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GordonZernich - all messages by user

2012/10/23 14:22:19
Either Muvizu or my Codecs are corrupt...HELP plz Hello there.
I have a question about codec and software. I use either the Cyberlink 10 or Corel X5 software when making Muvizu videos. Frequently I'll use the Muvizu green screen and insert a character or two into a sports video. It's cool.
On my current computer I'm having a problem with the Muvizu green screen. So, I'm thinking it may have to do with a codec, or lack of one.
So my question, I hope, is a simple one: if it is a codec deficiency, and if the correct codec is downloaded, would it/should it to allow for smooth editing within Cyberlink 10 and Corel X5 video software?

I've noticed that are a variety of video formats in Muvizu, but without the correct Codec, especially with the green screen background, it may clash with the Cyberlink or Corel video software. Is that correct?

My OS is Windows 7.

Gordon Zernich
edited by GordonZernich on 23/10/2012
edited by GordonZernich on 23/10/2012
2012/9/7 10:50:26
Thunderclap How does one add the thunderclap to a character's animation? It is not in the preparing or directing of the "character's actions"; in short, I haven't found the way to trigger the effect when making the video.
2012/6/24 14:03:25
Character object properties > visibility and size Hey, there's no space helmet for Rover!
2012/6/23 17:39:09
Part 4 - Nick Danger & the case of the Missing Sho It was this video series/upload on YouTube that brought me into Muvizu.
2012/6/23 16:18:39
Basic question about the audio component/MP3 Having major problems with lip sync and audio. The characters have it, then lose/drop it upon replay or vidoe making. Is there a software fix for that?

The problem is within the green screen environment for now ... haven't tried any others for this particular video.
edited by GordonZernich on 23/06/2012

Found it a very futile exercise getting the lip synch to line up with the dialog when more that one audio track is used, i.e when using separate audio tracks for a handful of characters, the lip sync issue is apparent

To get around that I've re-recorded the audio portion from three-four-five separate tracks into one track, and then edit each character's dialog via the talk or shush buttons.

If there is a better way, we'd be eager to know about it.
edited by GordonZernich on 23/06/2012
edited by GordonZernich on 24/06/2012
2012/6/22 1:37:12
Sketch Up to Muvizu revisited I'm going to try some fun with what (little) I know now ... lol

At first blush when an object is imported into Muvizu with ID textures, its properties' window presents a very long list of colors (38,39,40) ... a list so long that there is no way I know of getting to the bottom of it. When it is imported without ID textures the scale of the object may be adjusted as well as its other properties, but not the colors. I can click on the colors and try to save that, but there is little change.

I used Ziggy's collision mesh on the sax; but I also put an invisible ground plane beneath it and saved both -- as far as I know -- as a favorite. I just got tired of watching the object bounce around like crazy or sink into the earth and disappear. In time maybe the ground plane won't be needed, but for now it is an insurance policy ... again, as far as my very limited knowledge knows about its use.

I need to export/import an acoustic bass and a trumpet. I believe I found some animations that would compliment the sax and trumpet.

There much to learn, for sure, but now a pause. Heck, I've yet to get the feel for the 3D environment and positioning objects within it!

I don't know how that collision mesh is supposed to work. I copied and pasted it to the file: I must have done something right since the object did import ... imported with four brackets more or less surrounding it. But it still sunk into the floor when "floats in the air" is unchecked.
2012/6/21 10:13:48
Sketch Up to Muvizu revisited Thank you for the feedback Zig: I tried the collision box edit on the sax, and it didn't help much though.

It was copied and pasted to the last meaningful entry, rather than the very last character of the .ase file text, and there wasn't much difference.

Eh, anyway, ever since attempting to edit the .ase files, the files' icon has become that of the text editor that was used. At first that was disconcerting to me, but I guess that is one thing that doesn't make a difference ... and my experience with PCs is that any misplaced character can just foul out anything.

I'll continue to work on it.

Dylly mentioned Sketchucation.com. I'll look for tips there too, but I'm looking forward to the Sketch Up 8 for Dummies. There is sure to be a chapter for collision meshes, and if its directions are for the really ignorant, it will take nothing for granted. lol

I'd like to say thanks again though ... I've exported an acoustic bass from Sketch Up into Muvizu. I won't have time to really see how it behaves until later, but hey, I couldn't even get that far earlier this week without the community's help and advice.

At first blush the acoustic bass seems like its easier to handle, but I really dig into that later and re-try Ziggy's collision mesh with that.

