# Animation recorder

> Learn how to use the Animation Recorder to record a simulation run and play it back as an animated scene.

The `Animation Recorder` records the motion trajectories of selected prims during a simulation run.
You can merge a recording into the scene and play it back without physics computation.
The animated scene behaves like any other scene in NVIDIA Isaac Sim: you can define camera paths, assign new materials, or combine multiple animations.
Any program that consumes USD files, for example Blender or a web-based viewer, can play back the recording.

### Prerequisites

You need to complete the following steps before you can record an animation:

1. [Set up a scene](/simulation/quickstart).
2. [Connect to NVIDIA Isaac Sim](/simulation/installation#connect-to-cloud-instance).

### Step 1: Open

Open the `Animation Recorder` panel from `Tools` → `Wandelbots NOVA` → `Animation Recorder`.

The panel docks next to the `Property` panel below the `Stage` window.

![Open Animation Recorder panel](/assets/nova/omniservice/animation_recorder/open_ui.webp)

### Step 2: Record

1. Select the prims you want to track.\
   All children of the selected prims are included.
2. Select the output folder for the recording with the `FilePickerDialog` button.\
   By default, the folder `nova-recordings` in the current stage directory is selected and created if it does not exist.
3. Enter a filename for the recording.\
   The default is `nova-recording`.
4. Click `Start Recording`.\
   The button is active only when at least one prim is selected.

![Recording options in the Animation Recorder](/assets/nova/omniservice/animation_recorder/record_options.webp)

> **Info:** `Start Recording` does not start the simulation. Start the simulation manually to capture trajectories.
> The recorder also captures motion from dragging prims manually, even when the simulation is not running.

### Step 3: Play back

1. Select the recording to merge with a scene.\
   The last recorded file is selected by default.
2. Select the stage to merge with the recording.\
   The currently active stage is selected by default.
3. Click `Process & Open for Playback`.\
   The button is active only when both files are selected.
4. Enable the `Animation Timeline Window` extension from `Window` → `Extensions`.
5. Open the timeline from `Window` → `Animation` → `Timeline`.

![Playback preparation in the Animation Recorder](/assets/nova/omniservice/animation_recorder/playback_preparation.webp)

> **Info:** You can create multiple recordings during a simulation run and merge each one independently with a stage.
> The stage must match the scene used for the recording, otherwise the motion trajectories do not align with the scene.

### Step 4: Watch

**Usage**

Video: [/video/omniservice/animation\_recorder/animation\_recorder\_demo.webm](/video/omniservice/animation_recorder/animation_recorder_demo.webm)

**Playback in Blender**

Video: [/video/omniservice/animation\_recorder/animation\_blender.webm](/video/omniservice/animation_recorder/animation_blender.webm)