Animaze 1.27.12653 : New tracker on the main branch
Hello Awesome Folks!
Animaze 1.27.12653 is here, now on the default branch.
Those of you who were playing on the Next Version beta branch this weekend know some of this already.
We have a new improved webcam tracker experience for face and hands.
Hand tracking with just a webcam.
The hand tracking released this Friday on Next-Version went through several new improvements and is now live, no beta switch branch is required.
You can re-read the original details in the Friday announcement here
Core face tracking changes for the webcam face tracker.
The Google Mediapipe Tracker has been getting better and better over the last year.
That is why it is now the new default tracker for Animaze webcam, not just for hands but for face as well. Please update your settings accordingly.
If you want to still use the old face tracker version in a transitional period, you can always use the Previous Version branch.
As always, we love hearing what you think about the new content and Animaze! Tell us what you’d like to see added to Animaze on our Discord server or email us at support[@]animaze[.]us
Thank you for being a part of our community, and for supporting indie engines for Avatars and VTubing.
The Holotech Team,
Alex, Catalin and Dragos.
Webcam-based tracking update on Next-Version beta branch (hands and face)!
Hello Awesome Folks!
We have a big update for you today! Because it is Friday and we don't want to affect your weekend streaming schedule with big changes only minutes before you start streaming, it will go live on Next-Version today, and will go on main on Monday!
Here are the highlights:
Hand tracking with just a webcam.
We're thrilled to announce that starting today Animaze has its own internal implementation for webcam-based hand tracking, sourcing data from the well-known MediaPipe tracker from Google.
To turn hand tracking on go to Settings-> Advanced Tracking Configuration-> Select Trackers and toggle on Hands under the Mediapipe (Default) Tracker.
Then, to tune the behavior (how much they move and how smooth the motion is) go to Settings-> Advanced Tracking Configuration->MediaPipe Hand Tracker.
Please give us feedback and let us know what you think. We will be fine-tuning it further.
In this first iteration, we've focused on webcam tracking users, so cannot yet be combined with the iOS face tracker: to use these new webcam-based hands for now the tracking needs to be all-webcam. If you use an iPhone for face tracking, no worries, we will be updating Animaze so you can mix them up later on.
The foundational work for full body tracking is also done, but we had to concede there is no practical way to accommodate proper face tracking camera positioning (needs to be near), and full body tracking camera positioning (needs to be far), with a single webcam. To have a proper experience, there is a clear need for dual or multi-webcam support, and things get quite complicated. That is partially why full-body mode is not being released today. Head and hands though work just fine and are practical with just one webcam.
We know that for some of you, hand and body tracking are already part of your arsenal, and indeed they have been possible in Animaze since the start using more complex sensors, or VMC support. However, some considered that a bit of a hustle to set up, so in 2024 we are taking steps to make it radically simpler and more accessible.
Core face tracking changes for the webcam face tracker layer.
The Google Mediapipe Tracker has been getting better and better over the last year so.
That is why starting with this update forward it will become the new default tracker for Animaze webcam, not just for hands but for face as well. Please update your settings accordingly.
If you want to still use the old face tracker version in a transitional period, you can always use the Previous Version branch.
As always, we love hearing what you think about the new content and Animaze! Tell us what you’d like to see added to Animaze on our Discord server, email us at support[@]animaze[.]us, or message us on Twitter!
Thank you for being a part of our community, and for supporting indie engines for Avatars and VTubing.
The Holotech Team,
Alex, Catalin and Dragos.
New skeleton avatars are here to dance through Spooktober.
Whether you want them to shake their bones on the dancefloor, arm them with a helmet and hammer and be part of a DnD campaign, or do an old-school impersonation of Murray the demonic skull, we got your skeleton needs covered.
There are two versions, one classical, with empty eye sockets, and one more expressive with eyes and eyebrows, that somehow returned after rotting (just like a certain galactic emperor, it is best if you don't think about it too hard).
They are fully compatible with present (and future) and hand and body tracking.
Available on both Windows PC and iOS.
Thank you for supporting indie VTubing engine alternatives.
The Animaze team (Dragos, Alex and Catalin).
Next-Version branch: Webcam-based hand tracking!
Hello Awesome People!
Big news:
Webcam-based hand and finger tracking, without a need for an external VMC sender or bespoke hardware, is now available in Animaze on the "Next-version" beta branch.
Please select it from the tracker list, test it, and send us your thoughts via email or Discord, as we will continue to tune the experience based on your feedback!
If you need a reminder on how to navigate branches:
https://www.animaze.us/faq/animazedesktop/navigatebranches
This module is in open beta, based on the Google Media Pipe tracker, supports simultaneous face, hand, and finger tracking from the same webcam input, and is available for everyone to test.
Items of note for this beta version:
- It can't be currently combined with other face trackers (for instance with iPhone face tracking). Naturally, this will be addressed before the official feature launch.
- It works with all 3D models that are Animaze mannequin compatible: native Animaze avatars, Ready Player Me, Union Avatars, VRM (0.0 and 1.00).
- For most avatars you might want to start either with "face as origin" setting toggled to on, or with it off, change Reference Origin settings in Advanced Tracking Configuration->MediaPipe Tracker, to adjust the tracking offsets to your specific setup.
