Quick answer: how do you convert video to FBX, BVH, or BIP?
Record a clear performance, upload the original video to QuickMagic, select the capture scope and target skeleton, generate and inspect the 3D motion, then export FBX for broad compatibility, BVH for lightweight skeletal motion, or BIP for a 3ds Max Biped workflow. Finally, retarget and clean the animation in the destination software.
FBX
Best general choice.
Blender, Unity, Unreal, Maya, MotionBuilder, and many retargeters.
BVH
Best lightweight choice.
Joint hierarchy, offsets, and motion channels without production scene data.
BIP
Best specialist choice.
Native reusable motion for 3ds Max Character Studio Biped.
Video is not directly “transcoded” into FBX or BVH
An MP4, MOV, AVI, or WebM contains pixels. It does not contain editable bones or animation curves. QuickMagic first uses AI motion capture to estimate the performer’s body movement frame by frame, constructs a 3D skeletal solve, and then writes that generated motion into the selected animation format.
QuickMagic’s current public pages describe single-camera capture for full-body, upper-body, hand, and facial workflows, with support for static or moving footage and multiple output frame rates. Output quality still depends on performer visibility, blur, occlusion, floor contact, camera motion, and the complexity of the action.
How to convert video with QuickMagic step by step
Choose the real destination first
Identify the application, target character skeleton, engine version, project FPS, reference pose, and whether the motion should retain world-space travel or be exported in place.
Record a short, trackable performance
For the first test, record 5–10 seconds. Keep the full body and both feet visible, use stable framing and even light, and avoid heavy blur, long limb occlusion, or clothing that hides joint positions.
Upload the original-quality file
Open QuickMagic Video Mocap and upload the camera original instead of a recompressed social-media copy. Select the performer and useful capture range where available.
Configure capture and export settings
Choose full-body or upper-body capture, hand/face options when needed, Original/T/A-Pose as required, 24/30/60/120 FPS to match the project, in-place or traveling root behavior, and the closest target preset.
Generate and inspect the solve
Review the result from multiple angles. Check foot contact, pelvis height, root travel, fast turns, crossed limbs, hands, head direction, and moments where the performer is partially hidden.
Refine before exporting
If 2D refinement is available, correct obvious source joint errors and regenerate. Fixing the source solve is more reusable than repeating the same repair on every target character.
Export FBX, BVH, or BIP
Select the format together with the target skeleton preset. Preserve an untouched source export so later retargeting and cleanup changes remain easy to compare.
Retarget and bake
Align source and target rest poses, map the skeleton, confirm scale and axes, transfer root motion, and bake the final result to editable animation controls or curves.
Clean contacts and artifacts
Correct foot sliding, jitter, clipping, root drift, hand contacts, and target-specific deformation before final rendering or game-engine integration.
FBX vs BVH vs BIP: which format should you choose?
| Question | FBX | BVH | BIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | General 3D and engine interchange | Lightweight skeletal motion exchange | 3ds Max Biped motion library |
| Typical contents | Skeleton and animation; additional data depends on the export | Joint hierarchy, offsets, and per-frame channels | Biped keyframes and related motion data |
| Mesh and materials | The format supports them, but mocap exports may be animation-focused | No | Not a general model exchange format |
| Facial animation | Possible only with compatible preset/channels | Not a standard facial blend-shape workflow | Not the general facial-rig choice |
| Best destinations | Blender, Unity, Unreal, Maya, 3ds Max, MotionBuilder | Blender, motion editors, research, custom retargeters | 3ds Max Character Studio Biped |
| Main advantage | Broadest compatibility and many presets | Simple, readable, and lightweight | Direct Biped editing workflow |
| Main limitation | FBX alone does not guarantee matching bones or pose | No mesh, production constraints, or standard face data | Not intended for arbitrary rigs |
Choose FBX when
- The destination is Blender, Unity, Unreal Engine, Maya, MotionBuilder, Cinema 4D, iClone, or a general retargeting tool.
- A matching Unreal, Mixamo, C4D, CC/iClone, or Roblox preset is available.
- You need to inspect and remap the source skeleton before applying it to a character.
Choose BVH when
- You want a compact hierarchy plus raw joint animation.
- The destination has a reliable BVH importer or mocap retargeter.
- You do not need a mesh, materials, control-rig constraints, or standard facial channels in the same file.
Choose BIP when
- The destination is specifically a 3ds Max Character Studio Biped.
- Your team uses Biped layers, footsteps, Motion Mixer, or a reusable BIP library.
