Motion Capture FAQs

Optical motion capture uses synchronized cameras to observe a subject from different viewpoints. In a marker-based system, software combines the cameras’ observations to calculate the three-dimensional positions of markers. Motive uses those positions to track objects and solve supported human skeletons.

The complete workflow includes camera placement, calibration, marker or asset setup, and data recording or streaming. The configuration depends on what you need to track and how you will use the data.

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OptiTrack systems support human movement capture and rigid-body tracking for applications including animation, movement sciences, robotics, virtual production, and virtual reality. A rigid body is an object whose markers stay fixed relative to one another, such as a prop, tool, or robot component.

Tell us whether you need individual marker positions, object position and orientation, human skeleton data, or a custom articulated model. That choice helps determine the cameras, markers, software, and integrations your system needs.

Animation · Movement sciences · Robotics

The cost depends on your capture area, required tracking performance, camera model and count, software edition, and supporting equipment. A complete project may also include mounts, networking, markers, calibration tools, a host PC, synchronization hardware, and application-specific integrations.

For a useful quote, share your application, room and capture dimensions, number of people or objects, required software connections, and target installation date. Include a budget range if you have one so we can discuss appropriate configurations and tradeoffs.

Discuss your requirements · Explore system configurations

A typical marker-based system combines cameras, compatible networking and power, secure mounts, calibration tools, markers, a suitable Windows PC, and the appropriate Motive license and compatible license key. You might also need suits or marker attachments, active tracking components, reference video, or synchronization equipment.

Start with a system configuration, then confirm the complete equipment list against your room, workflow, and existing equipment. This helps identify items you already own and any additional components needed for installation.

Explore system configurations · System setup FAQs · Motive licenses and license keys

Start with the area in which your subjects must move, including the required tracking height. This is the capture volume, and it is different from the room’s overall dimensions: Cameras need suitable mounting positions and clear views, and the layout must account for equipment, obstacles, and access.

Share the room’s usable length, width, and height alongside your desired capture volume. Include movements such as jumping, running, reaching, or flying, plus any fixed obstructions. We can then assess camera positions and coverage for the motion you need to record.

Explore example configurations · Discuss your capture space

Camera count depends on the capture volume, subject count, marker size, movements, and required performance. Cameras should provide overlapping views of the working area, with positions chosen to reduce the chance that people, props, or equipment block important markers.

At least two camera views are needed to reconstruct a marker, but practical systems use more cameras for coverage and resilience to occlusion. Review the camera model, lens, mounting height, and viewing angles together. Send a room plan and a description of the movements so we can help design the layout.

Explore system configurations · Request a system recommendation · Camera setup and calibration guidance

Expansion or relocation should be planned around camera compatibility, networking, mounts, host-PC capacity, and software requirements. A larger room or more demanding motion may require a different layout as well as additional cameras.

Tell us about likely future changes when planning the initial system. Before adding cameras or moving the installation, review the proposed configuration with our team and plan to recalibrate and validate tracking in the new layout.

System setup and compatibility · Discuss an expansion · Moving Motive to another computer

OptiTrack supports submillimeter tracking in suitable configurations. The result depends on the measurement being made, camera and marker selection, capture volume, calibration, mounting stability, and environment.

For a concrete example, our published PrimeX 260 assessment measured a mean displacement error of 0.037 mm across nine 100 mm translation trials using eight cameras and active markers with precautions to reduce vibration and temperature-related noise near the center of an 11 × 11 × 3.5 m volume. The report describes the test conditions; it is not a guarantee for every location, subject, or installation. Share your required tolerance and test method so we can assess and recommend the right configuration.

Read the accuracy assessment and test conditions

Tracking distance depends on the camera and lens, marker type and size, exposure, illumination, and environment. Active and passive markers can have different ranges, so compare the specifications for the marker workflow you intend to use.

Camera-to-marker distance is only one input to system design. A usable capture volume requires enough overlapping views throughout the working area. Use current model specifications as a starting point and ask our team to review coverage for your proposed layout.

PrimeX 260 specifications · Discuss your layout

Yes. High-speed motion capture requires an appropriate combination of camera frame rate, exposure time, marker visibility, and capture area. Short exposures help reduce motion blur, while the frame rate determines how frequently motion is sampled.

