-time Tracking For 3D Character Content Creation, Compatibility With Leading Sensor Technologies, GoPro Camera Support and New Perpetual License Model

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MOSCOW, RUSSIA – July 3, 2018  – iPi Soft, LLC, developers of advanced motion capture technology, today announced iPi Motion Capture Version 4 a comprehensive next version of its popular markerless motion capture software. Version 4 introduces a highly anticipated real-time preview capability for a single depth sensor.

Other new features and enhancements in Version 4 include support for new depth sensors (Intel RealSense D415 / D435, ASUS Xtion2 and Orbbec Astra / Astra Pro); improved arms and body tracking; and support for action cameras like GoPro and SJCAM. With Version 4, iPi Soft also introduces a perpetual license model.

New Depth Sensors	Real-time Preview Screenshot

“We are delighted to introduce real-time tracking feedback in Version 4 that allows users to preview the motion tracking result transferred to 3D characters at the time of performance,” Michael Nikonov, iPi Soft founder and chief technology architect, said . “The combination of real-time tracking, expanded support for the latest in depth sensor technology and wide-angle action camera compatibility in Version 4 elevates the content creation experience for high-end film, television and games customers where a fast and reliable workflow is essential.”

Benefits of iPi Mocap V 4 Real Time Tracking

The new real-time tracking feature in Version 4 uses iPi Recorder, a free software provided by iPi Soft for capturing, for playing back and processing video records from multiple cameras and depth sensors, to communicate to iPi Mocap Studio software that tracks in real-time speed and instantly transfers motion to 3D characters. This allows users to see how the motion will look on a 3D character, and improve motion accordingly at the time of acting and recording without the need to redo multiple iterations of acting, recording and offline tracking.

Live tracking results can then be stored to disk for additional offline post-processing, such as tracking refinement (to improve tracking accuracy), manual corrections and jitter removal to provide end users with an accurate, flexible and efficient workflow.

iPi Mocap Version 4 currently includes the real-time tracking feature for a single depth sensor only. iPi Soft is scheduled to bring real-time functionality for multiple depth sensors by the end of this year.

Development of plug-ins for popular 3D game engines, including Unreal Engine and Unity, is also underway.

Key features in iPi Motion Capture 4

Real-time Tracking and Other Tracking Improvements

• Real-time tracking support of human performance for live preview for a single depth sensor (Basic and Pro configurations); motion can be transferred to a 3D character.
• Improved individual body parts tracking: after performing initial tracking, users can re-do tracking for selected body parts, which allows users to fix tracking errors more quickly.
• Tracking improvements of head and hands, when used in conjunction with Sony’s PS Move motion controller that takes into account joint limits.

Support for New Sensors and Cameras

• Support for Intel RealSense D415 / D435 depth cameras, Asus Xtion2 motion sensors and Orbbec Astra / Astra Pro 3D cameras.
• Support for action cameras like GoPro and SJCAM, including wide-angle cameras, which allows users to come closer to camera thus decreasing space requirements.
• Ability to calibrate individual internal parameters of any camera, which can be used to correctly reconstruct 3D information from video for improved overall tracking quality.
• Ability to load unsynchronized videos from multiple cameras and then use iPi Recorder to sync and convert footage to .iPiVideo format used by iPi Mocap Studio.
• With support of action cameras, video framerate can reach up to 120 fps to allow for tracking extremely fast motions.

A complete list of the new feature enhancements in iPi Motion Capture 4 is available here.

Pricing and Availability

With Version 4, iPi Soft is introducing a perpetual license model. The perpetual license is not time-limited and includes two years with full support and software updates. Afterwards, users have the option to subscribe to a support plan to continue receiving full support and software updates. Alternatively, they can continue using their latest software version.

iPi Motion Capture Version 4 is also available as a subscription-based model. Prices range from $165 to $1995 depending on the version of software (Express, Basic, Pro) and duration of subscription. The Basic edition provides support for up to 6 Sony PS3 Eye cameras or 2 depth sensors, and tracking of a single actor. The Pro version features full 16-camera / 4 depth sensors capability and can track up to 3 actors. A free 30-day trial for Version 3.0 is available here.

Additional information on iPi Soft license offerings is available  here.

