Maya 2020.4 and MtoA problem

[max_schoenherr]

hi there, i am a maya tutor (uhr24 on youtube) and run the student version of maya 2020.4 on a win 10 machine. since the installation of arnold in it's new version mtoa 4.2.0. several problems have occured, the most obvious one: when i render the scene using the arnold > render option i get a black window and this error message:

Warning: arnold_bifrost.dll was compiled against non-compatible Arnold 6.0.0.0

i can render the scene with the IPR icon right next to the render settings icon. what is this error message about?

[Anonymous]

wait for Maya update !
C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Bifrost\Maya2020\2.2.0.1\bifrost\arnold-6.0.0.0

[max_schoenherr]

when is the maya update coming out?

[Anonymous]

no idea! ask Adsk

[Christoph_Schaedl]

Bifrost needs an update. Autodesk is working on it.

[max_schoenherr]

https://youtu.be/MSfcTzThDXE

[Stephen.Blair · Accepted solution]

Get the latest Bifrost to use with MtoA 4.2
https://area.autodesk.com/bifrost/downloads/

[max_schoenherr]

hi stephen, thanks for the info. i updated bif to 2.2.0.2, but the problem remains. i get a black window when i render using Arnold → Render. i can render using the IPR icon next to the render settings icon, but not, as usual, via the Arnold menu.

[Stephen.Blair]

So you still get this?

WARNING |  arnold_bifrost.dll was compiled against non-compatible Arnold 6.0.0.0

[max_schoenherr]

i don't get that specific error message any more, but a black render window. see this (unlisted, temporary) video: https://youtu.be/bUJRRXNJKOE

[max_schoenherr]

this is the error message i see: # Warning: [mtoa] Output driver 1 for AOV "RGBA" is null #

[Stephen.Blair]

The bifrost update wouldn't cause that.
The Output driver warning is because of the Maya Render View.

Can you get a Info-level Arnold log?

[max_schoenherr]

does this tell you anything about the problem? i'm lost.

[Stephen.Blair]

Something wrong/corrupt with that PNG file, that's all I can tell.

[max_schoenherr]

i have two windows machines, one in my studio, one at home. the one in the studio is still using the previous versions of arnold and bifrost. the one at home is up to date and shows the render problem. i'm reluctant to update the studio machine, and better wait for others having the same problem ... solved.

[Anonymous]

No problem here with the update, you may add this variable:
BIFROST_ARNOLD_PATH = point to extensions\bifrost\1.5.0
mine look like this:
BIFROST_ARNOLD_PATH= C:\Solidangle\MtoA\maya2020\extensions\bifrost\1.5.0
Hope this help!

[Stephen.Blair]

Upload a simplified version of the problem scene?

[max_schoenherr]

bifArnoldDispute.zipthe scene i showed you is as simple as possible anyway. the problem happens with all scenes.

[max_schoenherr]

thanks for the hint, but i don't understand it. i guess i have no solidangle folder on my machine.

[Anonymous]

because I installed MtoA in c:\Solidangle\Mtoa.
You have to point to C:\Program Files\Autodesk\maya2020\Arnold\extensions\bifrost\1.5.0