Creating Movement Sequences

This guide explains how to create precise and complex movement sequences using the RTMC130 Motion Control System. Programming movements is the core function of the system, allowing you to create everything from simple linear moves to sophisticated camera choreography.

Understanding Movement Types

The RTMC130 system supports several methods for creating movements, each with its own strengths and applications:

Method	Description	Best For
Keyframing	Creating specific positions at specific frames that the system interpolates between	Precise, planned movements; stop-motion animation; repeatable moves
Joystick Recording	Real-time recording of movements using jogbox or external controllers	Natural, organic movements; following action; improvised camera work
Two-Letter Commands	Specialized move generation using mathematical functions	Complex paths; technical movements; parameter-based animation
Mixed Techniques	Combining different methods for hybrid approaches	Complex shots requiring both precision and organic feel

Timeline & Frame Rates

All movements in RTMC130 are organized along a timeline measured in frames. Understanding this concept is essential:

• Frame Rate: Typically set to match your project (24fps for film, 30fps for video, etc.)
• Timeline: Starts at Frame 0 and extends to the end of your movement
• Duration: Total length of the move in frames (e.g., 240 frames = 10 seconds at 24fps)
• Current Frame: Your current position on the timeline, shown in the main display

Creating Movements with Keyframes

Keyframing is the most precise way to create movements. It involves setting specific positions at specific frames and letting the system calculate the intermediate positions.

Basic Keyframing Procedure

1. Prepare the Axes:
   • Ensure all axes you want to include are in REC mode
   • Set any axes you want to exclude to NEUT or OFF
2. Set Starting Keyframe:
   • Go to Frame 0 by pressing GOTO FR0 on the jogbox
   • Jog each axis to its desired starting position
   • Press MEMO KEY on the jogbox to set a keyframe at Frame 0
3. Create Additional Keyframes:
   • Move to a later frame by pressing INCR FRAME or entering a specific frame number
   • Jog axes to their new positions for this frame
   • Press MEMO KEY to set another keyframe
   • Repeat this process, adding keyframes at strategic points in your timeline
4. Test the Movement:
   • Return to Frame 0
   • Press RUN to play the move and observe the results
   • Make adjustments as needed by modifying existing keyframes or adding new ones

Keyframe Tips

• Spacing: Place keyframes at critical points in your movement (starts, stops, direction changes)
• Consistency: For smoother moves, try to place keyframes at regular intervals on the timeline
• Planning: Sketch your movement on paper to help visualize keyframe placement
• Start Simple: Begin with just 2-3 keyframes and add more only as needed for refinement
• Test Frequently: Run your move after adding each new keyframe to ensure it's developing as expected

Modifying Existing Keyframes

To change a keyframe you've already set:

1. Navigate to the frame where the keyframe exists
2. Jog axes to their new desired positions
3. Press MEMO KEY again to overwrite the existing keyframe

Recording Real-Time Movements

Joystick recording allows you to create more organic, natural-feeling movements by recording your manual control in real time.

Joystick Setup

Before recording, you need to configure which axes are controlled by the jogbox knob or external encoders:

1. Press JOYST AX on the jogbox
2. Press the number of the axis you want to control (e.g., 5 for Pan)
3. The jogbox display will confirm the assignment
4. Rotate the knob to verify it controls the selected axis

Position vs. Velocity Mode

The jogbox can control axes in two different ways:

• Position Mode: The knob's position directly controls the axis position (more intuitive for beginners)
• Velocity Mode: The knob's position controls the speed of movement (better for smooth acceleration)

To toggle between modes:

1. Press POSN/VELO on the jogbox
2. The jogbox display will show the current mode

Recording a Joystick Move

1. Prepare for Recording:
   • Set all axes you want to record to REC mode
   • Assign the jogbox or external encoders to the axes you want to control
   • Go to Frame 0 by pressing GOTO FR0
   • Set the move duration (how many frames you'll record) by typing ml and entering a value
2. Start Recording:
   • Type rm (Record Move) and press Enter
   • The system will display "PRESS RUN TO START RECORDING"
   • Press RUN to begin recording
3. Perform the Movement:
   • Use the jogbox knob or external controllers to create your movement
   • The system records in real-time as the frame counter advances
   • The recording will stop automatically when the end frame is reached
   • Alternatively, press STOP/CANCEL to end recording early
4. Review and Refine:
   • Go back to Frame 0 and press RUN to play back your recorded move
   • If needed, you can re-record or use the Editor to refine the movement

