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How to convert Softimage|XSI (.xsi) to Maya (.ma,.mb)?

PolyTrans|CAD+DCC performs mathematically precise CAD, DCC/Animation, GIS and BIM 3D file conversions into all key downstream 3D packages and file formats. Okino software is used and trusted throughout the world by many tens of thousands of 3D professionals in mission & production critical environments, backed by respectable personal support directly from our core development team.

Softimage|XSI

Softimage|3D and Softimage|XSI were two well known 3D animation systems written by Softimage Inc. of Montreal Canada. Autodesk eventually came to buy the company in 2008 and then kill off the software in 2014.

Okino had a very long standing relationship with Softimage and its software, having written the main import/export converters for both Softimage|3D and Softimage|XSI in the 1990s.

Conversion to/from Softimage|3D was done with the .hrc and .dsc file formats which are now considered obsolete. In simple terms, you would need to get a running version of Softimage|XSI v7.x on your Windows machine in order to read in older .hrc and .dsc files.

Conversion to/from Softimage|XSI was done with the .xsi v3 and v5 file formats which are still supported in Okino software.

Maya

Maya is a well known and respected DCC/Animation system which had originally been developed by Alias Research in Canada then purchased by Autodesk in 2006 after Alias went bankrupt.

As is very little understood, no program on this planet can read or write Maya ".ma" (ASCII) or ".mb" (binary) files because the full geometry modifier stack of the Maya software, and its various plugin modules, are needed in order to properly evaluate the file before it can be rendered. This is what forced Okino to write its well known PolyTrans-for-Maya system, which allows for all Okino 3D converters to run within Maya itself. For example, if you want to convert to/from CINEMA 4D (.c4d files) then you would do so entirely inside of Maya.

Due to multi-decades history, Maya users are notorious for using the OBJ file format to convert files to/from other software packages just as 3ds Max users wrongly use the 1985-era .3ds file format. OBJ is an "okay" file format but there are much better or more preferred methods to convert the data.

Softimage|XSI import converter's overview

Maya export converter's overview