Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the most common questions about MotioForge Studio.

Getting Started

Q: What are the essential steps to get started?

A: 1. Create a domain (Start Window). 2. Configure ports (COM). 3. Add elements (servos, switches, audio). 4. Open the main editor and create your first animation. See Quick Start for details.

Q: Where does MotioForge Studio save my projects?

A: In the domains folder, which you configure from the Settings → Paths... menu in the start window. Default is %LOCALAPPDATA%\ARES\domains. Each domain is a subfolder with JSON files.

Q: Can I share a project with someone else?

A: Yes. Copy the entire domain folder to a USB drive or cloud storage (OneDrive, Google Drive, etc.). The other person puts it in their domain root folder and MotioForge reads it. Audio paths are relative, so it works on different computers (if audio files are in the same folder).

Timeline and Animations

Q: How do I change the playback speed of the timeline?

A: There's no global "playback speed." Speed is defined per servo segment (0–100). To speed up everything, select all segments, right-click, and reduce the speed value on individual segments.

Q: How do I create an animation that repeats continuously?

A: Open Animation Properties (right-click the animation in the Start Window). Enable Continuous Loop. When you start playback, the animation repeats until you stop it.

Q: What's the maximum duration of an animation?

A: There's no theoretical limit. Duration is determined by the farthest segment in time. You can create animations for hours, but the file stays compact (it's just JSON data).

Q: Can I copy an animation from one domain to another?

A: Not directly from the UI. Open the domain folder, copy the animation file from domain/animations/<id>/ to another domain, and restart MotioForge.

Q: What is the Random start delay used for?

A: The Random start delay is an animation property that adds a random delay to the beginning of playback. When enabled, all segments are shifted forward in time by a randomized value. This is useful for creating natural and non-mechanical behavior. For example, eye blinking: instead of blinking always every 5 seconds exactly, you can configure an animation with random start delay (e.g., 4–6 seconds) so the movement appears spontaneous and realistic each time the animation starts. Configure this option in Animation Properties (right-click the animation in the Start Window).

Managing Segments

Q: How do I insert a segment on the timeline?

A: 1. Hold Shift. 2. Click and drag horizontally on the desired track. 3. Release: the segment is created. The vertical height where you start dragging determines the initial servo position (high = high position, low = low position). See The Timeline for more details.

Q: How do I move one or more segments?

A: 1. Left-click on a segment to select it. 2. To select multiple segments at once: Ctrl+left-click to add more segments to the selection. 3. Click and drag on a selected segment to move all selected segments together. If you drag the left or right end, you resize the segment instead.

Q: How do I modify a segment's properties?

A: 1. Left-click on the segment to select it. 2. Open the Segments menu in the menu bar. 3. Choose Segment Properties. The detailed editor opens where you can modify angular position, speed, acceleration curve, duration, movement type, and other parameters depending on the segment type (servo, audio, switch).

Q: How do I change a segment's duration and final position?

A: Two methods: 1. Graphically on the timeline: Drag the left end (to change start time) or right end (to change end time). The height of the segment represents the initial angular position. 2. Numerically: Select the segment and open Segments Menu → Segment Properties, where you can enter exact times (start/end in ms) and positions (0–180°).

Q: How do I connect an audio segment to a servo for volume control?

A: MotioForge Studio does it automatically: 1. Double-click the audio segment to open the audio segment editor. 2. Enable Link a servo to volume and choose the servo (e.g. the mouth servo). 3. Set the minimum and maximum volume. 4. Press Generate Servo Segments: the servo segments are created following the audio volume. While the link is active, the servo track is locked.

Q: How do I connect an audio segment to multiple servos/switches for frequency control?

A: In the audio segment editor, Frequency bindings section, link a servo to each band (bass, mid, high) and set the cutoff frequencies in Hz. With Exclusive enabled, only the dominant band drives its servo at any moment. Then press Generate Servo Segments. The same servo cannot be linked to both the volume and a frequency band.

Ports and Connections

Q: I don't see my COM port. What should I do?

A: 1. Verify the device is on and connected via USB. 2. Open Device Manager (Windows) and check which COM is assigned. 3. In MotioForge Studio, select the domain, open the Ports tab and enter that COM in the Serial device field. 4. If still not working, download the device driver.

Q: The port is connected but MotioForge doesn't see it. Why?

A: The USB driver might be missing or corrupted. Check Device Manager for a yellow exclamation mark. If yes, download the correct driver from the manufacturer's website.

Q: Can I connect multiple different devices?

A: Yes. Configure multiple ports in MotioForge (one per device). On elements, assign each servo/switch to the correct port. During playback, MotioForge talks to all ports in parallel.

Q: What do the errors in the Port Console mean?

