May 04, 2009 BVH Animation files from CMU for Second life and OpenSim. The BVH Conversion Release of CMU's Motion Capture Database. Zip file for BVH directories 01-09 (45 MB) Zip file for BVH directories 10-14 (89 MB) Zip file for BVH directories 15-19 (91 MB) Zip file for BVH directories 20-29 (117 MB) Zip file for BVH directories 30-34 (115 MB). Aug 18, 2020 Converts BVH files to the Cal3D XML skeleton (XSF) and animation (XAF) file formats. The XAF files rely on the respective skeleton file. XAF files have been tested to work with skeletons that were exported from 3DS Max and Blender. I use the resulting xaf files in Worldviz' Vizard, so it's only been tested in this context. Office for mac os x 10.7 5 free download. BVH to Panda3D Egg. Category: Free bvh animations. 100 Free BVH Files from TrueBones.com. Sources, but a large range of mocap files are also available for free download. Hip Hop dance step and spin upside Hip Hop back spin bvh motion capture.
- Load And Retarget: Load a BVH file and retarget the animation to the active armature. This is the main entry point for the add-on.
- Load BVH File: Load a BVH file. This can be done even if no armature is selected.
- Rename Selected From Active: Rename and rescale the bones of the selected (source) armature to match the active (target) armature.
- Load And Rename BVH File: Load a BVH file and rename the bones to match the active armature.
- Retarget Selected To Active: Retarget the animation of the selected (source) armature to the active (target) armature.
Load And Retarget
Select the armature and press Load And Retarget.A file selector appears. Select the BVH file that you want to retarget and press Load And Retarget.
After a while the animation is loaded and the character moves. Note the keyframes in the timeline.
Tip:Loading an animation to a high-poly character can take quite a long time, because the viewport is updated after each frame that is loaded. You can speed up the loading considerably (typically by a factor of ten or more) if you put all meshes in a separate collection which is excluded from the scene when the animation is loaded. In this case, the meshes don't belong to the scene at load time and don't have to be updated. The DAZ importer automatically creates a separate collection for the meshes to make it easy to exclude them from the scene, cf. https://diffeomorphic.blogspot.com/2020/01/posing-performance.html.
The import options
Start Frame
First frame in the BVH file to be used. Frames before this are ignored.Last Frame
Last frame in the BVH file to be used. Frames after this are ignored. If the length of the BVH animation is shorter that this, the animation is not truncated.Source Rig Orientation
(X,Y,Z) are the Euler angles for rotating the rest pose of the armature in the BVH file to the Blender default (+Z up and -Y forward). The armatures must be oriented in the Blender way for retargeting to work. The default values work if the source rig orientation is +Y up and +Z forward.
| Armatures in rest pose from two different bvh files, imported with Source Rig Orientation = (0, 0, 0). The left armature has +Y up and +Z forward, the right has +Y up and +X forward. |
| The same armatures imported with Source Rig Orientation = (90, 0, 0) and (90, 0, 90), respectively. Both armatures are oriented with the Blender convention, +Z up and -Y forward. |
Subsample
Only import every n:th frame, where n is the Subsample Factor. This can be used for quickly previewing an animation. If Use Default Subsample is enabled, the subsample factor is chosen to match the frame rate in Blender with the BVH file .Source Rig
.jpg "Free")
Select the type of rig in the BVH file, in order to find the correspondence between bones in the source and target armatures. If Auto Source is enabled, the add-on will attempt to identify the armature based on bone names.
If Auto Source is disabled, two drop-down lists appear which allow you to choose the source armature type and the source T-pose. If the Source Armature is set to Automatic, the add-on attempts to identify the bones based on the bone hierarchy and bone locations in the reference T-pose.
If the armature in the bvh file has a reasonable rest pose, the T-pose should be set to Default. This is the case for most bvh files. However, in some cases, e.g. the male bvh files from ACCAD and bvh files exported from Endorphin, the rest pose is very strange. In that case we must specify the rest pose manually.
If Auto Target is disabled, two drop-down lists appear which allow you to choose the source armature type and the source T-pose. If the TargetArmature is set to Automatic, the add-on attempts to identify the bones based on the bone hierarchy and bone locations in the reference T-pose.
