Back in early March, I ordered parts for a new optical motion capture system. It's something I've been wanting to do for a long time, and is why I've built a number of the software tools I have to work with it. I've had to wait around two and a half months for the kit to arrive, but the first half has finally made it.
Now, I bought half a system to start with. This consisted of three cameras, a raft of markers and marker mounts, a wand for calibrating and a floor levelling instrument to gain the ground plane. I also got three large light tripod mounts for the cameras, and of course the software and license to run it all.
I had previously got a switch, which can power up to 23 cameras by POE as it turns out. So I didn't need to get any networking gear with it as I had enough of that anyway. Though I did have to buy some better cables, of the hundreds of metres of cabling I have in a draw, none of it was enough to run the cameras. I realised this after I ordered it so just bough three 15m lengths of shielded cat6.
I've also held onto a spare computer from a previous workplace. They gifted the machine to me when the business closed, and I thought it could be put to good use as the main mocap system computer. It's a mini desktop tower, but it's a relatively portable box so it can be 'thrown' in the car when needed. I'm not overly worried about what happens to it for the moment. It just needs to work so I can learn the system with it.
As hinted at with the computer tower, my mocap system needs to be portable. I know this won't be entirely straight forward, especially when I expand it with more cameras and tripod stands. But the system needs to fit in my car so that I can take it to other places to work with. I don't mind the setup time associated with it, and I don't mind calibrating the system each time I fire it up.
There's a building around a ten minute drive from here that has a really good space in it. It does have some high windows, but they're covered with big black curtains. It's been used as a pop-up cinema, among other events. It even has a projector and screen, which I may be able to tap into for live visual feedback, and a hard carpeted floor that doesn't shake or vibrate when you jump on it. It's rock solid. And the main space is a good size, about 10m by 10m area. Perfect for what I want to use it for. I would like to buy the building, it really suits a small motion capture 'studio' like mine! But alas, I don't have the funds and the building is not for sale.
I believe the place is managed by a non-profit organisation on behalf of the local council, and it can be hired out for half-day or full-day ventures for creative endeavours, like mine. Perfect.
Back to my new system. Here's what a mocap camera looks like:
And here's one of the light stands:
The light stands are quite big. But they're necessary, because the cameras need to sit up high and point down. If you can't mount them to a truss system, or solid building structure, they need to be on a fairly solid tripod mounting. There's a mounting clamp head that the camera mounts to, which can clamp onto a truss, or screwed in to the top of the stand.
My starting intentions are to use the three camera system to learn how to work the software, calibrate the cameras and floor grounding, and to learn to object track. I probably could technically do performance capture, but it likely won't have enough cameras for coverage to do it well. The idea from here is when I've learned how to operate and use the system, then I'll buy another ~5 cameras or so, and move into full performance capture.
My software license allows for the simultaneous capture of three performers. If I need more, I'll just have to improvise, or split them across multiple takes. Or pay for an expanded license. But for the projects I want to do initially, three should be enough for the things I want to make.
Can't wait to get the gear rolling.