Max 4.26--Block Controllers

[gaggle]

Hey kpalazov,

As far as I'm concerned the block controller is one of those.. things.. in MAX that has.. questionable useability. I tend to mock the block controller when it comes up in a conversation (which does happen, surprisingly :)), but meh, I've simply given up on it.. though I beg of someone to prove it's brilliance, it seems like a neat tool. In theory.

The same goes with NURBS in MAX, there are.. issues with that.

Personally I don't know anyone who uses the "schematic view" editor either.

And anyone actually use the "Strokes" utility? (found in Utilities under More).. it seems like a cool feature.. in theory.

There's more stuff like that, though nothing more pops to mind atm. These are things that I at least don't use, either because their useage never seems relevant, or because they're simply too lame to bother with.

In my world MAX does not have support for non-linear animation like you describe. You can aalllmost get something going using a CS Biped, but egads it's quite the tricky interface to navigate (I think the Character Studio developers needs to be taught a few things on interface-design). Plus, it's Biped..

So in conclusion I'm going to say "screw the block controller, it doesn't work". Would be cool if someone could jump in and teach a lesson in proper block-controller-usage though.
Oh and a last thought, there may be character-improvements in MAX5, it has some character-tools that could prove useful. Or not. I really don't know as I haven't played with those yet.

One of the better NLA tool out there actually seems to be the not-so-known "Animation:Master (http://www.hash.com)", from Hash Inc., I haven't tried it, but their approch is completly 100% NLA based with animation-clips in one place, and you seem to be able to "instance" that animation into the scene itself, and blend it together with instances of other animations. Your average Maya and Lightwave also does NLA though.

Ah well, maybe in MAX R6..

[kpalazov]

Hello gaggle,
First I to sincerely thank you for you experience on this matter as it has saved me hours of work. Like the saying goes, it is better to learn from the mistakes ............

Also I wanted to ask if there is any other option for avoiding reduing the animation over and over.

Thanks again for you help and wisdom.

take care

Kiril

[gaggle]

Hey if you wanna learn from mistakes I'm the grand ol' guru :o)

I too would be interested in ideas on how to do some kind of NLA editing in MAX, it is indeed tedious to make each step a character has to walk instead of perfecting a single walkcycle.

Oh, I did just find something that looks.. potentially interesting. The esteemed, nay, the holy, Bobo (http://www.scriptspot.com/bobo/) has a script under development that.. may interest you. Here's (http://www.scriptspot.com/bobo/darkmoon/eNLArge/) the direct link. It's not public. Yet. But I certainly think it sounds like a scriptfull of joy.

Three hookers for Bobo, on the house*, when this script is completed!

__________________
Regards
Jon Lauridsen
forum@jonlauridsen.com

*shipping & handling fees not included for countries outside Europe

[kpalazov]

Hey Marcel ,
thanks again for your help man that plugin looks so sweet, I wish it was now I need it for a project very soon, like 2 weeks:surprised

I might drop him a mail and see If I can be his beta tester , hoping hoping:O
Hey by the way do you know his country of origin??
Petrov sounds Russian /Bulgarian??

Hey marcel I thought the forums were g rated:applause: :applause:

take care

and thanks again for all the insight

take care

Kiril

[Marcel]

:surprised Huh, somebody called my name?

I'd only wish I knew as much about animation as gaggle! :)

[gaggle]

[bows towards Marcel, the mysterious stranger with the pleasent comments :rolleyes:]

kpalazov, I know nothing of mr. Bobo's whereabouts beyond what it says on his website. ..which means I guess he's a resident (and indeed President) in and of Boboland.

..but I can't seem to find that country on the map?!?
..
ahem.

Anyways, I too am now awaiting his script with glee and wonder, and I hope you manage to get your problems solved in due time.

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