If the target armature has a reasonable rest pose, the target T-pose should be set to Default. However, if we for some reason want to retarget the animation to an armature with a strange rest pose, we could specify that T-pose here. In that case the target rig could be set to Automatic, because bone identification takes place when the armature is in the reference T-pose.
If an animation has been imported with the wrong scale factor, it can easily be fixed afterwards in the graph editor; just scale the location f-curves in the y direction.
Time-scaling the animation when it is loaded has a major advantage compared to simply scaling the f-curves in the graph editor: additional keyframes are added when needed. In the picture below the hip bone's y quaternion value jumps from +1 to -1 between frames 10 and 11. However, this does not reflect a jump in the real rotation, but is merely the way quaternions work; the same rotation can be represented by two different quaternions.
If Auto Source is disabled, two drop-down lists appear which allow you to choose the source armature type and the source T-pose. If the Source Armature is set to Automatic, the add-on attempts to identify the bones based on the bone hierarchy and bone locations in the reference T-pose.
If the armature in the bvh file has a reasonable rest pose, the T-pose should be set to Default. This is the case for most bvh files. However, in some cases, e.g. the male bvh files from ACCAD and bvh files exported from Endorphin, the rest pose is very strange. In that case we must specify the rest pose manually.
Target Rig
Select the type of the active, in order to find the correspondence between bones in the source and target armatures. If Auto Target is enabled, the add-on will attempt to identify the bones based on the bone hierarchy and bone names.If Auto Target is disabled, two drop-down lists appear which allow you to choose the source armature type and the source T-pose. If the TargetArmature is set to Automatic, the add-on attempts to identify the bones based on the bone hierarchy and bone locations in the reference T-pose.
If the target armature has a reasonable rest pose, the target T-pose should be set to Default. However, if we for some reason want to retarget the animation to an armature with a strange rest pose, we could specify that T-pose here. In that case the target rig could be set to Automatic, because bone identification takes place when the armature is in the reference T-pose.
Scale
Animation of translations depend on the scale of the character and the units used. The Scale value scales location f-curves. If Auto Scale is enabled, the Scale value is determined by matching the lengths of the left thigh bones. The reason for this choice is that the thigh can be readily identified (unlike e.g. the spine bones), and that it gives a reasonable scale for walk-cycles.If an animation has been imported with the wrong scale factor, it can easily be fixed afterwards in the graph editor; just scale the location f-curves in the y direction.
Bend Positive
Mocap data can be flawed and retargeting is imperfect, especially when the proportions of the target character differs significantly fom the character in the bvh file. In particular, elbows and knees may bend backwards, which looks very strange. If Bend Positive is enabled, the bending angles for elbows and knees are constrained to be positive.Free Bvh Animation Files
Time Scale
Scale the animation in time with the Time-Scale Factor, i.e. scale all f-curves in the x direction. Can be used together with the Subsample factor to create an animation with fewer keyframes but with the same timing.Time-scaling the animation when it is loaded has a major advantage compared to simply scaling the f-curves in the graph editor: additional keyframes are added when needed. In the picture below the hip bone's y quaternion value jumps from +1 to -1 between frames 10 and 11. However, this does not reflect a jump in the real rotation, but is merely the way quaternions work; the same rotation can be represented by two different quaternions.
If we time scale all f-curves by a factor two, frames 20 and 22 have the two different quaternion representations for the same rotation. However, in the intermediate frame 21 the y component is 0 (halfway between +1 and -1), which corresponds to a completely different rotation. If we instead import the animation with Time Scale = 2, an extra keyframe is added at frame 21 to make the animation smooth.
Simplify F-Curves
If this option is enabled, unnecessary keys are removed from the f-curves. A key is deemed unnecessary if removing it changes the frame by Max Loc Error (for location f-curves) or Max Rot Error (for rotation f-curves).- Only Visible F-Curves: Simplification only affects visible f-curves.
- Only Selected Bones: Simplfication only affects f-curves for selected bones.
- Only Between Markers: Simplifcation only affects frames between two selected markers on the time-line.
- Max Loc Error: Maximal error for location f-curves.
- Max Rot Error: Maximal error for rotation f-curves, in degrees (for Euler angles). If the rotation is described by quaternions, the error is divided by 180.
