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Countdown Record + Auto Stop

by Coby Randal Media·Workflow

Images © Coby Randal Media. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Note the workflow tip from the developer: don't move, scale, or rotate anything until after playback starts, or Blender's Auto Keying won't register the event.

What is Countdown Record + Auto Stop?

Countdown Record + Auto Stop is an add-on for Blender that begins animation playback and recording once its countdown timer hits zero. The countdown is customizable from 0 to 30+ seconds, and every second is displayed as it ticks away, giving you time to position yourself before frames start rolling.

The "Countdown Record" mode auto-enables Auto Keying and can trigger transforms on the selected object(s) such as Grab, Rotate, Scale, plus Fly Mode and Walk Mode as of the June 12, 2024 release. Recording and playback can start from the current scene frame, letting you begin anywhere between the scene's start and end frames. Countdown Play and Reverse functions follow your Auto Keying settings.

Auto Stop halts playback or recording at the scene end frame to prevent overwriting a performance, and always disables Auto Keying once the session completes. It also helps safeguard rigid body physics caching from being lost to playback looping. The add-on supports Blender 2.7x through 4.1.1 and includes descriptive tooltips on each button.

Who is Countdown Record + Auto Stop best for?

Countdown Record + Auto Stop is best for blender users recording animation and motion capture who want a timed start and an automatic stop at the scene end frame.

How much does Countdown Record + Auto Stop cost?

Countdown Record + Auto Stop is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Customizable countdown timer from 0 to 30+ seconds, displaying every second as it ticks away
  • "Countdown Record" auto-enables Auto Keying and can trigger Grab, Rotate, Scale, plus Fly Mode and Walk Mode on selected object(s)
  • Automatic stop at the scene end frame, disabling Auto Keying after the session completes
  • Flexible start point: trigger playback or recording from the current scene frame
  • Countdown time provides room to position yourself for motion capture before recording triggers
  • Rigid body physics caching safeguarded from loss due to playback looping when Auto Stop is enabled
  • Descriptive tooltips built into each button on hover

Tags

#Blender#animation#recording#auto keying#motion capture#countdown#playback#workflow

Frequently asked questions

Which Blender versions does Countdown Record + Auto Stop support?

Countdown Record + Auto Stop supports Blender versions 2.7x through 4.1.1, according to its compatibility notes. This covers a wide span of releases, so users on older and more recent builds within that range can run the add-on. If you work across multiple Blender installations, check that your version falls inside the stated range before relying on it in a recording session, since behaviour outside supported versions is not documented by the developer.

Why do I need to toggle Auto Stop off and on after loading a .blend file?

Countdown Record + Auto Stop requires you to toggle the "Auto Stop" checkbox off and on again to reactivate it after loading a saved .blend file that has Auto Stop enabled. This is a documented user note from the developer. Doing so ensures the automatic stop at the scene end frame functions correctly for your next recording session. Without the toggle, the feature may not re-engage as expected after reopening a project.

Does Countdown Record + Auto Stop work with motion capture?

Countdown Record + Auto Stop provides motion capture support by giving you ample time during the countdown to position yourself before recording is triggered. The timer counts down from your chosen value, displaying each second, so you can be ready when frames start rolling. The developer also notes recording motion capture in Reverse for some experimental shots, since the Countdown Play and Reverse functions follow your Auto Keying settings.

Is Countdown Record + Auto Stop free?

Countdown Record + Auto Stop is listed as free in this catalog and is released under the GPL license. For current licensing terms and any details specific to your situation, visit the developer's page. The add-on comes from Coby Randal Media, and a demo video is also available if you want to see more before installing it into your Blender setup.

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