Convert AVI to BVH

Understanding AVI and BVH file formats

AVI (Audio Video Interleave) is a multimedia container format developed by Microsoft, commonly used for storing video and audio data. It is widely supported and often used for video playback and editing.

BVH (Biovision Hierarchy) is a file format used for storing motion capture data. It contains hierarchical skeleton information and motion data, making it popular in 3D animation and game development for animating characters.

Why convert AVI to BVH?

Converting an AVI video to BVH is typically required when you want to extract motion data from a video and use it for 3D animation or motion capture applications. This process involves analyzing the video to track human movement and then exporting that data as a BVH file.

How to convert AVI to BVH

Direct conversion from AVI to BVH is not straightforward, as AVI is a video format and BVH is a motion capture format. The process requires motion tracking software that can analyze the video and generate motion data.

1. Prepare your AVI file: Ensure your video is clear and the subject's movements are visible.
2. Use motion tracking software: Import the AVI file into a motion tracking tool that supports BVH export.
3. Track the motion: Use the software to track the subject's movements frame by frame.
4. Export as BVH: Once tracking is complete, export the motion data as a BVH file using the software's export function.

Best software for AVI to BVH conversion

• OpenPose (with Blender): OpenPose is an open-source tool for real-time multi-person keypoint detection. You can use OpenPose to extract motion data from AVI, then import the data into Blender for further processing and export as BVH.
• DeepMotion Animate 3D: This online service allows you to upload AVI files, automatically track motion, and export the result as a BVH file.
• Adobe After Effects (with plugins): With plugins like Bodymovin or Mocha, you can track motion and export data, though additional steps are needed to convert to BVH.

Step-by-step example using DeepMotion Animate 3D

1. Go to the DeepMotion Animate 3D website and create an account.
2. Upload your AVI file.
3. Wait for the motion analysis to complete.
4. Download the resulting BVH file.

Tips for best results

• Use high-quality, well-lit videos with minimal background clutter.
• Ensure the subject is fully visible throughout the video.
• Review and clean up the motion data in a 3D editor like Blender if needed.