After Effects Tutorial - Corner pinning with Mocha for CS5

[AFTERLlFE]

When I import my clip it is black. Any help?

[shortformvideos]

@AFTERLlFE No idea. Try converting your source file to an uncompressed, square-pixel AVI or MOV before importing it. Mocha is very picky about video codecs.

[AFTERLlFE]

@shortformvideos It worked now, thanks!

[andtastic1]

i'm not getting the same results, my tracked data seems to rotate and scale up when it is exported into AE, any ideas?

[shortformvideos]

@andtastic1 Without seeing the footage, I couldn't say for sure, but you need to make sure that the composition settings EXACTLY match the video format settings for the original footage - including pixel aspect ratio, which could otherwise cause problems.

[andtastic1]

@shortformvideos ahhh, ok, thanks, i checked the properties of my footage but it says "35mm Focal Length" any idea of what Pixel Aspect Ratio setting i should choose in Mocha?

[shortformvideos]

@andtastic1 Hmm - sounds like you're using footage from a D-SLR? You might want to try converting your footage to an uncompressed, square pixel AVI or MOV and then use that as your source in both Mocha and AE for the final composition.

[andtastic1]

@shortformvideos it's not SLR footage, it's actually a film clip which is in AVI format, another tutorial i watched converted their footage into a JPEG sequence in AE, then imported it into Mocha, that's what i had done at first, then i thought maybe that was the problem so now i just import the original footage which is AVI straight into Mocha. i also made sure the frame rate matches the same in case that was causing problems but i'm still not getting any results.

[shortformvideos]

@andtastic1 Hmm. Mocha tells you how it interprets the file when you import it - look for the details at the base of the New Project panel after you've selected your source file. If any of these are wrong, you can change them here, but that's only helpful if you know what these values should be. My advice would still be to convert your footage into an uncompressed, square pixel AVI or MOV at the original frame size and frame rate, and use that as your source material. Mocha is clearly v picky.

[andtastic1]

@shortformvideos tried converting again to AVI & MOV, i'm still not having any luck.

the film clip i'm using is a from a black and white 1960's movie , just wondering if mocha can't handle black and white footage? sorry if it's a silly question but i'm lost and have no idea what else to try. thanks for your help so far, much appreciated.

[shortformvideos]

@andtastic1 I can see why you're having problems. Mocha works just fine with B/W footage (sometimes even better than with colour). But the problem is likely to be lack of definition and image noise, all of which will significantly confuse the tracking points. You may have to give up on this one. About the only options I can think of are to try a noise removal tool like Neat Video, but I'm not sure it'll help that much in this case. Sorry!

[andtastic1]

@shortformvideos i have noticed the tracking points were really struggling to track the area in the footage, it does make sense that lack of definition and grain could confuse the tracking, i think i'l just let this go and move on to something more straight forward, thanks again for your patience and time, really appreciate your help, good tut BTW :)

[tlpoe222]

I have been trying to replicate the HP picture frame add using mocha 2.3ae, i have outlined the empty picture frame with my face in (which is roughly in the middle of the video clip) using the create x spline layer tool, but when i press the track forward or track back buttons it doesn't follow the picture frame, it just sits still on my face?? If i outline a tiny corner of the picture frame then it will track great, i am going mental can someone help,

[shortformvideos]

@tlpoe222 You may want to try crunching the contrast on your source footage (obviously a copy that you'll not use in your final comp) to give the software a better chance at tracking the pixels - sounds like there may not be enough resolution/clarity on the points you're trying to track.

[CUPIDISCURTIS]

I have a quick little question regarding motion tracking with mocha and importing into after effects. I have followed all the steps and it's almost looking perfect, there is just a frame or two now and again that wiggle a little. Any idea what the problem is? I feel like I have tried everything to fix it with no avail :(

[shortformvideos]

@CUPIDISCURTIS Not much to suggest other than trying to create a more accurate track by creating a new version of the source footage with the contrast jacked up (then swapping it around with the original in the edit). ALternatively, you can adjust the keyframes manually at the points that are causing problems.

