XSI & MotionBuilder

[SheepFactory]

If its keyframe animation you dont need any other package then xsi. If you work with a lot of mocap you might need some of the motionbuilder functionality , all its tools are geared towards working with mocap.

My advice to you is to stick with one if its keyframe anim , complicating the workflow is unnecessary and no package makes one a better animator.

[Leonardo Vega]

The only reason I've used MB is for it's quick and easy rig. You just make your bones in XSI (or any other app), name them correctly, then pump it into MB and *whalaa* auto rig :)

I love how in MB when you select a hand and move it the rest of the body moves too. But I'm assuming XSI has the ability to create a similar rig/setup, I just haven't had time to learn.

To be honest rigging scares me, but I know it's important.

- Leo

[SovereignKnight]

I use both applications. I like Motionbuilder a lot, and I find its character animation tools to be without peer. I do have one beef though: The .fbx file format pretty much sucks. Especially now that Alias has ruined it, but even earlier versions don't really work too well for cross-application use. Be wary of that, but otherwise both apps are great and they compliment each other nicely.

[SheepFactory]

i personally prefer the xsi autorig to MB rig. I do not like the MB rig behaviour when posing , i'd rather have full control on my pose.

[markdc]

There are several problems with XSI's FBX plugin. See http://forums.alias.com/WebX?50@438.Pb2zazAkcd9.0@.3bb0051a. The plugin is developed by Alias not Softimage.

The advantage that motionbuilder has is that it can playback your animation in realtime even with fairly dense characters. And if you work with mocap it's much easier to deal with in MB.

[RenisanceX]

can't xsi aslo play back your animation as well?

[zaam]

XSI has decent playback capabilities, but MB is the best I have tried as far as interactivity and immediate feedback goes. You can refine your animations rather quickly when you get real time playback. That being said, my beloved copy of Motion Builder gets very litle use right now. I tried to integrate it into the workflow back when I was using Lightwave, but the hassles of planning involved in moving between the programs more than offset the elegance of working within MB. I'm sure the workflow can be streamlined, but I could never afford the time to work it out to my satisfaction. I am much more productive working within XSI right now, even though I am still learning the app. I think using a low rez proxy rig within XSI can get you much the same interaction as MB does with a full rez model.

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