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This version of the NatNet SDK improves the streaming samples, but does NOT change the bitstream syntax. It is intended to work smoothly with all versions of Motive.

Note:
Direct Depacketizers (those not using NatNet): No changes for this version.

Details & Requirements

• Released Date: October 27, 2025
• File Format: ZIP (Windows), TAR (Linux)

Changelogs

NatNet SDK 4.4.0 Oct 27, 2025

Features

• Added a NatNet distribution for Ubuntu ARM to allow for better support for robots and integrated devices.

Samples

• BroadcastSample: No changes
• Minimal Sample: No changes
• PacketClient (Direct Depacketizer): No changes
• PythonClient (Direct Depacketizer): No changes
• Sample Client: No changes
• SampleClient3D: No changes
• SampleClientML: No changes
• Winforms: No changes

NatNet SDK 4.3.0 May 22, 2025

Features

• Updated NatNet DLL version number.
• PythonClient
  • Refactor of code to increase code clarity.
  • Updated to be closer to PEP-8 code styling compliant.
  • Timecode decoding example added.
  • Add the ability to get the data and timestamp in a single call.
  • Improved socket connection code.
• Fix for a streaming issue with Trained Markersets and all NatNetML clients (SampleClientML, WinForms, MATLAB Plugin).

Fixes

• PythonClient
  • Fixed for intermittent issues when connecting via Multicast.
  • Fix for some odd logic in the connection code for Multicast vs Unicast.
• SampleClient3D
  • Fix for small timecode visualization bug when swtiching between live and edit.
• WinForms
  • Fixed a crash when receiving inconsistent force plate frame data.

Samples

• BroadcastSample: No changes
• Matlab: Removed
• Minimal Sample: No changes
• PacketClient (Direct Depacketizer): No changes
• PythonClient (Direct Depacketizer): CHANGED
• Sample Client: No changes
• SampleClient3D: CHANGED
• SampleClientML: CHANGED
• Winforms: CHANGED

NatNet SDK 4.2.0 April 9, 2025

Features

• Added a rotation offset to the rigid body description struct.
• Added a new EULA that allows easier distribution of the software.
• Added a new CameraFrameID value for getting the current camera frame ID number.
• PythonClient: Made improvements to allow for better backwards compatibility.
• PythonClient: Improvements to the connection user experience.
• PythonClient: Work to improve connections via Unicast.
• PInvoke: Added missing internal functions for trained markersets in applications that use the PInvoke layer (specifically the Unity Plugin).

Fixes

• Fix for incorrect data martial to .NET based sample code for more than 6 force plates.
• Sample Client 3D: Removed timecode info for takes that don’t have timecode.
• Sample Client 3D: Fix for flashing white when navigating in the 3D client with hotkeys.
• Minimal Client: Fix for connections not working in Unicast.

Samples

• BroadcastSample: No changes.
• Matlab: No changes.
• Minimal Sample: CHANGES
• PacketClient (Direct Depacketizer): No changes
• PythonClient (Direct Depacketizer): CHANGES
• Sample Client: No changes
• SampleClient3D: CHANGES
• SampleClientML: CHANGES
• Winforms: No changes

NatNet SDK 4.1.1 March 22, 2024

Fixes

• NatNet
  • Fixed an issue where the PythonSample did not work when streaming Trained Markersets.
  • Fixed a display issue with Trained Markerset bones in the WinForms example.
• Samples
  • PythonClient (Direct Depacketizer) : Fixed bit stream issues
  • Winforms: Fixed display issues.

NatNet SDK 4.1.0 November 6, 2023

Features

• Trained Markersets - Added support for streaming Trained Markerset data as a sAssetData type.
• Futureproofing for Direct Depacketizers - Requestable Bitstream Syntax Version protects direct depacketizer clients against bitstream changes in future Motive versions.
• Added PTP timestamping support. See PacketClient and SampleClient to illustrate usage.
• MinimalClient - Added a new very short sample application.
• Updated .NET - Updated .NET to v4.7.2 for managed library example (NatNetML and WinForms).
• SampleClient shows All IP Addresses - The SampleClient now lists the IP address from both the sender and the local computer to help diagnose network connection issues.
• Scaled the packet client to have a residual value in millimeters.
• Scaled the SampleClient to have a residual value and rigid body mean error in millimeters.
• Stopped distributing prebuilt x86 samples.
• Update the sample client to show customer how to use a lookup (e.g. std::map) based on asset id.
• Updated the broadcast sample to use Visual Studio 2019 like the other samples.
• Converted NatNet SDK into using Doxygen style commenting.
• Updated the Python sample to show how to specify 'connection options' like the PacketClient does.
• Added subversion (4.1.0 instead of 4.1)
• Added data description bundle size and frame data bundle size to bitstream to allow direct depacketizers to skip over unused data types. See PacketClient.cpp for example.

