MaxMSP is a visual programming environment that helps you build interactive programs without any prior experience with coding. MaxMSP is especially well tuned for working with audio, video, 3d, MIDI, and interactive systems. MaxMSP is split into several parts – Max handles discrete operations and MIDI, this is the easiest place to start getting familiar with the tool. MSP deals with signal processing and audio. And Jitter is for graphics rendering and video manipulation.
What can you do with Max/MSP?
Anything! or almost anything that you could possibly imagine for audio and video. Max/MSP is a vast toolbox, a user-friendly version of a programming language. It has a completely open structure and supports connections with many other software programs, robots, electronic instruments, smartphones, etc.
Shortcuts
Max has a number of keyboard shortcuts and other helpful tools to improve your workflow and patching efficiency. Here are the very basics that you should commit to memory:
| Action | Result |
|---|---|
| command-click any whitespace in patcher | lock/unlock (interaction/editing) |
| option-click on object | open the object’s help file |
| command-click on a GUI object (while unlocked) | allows for manipulation of GUI object while patcher is unlocked |
| command-m | open Max Console |
| command-i | open Inspector (click on specific objects or right-click –> Inspector Window for Patcher Inspector) |
| option-drag | select multiple patch cords |
| command-y (with patch cords selected) | auto-align patch cords |
| command-y (with objects selected) | vertical or horizontal align (depending on context) of selected objects |
| option-click+drag | duplicate objects |
| command-d | duplicate objects (auto-alignment if done after using option-click+drag) |
| shift-click inlets/outlets | create multiple patch cords for inlets and outlets |
| b | make a button (bang) |
| c | comment box |
| f | floating point number box |
| i | integer number box |
| m | message box |
| n | new object |
| t | make a toggle (0/1) |
| x | shows a menu describing the key commands |
Resources
- Max Documentation / Tutorials
- maxobjects.com — good collection of third-party external objects
- BEAP Analog Model Curriculum Outline by Darwin Grosse
- 20 Objects: A Pragmatic Method for Learning Max/MSP and Max for Live by Darwin Grosse
- Vizzie Video Experiments Curriculum Outline by Gregory Taylor
- Baz Max/MSP Tutorial A set of video tutorials demonstrating various audio and video techniques in Max/MSP/Jitter
- Resources by Christopher Dobrian
Video Tutorials
- Max Intro for Beginners A set of video tutorials by Mari Kimura.
- Batchelor Max Tutorials Tutorial videos on Max by Peter Batchelor.
- Cycling74 (beginner/intermediate/advanced)
- Learning Max (beginner/intermediate/advanced)
- Dude873 (advanced)
- Andrew Robinson (beginner/intermediate)
- Hearing Glass (advanced)
- Oliver Thurley (advanced)
Books on Max and/or Interactivity
- Cipriani, Alessandro, and Giri, Maurizio. Electronic Music and Sound Design: Theory and Practice with Max 7. Volume 1, 3rd edition. Rome: Contemponet, 2016.
- Cipriani, Alessandro, and Giri, Maurizio. Electronic Music and Sound Design: Theory and Practice with Max. Volume 2. Rome: Contemponet, 2014.
- Dodge, Charles and Thomas A. Jerse. Computer Music: Synthesis, Composition, and Performance, 2nd ed. New York: Schirmer Books, 1997.
- Moore, F. Richard. Elements of Computer Music. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Puckette, Miller. The Theory and Technique of Electronic Music. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Co., 2007.
- Roads, Curtis, et al. The Computer Music Tutorial, Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 1996.
- Rowe, Robert. Interactive Music Systems. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1993.
- Rowe, Robert. Machine Musicianship. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2001.
- Taylor, Gregory. Step by Step: Adventures in Sequencing with Max/MSP. Cycling ’74, 2018.
- Winkler, Todd. Composing Interactive Music: Ideas and Techniques Using Max. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1998.