How to Record for the ‘MetaHuman Animator’ format

Here’s how to make a recording in the ‘MetaHuman Animator’ format.

It requires an iPhone 11 or higher (Epic Games recommends iPhone 12 or higher).

INSTALL & SETUP

Install the latest “LiveLink Face” app on your iPhone.
Open the “LiveLink Face” app.
It might ask you if you want to record in ARKIT or METAHUMAN ANIMATOR format, and if it does, choose the METAHUMAN ANIMATOR format to record in.
Go into the SETTINGS
MAke sure you’re in MetaHuman animator mode
Turn on PREVIEW DEPTH.
Go out of settings, and then make sure you are far enough away from the phone.
You must have your face area all light gray, not black (except for your mouth).

CALIBRATION TAKE

If this is the first time you’ve made a MetaHuman Animator animation, you’ll need to record a Calibration take, which you’ll later turn into a MetaHuman ID inside unreal. So to record the Calibration Take:

Change the name of the take to be ‘Calibration / Take 1‘ or something like that.
Press the red RECORD button to start recording.
Do the four POSES:
1. Stare directly forward into space (not at the camera) with a neutral expression.
2. Turn your head slightly to your right and stare directly ahead.
3. Turn slightly to your left and stare directly ahead.
4. Go back to straight ahead, and bare your teeth.
When you’re done, end the recording.

PERFORMANCE TAKE

Now record your actual acting performance.

Change the name of the take to be ‘Performance / Take 1‘ or something similar.
Press the red RECORD button and record your actual “performance take“.
When you’re done, end the recording.

TRANSFER TAKES TO YOUR PC

Once you finish recording, you need to transfer all the takes to your PC.

To do that, go into the playback menu of the app.
Choose the calibration take, and transfer it to your desktop computer.
Choose the performance take, and transfer it to your desktop computer.