Fixes

• NatNet
  • Fixed code signing issues in the NatNet SDK.
  • Fixed NatNet server to filter data descriptions based on client version, added protections against unknown types.
  • Fixed for incorrect packet alignment in telemetry on streaming TAK files.
• Samples
  • Winforms : Fixed unresponsive buttons.
  • Python and PacketClient (Direct Depacketizers) : Verify which stream version is requested and which stream version the server is expecting to send.
  • PacketClient : Added nBytes to UnpackDataSize to make it a usable function.
  • PacketClient : Fixed UnpackDataSize().
  • SampleClient3D : Fixed crash on data change.

NatNet SDK 4.0.0 August 3, 2021

Features

• Unicast Data Subscription - Users can now adjust Unicast streaming clients to configure the tracking data they receive. For example, each client can now subscribe to specific rigid bodies and receive only the subscribed tracking data over unicast; making the streaming packets lighter and faster for each client. This cuts down the latency for large VR installations and smaller systems alike. (Supported in Motive 2.2+.)
• Rigid Body Forward Prediction - Predict rigid body positions/orientations into the future by a configurable amount of time.
• Bitstream Version Configuration - The bitstream version may now be configured to work with multiple clients running different versions of NatNet.
• Camera Positions - Added camera position information data to the NatNet data descriptions.
• Reduced the total number of samples included to help make NatNet easier to understand; improved each of the remaining samples.
• Increased the maximum number of force plates supported in the data stream to 32.
• Updated the main NatNet solution file to use VisualStudio 2019 (v142).
• Added the ability for NatNet to get/set the frame rate of Motive.
• Added support for remotely getting, and setting, properties (such as colors) that have vector types.
• Added informative error messages when Motive attempts to connect to a client with incorrect settings, and improved connection reliability.
• Hardcoded the auto-connection port to 1513 to allow for exceptions to ports with firewalls or anti-virus for applications that wish to auto-connect.
• Reduced network traffic in large systems by lengthening keep-alive message interval to 10 seconds.
• WinForms Application
  • Modified the WinFormsTestApp to show the same force plate value as Motive on each frame when there are more force plate frames than tracking frames.
  • Updated the name of this project to just "WinFormsSample".
  • Fixed an issue with the enable/disable asset button.
• SampleClient and Sample3DClient and SampleClientML
  • Updated the color scheme of the SampleClient3D to better match Motive.
  • Hid several labeled marker tags in the SampleClient that are no longer relevant.
  • Updated the SampleClinetML to include camera devices.
  • Added the ability to give command-line arguments to the SampleClientML example.
• Python and Packet Clients
  • Added New Types - Added force plates, DAQ devices, and cameras to the PythonClient and PacketClient.
  • Added Objects for Data Types - Rewrote the PythonClient to follow a more object-oriented coding model.
  • Updated the PythonClient to better conform to PEP8 coding standards.
  • Added the PythonClient to the default VisualStudio project file
  • Updated the user commands for the PythonClient and PacketClient to be more useful.
  • Add the ability to specify the bitstream syntax version for the PythonClient and PacketClient.
  • Fixed a variety of other issues in the PythonClient related to data reliability, thread safety, and coding standards.
  • Fixed an issue where the PythonClient would disconnect from Unicast connections.
  • Fixed an issue with the PacketClient where it was not reading the correct number of bytes of skeleton data.

Fixes

• Fixed an issue where a remote record trigger would not work when the eSync is put into a ready state.
• Fixed negative streaming ID values in some instances.
• Fixed some small issues to allow the PacketClient to work with Unicast.
• Fixed a lost "unknown message" handler callback when switching between unicast/multicast.

NatNet SDK 3.1 September 11, 2018

• Updated the sample projects for the Apache Software License. This gives greater open source freedom with the NatNet redistributable.
• Included additional timing metrics and recording to the WinForms application.
• Updated the python depacketizer sample to match the correct rigid body descriptions.
• Updated the SampleClient and SampleClient3D projects, so that they may be used exclusively with unlabeled markers.
• Updated the explanation of labeled markers in the PacketClient.cpp to be more descriptive.
• Improved clarity of the version and compilation information for sample applications.
• Added a broadcast option to the multicast data channel.
• Fixed a crash when attempting to stream over 99 rigid bodies at one time.
• Fixed a crash with the WinForms test app by removing the ability to edit text in the IP address combo box.
• Fixed an issue where the labeled marker list did not report the flags when a labeled marker was occluded.
• Fixed a bug with automatically determining the IP address on start.
• Fixed a bug in the WinForms test app that caused it to report incorrect rigid body data in some cases.
• Fixed a bug in the WinForms test app where it would not refresh when switching between multicast and unicast.
• Renamed "Labeled Markers" to just "Markers" in the WinForms application.