A: Open the port console with Ctrl+Shift+C to see real-time messages. See Troubleshooting for help interpreting specific error messages.

Elements (Servo, Switch, Audio)

Q: What's the difference between SERVO_BUS and SERVO_PWM?

A: SERVO_BUS are serial digital servos (e.g. Waveshare ST3215) daisy-chained on the same bus, each with a different address (ID); they provide controlled position, speed and acceleration. SERVO_PWM are analogue servos driven by a PWM signal, either on a dedicated pin of the board or on a channel of a PCA9685 expander (I2C, up to 16 servos per module).

Q: Can I use a regular servo (not "animatronics")?

A: Yes. A servo is a servo. MotioForge moves any servo from 0–180°. The difference is in how you use it to create realistic and synchronized animations.

Q: How do I add an audio file to an animation?

A: 1. Create a SOUND track on the timeline. 2. Create an audio segment (Shift + drag). 3. Open the segment editor and select the file (.wav, .mp3, .ogg). 4. File must be in domain/audio/ or specify the full path.

Q: The audio file won't play. Why?

A: 1. Does the file exist at the saved path? Check domain/audio/. 2. Is it a supported format? Only WAV, MP3, OGG. Convert others (AIFF, WMA, etc.) to WAV. 3. Is the Windows default audio device active? Check Windows → Settings → Sound.

AI Assistant

Q: How do I open the AI assistant?

A: Press F2 from any MotioForge window. Or from menu Help → Ask AI.

Q: Which Ollama model should I use?

A: Depends on your resources:

• tinyllama (~600 MB) — lightest, if you have <8 GB RAM.
• phi3 (~2 GB) — good balance, for 8–12 GB RAM.
• llama3.2 (~2 GB) — recommended to start.
• mistral (~4 GB) — detailed responses, requires 12+ GB free RAM.

Q: Ollama freezes my entire PC. What should I do?

A: You're using a model that's too heavy. Switch to a lighter one (see above). If even tinyllama freezes, Ollama might not suit your hardware. Switch to Claude API backend (Preferences → AI Assistant).

Q: Is Claude API free?

A: No, it's pay-as-you-go, but the cost is minimal. A typical session of 10 questions costs <0.01 €. Log in to console.anthropic.com to set a monthly spending limit.

Q: Does the AI assistant have access to my project files?

A: No. It only reads: official documentation, last few log lines (errors), and your questions. No project files are shared for privacy.

Q: Can I share my Anthropic API key?

A: No! Your API key is personal. Anyone with it can consume your credit. If you've shared it, disable it immediately in console.anthropic.com → API Keys.

Playback and Runtime

Q: How does the animation process work on the graphical timeline?

A: The animation process in MotioForge Studio is based on a graphical timeline designed to be intuitive, eliminating the need to write code or manage complex spreadsheets. The workflow is inspired by video-editing or music-production software, but instead of working with frames or notes, the operator manages angular positions and real hardware commands. Here are the technical details: Motor tracks: Within an animation, each servo motor configured in the system is displayed as a dedicated horizontal track. Drawing segments: Movement is created by drawing segments directly on the track by dragging the mouse. The segment parameters define the movement: The height of the segment represents the angular position (rotation angle) of the motor. The width of the segment determines the duration of the movement. Editing and precision: You can add an unlimited number of segments and modify, copy, and fine-tune them individually to obtain the desired behaviour. This system provides precise control over the position, speed, and acceleration of each component. Multichannel synchronization: The timeline can coordinate dozens of servo motors simultaneously. In addition to motors, you can synchronize: Digital outputs such as LEDs, relays, pneumatic actuators, or switches. Coordinated audio files, with the ability to automatically generate lip-sync movements based on speech or music. Real-time execution: A key feature is instant preview. Pressing Play makes the software send commands to the hardware in real time, so you can immediately see how the character or object moves without intermediate compilation steps. Playback can be stopped at any time, and the playhead can be moved to any point on the timeline to fine-tune the animation.

Q: How do I stop animation playback?

A: Press Stop (Shift+F5) or the Stop button in the main editor toolbar. If playback is in a continuous loop, press Stop to interrupt it.

Q: Can I adjust servos during playback?

A: No. During playback, servos follow the segments exactly as programmed. Stop it, modify the segments, and restart.

Q: Does playback sync with audio?

A: Yes. When you play an animation with audio segments, timing is synchronized with audio playback. Use this to sync servos with dialogue or music.

Q: Can I play an animation in a continuous loop?

A: Yes, MotioForge Studio can play an animation in a continuous loop. Execution mode: When you add an animation to a domain, you can configure it to run once, start on an external trigger, or run continuously in a loop. Practical applications: This is useful for scenarios requiring repetitive movement without manual intervention, such as decorative elements in shop windows or animatronic figures in theme parks. Fine-tuning: While creating the animation on the timeline, you can also manage the playhead to repeat test cycles and refine the movement until you obtain the desired result. In short, loop management is a native system feature that allows the movement of servo motors and connected devices to be fully automated.