About iPi Soft:

Moscow-based developer, iPi Soft, LLC, develops powerful markerless motion capture software technology that uses sophisticated image processing and computer vision algorithms to recognize and track the human body. The company’s software is used by creative professionals and prosumers around the world to digitize the movement of a human skeleton, rendering it expressive in 3D characters for video games, computer generated films, as well as for medical, military and other applications. For additional information, on iPi Soft, product pricing, product configurations or a 30-day free trial please visit, http://www.ipisoft.com.

All trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

#   #   # Media Contacts: Ambient PR, Vicky Gray-Clark, vicky@ambientpr.com, 408-318-1980 Right Word Media, Ray Ecke, ray@rightwordmedia.com, 973-726-3797

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The new version includes improved calibration for depth sensors / light marker, new automation commands, important bugfixes and enhancements:

http://docs.ipisoft.com/iPi_Mocap_Studio_Release_Notes#ver._3.6.6.222

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TheBroadcastBridge: iPi Soft Releases Motion Capture v3.5

Read Jay Ankeney’s interview with our CTO Michael Nikonov in Broadcast Bridge. “The latest version 3.5 software from Russia-based iPi Soft achieves up to 3X faster rendering speed, coming very close to the Holy Grail of real time markerless MoCap rendering when used with a Microsoft Kinect sensor set-up.”

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Version 3.5 of Markerless Mocap Solution More Than Doubles Tracking Speed; Includes Faster, More Accurate Calibration

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MOSCOW, RUSSIA – iPi Soft, LLC, developers of advanced markerless motion capture technology, today announced significant upgrades to its iPi Motion Capture software application, including 2.5 times faster tracking speed when used with a Kinect sensor set-up, enhanced animation export functionality, as well as availability for single-actor projects and single-GPU configurations.

According to Michael Nikonov, founder and chief technology architect for iPi Soft, the new iPi Motion Capture tracking algorithm works faster than when the raw data is recorded via a Kinect sensor, with tracking speeds now available up to 60-70 fps (when using high-end video cards), versus previous Kinect recording rates of 30 fps. “The new enhancements to the software will allow us to implement a real-time feedback feature so users can see the tracking result transferred to 3D characters at the time of recording motions for optimized workflow,” Nikonov said.

Nikonov also noted that the new 3.5 version offers faster calibration for the Sony PS3 Eye camera set up, which now takes less than three minutes (dependent on the number of cameras used) when using a high-end video card. In addition, increased calibration precision has resulted in more accurate noise and defect filtering.

Customers working with Sony PS Move motion controllers to precisely track hands and head rotations, a process that used to take up to 10 minutes depending on length of recordings, now will enjoy nearly instant application of motion controllers data. iPi Soft development also continues to bring faster algorithms for use with Sony PS3 Eye and other RGB camera set-ups, scheduled for release later this year.

In addition to 2.5 to 3 times faster tracking speed (for Kinect sensors) – which is essentially real-time rendering, a long time benchmark for adoption with high-end users working in entertainment – the new 3.5 version features additional animation settings for working in third party applications for a smoother integration.

Other key features in iPi Motion Capture 3.5 include:

•    Availability for single-actor projects and single-GPU configurations.

• New export tab controls allow users to rotate imported characters into proper orientation, useful for many popular characters, including standard Unreal Engine characters.
• Motion can now accurately be transferred to imported characters with separate root bone and hips/pelvis bone. Users can map hip motions either to root or to hips/pelvis, which benefits game engine characters, including standard Unity 3D Engine and Unreal Engine characters.
• Support for FBX format 7.5.
• Added finger bones to motion transfer profile for Valve characters in SMD and DMX formats.
• Users can select flashlight color for marker detection during calibration, useful in case of light backgrounds.
• Timesaving hints added to GPU’s progress bar area during tracking.
• Dialog with common actions available for the exported file shown after animation export and video export operations.
• Numerous bug and “under-the-hood” fixes.

A complete list of the new feature enhancements in iPi Motion Capture 3.5 is available here.

Real-Time Feedback Development:

In addition to more than doubling the tracking speed with this latest version, the company remains focused on achieving real time rendering before the end of 2017.

