Simul8 for Maya — Setup, Carts Export, and Importing to Flair¶
Simul8 is MRMC's Maya plugin for 3D previz and move solving. It provides Maya models of MRMC robots, allows camera moves to be designed and solved against scene geometry, and exports those moves directly back to Flair. This guide covers installation, the Maya 2022 Python setup, the Carts export workflow, and the import procedure in Flair.
Tutorial Video Series¶
MRMC's official Simul8 tutorial series covers every tool in depth. Watch these before starting:
| # | Tutorial | Link |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction — overview of the tool | Watch |
| 2 | How to Install Simul8 | Watch |
| 3 | Path Tool — programming camera paths | Watch |
| 4 | Smooth Tutorial — smoothing moves | Watch |
| 5 | Span Tool — adjusting timing spans | Watch |
| 6 | Camera Head Tool — head offsets | Watch |
| 7 | RigMover Node — the solve engine | Watch |
| 8 | Limit Checker — verifying axis limits | Watch |
| 9 | Import Kinematics | Watch |
| 10 | 3-Node Camera Animation in Carts | Watch |
See also the Simul8 Tutorial Videos section for full playlist details.
NY 2023 Summit: Working with Simul8 (40 min)¶
Justin Dombrowski and Colin Quinn walk through a complete real-world Simul8 workflow — from loading the rig in Maya through exporting and running the move on a physical robot. Highly recommended alongside the tutorial series.
Working with Simul8 — Justin Dombrowski and Colin Quinn — MRMC NY Summit 2023 (40:38) Watch on MRMC VHX
Previsualization, 3D Scanning, Simul8 and Maya — Colin Quinn and Justin Dombrowski — MRMC NY Summit 2023 (26:40) Watch on MRMC VHX
Case Studies: Feature Film Projects — Justin Dombrowski and Colin Quinn — MRMC NY Summit 2023 (28:23) — includes Simul8 Q&A Watch on MRMC VHX
Summit videos require a VHX account ($79 lifetime / $49 rental). Event attendees may apply for a 90% discount code.
Version History¶
Simul8 has been updated significantly since the tutorial series was recorded (which covers v1.1.6). Download the version that matches your Maya version:
| Simul8 version | Release | Maya version | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| v1.1.6 | Pre-2024 | Maya 2022 | Introduced Carts export with target distance |
| v2.0.0 | March 2024 | Maya 2022/2023 | Major update; introduced multiple system profiles support |
| v2.1.0 | January 2025 | Maya 2024 | Known CSV header row bug when importing filtered moves — see below |
| v2.1.1 | January 2025 | Maya 2025 | |
| v3.0.0 | February 2026 | Maya 2026 | |
| v3.1.0 | March 2026 | Maya 2026 | Some users report Rig Mover not appearing in outliner — see below |
Download the latest version from the MRMC forum thread (talk.mrmoco.com topic 619). MRMC entered liquidation in May 2026 — contact the WhatsApp community if you cannot access the download.
Trial software
Simul8 is currently supplied as trial software with a limited license. To obtain a license key, contact MRMC (or post-liquidation: ask in the WhatsApp community). VFX partner studios can be introduced to MRMC for their own license.
Installation¶
Windows:
- Download the Simul8 version that matches your Maya version (see table above).
- Copy the
Simul8folder into:~/maya/[version]/plug-ins/ - Copy the
modulesfolder into:~/maya/[version]/ - Maya 2022 with v1.1.6 only: run the included Python batch script as Administrator — it sets Python 2.7 as the default interpreter. This edits the Windows registry. This step is specific to Maya 2022 / Simul8 v1.1.6 and is not required for later versions.
"Make sure to run the python batch script as Administrator. It needs to be able to edit the windows registry." — Colin Quinn, NY Summit 2023 (applies to v1.1.6 / Maya 2022 only)
Linux (CentOS 7):
- Download the Linux build from the MRMC cloud.
- Copy the
Simul8folder to~/maya/[version]/plug-ins/ - Copy the
modulesfolder to~/maya/[version]/
Activating the plugin:
In Maya: Windows → Settings/Preferences → Plugin Manager → search for "Simul8" → check Loaded. The Simul8 shelf appears across the top. You must enter your license details (name + key from MRMC) — paste them into the fields in the shelf and restart Maya.
Loading a Rig Model¶
- From the Simul8 shelf, click Import Rig.
- All MRMC rig families are listed — select your rig (e.g. Bolt X with Inverse Kinematics).
- The rig model appears in the scene with the Rig Mover node at the top of the hierarchy.
The Rig Mover¶
The Rig Mover is the top of the kinematics chain. Everything — camera position, kinematics, offsets — flows from moving this node. When you move the Rig Mover, the entire rig model moves with it.
- Use W (Move), E (Rotate), R (Scale) to manipulate it.
- Hold Ctrl while dragging a channel box value for finer scrubbing.
Mount Orientation¶
In the Rig Mover channel box, set the mount orientation to match your physical setup: Top (standard) or Bottom (underslung). This re-orientates the end effector to match real-world rig geometry.
Setting Up the Camera¶
- Create a camera in Maya (Create → Camera).
- Scale the camera by 10–100 until it is a sensible size relative to the rig model. Maya's default scale is arbitrary — matching units exactly is less important than getting a workable visual size.
- Parent the camera to the Rig Mover using Parent Constrain:
- Select the camera first, then the Rig Mover (child first, parent last).
- Constrain → Parent Constraint → Options box.
- Uncheck "Maintain Offset". Check both Translate and Rotate.
- Click Apply.
- Keyboard shortcut alternative: P (after selecting in child→parent order).