Q: How do I activate an animation using an external command?

A: In MotioForge Studio, activating an animation through an external command is one of the execution modes provided to make installations interactive or automated. The process can work in different ways depending on the use case: Trigger types: Sequences can be started by a manual trigger (pressing a key in the software) or by a software trigger. Automation and sensors: In environments such as theme parks, animations can be activated automatically, for example when a visitor passes by (through connected sensors). Interactive inputs: In scenarios such as escape rooms, props can react directly to participant inputs, such as turning a mechanical key or other physical activators handled by the software logic. Remote control: The animation can also be controlled remotely by an operator. How to configure it This setting is defined when creating the animation inside the hardware Domain (step 2 of the workflow). At this stage, you can decide whether that project should run once, remain in a continuous loop, or wait for an external activation before starting.

Performance and Troubleshooting

Q: MotioForge is slow when I load a large domain. How do I speed it up?

A: 1. Verify the domain is on local disk (not cloud). 2. Close other programs to free RAM. 3. If it has many segments (>10000), split it into two smaller domains. 4. Update MotioForge to the latest version.

Q: How do I back up my projects?

A: Copy the domain folder (e.g., ARES/my_domain/) to a USB drive, cloud storage (OneDrive, Google Drive), or external disk. MotioForge also has a Backup function in the Start Window.

Q: Can I restore a project from a backup?

A: Yes. If the backup was made with the Backup menu of the start window, use Backup → Restore backup.... Otherwise copy the domain folder from the backup into the domains folder (Settings → Paths...): MotioForge Studio will recognize it automatically.

Q: What do I do if a project file is corrupted?

A: 1. Close MotioForge. 2. Restore from backup. 3. If you don't have a backup, contact support. JSON files can be edited manually if you know the structure.

Language and Settings

Q: How do I change the language of MotioForge?

A: Go to Preferences → Language, choose Italian, English or Chinese (中文), and restart MotioForge Studio.

Q: How do I change the theme (colors)?

A: Go to Preferences → Theme and choose from available themes (Blue, Dark, etc.).

Q: Where can I find log files to diagnose errors?

A: The log is at %LOCALAPPDATA%\ARES\logs\ares.log. Open it with a text editor to see error messages, or use the Logs → Copy/Export log folder... menu to send it to support. The AI assistant (F2) automatically reads the last lines of the log.

Licensing and Distribution

Q: What's the difference between BETA and PRODUCTION?

A: BETA — Free version with expiration date (for testing and evaluation). No license required. PRODUCTION — Version for end users with valid license. License includes user email, custom expiration date, and optional hardware binding.

Q: What does "hardware binding" mean?

A: If your license has hardware binding, it only works on the computer where it was generated. Binding includes email + hardware fingerprint + version. If you try to use it on a different computer, you'll get "License for different computer" error. It protects against unauthorized copying to other PCs. You can request a license without binding if you work on multiple computers.

Q: When does the license expire?

A: The license has a specific expiration date (example: 2027-06-30). Check expiration in Preferences → 🔐 License. When it expires, MotioForge Studio does not start and shows a "License expired" message. Renew your license before expiration.

Q: How do I renew my license?

A: 1. Go to Preferences → 🔐 License and click "📧 Request License from Support". 2. Fill the form with email and payment information. 3. You'll receive a new license via email. 4. Paste the new license in Preferences → 🔐 License and click "✓ Verify License". Done! ✅

Q: What if I get "License for different computer" error?

A: Your license is tied to a different computer (hardware binding). Options: 1. Use MotioForge on the original computer where the license was generated. 2. Contact support and request a license without hardware binding (for multi-computer). 3. Request a new license generated for this computer.

Q: How long does support take to generate a license?

A: Support responds within 24 hours. After payment verification, the license is generated and sent via email. If payment is traceable via bank transfer reference, response time is faster.

Q: How do I find my MotioForge version?

A: Open Help → About MotioForge (at the bottom of Help menu). You'll see the Build version and Beta expiration date. Version is required for license request.

DEIMOS Firmware

Q: How do I update the DEIMOS board firmware?

A: Connect the board via USB, open DEIMOS → Load DEIMOS firmware in the start window, choose the package and the port, and click Load. The process takes 30–60 seconds. Don't turn off your PC during upload.

Q: The firmware won't upload. What should I do?

A: 1. Verify the board is connected and powered. 2. Check that you chose the correct COM port in the load dialog (use Refresh if you just connected it). 3. Try uploading again. If it still doesn't work, restart the board.