Has anyone successfully set up a "Kinect for Windows" (not the Xbox Kinect) on windows 7?

I installed the Microsoft Kinect SDK V1 and the Kinect demo programs work fine, so the unit is working.

I tried both the mocap plug-in and mocap plug-in 1.1 which didn't work (not unexpected as they seem to be for the the Xbox version and might not work with the Microsoft Kinect SDK V1 anyway).

No other combination of plugins / drivers have worked either. Kinect SDK RC4 is mentioned, but I can't find it.

If anyone has a Kinect for Windows (not the xbox Kinect) working with a Reallision mocap plugin in windows 7, could you tell me how you did it?

Thanks!!!
Chris N

Hi Chris

Firstly let me just say the Mocap Device Plugin has absolutely nothing to do with the XBox 360. This is for PC only and no XBox is required.

By the sounds of it you have installed the wrong plugin/drivers.

So you need to first uninstall all the drivers you have installed so far so your system is clean. Restart your computer and then connect the Kinect device to your PC and power it up.

You then need to download the Microsoft Kinect SDK Beta version of the Mocap Device Plugin. You can find this in your Account. Just look for your Mocap Plugin in the list of Registered Programs and click Bonus. Then look in the Bonus downloads for the file.

Finally install the file you downloaded from your Account. This contains all the drivers and files needed for your Kinect device. Once completed you should be up and running. :)

                                                                

Peter
Forum Administrator

www.reallusion.com

You two guys are sure that you're talking from the same thing?
There do exist two different Kinects.
For the XBox (everybody is using at the moment), ~100€
For Windows (brand new), ~250€

The main difference is the driver. The final SDK will not support the XBox Kinect, but only the Windows Kinect.
So Peter, are you sure that the Kinect for Windows is supported by the Beta SDK?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Danke für Flex - Haare und Kleidung, die nicht durch den Avatar gehen !

The confusion is the the Kinect that iClone needs can be used with the Xbox, but that the Xbox itself is not relevant in the setup. In fact, what you need is the so-called standalone Kinect, which comes with a power supply cable.

Windows Kinect is indeed a completely different animal. 

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Peter, thanks for the quick response. Unfortunately, I have tried that plugin and SDK combination and it doesn't work.

I think there is some confusion here about the two different Kinect models, as yaRincewind has correctly pointed out:

The original one: "Kinect for xBox", and the new one that I have; "Kinect for Windows" model # 1517 ($250 direct from Microsoft).

According to the chart on the Reallision website at: http://www.reallusion.com/iclone/iclone_whatsnew_v51.aspx

The chart says that the Kinect SDK Beta2 is for the "Kinect for xBox" model (doesn't work) and Kinect SDK RC4 is for the "Kinect for Windows" (the one I have) running Win 7.

I'd love to try the Kinect SDK RC4 that's supposed to be for my model, but I can't find it anywhere; It's not in my member page either as a download or bonus, nor is it at the Microsoft Kinect for Windows site as they are no longer shipping betas or RC's, just the release SDK; V1.0 (which doesn't work with any of the Mocap plugins, either).

Interestingly, the page at the above URL shows a photo of the new Windows Kinect (they say KINECT on the face instead of xBox) and mentions the Kinect for Windows model specifically, but it doesn't seem to be supported by Reallision.

Is there still a way to get this Kinect to work? And where has the mysterious RC4 SDK gone?

I don´t have such a device at hand at the moment.

The only thing you could hope is, that the Open Nite drivers will work with the Kinect for Windows. At least at the moment.

But these aren´t my last thoughts on this.

For the Kinect SDK for Windows (so, the final after the betas we are using at the moment) will drop down support fpr the Xbox Kinect, we will truly run into troubles!

1. Kinect for Windows doesn´t work with the RL-Plugin
2. The final MS SDK doesn´t support the Xbox SDK
3. No idea if the open ni drivers will support both Kinects (Xbox and Windows Kinect)

So, which way should RL go now?

The SDK Beta 2 will be removed sooner or later.


Dropping support for the Kinect Beta SDK:
Con:
1. Everyone who has already bought a Kinect for the Xbox, can now put in into Ebay.
2. Kinect for Windows is quite expensive. 250 <=> 100 €
Pro:
1. New SDK available (?new features?)
2. If new SDK will have features like facial recogintion in future, new SDK is needed (I think more likely a NEW Kinect will have this feature, with USB 3 and more depth resolution, making it possible to track fingers ets.)

Remaining Support for the Beta SDK:
Con:
1. Doesn´t work with Kinect for Windows (I don´t know if this can be implemented in the Plugin. Would mean, you have 3 different drivers you have to support)
2. The Kinect SDK Beta will vanish sooner or later, then the Xbox Kinect is useless for iClone
Pro:
1. Lots of people already do have this Kinect



To be true, I don´t have any idea which sollution is best.
The best would be, to support both Kinects with the SDK, but I don´t know if this is a practical way.

The second best would be, dropping down the support for the MS SDK completly, and concentrate on making the Open NI drivers better.

The third would be, making a deal with iPi. Would be expensive, and you would loose realtime features, but certainly get more quality out of mocap in generall.


Open NI with Brekel and Motionbuilder for example can deliver very good motions, including turning around etc.

Three thumbs up for MoCap, although I have no idea how we will continue.



________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Danke für Flex - Haare und Kleidung, die nicht durch den Avatar gehen !

I sincerily hope that the existing Xbox Kinect will stay supported. Mine is still unpacked, but I was going to use it in the near future. Facial recognition probably needs the newer Kinect.

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Hi Chris

Apologies for the initial confusion.

However my understanding (but not through testing) was that the Kinect For Windows  sensor would work in the same way with the Mocap Device Plugin as the original Kinect or Primesense sensor did.

As you seem to be unable to get this to work I would advise you to contact Technical Support using the link below. There may be further complications than was originally thought that tech support will need to investigate.

http://www.reallusion.com/CustomerSupport/User/QForm.aspx

                                                                

Peter
Forum Administrator

www.reallusion.com

Just to add that there is no SDK RC4 available yet from Reallusion. The Microsoft Kinect SDK Beta 2 is available from your Account as shown below. This contains the SDK Beta 2 files, drivers and Mocap Device Plugin in one installer. Have you tried installing this for your device?

>

                                                                

Peter
Forum Administrator

www.reallusion.com

Yes, It didn't work.