- Set the camera's X and Y offset in the Rig Mover channel box to match your physical camera position (e.g. 20 cm forward offset for a standard Bolt arm setup).
Entering Nodal Offsets for Accuracy¶
For the most accurate previz, copy the nodal offset / tube length values from Flair's Kinematics Setup into the Rig Mover channel box. This makes the Simul8 solver match the real robot's geometry exactly — critical when working at limits or sending someone else a move to confirm it's runnable.
"If you know your nodal offsets, plug them in — it can save a lot of trouble and give you added confidence. You don't get surprised on the day." — Justin Dombrowski, NY Summit 2023
Exporting the Move¶
Simul8 offers two export types. Choose based on how you want to edit in Flair:
Axis Export (Baked Keyframes)¶
Save Move → Save Rig Move → Axis
- Bakes all axis data per-frame into a text file: Track, Rotate, Lift, Extend, Angle, Focus, Zoom, Aux1, Aux2, and Model Mover data.
- Import into Flair as a Mimic for accurate path playback.
- You can also import with Granularity set (e.g. 20 = sample every 20 frames) to get a smaller editable waypoint set.
Carts Export (Cartesian Points)¶
Save Move → Save Carts (requires Simul8 v1.1.6+)
Select the Rig Mover and the camera, then choose node type:
| Node Type | Use Case |
|---|---|
| 1-Node | Pan/Tilt only — no target tracking |
| 2-Node | Target tracking — exports camera + target positions |
| 3-Node | Roll Up mode — required for 3-axis head moves |
Carts exports use only the keyframes you set in Maya. Fewer keyframes = more editable in Flair (Flair splines between them). More keyframes = more faithful to the Maya path.
"If you're bringing it in with every frame keyed, you really can't change anything and have it stay accurate. If you need to tweak anything on the day, go back into Maya and re-export." — Colin Quinn, NY Summit 2023
Baking Before Export (for exact path accuracy)¶
If you need the exact Maya path in Flair: Edit → Keys → Bake Simulation → on Channel Box selected values. This creates a keyframe at every single frame, which you then export at full granularity. Import into Flair as Mimic.
Maya File Format Note¶
Maya saves in two formats: ASCII (.ma) and Binary (.mb). If you get a save error, try the other format.
Key Features Added Over Time¶
| Version | Notable additions |
|---|---|
| v1.1.6 | Carts export with target distance (essential for focus follow); auto-reset rounds; USD export; Bolt Mini Model Mover + Bolt Jr+ models |
| v2.0.0 | Multiple system profiles support; major architecture update |
| v2.1.0 | Maya 2024 support; known CSV header bug with filtered move imports (see Known Issues) |
| v3.0.0 | Maya 2026 support |
| v3.1.0 | Maya 2026 update; some users report Rig Mover not appearing in outliner |
"The addition of the target distance output is a gamechanger." — Colin Quinn, 2023
Known Issues¶
Simul8 v2.1.0 / Maya 2024 — CSV Header Row Import Error¶
When importing a filtered move, an error may appear referencing a mismatch between expected and written row counts.
Workaround: In the import dialog, change the shown row count value to the expected value minus the number of CSV header rows.
"Change that value to the expected one. This is simply the written value minus header rows. Might be a little bug in the new Simul8 version." — Heiko Matting
See also: Simul8 CSV Header Row Import Error
Simul8 v3.1.0 / Maya 2026 — Rig Mover Not in Outliner¶
After importing a rig in v3.1.0, the Rig Mover node may not appear in the Maya outliner.
Workaround: Remove all rigs from the scene, then import a single rig fresh. This appears to fix the issue.
"I had that issue in the older version one time. I had multiple rigs in that scene, after removing all of them and import one as new rig the issue was fixed." — Heiko Matting
Importing the Simul8 Move into Flair¶
- On Bolt systems: In Flair's axis setup, rename Arm to Angle before importing.
- In Flair: File → CGI Import (not regular FBX Import).
- Browse to the exported text file.
- Set Granularity — lower = fewer waypoints, more editable; higher = more keyframes, more accurate.
- Tick Import as Mimic for baked axis exports.
- Apply.
The imported move appears as a Mimic move. Review, smooth, and run from Flair normally.
Real-World Workflow: 3D Scan → Previz → Shoot¶
Colin Quinn and Justin Dombrowski's full pipeline (from NY Summit 2023):
- 3D scan the location using Polycam (phone, ~$70/yr), Matterport (external service, ~$1000), or Reality Capture.
- Import scan into Maya as geometry.
- Add stand-in talent (Renderpeople for posed/rigged people; Deep Motion for phone-captured motion).
- Previz the move with the director — collaborate on timing and framing before the shoot day.
- Import the rig model via Simul8 and solve against the scan geometry.
- Export to Flair (Carts or Axis as appropriate).
- Mark physical measurements in Maya for key positions (door widths, wall clearances) — confirm these on location.
"We showed up on the day with measurements we made in Maya for exact places to land it. By having the 3D scan, we knew the geometry of the room — the staircase, the doorways — pre-vised the scene with the director for days leading up. The final shot was almost a frame-accurate copy of the pre-vis." — Justin Dombrowski and Colin Quinn, NY Summit 2023
3D Scanning Tools Compared¶
| Tool | Platform | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polycam | iPhone/iPad | ~$70/yr | Room scan mode; fast; recommended for most jobs |
| Matterport | External service | ~$1000/scan | Hire a local Matterport operator; good for locations you can't visit |
| Reality Scan | iPhone | Free | Photogrammetry; detailed but slow; drains battery |
| Reality Capture | PC | Subscription | Photogrammetry + LIDAR; highest quality; slow |