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GCL
08-04-2005, 02:34 AM
Hello all !
Just got the Studio Workstation upgrade. Was using ma4. I followed the installation direction as stated. I removed ma4 from the PC.
My question, on the host connection to LW, the documentation states the messiahlw.p plug in should be in the directory with the program. However, I do not find it in any directories. I used the "typical" installation procedure as requested.
Granted, as far as I know I still have the host connection for ma4 still in LW.

Is the plug in included in the Studio WS ? OR do I use the one originally installed for ma:4 ?
I don't know if plug in was left out or did not install or what. What procedure should I follow ?
I know that (for now) AutorigII is out but what about the host feature ?
If you can shed some light on this matter I would appreciate it.
ThomasHelzle
08-04-2005, 11:29 AM
Ooops - sorry to make you unhappy, but workstation doesn't include the connections to other software. That is one of the main differences to the Professional version beside unlimited networkrendering and the "soon to come for years" develop.

After you have managed the first shock, :banghead: :cry: :rolleyes: :hmm: :scream:
I would highly recommend PointOvenPro to you:
http://www.ef9.com/ef9/PO.htm
Perfectly working connections to Lightwave, Maya, 3DMax, messiah and XSI for a VERY reasonable price - and independent from your messiah version.

Cheers,
ThomasHelzle
08-04-2005, 11:38 AM
Now I am confused - I just visited the pmG homepage and suddenly the host connections are listed as available for workstation too in the table? Huh? Is that a typing error or what? That would make a lot of people very angry...

The text above the table states the correct facts, but isn't making it totally clear...

Can someone from pmG verify what's going on?
GCL
08-04-2005, 02:43 PM
Now I am confused - I just visited the pmG homepage and suddenly the host connections are listed as available for workstation too in the table? Huh? Is that a typing error or what? That would make a lot of people very angry...

The text above the table states the correct facts, but isn't making it totally clear...

Can someone from pmG verify what's going on?

Thanks for seeing the same thing I did ! That's why I sent off an email to them and waiting for a response. I left a message here in the hope someone has an answer I overlooked.
Thanks for the PointOven Pro recourse. I am aware of it since animate.
However, if by some chance they (pmG) messed up, would the PointOven free version be all I need ? Reason I'm asking is that I deal only with Lightwave, no Maya,et al.

Otherwise, I hope pmG comes through with an answer.
ThomasHelzle
08-04-2005, 02:51 PM
After looking through more of the website - even on the faq page they say that the only difference is rendering and develop - so maybe there is a new version about to come out where this restriction doesn't exist any longer and the text is ahead of time?
Let's see.

Yes, basically you can work with the free version of PointOven.
You then use Lightwaves own .mdd reader to apply the motion to the objects. But you have to do that by hand for every object where POP builds the LW scene for you.
More important for me is another issue: the LW mdd reader loads the full mdd in memory and is very slow. Since that data can become quite large, this isn't exactly ideal.
PointOvenPros reader reads only the current frame of the mdd in streaming mode, so it is very fast, needs very little memory even for big meshes and you can even replace the mdd file by simply overwriting it - scrubbing your LW-timeline then shows the new animation...

But yes, the free version will do.

Cheers,
GCL
08-04-2005, 06:51 PM
Got a message back from them as follows:


We are getting ready to release the latest version of m:s workstation. When the 2.2b release of workstation is made available the connection plugins will be included. We have been quite busy with Siggraph and the CGCHAR @ Siggraph event that we sponsored. I will let you know as soon as the release is made available. You will be able to download the update from our website.

Thank you,

That's GREAT news for me and others. Obviously I will be waiting for it.
AAAron
08-04-2005, 08:47 PM
When the 2.2b release of workstation is made available the connection plugins will be included. We have been quite busy with Siggraph and the CGCHAR @ Siggraph event that we sponsored. I will let you know as soon as the release is made available.

That makes me wonder what other (bug)fixes they have in the bag for 2.2b.
:love:
ThomasHelzle
08-04-2005, 11:35 PM
This sounds like the end of animate. There is nothing left that would make it more valuable than workstation. I assume that it is easier to maintain only one package. And for the user is is surely cool!

Nice move.
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