- It does not yet work in Animaze Rooms (Animaze Multiplayer)
- Live2D support can be added but is currently on hold until we hear from Live2D artists information on which parameters (and parameter ranges) they want. The sooner we receive that information, the sooner we can plan for Live2D-specific parameters to be sent out.
Thank you for supporting indie VTubing engine alternatives.
The Animaze team (Dragos, Alex and Catalin).
The Fluffy Seal Of Approval
A very cute baby seal avatar joins the Animaze Originals roster.
Will you use his cuteness to build your online empire, rivaling or even surpassing the likes of PuffPuff, TheOneManny, Obit or MagLobao?
You decide!
Available on both Windows PC and iOS.
If you do use iPhone tracking, we recommend you test him with direct mapping settings on and off too, and see how you like it best. We are partial to the interpreted mapping (not direct) in his case.
Thank you for supporting indie VTubing engine alternatives.
The Animaze team (Dragos, Alex and Catalin).
Animaze update v1.26.12623 - New Capibara skin and security updates.
Hello Amazing People!
Today's update brings a new Capibara skin. Carlos the chill Capibara cosplaying as an intrepid explorer, Capybara Jones. We're also deploying client-server security certificate updates.
We are taking this opportunity to announce that the Animaze servers will be temporarily inaccessible for scheduled maintenance next week, on August 18th, at 10 AM Pacific Time (5:00 PM GMT). Please plan your streaming sessions accordingly. We apologize for any inconvenience.
As always, we love hearing what you think about the new content and Animaze! Let us know what you’d like to see added to Animaze on our Discord server, or email us at support[@]animaze[.]us!
Thank you for supporting Indie Engine vTubing initiatives.
Happy Streaming,
Dragos, Catalin and Alex
Animaze 1.26.12617 now live with improved Sony mocopi® support and more!
Hello Awesome People!
We're happy to announce that the Animaze update featuring enhanced support for the Sony mocopi® sensor is now live on the main branch. Ultraleap Hyperion drivers can also be used starting with this version.
Thank you to everyone who tested it on the Next Version preview last week.
Using Sony mocopi you can enjoy fast, accurate body motions in both full-body and upper-body modes, overcoming the typical limitations of video-based body tracking. Animaze is now an official partner of Sony mocopi.
Three Raynos-chan avatars are also preinstalled in Animaze.
Here is where you can read more about Sony mocopi.
https://sony.net/mocopi-dev
Here is a video on connecting the mocopi app to Animaze PC.
How to Connect Sony mocopi® to Animaze - YouTube
If you have multiple network adapters (real or virtual), you may need to use Windows tools like ipconfig to find your PC's correct IP address, instead of simply copying over the autodetected one. Also, ensure to allow the connection in your firewall settings.
Detailed changelog is in the full-length post.
Thank you for supporting indie VTubing engine alternatives.
The Animaze team (Dragos, Alex and Catalin).
Go bananas with Brutus, the Gorilla.
The jungle adventure begins today.
Whether used for teaching a biology class, stepping in for Harambe, or performing the best karaoke cover of King Louie's "I Want to Be Like You", Brutus is up for the task.
Because he is a chonky boy to render, (high-quality ape model), he is, for now, available on Windows PC only.
Empire State Building not included, but we are adding a free banana prop.
Thank you for supporting indie VTubing engine alternatives.
The Animaze team (Dragos, Alex and Catalin).
Animaze update 1.26.12587
Hello Awesome People!
The Animaze PC App and its launcher have been updated recently.
This update is special as it changes the client-server interaction, so it can't be done automatically on the old Launcher.
You will have to download the new version of the Launcher manually (unless you are on the Steam version of Animaze, in which case the update has already been applied via the Steam client and the below steps do not apply to you).
To update to the correct version, the steps are:
1. - [Optional] back-up any custom settings/ imported avatars that you want to keep, if you have them; you can do so either by using the backup scripts ( https://www.animaze.us/faq/
2. - download the new Launcher, from https://animaze.tv/
3. - make sure the old launcher and old Animaze are not running.
4. - install the new Launcher, (this will automatically uninstall the old one too, so you don't have to do that manually)
5. - once the new launcher is installed, start it, click on the cogwheel icon in the upper right-hand corner, scroll down, press "Check for Updates" button.
6. - then install the latest Animaze normally, login to your account
7. - [Optional] restore the backup personal avatars and settings, as applicable.
The correct versions are:
Standalone Animaze: 1.26.12587
Any lower and it means you are on a version that needs updating.
Cheers, and happy steaming!
The Holotech Team.
Meet Silenus, the war GOAT avatar!
Hello Awesome People!
A new Holotech original free avatar enters the arena: Silenus the futuristic war GOAT.
He also brings along his futuristic spaceship backdrop.
https://youtu.be/ZX3L_ZE8XlQ
Whether you want to have a sci-fi goat narrating your exploits in the galaxy or repurpose him in zoomed-in portrait mode as a tiefling lookalike for your new BG3 run, Silenus is reporting for duty.
Cheers, and happy steaming!
The Holotech Team.