[CUPIDISCURTIS]

@shortformvideos I created a new version of the source footage with the contrast jacked up like you suggested and it worked, thank you.

[shortformvideos]

@CUPIDISCURTIS Thanks for letting us all know. I've never used that trick myself, so it's good to hear that it works!

[TheAdobe8]

thank you for this great tutorial



[TylerHasAChannel]

I'm sorry, but I cringe every time you say "Mocka" For future reference, it is pronounced like Moe Ka

[shortformvideos]

@TylerHasAChannel And I cringe whenever an American tells me how I should pronounce something. I probably pronounce 'yoghurt', 'missile', and 'Buddha' in a different way to you, too. (And I never use 'leverage' as a verb.) But it's a big, wide world out there - enjoy the variety!

[TylerHasAChannel]

@shortformvideos You know, after re-reading what I wrote, I realize it sounded slightly dickish. Sorry about that, was just trying to help you out.

[shortformvideos]

@TylerHasAChannel Not a problem. As a Brit living in Australia, I see the US and UK influences on their language all the time. I've even learned to say 'router' in the local fashion - it avoids the inevitable giggling that happens when I say it the UK way. :)

[TheChinization]

You just could let it play on your iphone but that would be too easy, huh?;)

[ChickenZombieGaming]

@TheChinization You could, but it wouldn't look as clean. Plus the reason for the video is to teach you how to use Mocha, not put videos onto ipods. I see where you are coming from though, you have a point XD

[shortformvideos]

@TOCORO100 While SwissDHD needs to learn a few manners, he's right on one point. PFHoe is for moving images, not still pictures. PFHoe is designed to work with video files, but you may need to convert them to an uncompressed MOV or AVI first.

[shortformvideos]

@shortformvideos Sorry - Mocha, not PFHoe - getting my tutorials mixed up. (need coffee now)

[RevossHD]

i cant find the surface button. Help me please?!

[shortformvideos]

@RevossHD I have no idea why it's not where it's supposed to be on your system. Could be a dynamic menu that changes when you have a certain feature selected. I'll try and take a look into it later.

[shortformvideos]

@RevossHD Looks like you might be using a newer version of Mocha. Look for a Blue button (with a white box and the number 5 on it) above the video pane. That should be it.

[gettofox1]

Thanks so much i love the video it hepled me alot thanks.

[xJuZtiNz]

fantastic corner pining, couldn't did it without you although after effect is still very complicated to me, still need lots of tutorial

[darix360]

tanks u!

[SwissDHD]

@TOCORO100 Your question is down right moronic. Yes, motion track an image, that makes perfect sense, want to make sure your 3d objects stay with the one frame, don't forget to apply motion blur.

[Dange3DStudios]

Nice Tutorial - Thanks! (:

[petenicezz]

hello, when starting a new project what video format does Mocha accepts,



[shortformvideos]

@petenicezz Don't know why this comment got flagged as spam by YT. Anyhoo - it's clear from the comments on this video that PFHoe is really picky about video formats. I found that it worked just fine the the DVProHD MXF files from my HVX202, but you'll have difficulties with some of the more 'lossy' formats out there. My recommendation would be to convert the file you're having problems with into an uncompressed AVI or MOV before trying to use it in PFHoe.

[shortformvideos]

@shortformvideos Sorry - not PFHoe - Mocha (getting my tutorials mixed up).

[wahgan]

voice is tooo low!

[xemvdoc]

nice and easy to follow tutorial thanks

[CronoElectric]

The time for the Mocha thing is faster than the real video, and the frame rate is the same

[TheNachter]

what codec is your avi ?

[shortformvideos]

@TheNachter I always use uncompressed.

[etag101]

thanks man its helped my very good :D

[christianwookey]

This is amazing!

[themashypotato]

my mocha is really slow, help pleeese!

[marisatiavu]

thanks for the tut, however, there seems to be significant slippage as you move around. You can see this with the right side as the black surround is not uniform.

[left4theirlunch]

i dont have a show/hide surface button

[guitarrecord101]

i can't import video footage. all it says that i can import is .cin and .dpx and files like them.

