Batch Processing

Introduction

Starting with version 2.4 iPi Mocap Studio supports Batch Processing.

Batch Processing is useful in the following cases:

1. Many steps are required to obtain final result. For example, the following sequence of processing steps is rather common to obtain high quality results:
   • Track Forward starting from the first frame of Region-of-Interest.
   • Refine Backward starting from the last frame of Region-of-Interest.
   • Jitter Removal with 2 as smoothing value for all body parts.
   • One more Refine Backward starting from the last frame of Region-of-Interest.
   • One more Jitter Removal with 1 as smoothing value for all body parts.
2. Processing of many takes and/or many video files
3. Experimenting with different processing and post-processing settings for one and the same source video. For example:
   • Tracking with different options for shoulders, spine, head and foot.
   • Jitter Removal with different values of smoothing.
   • Trying of different actor parameters like actor's height and body mass index.

In all these cases Batch Processing allows you to avoid waiting when current processing step will be done to click button(s) to start the next step. Instead of being "babysitter" for iPi Mocap Studio now you can record all required actions to batch and then start them by one click.

Note. Batch Processing is available only in STANDARD edition. In other editions you can try this functionality but all results of Batch Processing will be saved in restricted trial format which prohibits export of animation.

Vocabulary

Processing Pass (or simply Pass)

Processing operation on Region-of-Interest for Mocap project. Currently the following passes are available:

• Calibration (for color cameras and for depth sensors)
• Track Forward/Backward
• Refine Forward/Backward
• Apply Jitter Removal
• Apply Motion Data for Gyro Sensor

Batch Step (or simply Step)

Element of batch. Consists of the following information:

• Input Mocap project file name
• Output Mocap project file name (by default is the same as input)
• Processing Pass (see above)
• Values of Parameters of the Pass
• Current Timelime Position (or simply Frame)
• Region-of-Interest

Batch

Sequence of Batch Steps. Can be saved on disk, loaded from disk, executed.

Batch Creation

1. Switch to Batch tab.
2. If required, clear current batch by clicking New button on the top of the tab.
3. Click Record to Batch button (or press Ctrl+Shift+B on keyboard).
4. Red ball should appear in the Batch tab header.
5. Open existing iPiMocap project or create new one and save it on disk.

   Note. Batch processing deals with project files on disk. Thus before adding new steps for project to batch, the project should be saved on disk.

6. Prepare all required aspects for interested processing pass like Region-of-Interest, current position on time-line (current frame) and other parameters specific for the processing pass just like you're going to perform it right now.
7. Press button which corresponds to the interested pass.

   Note. During "Recording to Batch" such buttons are highlighted with pink background color.

8. You will be asked what to do: Add to Batch or Perform Now. Choose the first one if your indeed want to add the pass to the current batch.
9. If required, you can change output file name for project and/or choose input project file name from available alternatives. To do it click buttons on the right of input and output fields respectively.
10. Also you can check values of specific for the pass parameters by clicking "i" button on the right of pass field.
11. Repeat steps starting from 5 or 6 for all required processing passes and projects.
12. To stop "Recording to Batch" click Stop Batch Recording button on the Batch tab or press Ctrl+Shift+B on keyboard.
13. Optionally, you can save resulted batch to file on disk by clicking Save... button on the top of the Batch tab.