NatNet SDK 3.0.1 November 7, 2017

• Cleaned up the SampleClient by removing OtherMarkers sample and refactoring some other code.
• Updated the PDF user guide.
• Updated the PacketClient to show correct marker id decoding and marker params usage.
• Updated samples projects to Visual Studio 2015.
• Fix for unavailable transmission latency when connecting to Motive via Unicast.
• Fix for Packet Client showing all markers as unidentified and fix logic in OtherMarker list.
• Fix for streaming skeletons as rigid bodies setting crashing the SampleClient3D when enabled.
• Fix for issue with getting data descriptions from a take with markersets.

NatNet SDK 3.0.0 September 8, 2017

Features & Enhancements

• Added support for streaming of analog data such as NIDAQ data from Motive.
• NatNet now provides more accurate and detailed methods for determining the latency during different processes in Motive. 
• Added the ability to remotely configure Motive software settings from NatNet clients.
• Added an active marker ID property to marker data type to support new active markers over NatNet. Also, included active marker ID information in the rigid body marker descriptions.
• Reorganized the member methods of the NatNetClient class. Previous methods are still supported for this release; refer to NatNetClient.h for details. 
• Updated the sample applications, including the WinFormSamples app, to demonstrate the newly added features.
• Added RebroadcastMotiveData sample for streaming using serial port communication.
• Now includes pre-built sample applications for both 32-bit and 64-bit applications in the samples/bin directory.
• Added the ability to automatically discover Multicast/Unicast client. As a result, the ConnectionType Enum has been deprecated.
• Added an auto-detection feature for finding IP addresses of the available NatNet tracking server, improving the usability of several client applications.
• Added SampleClientML sample for demonstrating a basic use of the managed library.

Compatibility Notes

• Important: Static linking is no longer supported. Projects that utilized NatNetStaticLib.lib will need to be updated to link dynamically instead.
• SDK security update: Starting from 3.0, the NatNet library will strictly work with Motive only. Other server applications, including Arena and Tracking Tools, are no longer compatible.
• Deprecated Connection Type Enum for clients. Clients now just need to invoke NatNetClient::Connect.
• Removed fLatency metrics from the frame of mocap data.
• Removed marker positions and corresponding property values from sRigidBodyData. They can now be obtained from sRigidBodyDescription.

NatNet SDK 2.10.0 June 27, 2016

Features & Enhancements

• Updated the User Guide to include new information and correct formatting / grammatical errors.
• Added NatNet Unity3D sample code for skeleton re-targeting using Mecanim.
• Added NatNet Python depacketization client into NatNet SDK Samples directory.
• Added reference to open source NatNet based Maya plug in.
• Added 'keep alive' streaming command to resolve issues with UDP unicast clients going to sleep.

Fixes

• Fixed issue where WinFormsTestApp crashed on exit.
• Fixed crash in WinFormsTestApp when streaming more than 44 rigid bodies.
• Fixed issue where WinFormsTestApp became non-responsive after selecting multiple items.

NatNet SDK 2.9.0 October 19, 2015

Features & Enhancements

• Added: Motive 1.9 streaming support.
• Added: Stream ID of unlabeled markers over NatNet. Please refer to updated Winforms sample to show new unlabeled marker data access.
• Added: Add Force Plate information to data descriptions and FrameOfMocapData structure. ( Bitstream syntax change)
• Added: (NatNet Managed Library (NatNetML) only) Update Winforms sample to illustrate data polling as an alternative to data callback.

Fixes

• Fixed: (NatNet Managed Library (NatNetML) only) Update NatNetML with marker parameter data (e.g. occluded flag)

