Configuring Your Tracker with OpenTrack

OpenTrack is the powerful, free software that unlocks the full potential of your TrackIT clip. This guide will walk you through the essential settings to get the most precise and immersive experience possible.

1. Initial Setup

First, we need to tell OpenTrack what hardware you're using and how it should talk to your games. These are the foundational settings for any IR tracker.

• Input: From the dropdown menu, select PointTracker 1.1. This is the correct input for IR LED clips.
• Output: Select freetrack 2.0 Enhanced. This protocol is compatible with the vast majority of games.
• Filter: Choose Accela. This filter provides a good balance of smoothness and responsiveness.

Once these are set, click the "Start" button. You should see three dots appear in the black video window, and the octopus icon will begin to move as you move your head.

2. Camera Settings

Getting a clean image from your camera is the single most important step for smooth tracking. The goal is to make the camera see *only* the LEDs on your clip.

• Next to the "Input" dropdown, click the small hammer icon to open the PointTracker settings.
• Under the "Camera" tab, click "Open camera settings".
• In your camera's control panel, disable all "Auto" settings (like Exposure, Gain, and White Balance). Set them to manual.
• Turn the Exposure down until the main video feed is completely black, but the three IR LEDs from your clip are visible as bright, distinct white dots. This ensures the camera is only seeing the tracker and ignoring any other light in the room.

3. Model Dimensions

Telling OpenTrack the exact size of your clip ensures the tracking is 1:1 and accurate, preventing any view distortion.

• In the PointTracker settings, go to the "Model" tab.
• Select "Clip" as the model type.
• You will see fields for dimensions (e.g., Length A, B, C). You must measure your physical TrackIT clip with a ruler and enter the dimensions (in millimetres) into the corresponding fields. An accurate model is key to precise tracking.

4. Set Your Center Keybind

This is a crucial step for usability. You need a way to quickly recenter your view in-game without opening any menus.

• In the main OpenTrack window, click the "Options" button.
• Go to the "Shortcuts" tab.
• Find the "Center" function in the list, click the "Bind" button, and press a key on your keyboard or joystick that is easy for you to reach while playing.

5. Adjust Your Curves

The final step is to adjust the "Mapping" curves. This controls how sensitive the in-game movement is compared to your real-world head movement. Click the "Mapping" button to open the editor. For each axis (like Yaw for looking left/right and Pitch for up/down), you can click and drag the line to create a curve. A steeper curve means more in-game movement for less real-world movement.

This is a personal preference, so experiment with these settings in-game until you find what feels most natural to you. A good starting point is to set it so that looking at the edge of your monitor corresponds to looking 90 degrees in the game.