Frequently Asked Questions Q&A
About Using FCS
Q: Is an internet connection required when operating FCS?
An internet connection is required. The internet is needed for periodic license information checks.
Wi-Fi connections are supported, but a wired connection is recommended.
Q: Are there any PC specifications requirements?
The minimum required specifications are as follows:
CPU: Intel Core i5-9400F
GPU: None
Memory: 16 GB or more of DDR4
For recommended PC specifications and other preparation required to use FCS, see Preparation.
Q: Is a dedicated head-mounted camera required?
No dedicated camera is required. You can use footage from commercially available head-mounted cameras, fixed cameras, and similar devices.
For details, see Preparation.
Q: Is macOS supported?
It is not currently supported, but support was planned for the future. (As of June 2024)
Updated April 2026: macOS is not supported, and there are no plans to support it. Contact us regarding support for Linux or other operating systems.
Q: Is any other software required to use FCS?
Maya is required. (Compatible with Maya 2018/2020/2022/2023/2024/2025/2026)
About FCS Features
Q: Does FCS require markers to be placed on the actor during filming?
Since FCS features auto-tracking, there is no need to place markers on the actor.
Q: Can landmarks be corrected when they are misaligned?
Because auto-tracking is used, landmark misalignment cannot be manually corrected.
Q: Is tongue tracking supported?
Tongue tracking is not supported.
Q: Does it support skeletons in addition to morphs?
FCS supports not only morphs but also skeletons.
Q: The same actor plays multiple characters. Can the Profile be reused?
Yes, if the rig is the same.
Create a new session file using Export and change the linked Maya file.
For details about Export, see Exporting a Session.
Q: When creating a session for a new character, can session data be reused between the same actors, or can controller information from the same character be used when creating a session for a different actor?
You can use Exporting a Session.
A batch rename feature is also available for registered controllers, so rename controller names as needed. For details, see the ‘Batch renaming multiple controllers’ section under User Guide/Menu/Window/controllers.
Q: Can ROM exercise profiles be reused between different actors?
The current FCS algorithm is designed with the assumption that the actor is the same person.
While it is technically possible, reusing profiles between different actors is not recommended from an output accuracy perspective.
Q: Is it necessary to launch Maya separately?
Maya generally needs to be running while you work in FCS. Once the project file is configured, you can launch Maya from FCS with one click. See Launching Maya.
For FCS CLI, see this page. This link opens an external site.
Q: Are ROM exercises required for a Profile?
ROM exercises are not required for a Profile, but adding them is recommended to improve accuracy.
Q: Due to plugins, I need to launch Maya separately. What should I do?
In that case, please manually open the port in Maya.
After launching Maya, enter the following command in the Script Editor (MEL):
commandPort -stp "python" -n ":42069" If your technical staff adds the same command to the Maya startup script, the same behavior can be achieved.
If port 42069 is already in use, you can change the port in Settings.
Q: Can controller rigs other than those in the manual be added?
Any controller rig can be added as long as it can be classified into Upper/eyelid/gaze/lower, even if it is not listed in the manual.
Q: Are controller rigs other than Metahuman supported?
Any rig with controllers is basically supported.
Controller registration and animation output are also possible with blend shapes and joints.
Q: Regarding analysis videos, is it fine if the shooting location changes as long as the field of view is the same?
There is no problem if the shooting location changes as long as the field of view is the same.
This can be handled by adding pick-ups to the Profile.
Q: Does video quality (Full HD vs 4K, etc.) affect auto-tracking accuracy? Are there other impacts? Any recommendations?
Except for extremely low resolution (480P or below) or poor quality footage (very dark lighting), video quality has little impact on auto-tracking accuracy.
Q: Does video refresh rate (60fps vs 120fps, etc.) affect auto-tracking accuracy? Are there other impacts? Any recommendations?
Please shoot in well-lit environments if possible. For action scenes, using a camera with a higher frame rate to minimize motion blur should be sufficient.
Q: Is live character animation supported?
Real-time video generation, animation analysis, and output were planned for development, but we decided not to include them as standard FCS features.
Going forward, we will focus on optimization for individual project requirements and consider custom solutions. Contact us to discuss project-specific support.
Q: Are there cases where a restart is required?
Various settings can be changed in FCS under File→Setting.
Changes take effect after a restart, so a restart is required.
For details about Settings, see Preferences (File ▶ Settings window).
Q: Can layouts be saved?
Layout information can be saved in FCS under View→Layout.
For details about saving and changing layouts, see User Guide/View/Layout.
Q: What should I do when FCS is extremely slow?
Turning on Maya Sync when Maya is not running will cause slow performance. If Maya Sync is ON, please turn it OFF.
Q: What is the difference between “A-I-U-E-O” and “Pa-Pi-Pu-Pe-Po” in the ROM exercise materials? Are both necessary?
Referring to pages 46-47 of “zukun_facialROM.pdf” included in the starter kit, select 5 open mouth shapes for “A-I-U-E-O” and 1 lip tuck (plosive) shape for “Pa-Pi-Pu-Pe-Po” when registering the profile.
Q: When registering a profile in the Editor, can values be entered directly into the slider?
You can enter values directly by Ctrl+clicking.
Q: Why does the image plane go behind the model when animation is output?
FCS lets you specify the camera used in Maya. If a camera with the specified name does not exist in the scene, a new one is created.
Set the camera and image-plane names under “Settings/Maya/Image Plane” and “Settings/Maya/camera”.
See the following pages for details about these settings:
About Licensing
Q: With one license, can I work on two PCs simultaneously?
No. However, you can work on multiple PCs as long as FCS is not running on them simultaneously.
Q: How much does it cost?
The annual subscription costs 400,000 yen (excluding tax).
Q: Is the contract automatically renewed after purchase?
The contract is not automatically renewed after purchase. A popup will appear in the FCS software one month before the subscription ends, and you will need to contact our representative if you wish to renew.
Q: What should I do if I want to stop renewing?
No special action is needed. You can use FCS until the subscription period ends, but it will become unavailable after that.
Q: Is there a refund if I want to stop using it after 6 months?
Since it is an annual subscription contract, there are no refunds for early cancellation.
Q: How long can I use the trial?
The trial is available for 30 days. For details, please contact us via the HELTEC website.
Q: What domains need to be accessible to use FCS?
The required domains are: api.toei-fcs.com, google.com
Q: Is the contract automatically renewed after the trial?
A separate purchase procedure is required to transition from the trial version to the full version. For details, please contact us via the HELTEC website.
Q: I see an “Internal Server Error” message and cannot use FCS. What should I do?
There is an issue with the server that checks license information.
Server-side action is required, so please contact us via the HELTEC website.