Check both native and maximum frame rates for the selected camera and the operating mode required to achieve them. Higher-speed modes can involve tradeoffs in resolution or field of view. Describe the fastest motion, smallest subject or marker, and required output rate so we can evaluate the configuration.

Explore PrimeX 120 performance · Configure camera frame rate

Motive can process tracking data and stream it to compatible applications in real time. You can also record takes for later processing and export. The achievable live workload depends on your cameras, tracked assets, host PC, and software configuration.

Frame rate and latency are different measures. Frame rate describes samples per second; latency is the delay through the capture, processing, network, and receiving-application pipeline. For interactive applications, define the end-to-end delay you can accept and validate the complete workflow under its expected load.

Motive data streaming

Optical marker tracking depends on camera visibility. If too few cameras can see a marker, its measured position may be unavailable for part of the movement. The effect on an object or skeleton depends on the remaining visible markers, the asset setup, and the processing settings.

Camera layout and marker placement should account for expected occlusion from people, props, equipment, and the subject itself. Test representative movements when validating a system, and distinguish directly measured data from any estimated or gap-filled data used in your workflow.

Skeleton tracking guide · Rigid-body tracking guide

The answer depends on both your Motive license and your system configuration. Motive:Body supports up to three live skeletons, while Motive:Body Unlimited has no count restriction. Practical capacity still depends on camera coverage, capture volume, movement, occlusion, marker sets, and processing resources.

OptiTrack’s RAAKA customer story describes a production that captured 37 performers simultaneously. That is a specific production example, not the capacity of every system. Tell us your maximum number of performers, their interactions, and any props so we can review a suitable setup.

Compare Motive editions · Read the RAAKA production story · Motive editions and license limits

Yes. With the appropriate Motive edition and system configuration, you can track rigid bodies such as props, tools, and robot components alongside human skeletons. Each asset needs a suitable marker arrangement and enough camera visibility during the required movements.

There is no single practical object count that applies to every installation. The number of objects, their spacing, movement, marker layout, and occlusion all affect the design. Share these details so the system can be evaluated against your actual workload.

Rigid-body tracking · Compare Motive editions · Motive editions and license limits

Outdoor tracking is possible with suitable OptiTrack hardware and a carefully planned setup, including VersaX cameras designed for outdoor use. Sunlight, other infrared sources, reflections, and changing environmental conditions can affect marker visibility and usable range. Indoor lighting should also be evaluated for interference with the intended tracking workflow.

Specify whether the space has direct sunlight, changing light, or reflective surfaces, and whether the installation must tolerate weather exposure. Camera choice, markers, mounting, and calibration should be reviewed for those conditions.

Outdoor tracking setup guide · VersaX outdoor camera introduction

Passive markers reflect illumination from the cameras. Active markers emit light and require compatible active tracking components. The best choice depends on the subject, working distance, environment, marker attachment, and identification requirements.

For example, ActiveIO adds self-identifying active markers and device communication for supported workflows. Review the complete hardware and software configuration before choosing a marker system, especially when adapting an existing installation.

Explore ActiveIO · System setup FAQs

OptiTrack supports markerless and combined workflows through compatible hardware and partner software, including Captury. Duplex Mode allows compatible cameras to provide marker data and grayscale video together, supporting workflows that combine marker-based object tracking with markerless human capture.

The right approach depends on your subjects, movements, required outputs, and environment. Confirm camera compatibility, software versions, licenses, and expected data quality for your application before selecting a marker-based, markerless, or combined system.

Explore Duplex Mode and Captury

Yes. Available workflows include optical finger-marker tracking and supported glove integrations. OptiTrack lists integrations with MANUS, StretchSense, and Rokoko, giving teams different ways to combine hand data with body capture.

Choose a workflow around the finger detail, contact, object interaction, and output your project requires. Supported glove models, vendor software, Motive versions, and setup requirements differ, so check the relevant integration guide before selecting equipment.

Glove device setup guides

OptiTrack body and prop tracking can form part of a performance-capture workflow that also includes facial capture, reference video, and audio. The facial capture hardware, facial solving software, synchronization method, and destination application need to be specified as part of the complete pipeline.

Motive’s built-in audio capture is for reference only and does not natively synchronize to video or motion capture data. For synchronized production audio, plan an external audio workflow with timecode and verify timing across the complete pipeline.

Tell us what you need to capture together and which systems you already use. We can review timing, integration, and output requirements with you before defining a configuration.

