Monthly Mocap Primer

Each month, members can attend a hands-on mocap primer covering the basics of studio operation and production workflow. First Wednesday of the month from 6-8:30.

 

Topics may include:

• Marker placement

• System calibration

• Motive operation

• Capture best practices

• Performance direction

• File organization

• Data export

• MotionBuilder cleanup

• Unreal integration and Livelink

• Retargeting basics

• Common troubleshooting​

 

Members must complete certification before independently operating studio equipment

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Open Lab Night

 

Once a month, we open the studio for members and invited guests to meet, test ideas, show work, and collaborate. Bring a project, ask questions, test a workflow, find collaborators, or just come see what other people are building. Open Lab is part workshop, part critique night, part creative hangout. Each month, it's the third Wednesday of the month from 5:30-8:30.

 

Certification and Studio Access

Before using the studio independently, members complete Lowkey Labs certification.

 

Certified members may:

• Place markers/suit up

• Operate Motive

• Calibrate the system

• Record performances

• Create rigid bodies/props

• Export data

• Use approved cleanup workstations

 

Lowkey staff must oversee or perform:

• Camera relocation

• Hardware changes

• Rewiring

• Permanent system configuration changes

• Equipment maintenance

• Any activity considered unsafe or outside normal operation

 

Cleanup Workstations

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Members can reserve cleanup workstations for animation cleanup, export, retargeting, and review. Workstations are kept separate from Lowkey’s internal project systems and client data. Members are responsible for saving and backing up their own work. Temporary member storage may be cleared after 30 days.

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Who This Is For

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Lowkey Labs may be a good fit if you are:

• An animation student

• A game developer

• A technical artist

• A 3D artist

• A filmmaker

• A performer

• A robotics or AI researcher

• A virtual production creator

• An indie studio

• A freelancer building commercial animation work

• Someone who wants to learn mocap by actually doing it

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Safety, Equipment, and Project Rules

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Members are expected to treat the studio, equipment, and each other with respect. All members must sign a membership agreement & liability waiver before using the studio. Stunts, weapons work, elevated falls, aggressive physical contact, hazardous activity, or commercial productions with elevated risk require prior approval and may require proof of insurance. Please leave the space as you found it and clean up after shoots. Lowkey Mocap reserves the right to discontinue a membership without refund if terms, the space, or other members are not respected.

 

Frequently Asked Questions
 

Do I own the animations I create?

Yes. Members retain creative ownership of the work they create. Lowkey does not claim ownership over member-created animations or recordings. If you are willing to give your recordings to our library, we'll gladly take them, but it is not expected and we reserve the right to use library takes for any commercial usage we find for them.
 

Can I use the animations commercially?

Commercial use requires a Commercial Membership or separate written approval. Commercial rights do not retroactively apply to content captured under a Student Creator or Creator Membership unless expressly granted through a separate Commercial Conversion License.
 

Can I bring actors or friends?

Yes, but guests must be approved ahead of time and will need to sign waivers before entering the capture space. We highly recommend taking the time to do rehearsals prior to your shoot date so that everyone is ready and you are able to maximize value from your booking. Also, while we encourage everyone to work together, to have access to the booking system and capture software, you will need to be a member. 

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Do I need to keep my membership active?

Your membership is your key to the studio. If you need to lapse for a couple months to save money or because you aren't able to use the space effectively, that's fine. But you will need to renew your membership prior to scheduling any shoots or studio usage.

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Do unused sessions roll over?

No, monthly sessions do not roll over. Use it or lose it!
 

Can I move cameras or adjust hardware?

No. Members may calibrate the system after certification, but camera relocation, rewiring, hardware changes, and maintenance are staff-only. Reasonable requests will be accomodated by staff and we're certainly happy to teach you the basics under supervision during open lab nights.
 

Is staff present for every session?

Lowkey staff will handle access, close-up, oversight, and support as needed. Members are expected to become certified before independent operation.

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What equipment can I use?

Lowkey allows use of capture & cleanup desktops, suits, markers, props and setpieces freely, but charges per-session for add-ons such as Stretchsense gloves and Face capture. This is because equipment is expensive and wear and tear degrades the equipment over time, as well as the need for a staff member to be present on site for such shoots. You break it, you buy it.

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Can I book extra time?

Yes. Additional studio or cleanup workstation time will be available at member rates. Bookings are on a first-come, first-serve basis.

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Can I bring food and drinks?

Yes. Lowkey does not allow drugs or alcohol on the premises, but we do have an adjoining kitchen for you to store food and drinks for shoot days.

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How do I reserve a cleanup desktop? 

Members will receive a shared calendar where they can add reservations for data cleanup desktops outside of this site. You are allowed 16 hours of cleanup reservations per month, after that it is $50/hr.
 

Can I film my motion capture shoot day?

Absolutely! Film all you like and feel free to promote yourself and your work. Lowkey staff will let you know if there are any sensitive items or work in plain site and work to remove them from view. If another member is in the space and working on sensitive data or client work, please collaborate with them to avoid inadvertently capturing something private. As well, please keep in mind that social media releases may reflect on the studio if you put out something wild or in bad taste. 

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Apply to Join

Lowkey Labs is starting with a limited first group of members so we can keep the program useful, safe, and community-focused. Tell us what you want to build, what tools you use, and which membership tier you are interested in.

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Questions? Contact: john@lowkeymocap.com