File format and target preset are different decisions
A file format determines how data is stored. A target preset determines the bone names, hierarchy, reference pose, root setup, and optional channels written into that file.
A generic FBX, Mixamo FBX, and Unreal-oriented FBX can all use the same .fbx extension while containing different skeleton conventions. Selecting the wrong preset may produce a T-pose, rotated wrists, stretched limbs, missing animation, or a failed retarget.
Recommended export by destination software
Start with a compatible FBX—often generic or Mixamo—or use BVH when your preferred retargeting add-on is built around BVH. Verify scene FPS, scale, rest pose, root, and armature mapping.
Use a Unity-oriented output when supported or a compatible FBX. Configure the Avatar as Humanoid or Generic, assign an Animator Controller, and inspect Root Transform and loop settings.
Use the matching Unreal preset when available. Import the source, configure source and target IK Rigs, map chains in the IK Retargeter, align the retarget pose, and validate root motion.
Use BIP for Character Studio Biped. For CAT or a custom skeleton, choose FBX and a suitable capture-animation or custom retargeting workflow.
Use FBX, characterize the source skeleton in HumanIK, map the target rig, retarget, and bake the motion to editable controls.
Watch QuickMagic motion cleanup in practice
Cascadeur’s public YouTube demonstration shows a useful production reality: generating mocap is only the first stage. The motion is then unbaked, cleaned, pose-corrected, and given additional physical refinement before final use.
Additional iClone workflow
Reallusion’s iClone Video Mocap video demonstrates an integrated AI capture and motion-editing workflow. It is particularly relevant when the destination is Character Creator or iClone rather than a generic FBX retargeting pipeline.
Watch “iClone Video Mocap: AI Mocap and Motion Editing in One Streamlined Workflow” on YouTube.
Community examples linked from QuickMagic on X
QuickMagic’s official site currently links to the following public X posts as creator/community examples. Use them as visual references for what artists are building, not as authoritative documentation for format support or technical settings.
X may require sign-in or may restrict access by region. Because the post bodies were not reliably available to automated public retrieval, no unverified claims from these posts are reproduced here.
Common export and retargeting problems
| Problem | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Animation imports in a T-pose | Wrong preset, missing animation take, or failed mapping | Confirm animation exists on the source skeleton and remap the correct hierarchy. |
| Feet slide | Source contact, target proportions, root behavior, or pose mismatch | Validate scale, stride, root travel, FPS, contact timing, then add foot locks. |
| Arms or wrists twist | T-pose/A-pose or local-axis mismatch | Align reference poses and verify shoulder, forearm, and hand mapping. |
| BVH has no character mesh | Expected behavior | Retarget the BVH skeleton to a separately rigged model. |
| BIP will not apply | The destination is not a compatible Biped | Create/use Character Studio Biped or switch to FBX for a custom rig. |
| Face remains neutral | Body-only export or incompatible facial channels | Use a compatible face workflow/preset and map channels separately. |
| Timing changes after import | Project FPS differs from export FPS | Match the destination timeline or intentionally resample the clip. |
Frequently asked questions
Can QuickMagic convert MP4 to FBX?
Yes, but it is not a simple codec conversion. QuickMagic estimates the performer’s 3D skeletal motion from the MP4 and then writes that generated animation into FBX or another supported format.
What is the best QuickMagic export format?
FBX is the safest broad starting point. Choose BVH for lightweight skeletal motion and BIP specifically for 3ds Max Biped. A matching destination preset can be more important than the extension.
Can Blender use QuickMagic BVH?
Yes. Blender can import BVH, but you normally need to retarget the imported skeleton to the production character. FBX may be more convenient when a compatible preset already matches your workflow.
Should I use BVH for Unity or Unreal Engine?
It can work through conversion or retargeting, but a matching engine preset or compatible FBX is usually the more direct production path.
Can Blender, Unity, or Unreal use BIP?
Not directly as the normal workflow. BIP is designed for 3ds Max Character Studio Biped. Use FBX or BVH for other destinations.
Does FBX include a mesh?
The FBX format can carry mesh and scene data, but a QuickMagic mocap export may be animation-focused. Inspect the actual preset rather than assuming every FBX includes a character model.
Does raw AI mocap need cleanup?
Usually, especially for production. Plan to validate foot contact, root travel, jitter, clipping, fast turns, occlusion, hand contacts, and target-character proportions.
Test the format on the real character first
Export one short clip, import it into the final software, retarget it to the production rig, and validate pose, scale, timing, root motion, and contacts before processing a full batch.
Convert a video with QuickMagic →