It is copied and pasted after the last meaningful text, correct, and not after the last character, e.g. "{" or something like that.
edited by GordonZernich on 21/06/2012
2012/6/20 23:55:02
Sketch Up to Muvizu revisited Thanks again for the input.

The texture problem with the sax was resolved when the toto bitmap image color was changed from pink to something more like brass. I did not save the ID textures when importing it into Muvizu. When I saved the ID textures the color palate properties were 38-39-40 deep, and there was no way to, literally, get to the bottom of it to adjust the other properties of the object.

I downloaded Ziggy's matchbox collision file. Does it work via default or does it need to be applied?

I purchased Sketch Up for Dummies to read on the commute to work. My commute is about an hour 20 minutes each way.

Creating the ground plane did help to stabilize the object, somewhat better with it than without it.


edited by GordonZernich on 21/06/2012
2012/6/20 20:41:17
Sketch Up to Muvizu revisited Thank you very much for your help and advice.

I have something to work with now.

One of the keys was the Raylectron Textures Exporter. What a gem that is! Exported all the textures; I selected the jpg file option, and viola, three textures into the UT3 folder with the object as Dylly said.

The other key was a plug-in Dylly suggested at smustand.com: the plug-in shifts the object to the origin for export. By the way, is it better to shift the object to the origin, or to shift AND center it to the origin?

In any event it worked! But with some caveats:

#1 I have to buy the Sketch-Up 8 for Dummies book and dig into it. I've read some of the forum's postings about importing 3D objects, and it is Greek to me. However, one thing that's apparent in those postings is that I have lots of learning to do and Sketch Up 8 for Dummies is probably the best place to start.

#2 I have the object (saxophone): now I have to study that video tutorial about collision meshes. I watched the second and third segments of importing 3D objects. Now I have to study them.
The object I imported into Muvizu (potential) file sinks into the "floor" ... sometimes it just bounces wildly around or gets "pushed outside the world and (gets) moved back into the center of the world". lol! I don't know what that means, but it ain't good! Can such an object ever get retrieved after that happens?

So, there is work to do. Which collision mesh is best for a saxophone or an upright bass? The jazz musicians have an interest in such things .... or at least the instruments. I'll be working of the collision mesh for the sax next.

Update:


Um: re-watched the importing video again and noticed a mistake I made: the first import was NOT done with ID textures: now the color can be changed from pink to a brassy gold.

Another wrinkle: while having success in changing the color of the object, the color properties extend way beyond the confines of the monitor screen, and I haven't found a way to exit out of that to change the scale or other object properties ...


Thanks again gents.
edited by GordonZernich on 20/06/2012
edited by GordonZernich on 20/06/2012
edited by GordonZernich on 20/06/2012
2012/6/20 1:51:19
DRAWING WITH DRE (2) Are you using a graphics tablet? If so, which one?
2012/6/20 1:03:00
Sketch Up to Muvizu revisited Thank you for the input, but the problem is unresolved.
I added the UT3 file to the C:drive
Inside the file is the toto.bmp and a PSE(Photoshop Elements) wood_board_cork jpg file.

I clicked on the Window tab and dropped to Materials and selected the wood_board_cork picture, then right clicked to it, i.e. added it to the model ... is that correct?

Then I took Dylly's advice and downloaded a Sketch Up Plug In that places the object in the center and origin. (this group is beginning to have an influence upon me)

Export options:
Name: saxophone
Model: saxophone
Collision: None -- Muvizu generated collision

File name: saxophone.ase
there was no option to "save as type"

Opened up Muvizu to import the object.
file name: C:\UT3\Saxophone.ase
map alpha to: none
ambient occlusion: no ambient occlusion map
facing: double sided

Error message:
file not found
C:\UT3\textures\wood_board_OSB.jpg

So, is this the problem?

*3DSMAX_ASCIIEXPORT
*COMMENT Muvizu ASE Exporter.
*COMMENT Based on HardPCM'S ASE output plugin for Sketchup (HSKP2UNR.rb)
*MATERIAL_LIST {
*MATERIAL_COUNT 1
*MATERIAL 0 {
*MATERIAL_NAME "MUVIZU_ASE_TEXTURE"
*MATERIAL_CLASS "Multi/Sub-Object"
*NUMSUBMTLS 4
*SUBMATERIAL 0 {
*MATERIAL_NAME "Engine.DefaultTexture"
*MATERIAL_CLASS "Standard"
*MAP_DIFFUSE {
*MAP_CLASS "Bitmap"
*BITMAP "C:\ut3\toto.bmp"
*UVW_U_OFFSET 0.0
*UVW_V_OFFSET 0.0
*UVW_U_TILING 1.0
*UVW_V_TILING 1.0


I would suppose the .ase file needed to be edited from:
BITMAP "C:\ut3\toto.bmp"
to:
"C:\UT3\Wood_Board_Cork.jpg"

Is that correct?
This is all Greek to me, but that is a good thing. I need the challenge.