“Our development efforts are focused on processing speed optimization and we expect to release a new version of iPi Motion Capture that will essentially offer real-time capability this year to deliver customers an overall improved markerless mocap workflow,” notes Nikonov.

Pricing and Availability:                                                              

iPi Motion Capture Version 3.5 is available on a subscription-based pricing model. Prices range from $45.00 to $2,495.00 depending on the version of software (Express, Basic, Pro) and duration of subscription. The Basic edition provides support for up to 6 Sony PS3 Eye cameras or 2 Kinect sensors, and tracking of single actor. The Pro version features full 16-camera / 4 Kinect sensors capability and can track of up to 3 actors. A free 30-day trial for Version 3.0 is available here: http://ipisoft.com/download/

About iPi Motion Capture:

iPi Motion Capture is a markerless motion capture software tool to track human body motions to easily produce 3D animation. The scalable system is capable of tracking of up to 3 actors and is compatible with first and second-generation Kinect sensors working at the same time on one or several computers to capture complex motions, including 360-degrees turns. It also supports other inexpensive off-the-shelf equipment such as Sony PS3 Eye cameras.

The software is also compatible with many leading game engines, 3D software applications and animation rigs, including MAXON Cinema 4D, Autodesk 3D Studio Max / Maya / MotionBuilder, Unity, Valve Source Filmmaker / Source Engine, DAZ Studio, Poser, iClone, Unreal Engine, and others. iPi Motion Capture supports motion transfer and export to popular animation formats including FBX, BVH and COLLADA.

About iPi Soft:

Moscow-based developer, iPi Soft, LLC, develops powerful markerless motion capture software technology that uses sophisticated image processing and computer vision algorithms to recognize and track the human body. The company’s software is used by creative professionals and prosumers around the world to digitize the movement of a human skeleton, rendering it expressive in 3D characters for video games, computer generated films, as well as for medical, military and other applications. For additional information, on iPi Soft, product pricing, product configurations or a 30-day free trial please visit, http://www.ipisoft.com.

All trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Media Contacts:

Ambient PR, Vicky Gray-Clark, vicky@ambientpr.com, 408-318-1980

Right Word Media, Ray Ecke, ray@rightwordmedia.com, 973-726-3797

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Faster Tracking / Export Enhancements Release

New software release 3.5.0.214 includes:

N E W    F E A T U R E S:

• New fast tracking algorithm for depth sensors (BETA version). To use it, turn on Use fast tracking algorithm (BETA) checkbox on Tracking tab.
  • Tracking speed increase is up to 2.5 times depending on particular hardware and tracking options.
  • Available for single-actor projects, and single-GPU configurations.

• Improvements in animation export.
  • New control on Export tab to rotate imported characters into proper orientation. This is useful for many popular characters, including standard Unreal Engine character.
  • The motion is now correctly transferred to imported characters with separate Root bone and Hips/Pelvis bone. You can map hips motion either to Root or to Hips/Pelvis. This is useful for game engine characters, including standard Unity 3D Engine and Unreal Engine characters.
  • Support for FBX format 7.5 (2016)
  • Added finger bones to motion transfer profile for Valve characters in SMD and DMX formats.

• Allow to select flashlight color for marker detection during calibration (useful in case of light background).
• Added hints about GPUs to progress bar area during tracking.
• Showing dialog with common actions available for the exported file after animation export and video export operations.

B U G    F I X E S:

• Program crashed in case of window resizing during video export.
• Program crashed on certain errors when opening target character and animations. Now errors are reported.
• Automation Add-on could hang in rare cases during events sending.
• Fixed GPU memory leaks on project open / close operations and during calibration.

U N D E R    T H E    H O O D:

• Improved automatic floor detection both for RGB cameras and depth sensors
• Replaced viewport repaint on every frame during tracking / refine / jitter removal to repaint by timer. May lead to slight speed increase on powerful GPUs.
• Improved tracking / refine / jitter removal speed calcualtion and changed formatting for speed values.
• Using FBX SDK 2017.1 for handling FBX files.
• Fixed speed degradation issue during calibration using board for depth projects.
• For multiple GPU configuration the old tracking algorithm is set to be used in case number of cameras is over 6. In most cases this is faster than using default tracking on single GPU.

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New software release 3.4.12.208 includes:

N E W    F E A T U R E S:

Increased speed of tracking operations.