Load BVH File
This button loads a BVH file and creates a new armature with the animation. It is the only button that can be used even if no armature is selected. When the button is pressed, a file selector appears. The import options is a subset of the Load And Retarget options.An armature with the specified animation is created. The bone names are those in the bvh file.
Rename Selected From Active
This and the following buttons are for trouble-shooting retargeting problems.Select the target armature (the armature to which we want to retarget the animation, and make sure that source armature is also selected (the armature with the BVH animation, loaded with the Load BVH File button). Press Rename Selected From Active.
The options in the pop-up menu have the same meaning as in the Load And Retarget button.
Bvh Animation Files
All bones of the source armature have been renamed to standard names and the armature has been scaled to the size of the target armature.
Load And Rename BVH File
This button combines the two previous buttons.With the final target armature selected, press Load And Rename BVH File (.bvh).
Choose the bvh file in the file selector. The options are the same as for Load And Retarget.
The animation is now imported at the right size and with standard bone names.
With the source armature selected and the target armature active, press Retarget Selected To Active.
A pop-up appears.
The target armature now conforms with the source armature as far as the different body statures allow.
The animation is now imported at the right size and with standard bone names.
Retarget Selected To Active
The source armature is the rescaled and renamed armature with the bvh animation, and the target armature is the armature with meshes that will receive the animation.With the source armature selected and the target armature active, press Retarget Selected To Active.
A pop-up appears.
The target armature now conforms with the source armature as far as the different body statures allow.
| Armatures in rest pose from two different bvh files, imported with Source Rig Orientation = (0, 0, 0). The left armature has +Y up and +Z forward, the right has +Y up and +X forward. |
| The same armatures imported with Source Rig Orientation = (90, 0, 0) and (90, 0, 90), respectively. Both armatures are oriented with the Blender convention, +Z up and -Y forward. |
Subsample
Only import every n:th frame, where n is the Subsample Factor. This can be used for quickly previewing an animation. If Use Default Subsample is enabled, the subsample factor is chosen to match the frame rate in Blender with the BVH file .Source Rig
Select the type of rig in the BVH file, in order to find the correspondence between bones in the source and target armatures. If Auto Source is enabled, the add-on will attempt to identify the armature based on bone names.If Auto Source is disabled, two drop-down lists appear which allow you to choose the source armature type and the source T-pose. If the Source Armature is set to Automatic, the add-on attempts to identify the bones based on the bone hierarchy and bone locations in the reference T-pose.
If the armature in the bvh file has a reasonable rest pose, the T-pose should be set to Default. This is the case for most bvh files. However, in some cases, e.g. the male bvh files from ACCAD and bvh files exported from Endorphin, the rest pose is very strange. In that case we must specify the rest pose manually.
Target Rig
Select the type of the active, in order to find the correspondence between bones in the source and target armatures. If Auto Target is enabled, the add-on will attempt to identify the bones based on the bone hierarchy and bone names.If Auto Target is disabled, two drop-down lists appear which allow you to choose the source armature type and the source T-pose. If the TargetArmature is set to Automatic, the add-on attempts to identify the bones based on the bone hierarchy and bone locations in the reference T-pose.
If the target armature has a reasonable rest pose, the target T-pose should be set to Default. However, if we for some reason want to retarget the animation to an armature with a strange rest pose, we could specify that T-pose here. In that case the target rig could be set to Automatic, because bone identification takes place when the armature is in the reference T-pose.
Scale
Animation of translations depend on the scale of the character and the units used. The Scale value scales location f-curves. If Auto Scale is enabled, the Scale value is determined by matching the lengths of the left thigh bones. The reason for this choice is that the thigh can be readily identified (unlike e.g. the spine bones), and that it gives a reasonable scale for walk-cycles.If an animation has been imported with the wrong scale factor, it can easily be fixed afterwards in the graph editor; just scale the location f-curves in the y direction.