[TheCertifiedKilla]

Hey man I cant import the clip on mocha (any format) it say "Failed To Add File" do you knoe what im doing wrong?? Please help

[dosowl]

doesn't work :(

whats wrong is that if a create a new comp or not put down a picture in it which I will paste tracking code from mocha to, it will be of the target if you understand?

[HOLyPde]

can you make a tut for Text, too pls?

[mocarg]

Thanks, you helped me ;)

[hagen552]

Mocha works great, but when I hit the copy to clipboard button, and then hit ctrl v or click on the edit tab and hit paste in after effects, nothing happens when I hit ctrl v and the past button is unclickable, did I do something wrong and can it be fixed?

[L1993H]

i never got the roght bar... can u help me?

[shortformvideos]

@L1993H mm. Sorry. Not sure what you mean.

[L1993H]

@shortformvideos ur mocha interface is different. 

[theotherkershaw]

@shortformvideos is there a tool in mocha to motion track in a circle form, e.g if you wanted to motion track like a blue 3d spell or something

[dannyboi50ful1]

@shortformvideos at 2:34 i cant find that button on the right. its just not there

[davidleamanmiller]

I don't understand how the cube works. Please help

[shortformvideos]

@davidleamanmiller The cube thing is only really a demo (it didn't work all that well). You really need a match-mover like PFHoe to do that kind of object insertion (and I've got a tute for that, too!)

[LewisKolb95]

@shortformvideos im not really an expert on AE, but why not?

when mocha created that plane grid over the top of the ipod, why dosent that work well?

[DesignerLukeFX]

Thanks for the tutorial, alot of questions about mocha answered for me :) I subscribed to ya, please sub back:)

[Mrse7enx33]

Thanks....

[Mrse7enx33]

thanqs.....



[GeirMovies]

Hey man, can you please help me with my Mocha problem? D:

/watch?v=FHTxG890C0w

[JackOLantern531]

How do you open mocha?

[shortformvideos]

@JackOLantern531 Mocha isn't a part of After Effects, so you won't find a link to it inside the program. Assuming you've got it installed, there should be link in the program group of your Start menu. (Or just type Mocha into the Search programs and files box at the bottom of your Start menu.

[JackOLantern531]

@shortformvideos Thanks... :D

[Hbhargava7]

Thanks for the video, but I have one major question: I am trying to track a rectangular object that I am holding in my hands, and it changes size as the camera moves closer and further. The x-spline mask thing tracks well, but not the surface map thing. I cannot keyframe the shape by myself like I can with the Mask.

Thanks,

Hersh

[shortformvideos]

@Hbhargava7 Sorry Hersh, I haven't really used this product as much as I should - can't really help with the tricky stuff.

[dappachappa]

Mocha for After Effects is a great tool but their new product Mocha Pro allows you to do even more. Check it out at imagineersystem's homepage. It is well worth it for anyone looking to do serious tracking/rotoscoping. Plus the interface is a lot easier to work with.

[shortformvideos]

@CHDuvagoj Use the 'copy to clipboard' function to copy the tracking data from Mocha, go to After Effects and select the layer that needs to be corner-pinned, then hit CTRL+V to paste the data onto it. You should see an instant change. Remember: the object you're applying the track to MUST match the frame rate/PAR/resolution etc of the clip you tracked in Mocha, otherwise it won't work properly.

[MauwEnJas]

please make a tut how to make a 3d cube and how u past him in the video

[JayBjacobs]

All the Lynda videos and Andrew Kramer tutorials couldn't eplain what I was looking for. Your video showed me what I needed to know. Perfect!!! Now I understand Mocha.... and am now a new member to the site :)

[iTixmix]

is there another tracking software other than mocha tht works with after effects?

[shortformvideos]

@iTixmix Depends on what you want to do - for Planar Tracking (matching objects to planes in 3D space) Mocha seems to be about the only option - though you can sometimes fudge it with the standard motion tracker in AE if the subject isn't moving around too much.

For Match Moving (generally used to place a 3D object in footage shot on a moving camera), you should look at PFHoe (standard version is only $US99 last time I looked).

