Character Control Files

For SGX to generate animation on a character rig it needs to know information about the target character. This is where character control files come in. These files, which have the .k suffix, are unique to the Speech Graphics system. They tell SGX about the character's muscle properties, its animation targets, and its moods. 

Character Control File Contents

• Animation Targets - The blendshapes, joints, and rig controls for which SGX muscle activations are converted into keyframe data.

• Muscles - The virtual muscles that are activated by SGX according to the input audio. Muscles are defined using a guided pose setup procedure.

• Moods - User-definable collections of facial expressions used by SGX to add nonverbal behaviour to the animation. These expressions typically involve the entire face and can also include head movement and other anatomy.

Authoring and Editing Character Control Files

Character control files are authored using the SGX Studio Maya plugin. As your character's rig or persona changes over time its character definition can be edited in SGX Studio to reflect those changes.