Question When the update of a PlayableDirector happens during the execution order?

tl;dr:
Before the frame ends, After the Evaluation/Update of a PlayableDirector, I wanna run my animation logic. But I can't seem to find the right timing, and manually updating PlayableDirectors isn't an option.

The question:
We created a cutscene system using `Timeline` and `PlayableDirector`. Some of the custom tracks in our cutscenes require our animation logic updates, because they do not directly set clips for their Animators.

Initially, we tried manually updating the PlayableDirectors to have more control over them, but we quickly switched to using the GameTime method for updates.

However, this change caused the one-frame lag problem, because the PlayableDirector's update occurred after the Update() timing, so we couldn't apply the output of the timeline tracks to the Animators.

We are now trying to find the right timing in the execution order to insert our animation logic code. Does anyone know how the PlayableDirector works internally and can help us with this issue? Thank you in advance.

 

Hello,
You can dump the contents of PlayerLoop to see where the PlayableDirector's update occurs.
https://docs.unity3d.com/ScriptReference/LowLevel.PlayerLoop.GetCurrentPlayerLoop.html
BTW the following result is what I've dumped ago, and I thought the "DirectorDeferredEvaluate" is when the timeline and its animation executes. You can also inject your custom player loop function to make sure its execute before or after PlayableDirector's update.
Another faster solution is just add your task to LateUpdate.

0 --->> loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.TimeUpdate

   0  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.TimeUpdate+WaitForLastPresentationAndUpdateTime

1 --->> loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.Initialization

   0  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.Initialization+UpdateCameraMotionVectors

   1  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.Initialization+DirectorSampleTime

   2  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.Initialization+AsyncUploadTimeSlicedUpdate

   3  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.Initialization+SynchronizeInputs

   4  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.Initialization+SynchronizeState

   5  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.Initialization+XREarlyUpdate

2 --->> loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate

   0  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+PollPlayerConnection

   1  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+ProfilerStartFrame

   2  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+GpuTimestamp

   3  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+AnalyticsCoreStatsUpdate

   4  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+UnityWebRequestUpdate

   5  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+ExecuteMainThreadJobs

   6  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+ProcessMouseInWindow

   7  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+ClearIntermediateRenderers

   8  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+ClearLines

   9  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+PresentBeforeUpdate

   10  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+ResetFrameStatsAfterPresent

   11  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+UpdateAsyncReadbackManager

   12  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+UpdateStreamingManager

   13  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+UpdateTextureStreamingManager

   14  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+UpdatePreloading

   15  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+RendererNotifyInvisible

   16  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+PlayerCleanupCachedData

   17  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+UpdateMainGameViewRect

   18  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+UpdateCanvasRectTransform

   19  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+XRUpdate

   20  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+UpdateInputManager

   21  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+ProcessRemoteInput

   22  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+ScriptRunDelayedStartupFrame

   23  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+UpdateKinect

   24  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+DeliverIosPlatformEvents

   25  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+ARCoreUpdate

   26  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+DispatchEventQueueEvents

   27  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+PhysicsResetInterpolatedTransformPosition

   28  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+SpriteAtlasManagerUpdate

   29  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.EarlyUpdate+PerformanceAnalyticsUpdate

3 --->> loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.FixedUpdate

   0  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.FixedUpdate+ClearLines

   1  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.FixedUpdate+NewInputFixedUpdate

   2  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.FixedUpdate+DirectorFixedSampleTime

   3  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.FixedUpdate+AudioFixedUpdate

   4  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.FixedUpdate+ScriptRunBehaviourFixedUpdate

   5  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.FixedUpdate+DirectorFixedUpdate

   6  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.FixedUpdate+LegacyFixedAnimationUpdate

   7  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.FixedUpdate+XRFixedUpdate

   8  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.FixedUpdate+PhysicsFixedUpdate

   9  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.FixedUpdate+Physics2DFixedUpdate

   10  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.FixedUpdate+PhysicsClothFixedUpdate

   11  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.FixedUpdate+DirectorFixedUpdatePostPhysics

   12  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.FixedUpdate+ScriptRunDelayedFixedFrameRate

4 --->> loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreUpdate

   0  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreUpdate+PhysicsUpdate

   1  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreUpdate+Physics2DUpdate

   2  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreUpdate+CheckTexFieldInput

   3  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreUpdate+IMGUISendQueuedEvents

