Monday, July 29th, 2024 Posted by Jim Thacker

Boris FX releases Mocha Pro 2024.5


Originally posted on 15 March 2024, and updated with details of Mocha Pro 2024.5.

Boris FX has begun its 2024 updates to planar tracking software.

Mocha Pro 2024 itself is a major update that integrates the core solver from SynthEyes, Boris FX’s specialist 3D tracking app.

Other key changes include USD support, updates to the roto tools, and performance improvements, particularly when rendering inserts.



Now uses SynthEyes’ core solver for 3D camera tracking
The major new feature in Mocha Pro 2024 is a rewritten version of the Camera Solve module that integrates the core solver from SynthEyes, which Boris FX acquired last year.

The change should make it possible to combine SynthEyes’ robust camera solves with the flexibility of Mocha Pro’s planar tracking tools: one use case that Boris FX identifies is to use roto splines to exclude parts of a shot that could throw off a track, like occlusions.

It is also possible to convert Mocha’s PowerMeshes to projected static 3D meshes in the scene.

The solver has its own 3D viewer, making it possible to see the results of a solve directly inside Mocha without exporting, and its own navigation controls.

Pipeline integration: USD support and FBX export
Another key feature of the rewritten Camera Solve module is USD support.

Users can now import 3D models from USD assets to visualize draft results overlaid on a scene; or export USD data to software that supports Pixar’s Universal Scene Description format, including 3ds Max, Blender, Cinema 4D, Houdini, Maya and Nuke.

It is also possible to export the results of a 3D solve to SynthEyes for more detailed match-moving; to export 3D data in FBX format; and to export nulls to After Effects.

Workflow and performance improvements
Updates to the existing tracking and rotoscoping tools include new Linear and Constant keyframe options for stepped tracking, with the option to Skip or Step over frames.

A new Extrapolate Track feature continues tracking when a track goes off-screen or behind another object, by extrapolating from previous frames.

There are also a number of performance improvements, with Insert rendering now “up to 15x faster”, and Python scripts now running “up to 6x faster” in the Script Editor.


Updated 29 July 2024: Boris FX has released Mocha Pro 2024.5.

It’s another sizeable update, particularly to the new 3D tracking toolset.

New features include mesh texture previews, making it possible to see footage projected onto solved meshes directly in the viewport.

The planar surface also now turns to a 3D mesh plane in solved scenes.

Better export to After Effects, Fusion and apps that support Alembic or FBX
Export has been significantly reworked, adding the option to export 3D tracking data – including 3D nulls and the camera – directly into After Effects compositions.

Fusion users can export shapes to the Multi Poly roto node added in Fusion Studio 19.0.

It is also now possible to export data in Alembic format, and FBX export has been extended to support exporting individual meshes for each point.

Workflow improvements include the option to preview motion blur on any matte overlay, and High Pass preprocessing to reduce issues caused by fast lighting changes.

There are a lot of smaller new changes and new features, so check out the links at the foot of the story for full details.

Pricing and system requirements
Mocha Pro 2024.5 is available as a standalone application, and as Adobe, Avid and OFX plugins. The standalone edition is compatible with Windows 10+, RHEL/CentOS 7-9 Linux and macOS 10.15+.

The plugins are compatible with After Effects and Premiere Pro CC 2014+, HitFilm Pro 2017+, Media Composer 8+, Nuke 8+, Flame 2020+, Fusion Studio 8+, Silhouette 2020+ and Vegas Pro 14-19.

A new licence costs $695 for the Adobe, Avid or OFX plugins, $995 for all the plugins, or $1,495 for the standalone edition plus all of the plugins. Find subscription pricing here.

Read an overview of the new features in Mocha Pro 2024.5 on Boris FX’s blog

Read an overview of the new features in Mocha Pro 2024 on Boris FX’s blog

Read a full list of new features in Mocha Pro in the online release notes


Have your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we don’t post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.