Bend Positive
Mocap data can be flawed and retargeting is imperfect, especially when the proportions of the target character differs significantly fom the character in the bvh file. In particular, elbows and knees may bend backwards, which looks very strange. If Bend Positive is enabled, the bending angles for elbows and knees are constrained to be positive.Free Bvh Animation Files
Time Scale
Scale the animation in time with the Time-Scale Factor, i.e. scale all f-curves in the x direction. Can be used together with the Subsample factor to create an animation with fewer keyframes but with the same timing.Time-scaling the animation when it is loaded has a major advantage compared to simply scaling the f-curves in the graph editor: additional keyframes are added when needed. In the picture below the hip bone's y quaternion value jumps from +1 to -1 between frames 10 and 11. However, this does not reflect a jump in the real rotation, but is merely the way quaternions work; the same rotation can be represented by two different quaternions.
If we time scale all f-curves by a factor two, frames 20 and 22 have the two different quaternion representations for the same rotation. However, in the intermediate frame 21 the y component is 0 (halfway between +1 and -1), which corresponds to a completely different rotation. If we instead import the animation with Time Scale = 2, an extra keyframe is added at frame 21 to make the animation smooth.
Simplify F-Curves
If this option is enabled, unnecessary keys are removed from the f-curves. A key is deemed unnecessary if removing it changes the frame by Max Loc Error (for location f-curves) or Max Rot Error (for rotation f-curves).- Only Visible F-Curves: Simplification only affects visible f-curves.
- Only Selected Bones: Simplfication only affects f-curves for selected bones.
- Only Between Markers: Simplifcation only affects frames between two selected markers on the time-line.
- Max Loc Error: Maximal error for location f-curves.
- Max Rot Error: Maximal error for rotation f-curves, in degrees (for Euler angles). If the rotation is described by quaternions, the error is divided by 180.
Load BVH File
This button loads a BVH file and creates a new armature with the animation. It is the only button that can be used even if no armature is selected. When the button is pressed, a file selector appears. The import options is a subset of the Load And Retarget options.An armature with the specified animation is created. The bone names are those in the bvh file.
Rename Selected From Active
This and the following buttons are for trouble-shooting retargeting problems.Select the target armature (the armature to which we want to retarget the animation, and make sure that source armature is also selected (the armature with the BVH animation, loaded with the Load BVH File button). Press Rename Selected From Active.
The options in the pop-up menu have the same meaning as in the Load And Retarget button.
Bvh Animation Files
All bones of the source armature have been renamed to standard names and the armature has been scaled to the size of the target armature.
Load And Rename BVH File
This button combines the two previous buttons.With the final target armature selected, press Load And Rename BVH File (.bvh).
Choose the bvh file in the file selector. The options are the same as for Load And Retarget.
The animation is now imported at the right size and with standard bone names.
Retarget Selected To Active
The source armature is the rescaled and renamed armature with the bvh animation, and the target armature is the armature with meshes that will receive the animation.With the source armature selected and the target armature active, press Retarget Selected To Active.
A pop-up appears.
The target armature now conforms with the source armature as far as the different body statures allow.
The final four buttons are mainly for trouble-shooting problems, by dividing the retargeting process into separate steps.
Load And Retarget = Load And Rename BVH File + Retarget Selected To Active
and
Load And Rename BVH File = Load BVH File + Rename Selected From Active.
| Name | BVH | FBX |
| Full name | Biovision Hierarchy | Filmbox |
| File extension | .bvh | .fbx |
| MIME type | ||
| Developed by | Biovision | Autodesk |
| Type of format | ||
| Description | The Biovision Hierarchy (BVH) character animation file format was developed by Biovision, a defunct motion capture services company, to give motion capture data to customers. This format largely displaced an earlier format Biovision providing skeleton hierarchy information as well as motion data. As of 2019, BVH is widely used and most 3D applications support importing and exporting files in this format. | FBX (Filmbox) is a proprietary file format (.fbx) developed by Kaydara and owned by Autodesk since 2006. It is used to provide interoperability between digital content creation applications. FBX is also part of Autodesk Gameware, a series of video game middleware. |
| Technical details | ||
| File conversion | BVH conversion | FBX conversion |
| Associated programs | Lightwave 3D, 3ds Max (version 9 or later), Blender, Cobalt, DAZ Studio | Autodesk Maya, Cinema 4D, SoftImage 3D, PowerAnimator, LightWave 3D, 3D Studio MAX and TurboCAD. |
| Wiki | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biovision_Hierarchy | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FBX |
