🎲Noise
Generate random and turbulent motion
Noise can add randomness to object movement, rotation, or generate data to combine with other behaviors using Channel Link.
To add Noise, right-click an object in the Timeflow View and select:
Add Automation > Noise
Noise has a single read-only channel which outputs the randomly generated data, either in vector or float format, depending on the output type selected.
Noise Editor
Select the object to view its settings in the Inspector.
For common features, please refer to Menu Bar and Update Settings.
Apply Mode
Use the drop-down menu to select how the random data is applied.
Position: Applies the generated values to the specified transform's position.
Rotation: Applies to the transform's rotation (Euler angles).
Data Only: Generates random values but does not apply it to the transform.
Apply to Transform
The target transform which the data is applied to. The current object transform is used by default though may be assigned to any other object in the scene by dragging and dropping it from the Hierarchy view into the field.
Beware of Confusing Setups
Since it is possible to target any transform in the scene, make sure the relationships are documented or clearly shown in the scene. Otherwise, an object may be under the influence of a behavior that can be hard to track down.
Axis
Select whether to generate random values for all axes (XYZ), or for an individual axis.
Input Position
Sets the initial position of the transform and also acts as the center point for the noise calculation.
Use Transform
When enabled, the current object transform is used to provide the input position. This is primarily used to add noise to an existing object animation or when applying noise to a child or other object separate from the current one.
Apply to Position <=> Input Position When applying to Position and Use Transform is enabled, if the target transform is the same object a warning is displayed. This configuration causes a circular loop where Noise generates the transform position which is then used for input on the next frame calculated. This is not prohibited and will still function, however the transform movement is sporadic and unpredictable since it doesn't have a fixed position to anchor the noise. This results in runaway objects and is likely not the desired result. See Parenting and Channel Order below for more advanced setup to resolve this.
Time Interval
Instead of generating random values each frame, noise can optionally be generated using intervals of time, interpolating between each random point. This is more noticeable when using the Random noise type but works also with Perlin noise.
Time Interval determines the frequency (in seconds) new random numbers are generated over time. Use the +/- value to vary the time interval further. The interpolation mode drop-down selects the type of interpolation to apply between time intervals. Spatially the object interpolates linearly to each new random location.
Hold Time
To make the object stop at each random position, enter a hold time in seconds with optional variability.
Use Time Interval and Hold Time to create a variety of autonomous movements. This could be used to simulate insect-like behavior, flying vehicles, or to add periodic randomness to any animation or behavior.
Random Noise
Uses built-in Random function to generate a new random value each frame (or Time Interval).
Use Random mode for extra random or chaotic movement.
Random Seed
Determines the starting seed for the random value generator. Change this or click the Randomize button for a new random variation.
Perlin Noise
Uses built-in Perlin noise function to generate smooth interpolating random values.
Perlin noise can be thought of as a field of random zones that blend into one another, creating an effect like turbulence.
Use Perlin for organic smoother movement. It's easiest to imagine Perlin noise as a 3-dimensional cloud which an object can move through.
Offset
Shifts the input position of Perlin noise.
Use Offset to change the randomness of the Perlin field. This can be helpful when working at 0,0,0 coordinates where noise generation may sometimes appear symmetrical or not random enough.
Speed
Offsets the input position of Perlin noise over time, in units per second. This adds to the Input Position and Offset causing the Perlin noise to drift over time.
Use Speed to simulate wind and other effects.
Scale
Sets the scale factor of the noise. This works with both Perlin and Random noise. Adjust the scale to control the overall intensity. If outputting a vector value (XYZ) then the scale on each axis may be set independently.
Multiply Scale
Scales the final noise output, multiplied uniformly with Scale.
Multiply Speed
Controls the overall speed of the Noise behavior.
This also scales the Time Interval and Hold Time accordingly. To increase noise speed separately without affecting the time interval, the Speed may be set with Perlin noise.
Amount
Use this slider to reduce the overall intensity of the noise output.
Use Amount to make the noise effects more subtle or to animate it on and off.
Override Output
Each of the component values (XYZW) of the final noise output may be set to a fixed value. This is useful, for example, to set the alpha value (W) when using noise to generate a color.
Options
World Space
Enable this to work with world space coordinates, otherwise local space is used.
Center
When enabled, noise is centered on the input position in all directions around it. Otherwise if Center is unchecked, noise adds to the input position generating positive values only.
Invert
Flips the direction of the noise.
Additional Notes
Use Parenting to Contain Noise
It is often helpful to apply Noise on a separate object to isolate it from the target transform. In the example shown below, the target is a child of the Noise object. Creating a parent-child relationship in this way makes it easier to work with since only the child transform is affected.
Layering Noise with Channel Order
In the example shown below, the object has a Motion Path (Path Position) with Noise applied on top of it. The motion path provides the input position for the noise.
In the inspector, this setup shows a warning by Use Transform since it is applying to the position of the same object providing it, however in this case the warning can be ignored since the motion path channel is processing first to set the object position.
Predetermination
Random values are not entirely random and to a degree predeterminate. Noise attempts to generate the same results each time played by seeding the random number generator with the same value every frame. This results in repeating more-or-less the same movement each time the animation is played without caching the data, however there is some variability as illustrated in the graphs captured below.
During each playback there is some variability in range, however mostly noise behaves the same.
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