Axis Software Setup

You have the option to either stream real-time data or playback data, so first, either get your mocap setup connected and ready to record, or put a pre-recorded take on loop.  If you are using Axis Studio, you can do both at once.   

Axis Neuron/Pro Settings

• In Axis Neuron or Axis Neuron Pro, go to File --> Settings --> Output Format and disable Displacement
• Go to Broadcasting and enable TCP or UDP, both are supported, there are just minor setup differences in the setup in unreal
• Enable BVH and select Binary format

Axis Studio Settings

• In Axis Studio, go to Main Menu --> Settings --> Advanced Settings
• Turn off Joint Space

• Next go to BVH Broadcasting
• Enable Capture, Edit, or both.  Capture is for live data from your mocap suit and Edit is for pre-recorded data
• Disable: Displacement 
• Protocol: TCP or UDP
• Skeleton:
  • Axis Studio Skeleton (Axis Studio - Thumb Open if you are using gloves) if you are broadcasting to a character in T - Pose
  • Unreal Engine skeleton if you are broadcasting to an Unreal character in A - pose

Unreal Set Up

Install the Live Link Plugin

BETA

Download the latest version here

Copy the extracted file in your Plugins Engine folder.

MARKETPLACE (TBA)

• Search for the Neuron Live Link plugin in the Unreal Marketplace

• In your Unreal project, go to Edit --> Plugins, and enable the Neuron Live Link plugin

• In the bottom right corner of the Content Browser, click Settings
• Check Show Engine Content and Show Plugin Content
• Now you will be able to access content from the plugin such as the Noitom Robot skeletons

Connect to Axis Studio via Live Link 

• In Unreal engine, Go to Windows → Live Link.  Dock the Live Link panel

• Click Source --> Axis Neuron Live
• If you are using UDP then change local address number to match Axis Studio and make sure the port numbers match
• If you are using TCP change the remote address to match Axis studio and uncheck Is UDP

• Data from Axis Studio should appear under Subject Name. 
  • That means the connection is successful
  • The subject name will match the name of the character in Axis Studio

Retargeting Axis Studio Data to a Character

Next, you can either use the Noitom Robot skeleton that comes with the plugin, the UE4 Mannequin, or import your own FBX character.

• To import a character, drag it into the content browser.
• If you are importing a character:
  • Make sure Skeletal Mesh is enabled
  • Under Skeleton select none
  • Enable Use T0 as Reference Pose and Import Morph Targets

• The import should create a few assets needed for realtime streaming:
  • Skeletal Mesh is the Magenta one
  • Skeleton is the blue one

Animation Blueprint for live sessions 

Next, we need to make an Anim Blueprint to tell our character to use the Live Link data. 

• Right click the Skeleton or Skeletal Mesh
• Select Create --> Anim Blueprint 
• Open the Animation Blueprint

• In the blueprint space, create a Live Link Pose node and connect the out pin to the Output Pose input pin
  • Type in the subject  name under Live Link Subject Name  

Select the Live Link Pose node and in the Details panel, select a Retarget Asset.  Depending on what type of character you are using, different remaps will be needed

• Live Link Remap Asset is Unreal’s base class.  Do not use this one with Axis
• The Manual Remap Asset is a custom character remap.  You will need to open the GetRemappedboneName Function to modify it
• The Mixamo OLD Live link Remap works with Mixamo characters with “Mixamorig” Prefix
• The Neuron Remap drives characters with the Perception Neuron and Perception Neuron Pro Rigs
• The Studio Remap drives Characters with the Studio Skeleton and Mixamo Rigs without the “Mixamorig” prefix
• UE Mannequin Live Link Remap Asset drives CC3 characters and may work for other 3rd party characters

• After choosing a remap asset make sure to compile and save

Corrective T-Pose

This step is not necessary if you are using the UE4 Mannequin or another UE4 character in A-pose.  Make sure to select the Unreal preset in Axis Studio instead.

If your character is not in a T-pose, correct it following these steps, otherwise.  Some software have their characters in A pose by default, but T-pose is necessary to retarget data from the Axis Studio skeleton.

• Open the character skeleton that needs correction
• Use the skeleton tree to select the joints that need correcting to more closely match the Axis Skeleton
• Make sure to look at the T-pose from the front, top, and side to make sure it looks correct

• Once the desired pose is achieved, create an Animation Asset with the current pose
• Name the Animation Asset something memorable and save it in the same folder as the mesh and skeleton
• Add the corrective pose animation to the character's Anim Blueprint
• Connect it’s output to the input of Live Link Pose
• Compile and save. This will update your Anim Blueprint

Create Actor Blueprint Class for live sessions

Next, we are going to create an Actor Blueprint Class  

• Right click on the Content Browser and select Blueprint Class

• Select Actor and open the blueprint

• Click Add Component --> Live Link Skeletal Animation Component and Skeletal Mesh component

• Select the Skeletal Mesh component
  • In the Details panel, choose your character’s Skeletal Mesh under Animation --> Mesh

• Now, just drag the Actor class into the scene