We answer Frequently Asked Questions as they arise, so check back often for updates.
Have you first checked the Release Notes or the FaceWorks Studio Documentation? You need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view Portable Document Format (PDF) files.
1. When I start up FaceWorks I get an error: "Error creating IAudioDest class pointer. Will not be able to play audio." or "Error creating IAudioSource class pointer. Will not be able to record audio". What's wrong?
This could mean several things. It could be that you don't have an audio device, or an audio device driver installed. FaceWorks will still allow you to create animation sequences, but as the message says, you won't be able to play or record audio.
2. "Error in IAudio::Claim() for playing." What's wrong?
This usually means that you are using the audio device for some other multimedia application. Shutdown all applications that require audio playback or recording and try again.
3. How do I get my image into FaceWorks?
FaceWorks has been designed to load JPEG image files. These can be of any size, but are best if they have an aspect ratio corresponding to 320 pixels x 512 pixels. To load your image use New from the File menu and select your image. This will drop you into an image preparation interface. For more details on Image Preparation, consult the FaceWorks Studio Documentation.
4. Do I have to use a photographic image?
No. Any JPEG image will work. Just remember that for best results, use an image with an approximate aspect ratio of 320 x 512.
5. My voice recording produces strange lip motions once I have analyzed it. What's wrong?
The quality of the audio recording is very important for good results. Check that the audio recording levels are correctly set so that the audio isn't too "hot" or too quiet. If you are having problems with the recording mechanism in FaceWorks, try using the Windows sound recorder or another product. Remember to save the .wav file as 16Khz, 16bit otherwise FaceWorks won't be able to read it.
6. Why can't I create an animated sequence with just head motions and expressions?
The FaceWorks annotation editor is a speech-based temporal editor. This version of the product requires an audio track to be present before an animation sequence can be created. The audio track can be silence. However, it has to be a true 16Khz, 16bit .wav file.
7. How do I get an expression on the time line?
The FaceWorks Studio Documentation describes in detail the complete sequence of operations.
8. I got the face all messed up in the geometry editor. How do I get back to my original configuration?
Provided that you haven't saved out the geometry in the current configuration, you can always undo. You can use the Ctrl-Z key accelerator for a single level undo.
9. How do I record audio at 16Khz, 16bits/sample?
16Khz, 16bit audio is used in FaceWorks to provide enough audio resolution for the speech analyzer. Many audio recording products will support 16Khz, 16bit. To enable Windows sound recorder to support this rate, simply install the Microsoft Netshow client.
10. How do I play my *.fa and *.fd files outside FaceWorks?
The simple answer to this question is you can't. However the face you see is an ActiveX component. This means that it can be embedded it in any ActiveX container including Web browsers. Playing your *.fa from FaceWorks requires an audio player. If you are a software developer, it's a little tricky but not impossible to create your own.
To make this much easier, we have developed a Standalone Faceplayer. This includes a Visual Basic Application that interfaces a WavPlayer to the Face OCX installed on your machine (i.e, when you installed FaceWorks). This application exposes four basic interfaces open fa, open fd, play and stop, Using this VB application as an example, it is easy to see how the FacePlayer can be embedded in a variety of other applications, including Web browsers.
11. What's a *.smi file?
Smi stands for Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language and is a W3 consortium proposal for multimedia synchronization. Many questions have arisen from the *.pdf documentation that claims *.smi files can be created from FaceWorks. While we have this capability, is is not enabled in this Beta release because of unresoved legal issues with Real Networks.