Cleaning Up Joystick Recordings

Joystick recordings often capture small hand tremors or imperfections. To clean them up:

1. Use the ps (Pull Set) command:
   • Type ps at the main Control Panel
   • Enter the desired keyframe spacing (e.g., 10 frames)
   • The system converts your continuous recording into evenly spaced keyframes
2. Use the sm (Smooth Move) command:
   • Type sm at the main Control Panel
   • Enter smoothing parameters as prompted
   • The system applies a smoothing algorithm to your move

Using the Graph Editor

The Graph Editor provides a visual way to create and refine movements by manipulating motion curves directly.

Accessing the Editor

1. Click Editor on the main Control Panel
2. Or type ed and press Enter
3. The Graph Editor screen will appear

Editor Interface Overview

The Graph Editor displays your movement as curves on a graph:

• X-Axis: Timeline in frames
• Y-Axis: Position values
• Points: Individual keyframes
• Lines/Curves: Interpolated movement between keyframes

Selecting and Editing Axes

1. Press the number key corresponding to the axis you want to edit (1-9)
2. That axis's curve will be displayed prominently
3. You can view multiple axes simultaneously by selecting them in sequence

Editing Operations

The Editor offers several ways to modify your movement:

Operation	Method	Effect
Add Keyframe	Click at desired position on graph	Creates a new keyframe at that frame/position
Move Keyframe	Click and drag existing keyframe	Changes the timing and/or position of the keyframe
Delete Keyframe	Select keyframe, press Delete	Removes the keyframe, system recalculates curve
Adjust Curve	Manipulate tangent handles at keyframes	Changes acceleration/deceleration between keyframes
Change Curve Type	Select keyframe(s), use curve type menu	Applies different interpolation methods (Linear, Spline, etc.)

Curve Types

The Editor supports various interpolation methods between keyframes:

• Linear: Straight lines between keyframes (mechanical feel)
• Spline: Smooth curves with automatic tangent calculation (natural feel)
• Ease In: Gradual acceleration from a stop
• Ease Out: Gradual deceleration to a stop
• Ease In/Out: Combination of ease in and ease out
• Constant: No movement between keyframes (stepped movement)

Advanced Movement Techniques

Once you've mastered the basics, these advanced techniques can help you create more sophisticated movements.

Two-Letter Commands

The RTMC130 system offers powerful two-letter commands for specialized movement creation:

Command	Function	Usage
em	Exponent Moves	Creates exponential acceleration/deceleration curves
ie	Impose Eases	Adds ease-in/out effects to existing moves
ps	Pull Set	Converts continuous recording to evenly spaced keyframes
sm	Smooth Move	Applies smoothing algorithm to reduce jitter
el	Extend Linear	Extends move with constant velocity
ec	Extend Curve	Extends move with current acceleration/deceleration

To use these commands:

1. Type the two-letter code at the main Control Panel
2. Press Enter
3. Follow the on-screen prompts for parameters
4. Press Enter again to execute

Multi-Pass Recording

For complex shots, you can build movements in layers:

1. First Pass:
   • Set only certain axes to REC mode (e.g., Pan/Tilt)
   • Record or keyframe the movement for these axes
2. Subsequent Passes:
   • Set the previously recorded axes to NEUT
   • Set different axes to REC mode (e.g., Track/Lift)
   • Run the first recorded move while recording the new axes
   • This allows you to precisely coordinate multiple axes

Creating Complex Move Patterns

Perfect Circle (Orbital Move):

1. Set up an axis for horizontal movement (Track) and one for depth (East/West)
2. Use the cc (Create Circle) command
3. Enter the center position, radius, and duration
4. The system will generate a perfect circular path

Figure-8 Pattern:

1. Create a move with two axes
2. For one axis (e.g., Pan), create a sine wave using sw command
3. For the other axis (e.g., Tilt), create a cosine wave that's twice as fast
4. The combined movement will trace a figure-8 pattern

Saving Your Work

As you create increasingly complex movements, it's crucial to save your work regularly:

1. Use UtilFiles → Save Move to save your current movement
2. Give each movement a descriptive name
3. For details on saving and loading, see the Saving & Loading section