Freedom251 › Motion Capture Software
Xsens MVN Animate
What Xsens MVN Animate is
Xsens MVN Animate captures inertial motion and streams or exports it to 3D software for entertainment work. Its three editions address different production needs: Live supports streaming and broadcast, Export is for one-actor capture and export, and Pro is intended for high-performance work and complex productions. Actor capacity is up to two for Live, one at a time for Export, and four for Pro; On-Body Recording supports unlimited actors. Export options listed include FBX, BVH, C3D, and MVNX, with MP4 also listed for Export. Integrations and compatibility options include Unreal Engine, Unity, Blender, Houdini, Maya, Manus, Faceware, and StretchSense. Xsens says the updated motion engine produces cleaner data and reduces cleanup and post-processing. The software works with Xsens Link, Xsens Awinda, and Awinda Starter hardware. It is listed for Windows 11 64-bit and Linux Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS. Subscriptions start at $3,790 a year; specific pricing varies by configuration and requires a quote.
Who it suits
It suits entertainment teams working in game development, VFX and film, virtual production, VTube and streaming, broadcasting, or live entertainment. The editions address solo capture, live workflows, and more complex productions.
What it does well
- Streams or exports motion data to 3D software.
- Supports real-time output, body tracking, and hand tracking.
- Pro supports up to four actors.
- On-Body Recording supports unlimited actors.
- Integrates with Unreal Engine and Unity.
What to know first
- Pricing varies by configuration and requires a quote.
- Export is limited to one actor at a time.
- Auto Sensor Mapping for Awinda is experimental.
Limits
Animate Export handles one actor at a time, while Live supports up to two actors and Pro up to four. Pro supports unlimited actors when using On-Body Recording. Subscriptions start at $3,790 a year, with specific pricing dependent on configuration and term and available by quote.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Animate Live | Live performance and real-time virtual production · Live streaming and broadcast | On request |
| Animate Export | 1 actor at a time | On request |
| Animate Pro | Up to 4 actors | On request |
| Xsens Animate Live / Export / Pro | Software subscription starts at $3,790; exact price varies by configuration and term. · Live, Export, and Pro licenses · 3-, 6-, and 12-month subscriptions listed · Quote required for specific pricing | $3,790 a year |
As xsens.com lists them, read 20 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the Xsens MVN Animate website.
- Choose Live, Export, or Pro for the intended workflow.
- Select a listed subscription term: three months, six months, or one year.
- Contact Xsens for a quote based on the required configuration.
- Use compatible Xsens Link, Awinda, or Awinda Starter hardware.
- Download the software and relevant integration plugins from the Xsens software downloads page.
Verdict
Xsens MVN Animate offers separate options for live streaming, one-actor export, and higher-capacity production, with multiple export formats and named integrations. The subscription starts at $3,790 a year, and specific pricing requires a quote.
Questions
How much does Xsens MVN Animate cost?
The listed Animate Live / Export / Pro plan is $3,790 a year. Specific pricing varies by configuration and term, and requires a quote.
What subscription terms are available?
The listed options are three months, six months, and one year; the software page also lists a three-year option.
Which platforms does it support?
The listed platforms are Windows 11 64-bit and Linux Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS.
Which integrations and software plugins are named?
Compatibility options include Unreal Engine, Unity, Blender, Houdini, Maya, Manus, Faceware, and StretchSense. Plugins are listed for Unreal Engine 5.4–5.7, Blender, Maya, MotionBuilder, and Unity; the Unity plugin is marked Beta.
How many actors can each edition capture?
Live supports up to two actors, Export handles one actor at a time, and Pro supports up to four. Pro supports unlimited actors with On-Body Recording.
Facts from Xsens MVN Animate's own pages
- Actor capacity
- The feature table lists support for up to four actors in Animate Pro, with unlimited actors when using On-Body-Recording. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Actor limits
- The feature comparison lists up to two actors for Live, one actor at a time for Export, and up to four actors for Pro, with unlimited actors using On-Body Recording. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Audience
- The Xsens Indie Program is described for independent professionals, small studios, and game developers, while the product page also describes workflows for AAA studios. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Awinda setup
- Animate includes experimental Auto Sensor Mapping for Awinda, which allows sensors to be placed on any designated spot. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Download and support
- Xsens provides the latest Animate software, release notes, manuals, integration plugins, and documentation through its software downloads page. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Experimental feature
- Auto Sensor Mapping for Awinda is identified as an experimental feature. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Export formats
- The product page lists FBX, BVH, C3D, and MVNX exports. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Exports
- The comparison lists FBX and BVH local exports for Live and FBX, BVH, C3D, and MP4 exports for Export. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2000 · xsens.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Hardware compatibility
- Xsens says Animate works with Xsens Link, Xsens Awinda, and Awinda Starter motion capture hardware. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Enschede, Netherlands · xsens.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- The product page names Unreal Engine, Unity, Blender, Houdini, Maya, Manus, Faceware, and StretchSense among its integrations and compatibility options. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The page describes use in game development, VFX and film, virtual production, VTube and streaming, broadcasting, and live entertainment. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Interface
- The software page lists an updated interface, dark mode, and changeable background colors for chroma keying. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- License options
- Animate Live is for live streaming and broadcast, Animate Export is for one-actor capture and export, and Animate Pro is for high-performance work and complex productions. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- License terms
- The page lists subscription options of 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years, but does not display prices in the opened page. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Motion engine
- The product page describes male and female anatomy models and an improved motion engine with spine and proportion updates. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Platform
- The MVN user manual describes Xsens Software, including Animate, as a 64-bit application for Windows 10/11. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Plugin downloads
- The software page lists Animate plugins for Unreal Engine 5.4–5.7, Blender, Maya, MotionBuilder, and Unity, with the Unity plugin marked Beta. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Price terms
- Xsens says software subscriptions are yearly and also available for three or six months; specific pricing depends on configuration and requires contacting Xsens. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- Xsens says MVN applications send anonymous usage statistics using a random ID and provide an option to opt out when the application opens. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Privacy and security
- Xsens says it uses reasonable physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard information collected online, while noting it cannot guarantee that loss, misuse, or alteration will not occur. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Xsens Animate is motion capture software for professional animation, game development, VFX, film, virtual production, streaming, and live performance workflows. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Security and compliance
- Xsens's privacy policy says it uses reasonable physical, electronic, and managerial safeguards, but does not guarantee that loss, misuse, or alteration will never occur. · xsens.com, 4 Oct 2026
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