NatNet SDK 2.8.0 September 2, 2015

Features & Enhancements

• Added: Motive 1.8 streaming support
• Added: New MATLAB wrapper sample.
• Added: Add playback range and looping commands ("SetPlaybackStartFrame,frameNumber", "SetPlaybackStopFrame,frameNumber", "SetPlaybackLooping,0or1") to NatNet command list, and updated NatNet SDK Winforms and PacketClient samples to illustrate usage.
• Added: DecodeID() helper routine, which illustrates usage in Winforms and SampleClient apps for decoding legacy marker ID
• Added: Updated Unity3D streaming sample to stream rigid bodies and skeletons.
• Added: Add Z-up quaternion to Euler decoding example to WinForms sample when streaming Z-up from Motive.
• Added: Add support and examples for explicitly disconnecting Unicast clients.
• Added: Add support for Z-up streaming, and update SampleClient 3D to illustrate usage.
• Changed: (NatNetML only) Change GetLastFrameOfData() routine in managed client to lock the frame and return a copy of the data (polling clients only). Update WinForms sample app to illustrate usage.
• Changed: (NatNetML only) Provide copy constructors to simplify .NET client data deep copy operations, and update Winforms sample with data copy operation.
• Changed: (NatNetML only) Fix graphing for correct frame alignment for Motive.
• Changed: (NatNetML only) Add timing testing operations and reporting.

Fixes

• Fixed: Fix for PointCloud solved bit indicator.
• Fixed: Debug x64 WinformsSample was not compiling out of the box.
• Fixed: RigidBody tracked flag in managed clients is now transmitted correctly.

NatNet SDK 2.7 October 21, 2014

Features & Enhancements

• Motive 1.7 Streaming support
• New timing sample for validating mocap streaming frame timing.
• New Broadcast Trigger sample illustrating how to use remote record trigger/listen using XML formatted UDP broadcast packets instead of NatNet commands.
• NatNetML - added SMPTE Timecode and Timecode Subframe members. See WinForms sample for usage.

Fixes

• Fix for FrameID periodically displays dropped/duplicate packets during live mode.
• Fix for PacketClient incorrectly decoding rigid Body IsTracked parameter.
• Fix for crash in GetDataDescriptions() when streaming a Rigid Body with a single character name.
• Sample Clint incorrectly reports skeleton marker data
• Update SampleClient3D to clarify quaterion decomposition, add new visuals.
• Maximum markers per rigid body changed from 10 to 20 to match new RigidBody tracking capabilities in Motive.
• Frame timestamp now keyed off hardware frame id. fTimestamp resolution increased from float to double *.
  * DirectDepackatization clients should update their code (see timestamp in PacketClient.cpp for an example).

NatNet SDK 2.6 May 8, 2014

Features & Enhancements

• Added Motive 1.6 streaming support.
• New RigidBody tracking state parameter added to the NatNet stream.
• IsRecording flag on FrameOfMocapData was added, indicating frame was recorded in Motive.
• ModelsChanged flag on FrameOfMocapData indicating actively tracked model list has changed.
• Additional flags on LabelMarkerList indicating marker occlusion and marker position calculation method.
• Additional FrameOfMocapData timestamp added to the stream.
• NatCap remote capture sample for illustrating send/receive of Motive remote control commands via UDP direct broadcast.
• UDP Repeater / Unity3D
• Increased the unlabeled/other marker count cap to 1000 markers per frame.

Fixes

• SampleClient latency value was incorrectly calculated.

NatNet SDK 2.5 October 2, 2013

Features & Enhancements

• Added Motive 1.5 streaming support.
• A new Matlab sample demonstrates how to read from the NatNet stream through MatLab scripts.
• Additional function signature overloads to better support MatLab.
• Added new Motive remote control commands Start/Stop Recording, Start/Stop Playback, LiveMode, EditMode, SetRecordTakeName, SetLiveTakeName. Refer to WinForms sample for usage examples.
• Added Motive record broadcast message parser sample.
• Samples were updated to illustrate accessing point cloud model solved marker locations.
• Added timing information to WinForms sample.
• New QuaternionToEuler() helper routines are now included.
• Winforms Sample updated with a new layout and sample Command/Requests for use with Motive.

Fixes

• SimplerServer compile issue.
• SampleClient when more than two skeletons are streaming.

Previous Releases

NatNet SDK 4.3.0

• Windows
• Ubuntu
• Fedora

NatNet SDK 4.2.0

• Windows
• Ubuntu
• Fedora

NatNet SDK 4.1.1

• Windows
• Ubuntu
• Fedora

NatNet SDK 4.1.0

• Windows
• Ubuntu
• Fedora

NatNet SDK 4.0.0

• Windows
• Ubuntu
• Fedora

NatNet SDK 3.1

• Windows
• Ubuntu
• Fedora

NatNet SDK 3.0.1

• Windows

NatNet SDK 3.0

• Windows
• Ubuntu
• Fedora

NatNet SDK 2.10

• Windows

NatNet SDK 2.9

• Windows

NatNet SDK 2.8

• Windows

NatNet SDK 2.7

• Windows

NatNet SDK 2.6

• Windows

NatNet SDK 2.5

• Windows

NatNet SDK Documentation