   4  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreUpdate+NewInputUpdate

   5  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreUpdate+SendMouseEvents

   6  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreUpdate+AIUpdate

   7  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreUpdate+WindUpdate

   8  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreUpdate+UpdateVideo

5 --->> loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.Update

   0  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.Update+ScriptRunBehaviourUpdate

   1  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.Update+ScriptRunDelayedDynamicFrameRate

   2  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.Update+ScriptRunDelayedTasks

   3  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.Update+DirectorUpdate

6 --->> loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreLateUpdate

   0  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreLateUpdate+AIUpdatePostScript

   1  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreLateUpdate+DirectorUpdateAnimationBegin

   2  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreLateUpdate+LegacyAnimationUpdate

   3  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreLateUpdate+DirectorUpdateAnimationEnd

   4  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreLateUpdate+DirectorDeferredEvaluate   <--- Timeline & Animation

   5  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreLateUpdate+UIElementsUpdatePanels

   6  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreLateUpdate+EndGraphicsJobsAfterScriptUpdate

   7  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreLateUpdate+ConstraintManagerUpdate

   8  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreLateUpdate+ParticleSystemBeginUpdateAll

   9  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreLateUpdate+Physics2DLateUpdate

   10  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PreLateUpdate+ScriptRunBehaviourLateUpdate

7 --->> loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate

   0  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+PlayerSendFrameStarted

   1  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+DirectorLateUpdate

   2  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+ScriptRunDelayedDynamicFrameRate

   3  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+PhysicsSkinnedClothBeginUpdate

   4  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+UpdateRectTransform

   5  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+PlayerUpdateCanvases

   6  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+UpdateAudio

   7  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+VFXUpdate

   8  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+ParticleSystemEndUpdateAll

   9  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+EndGraphicsJobsAfterScriptLateUpdate

   10  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+UpdateCustomRenderTextures

   11  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+XRPostLateUpdate

   12  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+UpdateAllRenderers

   13  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+UpdateLightProbeProxyVolumes

   14  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+EnlightenRuntimeUpdate

   15  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+UpdateAllSkinnedMeshes

   16  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+ProcessWebSendMessages

   17  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+SortingGroupsUpdate

   18  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+UpdateVideoTextures

   19  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+UpdateVideo

   20  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+DirectorRenderImage

   21  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+PlayerEmitCanvasGeometry

   22  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+PhysicsSkinnedClothFinishUpdate

   23  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+FinishFrameRendering

   24  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+BatchModeUpdate

   25  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+PlayerSendFrameComplete

   26  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+UpdateCaptureScreenshot

   27  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+PresentAfterDraw

   28  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+ClearImmediateRenderers

   29  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+PlayerSendFramePostPresent

   30  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+UpdateResolution

   31  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+InputEndFrame

   32  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+TriggerEndOfFrameCallbacks

   33  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+GUIClearEvents

   34  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+ShaderHandleErrors

   35  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+ResetInputAxis

   36  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+ThreadedLoadingDebug

   37  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+ProfilerSynchronizeStats

   38  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+MemoryFrameMaintenance

   39  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+ExecuteGameCenterCallbacks

   40  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+XRPreEndFrame

   41  loop UnityEngine.PlayerLoop.PostLateUpdate+ProfilerEndFrame

 

This is just awesome. You saved a lot of my time. I gave it a shot if I could catch the right timing. In my case, attaching a delegate at the `PreLateUpdate+DirectorDeferredEvaluate` works. Thanks a lot.

 

@enghqii Would you mind sharing a little code snippet how you achived attaching the delegate? I'm only able to attach to PreLateUpdate but attaching to DirectorDeferredEvaluate doesn't seem to have an effect.

Code (CSharp):

1. var playerLoop = PlayerLoop.GetCurrentPlayerLoop();
2. var preLateUpdateLoop = playerLoop.subSystemList[6];
3. var directorEvaluateLoop = preLateUpdateLoop.subSystemList[4];
4. preLateUpdateLoop.updateDelegate += PreLateUpdateDelegate; //works
5. directorEvaluateLoop.updateDelegate += DirectorEvaluateDelegate; //ignored
6. preLateUpdateLoop.subSystemList[4] = directorEvaluateLoop;
7. playerLoop.subSystemList[6] = preLateUpdateLoop;
8. PlayerLoop.SetPlayerLoop(playerLoop);