Using UE5.0 as an example, we introduce the application of TimeCode. Copy the UE plugin to the " UE_5.0 Engine Plugins" directory, please consult the technical engineer for the plugin version;
Create a new UE project, open the UE software, go to the plugin settings in the editor, search for "MotionCapture" in the search box, check the "NOKOVLiveLink" plugin, then search for "Virtual Production", check "Virtual Production Utilities" (17.8.1), ensure both options are checked, and restart UE.
In the XINGYING software, play the software, quickly create a rigid body from an unnamed point, open the data broadcast panel on the toolbar, and check the "Enable" checkbox under the TimeCode module (e.g., 17.8.2). Do not modify the port number and frame rate on the right; keep the default 5850 port and 24 Fps.
After enabling TimeCode, play the XINGYING software, and the TimeCode field will be displayed in the lower left corner of the 3D view. The meanings of the fields are: hour, minute, second, frame, and subframe. The change in the subframe number represents the ratio between the TimeCode frame rate and the two frame rates set by the software.
Ensure that the XINGYING software has SDK broadcasting enabled, with the default broadcasting address set to 10.1.1.198. Click on "Window" > "Virtual Production" > "LiveLink" in UE, select the source in the LiveLink window, choose NOKOV LiveLink, and click OK to confirm the data source connection.
Click on "Window" > "Virtual Production" > "Time Code Provider". The time code displayed in the "Time Code Provider" window will default to the current computer system time.
Select "NOKOVLiveLink" in the topic list below the LiveLink window. Check "TimeCode Provider" to use the data source's TimeCode. Expand "Frame Rate" on the right side of the LiveLink window, and set the FPS to match the frame rate of the XINGYING software to ensure consistency (17.8.3).
Open the "Time Code Provider" window. The displayed time code will align with the data source, specifically the XINGYING software TimeCode.
Click on "Window" > "Cutoff Animation" > "Camera Trial Recorder". Ensure the data source is connected in the LiveLink window and the "TimeCode Provider" checkbox is checked. The time code displayed in the recorder window will then synchronize with the XINGYING software time code (17.8.4). When recording data with a recorder, the XINGYING software time code will be captured.
Click on the data source in the LiveLink window and select the "Create Labeled Marker Subjects" option on the right to create a named point. After successful creation, a topic name of "Markers_xxx" will be automatically created in the left topic list (17.8.5);
Select the name of the created named point, choose "Show Static Data" from the "View Options" dropdown in the upper right corner of the window, expand "Skeleton Naming, " and list the names of all named points in the current marker (17.8.6).
Select "Display Frame Data" from the "View Options" dropdown, expand "Skeleton Transform Index, " and view the position coordinate data of each named point in real time. Expand "Scene Time" to observe the frame number, time code, and time code frame rate in real time (17.8.7).
Click on the data source in the LiveLink window and select the "Create Unlabeled Marker Subjects" option on the right to create a named point. After successful creation, a topic name of "Markers_Unlabeled" will be automatically created in the left topic list (17.8.8);
After creating unnamed points, 100 unnamed point names will be automatically generated, which can be seen in "View Options - Display Static Data - Skeleton - Skeleton Naming." Expand "View Type - Display Frame Data - Skeleton Transform Index" to display the position coordinate data of unnamed points. If there are no unnamed points in XINGYING software, the value will be 0. When unnamed points appear in XINGYING software, the value of the unnamed points here will be filled with the position coordinate data.
