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SideFX Houdini FX 21.0.44 - Professional 3D Animation and Visual Effects Software

SideFX Houdini FX 21

info

Houdini 21 introduces major updates across the pipeline, including enhancements to KineFX with a new motion mixer, animation catalog, Autorig Builder, and improved muscle system. Copernicus gains a sparse GPU Pyro FX solver, reaction diffusion effects, texture baking, while Solaris adds Shot Builder, Live Rendering, and Karma support for Hydra 2 and Gaussian Splats.

Key Features​

  • Enhanced KineFX with new motion mixer, animation catalog, Autorig Builder, and improved muscle system
  • Sparse GPU Pyro FX solver in Copernicus for faster simulations
  • Reaction diffusion effects and texture baking capabilities
  • Shot Builder, Live Rendering, and Karma support for Hydra 2 and Gaussian Splats in Solaris
  • Natural integration with standard interface nodes, scenegraph, and scripting
  • Multi-threaded scene translation made possible by Geolib3
  • Bundled Arnold, shaders, and plugins for smooth out-of-the-box experience
  • Support for the latest Arnold 4.2.x series
  • Improved interactivity for live rendering (IPR) allowing rapid preview of look changes
  • Ultra-fast OpenVDB volume rendering
  • Shader networks support
  • Works with third-party shaders and renderer procedurals (for hair, etc.)
  • Render outputs and AOVs, including Deep EXR
  • Support for curves location type for hair rendering
  • Many light types and light filters supported, with interactive modification of lights
  • Object parameters and global options matching Arnold capabilities
  • Improved documentation within the interface (args files)

System Requirements​

  • Windows operating system
  • Compatible with various graphics cards (issues reported with some newer GPUs)

Installation Guide​

  1. Delete files in C:\\Windows\\keys
  2. Double-click to install houdini-21.0.440-win64-vc143.exe, making sure to check "License Server" during installation
  3. After completion, open License Administrator from the Start menu. Under Services, click Stop for Sesinetd, but don't close this window as you'll need it later
  4. Copy and replace sesinetd.exe from the replacement folder to C:\\Program Files\\Side Effects Software\\License Server
  5. In the bottom left Diagnostic section, copy Local host name (Server Name) and Local server code (Server Code)
  6. Open the keygen houdini_21_0_keygen.exe, enter Server Name and Server Code. Change the Exp.Date from 2025 to 2125, then click Generate Keys to create the License
  7. Open the scripts folder and right-click to run EnterKeys.bat as Administrator. Follow the prompts to copy the corresponding registration codes
  8. Under Services, click Start for Sesinetd, then close License Administrator. Reopen License Administrator, close all windows, and then reopen Houdini to complete the process!
Download

Download Houdini FX v21.0.44 for Windows

Extraction Password: fw6k

Troubleshooting​

  • If you encounter issues after installation:
    • Try copying xf_foundry.lic to these three directories:
      1. C:\\ProgramData\\The Foundry\\RLM\\
      2. C:\\Program Files\\The Foundry\\FLEXlm\\
      3. C:\\Program Files\\The Foundry\\LicensingTools7.1\\bin\\RLM\\
    • If you get a connection error in the final step, double-check your license server settings
    • If the crack fails completely, ensure all files are properly copied and the license server is running

User Comments Summary​

Based on user feedback, here are some common experiences:

Positive:

  • Many users report successful installations and usage
  • High-quality procedural modeling and VFX capabilities praised
  • Fast workflow compared to traditional 3D software

Issues Reported:

  • Activation problems after replacing DLL files
  • Compatibility issues with newer NVIDIA RTX graphics cards
  • Crashing during certain operations, especially with complex scenes
  • Some versions showing blank exports when using object import models
  • Rendering crashes, particularly with GPU rendering

Recommendations​

  1. Ensure graphics drivers are up to date
  2. For RTX card users, test compatibility or consider using older hardware
  3. Save work frequently due to potential crashing issues
  4. Test export functionality early in your workflow to identify limitations

Tags​

  • Houdini
  • Houdini 21
  • 3D Animation
  • Visual Effects
  • VFX
  • 3D Software
  • Procedural Modeling
  • Houdini FX
  • SideFX