Can you give a concise explanation of motion capture?
The shortest definition is that it is one or more technologies that help record human body motion. The systems we work with are either camera-based or sensor-based. Camera-based systems are less obtrusive and are better when it comes to tracking position. Sensor-based systems are more flexible and can capture at higher speeds, but often require putting technology on the body. We work with both types of systems in the fourMs Lab. You can see a short video describing some of the differences here:
What type of motion capture system should I use?
It depends on your use case. No motion capture system is perfect; they all have ups and downs (see the video above). This book chapter is an excellent introduction to various systems and things you must consider before starting. We have also developed the online course Motion Capture, which goes through all the basics.
What is the benefit of doing motion capture in the fourMs Lab?
A motion capture lab is a controlled environment with state-of-the-art equipment. We can capture human body motion with high accuracy and precision, often with a resolution lower than 1 millimeter and up to 500 Hz. This means that we can study nuances that are impossible with other technologies.
What does your motion capture lab look like?
Here are some pictures showing the control room (left), the software we run (middle), and people in the lab (right).
Can I borrow/rent equipment?
Since our equipment is costly and generally difficult to work with, we do not borrow/rent it to external users. We prefer to help people with their projects in the fourMs lab but have mobile technologies available that allow for motion capture in naturalistic settings. We would still require an experienced user from our lab to support the data capture. Please get in touch if you are interested.
Is it difficult to work with motion capture?
Yes and no. It is not particularly tricky to get started. We usually teach people the basics in a couple of hours. Have a look at the basics here:
Is it very time-consuming?
Doing the actual capture does not take particularly long. Usually, post-processing is the most time-consuming. Most people do too complex capture sessions, which leads to a lot of post-processing afterward. We try to teach people how to improve their setups to minimize the workload. Generally, we would say that for a 1-hour recording session, during which you probably record 5-10 minutes, you need 2 hours of preparation time and 3 hours of post-processing.
Do I need to know programming to use the lab?
No. Most of our lab equipment has user-friendly software. Motion capture and data analysis can be done without programming. That said, for more advanced types of analysis, many of our researchers work with some programming language (usually Matlab or Python).
Can I use the data with other applications?
Yes! Motion capture files can be exported to various formats, such as animation. Our software can export directly to C3D, TSV, MAT, AVI, FBX, CSV, BVH, and TRC.
Are there any alternatives to motion capture?
If you don't need the accuracy and precision that a motion capture system gives, we generally suggest that people start exploring visualizations based on regular video recordings. We have developed several software solutions for this in the Musical Gestures Toolbox (for Max, Matlab, and Python). If you are not into programming, try VideoAnalysis (non-realtime) and AudioVideoAnalysis (realtime).
How can I learn more? Do you have any courses?
Yes, we have two online courses that be taken on the FutureLearn platform:
- Music Moves – a general introduction embodied music cognition and a gentle introduction to various types of motion capture
- Motion Capture – a course specialized in various types of motion capture, which we use for training new users in the lab
We also offer two campus courses: the bachelor-level Music and Body Movements, and the master-level course Motion Tracking. We also regularly accept exchange students and visiting researchers for more hands-on training.