Discuss your performance-capture workflow · External synchronization guide

Motive provides human skeleton templates for body capture and Trained Markersets for custom flexible or articulated assets. These are different workflows: A customized marker layout on a standard human skeleton is not the same as building and training a custom asset with its own bones or bone chains.

Share the subject’s structure, range of motion, marker placement options, and required output. The appropriate workflow and training requirements should be evaluated for that subject.

Trained Markersets · Human skeleton tracking

Motive:Tracker supports marker and rigid-body tracking; Motive:Body adds supported human-skeleton workflows; Motive:Edit editions work with recorded data rather than live camera capture.

Choose the edition around the assets you need to track, the number of simultaneous live skeletons, your exports, and your processing workflow. Use the current edition comparison for feature limits, including Unlimited options. The Licensing FAQs explain license keys, activation, computer changes, and software maintenance.

Compare Motive editions · Motive edition and licensing guidance

Motive runs on 64-bit Windows; the current installation guide specifies Windows versions supported by Microsoft. Select the host PC for your camera count, tracking workload, reference video, and connected devices, using the requirements for the Motive release you plan to run.

Running Motive and receiving its data are separate requirements. A receiving application or SDK may support a different operating system. Check that integration’s documentation rather than assuming the Motive application runs natively on macOS or Linux.

Current Motive installation requirements · NatNet documentation · System setup and computer preparation

Motive can stream tracking data to supported applications through plugins, protocols, and the NatNet SDK. Documented integrations include Unreal Engine, Unity, MotionBuilder, MATLAB, and MoCap4ROS2, among others.

Compatibility depends on the destination software and plugin versions, the data type you need, and the intended live or recorded workflow. Confirm whether your integration receives markers, rigid-body poses, skeletons, or other required data. For remote-site use, review the network design and latency requirements rather than assuming an internet connection provides a supported live workflow.

Data streaming and integration guides · Explore software and plugins

Motive supports motion-data exports including CSV, C3D, FBX, BVH, and TRC, depending on the edition and data type. Motive 3.5 also adds USD export, which the USD guide specifies for Motive:Body.

Choose an export around the data your destination application needs, including markers, skeletons, coordinate conventions, units, and sample rate. Recorded reference video and audio have their own export options. Consult the export documentation for the exact options available in your Motive version.

Data export guide · USD export requirements · Camera and reference-video modes

OptiTrack supports synchronization and integrations with compatible external equipment. The setup depends on the device model, connection, signal types, software versions, and the timing relationship your workflow requires. eSync 2 provides external synchronization options for compatible camera systems.

List each device and specify whether you need hardware synchronization, timecode alignment, data recorded within Motive, or data combined in another application. These requirements determine the hardware and integration steps needed for the complete workflow.

External synchronization with eSync 2 · Explore device integrations

Use the NatNet SDK to receive tracking data from Motive. Use the Camera SDK for direct camera control and image or 2D-object access; it does not provide the complete 3D tracking pipeline on its own. The Camera SDK is available as a free download; using Motive requires the appropriate Motive license. Redistribution remains subject to the current SDK license terms.

The Motive API provides supported tracking functions without the graphical interface. Its current overview excludes skeleton assets, direct recording/playback, peripheral-device control, and in-depth hardware synchronization control. NMotive and the Motive Batch Processor support automation of recorded-data processing and export. Available features, programming languages, operating systems, and licensing differ by tool; check the current documentation and included headers against your required workflow.

NatNet SDK · Motive API scope · Camera SDK · Motive Batch Processor · SDK redistribution and installer packaging

Share your application, the people or objects you need to track, and the maximum number tracked at once. Include your usable room dimensions and desired capture volume, including height; the movements and speeds involved; required accuracy or latency; software and devices to connect; installation location; and target timeline.

A room plan, photos, or a short description of a representative movement can help explain the requirements. Tell us if you need a demonstration or sample-data review so we can discuss suitable evaluation options for your project.

Discuss your system

Plan time for secure camera mounting, network and PC configuration, calibration, asset setup, and validation with representative movements. Setup effort depends on the system and application; moving cameras or changing the layout can require recalibration.

OptiTrack provides setup documentation and a technical-support contact route. Ask our team about the installation and training options appropriate to your project, and confirm the services included in your quote. Existing users can go directly to documentation or technical support for help with their systems.

OptiTrack documentation · Create a support ticket · Warranty and repair policy · System Setup FAQs