For image stabilisation, my recommendation is ProDad Mercalli.

[iTixmix]

@shortformvideos thank you for the reply but it turns mocha is the best one for the project im trying to do.. and for such a good reply im goin to subscribe.. THANKS

[phfvilar]

How do I adjust the aspect ratio if the footage is a custom aspect ratio?

[shortformvideos]

@phfvilar My recommendation would be to open it in After Effects first and then export it as a square pixel uncompressed MOV or AVI at the resolution of your choice. Mocha does seem a little temperamental about PARs, so transcoding it to a square pixel format in a recognised video codec may increase your chance of success.

[UNfunny114]

I LOVE YOUR VOICE.

[TheTreedodger59]

Great tutorial. ok here's one for you, how do you track a circle and insert it with a video.....

[shortformvideos]

@TheTreedodger59 That's certainly an interesting challenge! Can't say I've ever done it - but I reckon you'd have a greater chance of success if you placed some reference markers inside the circle being tracked before filming (it's going to be obscured in the final edit anyhow). Can't say I've got the time right now to look into this further, but if I do, I'll be sure to let you know what I find.

[bldg13]

Great tutorial. I'm having an issue though.

I'm tracking a similar shot of my iPhone. I set up the layer as you have with an X-pline and surface. I start auto tracking until it starts to get off a bit. I make an adjustment to a corner—the same way you appear to—but adjustment seems to make a global change to the surface and affects what has already been tracked.

I've seen other tutorials use the AdjustTrack tab for their adjustments to the surface but you appear to do it another way. Thoughts?

[shortformvideos]

@bldg13 Arg. Sounds like a tricky problem. Wish I could offer some concrete help, but to be honest, I don't use Mocha that much, so the tricky stuff is a bit beyond me. If I come up with something, I'll let you know.

[plugas2k]

@bldg13 you must select the "adjust track" tab before making any changes, then select nudge of your corner which one you are going to correct, you should see yellow or green lines when you move a corner and AUTOKEY should be ON

[Remzi96]

thanks alot. just start learning

[NaviLight]

Thanks for the tutorial, really helpful.

[MrKoktus]

Thank You!!!

[poloMpolo]

thanks for the video ! it was short, but not to short and very precise

nice job ,)

[ExplosionCrazy]

Someone HELP! When I make a new comp, it still comes out weird. ANYONE?

[estebanflyer]

you might be the first guy that makes a tutorial simple and easy to understand. I have watched many many tuts, and you nailed it. thanks!

[videosagb]

hi man, thanks for this video..in after effects do i can put some 3d mod did in maya and put on an video just like this with cube? or its only for 3d objets creates in after effects..

sorry for my english..im learning by sms..

[shortformvideos]

@videosagb as long as the 3D object is in a format that After Effects supports, you can. If not, then Photoshop CS4 and CS5 have wider 3D model support, so you can always open it in PS, save as a PSD and import into AE as a Photoshop Live 3D file.

A lesson I learned here is that Mocha isn't really that useful as a 3D camera tracker - if you want to drop a 3D model into video like this, check out my PFHoe/Fringe Titles tutorial. I think this is probably what you're after.

[ALNUDN]

do u know why i cant upload .mov or avi into mocha?, i can just upload some unusual file types

[shortformvideos]

@ALNUDN problems like this normally come down to video codecs. With Mocha (and any post-production), you're best off using video that's as uncompressed as possible. Typically the Animation codec for Macs, or Uncompressed for PCs.

Mocha will be fine with these, but it's less likely to recognise 'consumer' codecs like MP4 or DivX.

[ALNUDN]

@shortformvideos yes, but i had two uncompressed files in avi and .mov and when i am trying to upload them it sais "check if file is readeble", and there are these options of wich files that i can use and .mov or avi is not in there. so this makes me wonder

[surferadi96]

@shortformvideos

Can i use boujou for video tracking ??

[g5bucket]

@surferadi96 Yes, If you have $10,000 to buy it

[stanarthur]

Nice job. The more I watch other people using "mocka", the more likely I am to actually use it :)

[manuecat]

Nice job, keep up the good work.