• Maximum speed increase (up to 3-4 times) is achieved at high-performance video cards for projects recorded with 1 or 2 Kinect sensors.
• For 4 or more Sony PS3 Eye cameras speed gain is lower and can reach 10 – 50% depending on particular tracking options and hardware configuration.
• For slow video cards speed increase is substantially lower.
• For projects recorded with many cameras tracking speed can even be lower compared to previous version on particular hardware configurations. You have the option to use the old tracking algorithm then (you can select this option in Advanced Tracking Settings section of the Tracking tab)
• For multiple GPU configuration the new algorithm will be used if number of cameras / sensors is not more than 4 (in this case only the primary GPU is used). In most cases this will still be faster than using multiple GPUs with the old tracking algorithm. For more than 4 cameras the old algorithm on multiple GPUs will be used, as a faster option.

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New software release 3.3.8.204 includes:

N E W    F E A T U R E S:

• Increased speed of jitter removal. New algorithm is 3-7 times faster compared to the previous one. Speed increase depends on particular hardware (GPU and CPU).
• Trajectory filter is improved for noisy data.

B U G    F I X E S:

• Tracking operations of multiple depth sensors projects failed with exception on some models of Nvidia cards using drivers 372.54, 372.70.

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iPi Automation Add-on Released

New Feature Integrates Motion Capture Software Functionality Into Third Party

Animation and Biomechanical Analysis Production Workflows

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July 14, 2016 – iPi Soft, LLC, developers of the iPi Motion Capture line of markerless motion capture technology, today announced the availability of iPi Automation Add-On. The new Automation Add-On tool allows third party software developers to integrate motion capture tracking of human body motions using the company’s iPi Recorder and iPi Mocap Studio software applications.

Additionally, the  new tool enables the automation of repeated tasks and custom workflows – a particular benefit for high-end animation production in entertainment; and for tracking and visualization of motion capture data for medical, sports analysis and movement science applications.

“We’re pleased to offer third party software developers, and technically advanced users, this new means of accessing the benefits of iPi Motion Capture,“ Michael Nikonov, iPi Soft’s Chief Technology Architect, says. “The new Automation Add-on capabilities are designed to streamline integration of iPi Motion Capture into third party workflows for improved ability to send commands and get results of complex motion capture data. This is also a useful and cost effective solution for high-end visual effects and animation studios who need to automate frequently repeated sequences of operations and for healthcare .”

The Automation Add-On, which allows users to control iPi Recorder and iPi Mocap Studio via external application by sending JSON commands via Windows dll, is currently in beta testing with biomechanical software development company Anatomical Engineering for application use in the physical therapy and rehabilitation industry.

iPi Automation Add-On Pricing

The iPi Automation Add-On is activated using iPi Mocap Studio and requires a separate license key. Pricing for a one-year license is $495. More information can be found here:

http://ipisoft.com/software/automation-add-on/

PDF Version>>

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New Release, Prices Reduced for 3-Year Subscriptions

Our team continues delivering new features to the Version 3 of iPi Motion Capture along with further price reduction.

New! The latest releases of iPi Mocap Studio and iPi Recorder include multiple useful enhancements:

• checking and visualizing background quality during recording
• warning on substantial change in the background during recording that could lead to tracking errors
• recording performance optimizations
• increased tracking quality for actors with adjusted proportions
• improved UI for light settings
• improved UI for calibration including manual adjustment of coordinate system
• enhanced ground detection quality checks
• other features

3-year Subscription Prices Reduced! To make our solution more affordable, we decided to substantially reduce pricing for 3-year subscriptions. Please find below the new permanent prices. Volume and academic discounts can be applied as usual.

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Improved Workflow for Kinect v2

Recent release of iPi Mocap Studio 3.2.5 and iPi Recorder 3.1.3 includes recording and using Kinect v2 sensor tracking data for:

• Detecting number of actors
• Detecting actor heights
• Detecting T-Poses and creation of takes
• Setting initial pose for detected T-poses
• Setting initial pose for the beginning frame of the Region-of-Interest
• Warning on presence of people in sensor’s view during recording of the background

Documentation on the new features:

http://docs.ipisoft.com/Using_Tracking_Data_from_Depth_Sensors

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