Quick Start Guide for Single Depth Sensor Configuration

Revision as of 18:52, 21 February 2011

System Requirements

• CPU: x86 compatible (Intel Pentium 4 or higher, AMD Athlon or higher), dual- or quad- core is preferable
• Operating system: Windows 7 (x86 or x64), Windows Vista (x86 or x64), Windows XP SP3 (x86 or x64)
• Video card: Direct3D 10-capable (Shader Model 4.0) gaming-class graphics card (GeForce GTS 250 or Radeon HD 4850 or better recommended)
• Microsoft Kinect Sensor (“Depth Sensor”)

Software Installation

iPi Recorder

Note that even if you have used iPi Recorder before you will need to perform actions below anyway. Just letting iPi Recorder to be updated automatically will not work, because drivers for MS Kinect Sensor must be installed in addition.

iPi Recorder is a tool for recording video from web cameras and depth sensors. Download the setup package of iPi Recorder latest version: http://ipisoft.com/downloads/iPiRecorderSetup.exe. Run it. In the following dialog window make sure that item “LibUSB-win32 Driver Registration for MS Kinect Sensor” is selected:

Note that if you do not plan to use Sony PlayStation Eye cameras then you can deselect the appropriate item in the list.

Click “Install” button to start the installation process. You’ll be asked about installation of “iPi LibUSB-win32 Driver Registration for MS Kinect Sensor”:

Please read license agreement and accept it by checking the appropriate checkbox. Then press “Install” button. As soon as you get the Windows Security screen, please select “Install this driver software anyway”:

At this point the driver will complete its installation and should not give any other errors:

After that iPi Recorder itself will be installed:

After that, connect MS Kinect Sensor to your PC. Under Windows Vista and Windows 7 device initialization should be performed automatically and you’ll receive notification about it in the system tray area. Under Window XP you’ll be asked three times (for “Xbox NUI Motor”, “Xbox NUI Audio” and “Xbox NUI Camera”):

• “Can Windows connect to Windows Update to search for software?”
• “What do you want the wizard to do?”

In all three cases answer “No, not this time” and “Install the software automatically (Recommended)” respectively:

Run iPi Recorder and make sure that there is “MS Kinect Sensor” in “Camera Selector” dialog:

Select “MS Kinect Sensor” and press “Ok” button. Make sure that you can see colored “depth video” from sensor, that actual frame rate is 30 fps, that frames drop is in range from 0 to 5 and that you can change motor position using appropriate slider:

Note that values of Tilt and Roll are updated with a time lag. During recording these values cannot be updated assuming that in this case sensor should be static.

iPi Studio

Note that if you have used iPi Studio before and have Internet connection on your computer than all you need is to let iPi Studio to automatically update:

iPi Studio is a core software of iPi Desktop Motion Capture (iPi DMC) solution. It’s used to process pre-recorded video and export result animation in most popular formats. You can use 30 days free trial. To install iPi Studio just download and run setup program: http://ipisoft.com/downloads/iPiStudioSetup.exe. Then, follow instructions on screen.

As a result of installation, iPi Studio will be executed. You will be prompted to enter unlock/trial key:

To obtain trial key please register to our user forum following the link http://ipisoft.com/forum/ucp.php?mode=register. After registration take trial license key from forum’s “User Control Panel”:

Note that if you don’t receive activation e-mail after registration then:

1. Make sure that this e-mail is not in “Spam” folder of your mail client.
2. Check that you have entered correct e-mail address.
3. Try to resend activation email. To do it, go to login page and click “Resend activation e-mail” link.

Recording Video from Depth Sensor

Ok, after all these preparations you are ready for performance.

It is convenient to put MS Kinect Sensor on chair or table. The following drawing should provide you with some information about possible capture area and required space:

Side view	Top view

Start iPi Recorder and choose “MS Kinect Sensor” in Camera Selector dialog:

Using “Motor” slider, adjust direction of sensor so that at the bottom of image floor is present and actor is visible in full length (with hands up if needed):

Set output directory for recorded video:

Press “Start Video Recording” button to begin video recording.

Important! Fist two seconds of video should contain only background and static objects. That is presence of actor or some moving object in first two seconds of recorded video is unacceptable. It’s because first seconds of video are used to calculate static background which is used to separate actor from other elements of 3D scene.

As soon as recorder started and “clear” scene is recorded for a couple of seconds, go to the capture area and stand in a T-pose:

Note that current version uses only depth information to track motions. Thus there is not any restrictions on clothing colors (just avoid shiny fabrics). But it is desirable that actor wears tightly to reduce noise in result animation.

After that you can act desired motions.

To stop recording, press “Stop Video Recording” button.

Using Windows Explorer, go to destination folder and open recorded file with name <c>video_YYYY-MM-DD_hh-mm-ss.avi</c> in Windows Media Player. You should see depth information as a blue image:

Now you are ready for processing this video using iPi Studio.

Processing Video from Depth Sensor

Next steps

• Clean-up
• Animation export and motion transfer

Frequently Asked Questions