Gordon

Um: I'll include what I'd consider the most relevant Notepad++ text:


*MATERIAL_CLASS "Multi/Sub-Object"
*NUMSUBMTLS 4
*SUBMATERIAL 0 {
*MATERIAL_NAME "Engine.DefaultTexture"
*MATERIAL_CLASS "Standard"
*MAP_DIFFUSE {
*MAP_CLASS "Bitmap"
*BITMAP "C:\ut3\toto.bmp"
*UVW_U_OFFSET 0.0
*UVW_V_OFFSET 0.0
*UVW_U_TILING 1.0
*UVW_V_TILING 1.0
}
*SUBMATERIAL 1 {
*MATERIAL_NAME ""
*MATERIAL_CLASS "Standard"
*MAP_DIFFUSE {
*MAP_CLASS "Bitmap"
*BITMAP "Wood_Board_Cork.jpg"
*UVW_U_OFFSET 0.0
*UVW_V_OFFSET 0.0
*UVW_U_TILING 1.0
*UVW_V_TILING 1.0
}
*SUBMATERIAL 2 {
*MATERIAL_NAME "Wood_Board_OSB"
*MATERIAL_CLASS "Standard"
*MAP_DIFFUSE {
*MAP_CLASS "Bitmap"
*BITMAP "Wood_Board_OSB.jpg"
*UVW_U_OFFSET 0.0
*UVW_V_OFFSET 0.0
*UVW_U_TILING 1.0
*UVW_V_TILING 1.0
}
*SUBMATERIAL 3 {
*MATERIAL_NAME ""
*MATERIAL_CLASS "Standard"
*MAP_DIFFUSE {
*MAP_CLASS "Bitmap"
*BITMAP "Cladding_Stucco_White.jpg"
*UVW_U_OFFSET 0.0
*UVW_V_OFFSET 0.0
*UVW_U_TILING 1.0
*UVW_V_TILING 1.0


Is that correct?
edited by GordonZernich on 20/06/2012
2012/6/19 0:42:45
Sketch Up to Muvizu revisited This may be very old hat and elementary to most views, but it is new to me.
I'd like to import an object (saxophone) from Google Sketch up to Muvizu.
I installed the Muvizu ASEExporter into the Google Sketch Up Program Plug Ins folder.
I've also placed another file into that folder: HSKP2UNR

I made the UT3 folder and placed that in the Sketch Up program: inside that file I made the toto bitmap image (.bmp).

I've followed part one of glasglowjim's tutorial fairly well. Another person tipped me off to downloading the .ase file into the UT3 folder before attempting to import it into Muvizu.

Now here is the problem: besides the very inexperienced operator behind the keyboard (me), I get this message after attempting to import it into Muvizu:

There was an error importing the object.
File not found.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Google SketchUp 8\UT3\textures\Wood_Board_Cork.jpg

So there it is. Any suggestions?

Gordon
2012/6/15 23:16:26
Bugs@Muvizu.com About a week ago I downloaded the Muvizu software was was learning how to use it.
It is a gas!


However, now I can't open the program! I've deleted the program and re-installed it a couple times now. When I attempt to open it I get a message:

"Failed to compile global shader F Downsample scene.
The version I'm attempting to download is: v0.19b 64-bit

I don't get it! I had it on my PC and now I don't!


Please help!
edited by GordonZernich on 15/06/2012

Okay, I have it back now ... don't know how or what I did right, but it's back
edited by GordonZernich on 15/06/2012
2012/6/11 9:20:57
Basic question about the audio component/MP3 The audio component of the Muvizu software doesn't recognize WMA files. Does the Muvizu software include the software needed to make a MP3 file? Secondly, what type of microphone is needed for the audio? Jack-type or USB?

I'd like to directly record the audio for each character and not use any round about method for that, i.e.through "prepare audio".

Thanks,

Gordon
edited by GordonZernich on 11/06/2012
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