Aligning Project Start Timecode to Clips

The approach described on this page is useful for facial performance captures and the quick refinement of mouth shapes and body motions. By using a synchronized facial reference video, time spent on performing lip syncs is significantly reduced.

1. Create a new project.
   
2. Set the FPS to 24 and the Time Unit to "Timecode" in the Project settings panel.
   
   ** Notice that the default First Frame Timecode value is "00:00:00:00". The value will be adjusted in the following steps.
3. Open the Timeline.
   
4. Turn off Auto Align in the timeline toolbar to preserve the initial mocap position of the character.
   
5. Apply timecoded media or motions from the Content Manager into the scene.
   • From the Content Manager: Apply motions onto the characters.
     
     • Drag and drop the motion file onto the character.
       
     • Select a character and drop the motion file into the character's Motion track.
       
   • Importing FBX:
     1. Move the character to the center of the stage.
        
     2. Perform File > Import > Import External Motion to import a timecoded FBX file.
        
     3. Select a Motion Profile and load the T-pose file (you can created it from the application exporting the FBX or from Character Creator).
        
6. After the motions are imported, the time unit may not be identical to the timecode of the media.
   
7. Right-click on any motion clip, choose the Align Clip and First Frame to Embedded Timecode command from the context menu.
   
8. All timecoded motion clips will snap to their correct positions on the timeline, while the first frame of the timeline will align with the earliest clip.
   
   The following warning message will appear if any media lies outside of the project range.
   
   • OK: The media will left untouched. You may need to move the media to the desired timeframe on the timeline.
   • View Invalid Clips...: Lets you view a log of all the clips that failed to align.
     
9. Playback to check if all the animations have been synchronized.
   
10. Drag the timecoded reference video onto the 2D background.
    
11. You will be asked if you want to import the timecoded video. click the Yes button to proceed.
    
12. The video will appear in the 2D background video track on the timeline.
    
13. To synch the video on the timeline, select the video clip and repeat step 8. All clips will then be synchronized with the video.
    
14. Playback to verify the correct timecoding of the motion and media elements.