FBX Export Crashes or Hangs Flair Classic¶

CGI Motion Resolved All rigs BOTH

Summary¶

In Flair Classic versions prior to 7.3 Beta57, clicking Export in the CGI Export dialog (FBX mode) causes Flair to crash or hang immediately. The .fbx file is sometimes created successfully before the crash. The bug was traced to the FBX DLL and was fixed in version 7.3 Beta57 (FBX library updated to 1.38).

Symptoms¶

Flair Classic closes immediately after clicking Export in CGI Export (FBX mode)
No warning, no error message — Flair simply disappears
On some versions, the .fbx file is created and is valid, but Flair still crashes
Trying to open a second move and export again also crashes (even if the first export worked)
Issue happens consistently — not intermittent

Systems Affected¶

All Flair Classic versions before 7.3 Beta57 (approximately 6.40 through 7.3 Beta56)
Bolt X confirmed (Radu Stefan Fulga, 2022-06-05)
Bolt (Niko, 2021-06-22; 6.47)

Root Cause¶

A bug in the FBX DLL (FBXDLLd.dll) shipped with affected Flair Classic versions. The DLL crashes Flair after completing the export. This is a known MRMC software bug, not a hardware or configuration issue.

Solutions¶

Solution A — Upgrade to Flair Classic 7.2 (17 Dec 2022) or later¶

CONFIRMED

This release includes the updated FBX library (version 1.38). Verify after updating:

Flair Classic → Help → Version Info

Confirm: FBX Interface 1.38 SDK 2020.0

"Flair v7.3 Beta57 which includes Classic v7.2 dated 17 Dec 2022. Once you've run the update, you should find FBX has changed to 1.38." — Gordon Eschke (2022-12-21)

Solution B — On-set workaround (pre-fix versions)¶

CONFIRMED

If updating is not possible on a live shoot:

After each FBX export, fully close and restart Flair before opening the next move.
Do not attempt to open a new project and export again in the same Flair session.
The first export of a session usually succeeds; subsequent exports in the same session crash.

Solution C — Replace FBXDLLd.dll (emergency on-set fix)¶

CONFIRMED

MRMC can supply an updated FBXDLLd.dll that can be dropped into the Flair Classic installation to resolve the crash without a full version update.

"Got a new FBXDLLd.dll from Dan Gottesman, so the FBX Export is working. With FBX 3-node Export a Roll orbital move is working smooth and nicely in Maya." — Heiko Matting (2024-08-27)

Contact MRMC support or a senior Flair community member for the file.

Solution D — Export as MRMC Carts, then convert in Maya¶

CONFIRMED

If FBX export is completely non-functional:

Export the move as MRMC Carts format instead.
Import the MRMC Carts file into Maya.
Use Maya to export as FBX from there.

"Export as MRMC Carts, import into Maya and then use Maya to create the FBX." — Josh T. (2022-12-05)

Solution E — Use Flair Classic 7.2+ for exports only¶

CONFIRMED

Some operators run Flair 7 for programming but switch to a separately installed Flair Classic 7.2+ for FBX exports:

"I work in Flair 7 for all my work, but then open my classic to do the exports." — Marcin Biegunajtys (2022-04-01)

Evidence from Community Chat¶

"After exporting the actual movement to FBX once I want to open another project, Flair doesn't respond and I need to restart." — Niko (2021-06-22)

"Sometimes it lets me open another project, but if I try to export to FBX again, Flair crashes." — Niko (2021-06-22)

"I remember that when this happened in the past a new Fbx.dll was released — or bug fixed in the following version of Flair." — Timothy Heys Cerchio (2022-06-05)

"It's a hard crash without fail after clicking export and hitting ok on the popups." — Radu Stefan Fulga (2022-06-05)

Timeline¶

Event	Date	Contributor
First reports of FBX crash after export	2021-06-22	Niko
Bug acknowledged; fix expected in next version	2022-06-05	Timothy Heys Cerchio
Crash confirmed on Bolt X with 7.18	2022-06-05	Radu Stefan Fulga
FBX crash ongoing in 7.3 Classic	2022-12-05	Timothy Heys Cerchio
Fix confirmed — 7.3 Beta57 + Classic 7.2 (17 Dec 2022); FBX → 1.38	2022-12-21	Gordon Eschke
Updated FBXDLLd.dll from MRMC resolves on-set crash	2024-08-27	Dan Gottesman / Heiko Matting

WhatsApp Excerpts¶

2021-06-22 22:40 - ~ Niko: Guys, today during a shooting I'm having some problems with the fbx exporting. After exporting the actual movement to fbx once I want to open another project, Flair don't responds and I need to restart. Somebody is haven the same behaviour?
2021-06-22 22:44 - Gordon Eschke: Which flair version please? @~Niko
2021-06-23 00:23 - ~ Niko: Sometimes, it lets me open another project, but if I try to export to fbx againg, flair crashes