Assign Controller

There is really no difference between a controller and a constraint. All constraints are controllers that require the use of a second object. For example a Path constraint is a controller that requires a spline object for a path.

Special-case controllers are not assigned manually with the Assign Controller command. They are applied automatically during certain procedures.

Barycentric Morph Controller is applied by selecting an object and clicking Command panel > Geometry > Compound Objects > Morph.

A Master Point Controller is assigned when animating vertices, control points, or vectors in the sub-object mode of an Editable Mesh, Editable Spline, Editable Patch, NURBS surface, or FFD modifier.

Slave Controllers can be assigned manually, but is also automatically applied to selected tracks when a Block controller is created in Track View Global Tracks. A Slave controller transfers key data to a Block controller. Slave controllers are described in the Block controller topic.

Attachment Constraint: A Position controller that attaches an object's position to a face on another object. The target object doesn't have to be a mesh, but must be able to convert itself to a mesh.

Audio Controller: Animates a parameter or object using a sound file.

Bezier Controller: Smoothes function curves between transform keys, giving the effect of continuous, natural movement. The Bezier controller is the default controller for position and scale.

Barycentric Morph Controller: Applied during the creation of a morph object. Each morph key represents a series of weights for all morph targets.

Block Controller: Group tracks from multiple objects into Blocks. Blocks can be copied, pasted, scaled and saved. Use Blocks to quickly re-create a complex motion anywhere in an animation.

Color RGB Controller (Point 3 XYZ Controller): Creates separate tracks for red, green, and blue.

Euler XYZ Rotation Controller: Combines separate, single-value float controllers to specify an angle of rotation about each of the X, Y, and Z axes. You can specify the order the axes are rotated.

Expression Controller: Mathematical expressions control object parameters such as length, width, and height, or transform and modifier values, such as position coordinates.

IK Controller: Assigned to a hierarchy through the use of IK Solvers. Can be automatically assigned to bones at the time of creation by using Assign to Children.

Linear Controller: Makes the function curves between each of the keyframes into straight lines.

List Controller: Combines controllers.

Link Constraint: Animates the transfer of hierarchical links from one object to another. You can, for example, have the same object passed from object to object.

Look-At Constraint: Forces that object to constantly look at another. Formerly a Transform controller, this is now a rotation controller.

Master Point Controller: Automatically assigned when animating vertices, control points, or vectors in sub-object mode. This controller simplifies managing potentially hundreds of tracks in Track View.

Motion Capture Controller: Controls and records an object's motion or parameter using an external device. Supported devices are mouse, keyboard, MIDI device, and joystick.

Noise Controller: Generates random values, which you can see as peaks and valleys in the function curve.

On/Off Controller: Provides on and off control.

Boolean Controller: An improved version of the On/Off Controller that allows for adding keys without disrupting the existing keyframing.

Path Constraint: Assigns a spline as a trajectory (path) for an object so that the object follows the path.

Position XYZ Controller: Splits the X, Y, and Z components into three separate tracks.

PRS Transform Controller: Creates subcontrollers for position, rotation, and scale.

Reactor Controller: Allows an object or parameter to react to another object or parameter. For example, you can change the scale of one object based on the Z position of another object.

Scale XYZ Controller: Provides separate scale tracks for the X, Y, and Z axes.

Script Controller: Controls objects and parameters with the 3ds max scripting language.

Spring Controller: Adds secondary dynamics effects to any point or object position.

Smooth Rotation Controller: Creates smooth rotations.

Surface Constraint: Positions an object along the surface of another object.

TCB Controller: Provides Tension, Continuity, and Bias controls for the function curves between keys.

Transform Script Controller: Provides scripted PRS control for objects.

Waveform Controller: A float controller that provides regular, periodic waveforms. For example, blinking lights and rhythmic object motion.

Assign Controller—Choose a controller type from the Assign Controllers dialog. Depending on the type of track you have selected, the Choose Controller dialog displays a subset of the different types of controllers.