Getting Started#

Quickstart#

Get an API Key#

Set an environment variable , NVCF_API_KEY, with a valid API key

To get a key, click the green Get API Key text on the right of the page and proceed with instructions.

Set up Maya-ACE module for Maya#

Download the mace package, unzip and copy contents to a Maya module path

Download sample data#

Download the sample maya scene and sample audio files: English(male) or Chinese(female)

Launch Maya#

Launch Maya, load maya_aceclient plugin, and open the sample scene.

Configure Time Slider#

Adjust Time Slider preferences : framerate=30, playback speed=30fps, looping=once

../../../_images/timeline_preferences.png

Disable Cached Playback on the Time Slider

../../../_images/disable_cached_playback.png

Import an audio into the Maya scene and set it to the Time Slider sound

Adjust Time Slider range to fit to the audio length

Set up AceAnimationPlayer with an audio#

You may turn off DAG Objects only from the Display menu to see AceAnimationPlayer1 on the outliner window.

Select AceAnimationPlayer1 node and open Attribute Editor

../../../_images/select_aceanimationplayer.png

To open attribute editor, click menu -> Windows -> General Editors -> Attribute Editor

../../../_images/open_attribute_editor.png

Click the option menu next to Audiofile attribute, and select the audio imported before.

Request Animation and Play#

Click Request New Animation button. Wait for the Received ### frames message.

Click Maya’s play button. Watch how face is moving

Setting up from Sample Assets#

Get an API Key and Setup Maya-ACE#

Get an API key and setup Maya-ACE for Maya. Follow Quickstart

Download sample data#

Mark
Claire

Launch Maya and load sample assets#

Launch maya with a new scene. Load maya plugins; maya_aceclient and fbxmaya

Create references of sample fbx files

Configure Time Slider#

Adjust Time Slider preferences : framerate=30, playback speed=30fps, looping=once

Disable Cached Playback on the Time Slider

Import one of the sample audios

Adjust timeslider range to fit to the audio

../../../_images/timeslider_waveform.png

Create and Attach an AceAnimationPlayer#

Select c_headWatertight_mid of Mark, and click menu->ACE->Attach a new Animation Player

(Optional) Tips to optimize the viewport for faces
- Hide unused groups; such as c_mouth_grp_mid, r_eye_grp_mid, l_eye_grp_mid, root
- Setup a viewport camera with focal length between 75mm and 150mm looking at the face(s)
- Change viewport camera’s Near Clip Plane to 10
- Assign standardSurface1 material to face(s)

Configure AceAnimationPlayer node#

Open Attribute Editor, Select AceAnimationPlayer1 node

Enter a valid Network Address, an Api Key, and a Function ID on the Attribute Editor.

../../../_images/attribute_network_info.png

To change audio, Select an option from the AudioFile, and also update Time Slider to use the same audio.

Request Animation and Play#

Click Request New Animation button, and wait for the Received ### frames message.

Click Maya’s play button. Check animation on Mark’s face.

Connect the AceAnimationPlayer to a new blendshape#

Select both AceAnimationPlayer1 and c_headWatertight_mid of Claire in order, and click menu->ACE->Connect an existing Animation Player

You may turn off DAG Objects only from the Display menu to see AceAnimationPlayer1 on the outliner window.

Click Maya’s play button again. Check animation on both faces.