Max Fundamentals

Max Fundamentals Juan P Bello

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Max • Max is a high-level high-level graphic graphic programming programming language, written in C • It provides an interactive programming environment with extensive libraries of pre-compiled and pre-tested pre-tested algorithms • It automatically automatically generates code from graphical configurations • The programmer programmer can be oblivious to the details of of writing code • That allows rapid prototyping by (non)programmers (non)programmers • On the other side it makes the language language less flexible, and usually performance is slower. • Max is specifically intended for real-time real-time computer music applications









A brief history • •

First developed developed on the the mid mid 80s 80s by Miller Puckette, Puckette, then at at IRCAM IRCAM The name Max honors honors Max V. Matthews Matthews

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Originally commercialized commercialized by Opcode Systems in 1990 In the mid 90s, Dave Zicarelli (then at Opcode) Opcode) started started adding adding DSP DSP functionalities into Max to match those in the new PD software created by Puckette (now at UCSD). That resulted in Max/MSP









Object-oriented programming • Allow programmers to build digital systems systems as collections collections of interacting objects, each with a specific function (see Pope, 1991) • Basically akin to the process process of of analysis: break down down a whole into into its constituent (functional) parts • Objects communicate communicate with with each each other through messages containing data or orders • Popular programming languages (C for example) now feature









Objects in MAX • •

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Objects Objects are algorithms algorithms that execute execute an action action Max programs programs are are modular, modular, composed composed of of a number of these these objects, objects, each executing an action that contributes towards the overall desired musical result Three Three types of objects: objects: • Standard: Existing objects objects that that come with Max’s Max’s library • Custom: User-created User-created objects that result from the combination of standard ones • External: new objects objects programmed in C and Java Objects can receive messages from: computer peripherals, MIDI devices and other MAX objects Each object has a number number of of parameters parameters that regulate regulate its behavior. They ften variables variables that that change change during If no









Objects in MAX • Data transmission between objects is achieved by graphically graphically wiring them • We create these wires by dragging the buttoned-down buttoned-down mouse mouse between the outlets and inlets of different objects. • Because of the wiring process, process, the resulting resulting programs programs are are known known as patches • Patches Patches can be modified modified in Edit Edit mode • To access Edit mode, we can: ctrl-click (or -click) on the patch window, or key ctrl-E (or -E). • In Edit mode we can can access access the object Inspector (Get Info) and see/modify the object properties.











Messages in Max • Max communicates communicates through information messages which are passed on between objects











Messages: Bangs • The bang message message triggers the object’s action (Tutorial 7)











Messages: Numbers Get Info











Messages: Numbers • Sliders are number number boxes boxes with a UI designed for on-screen on-screen control











Messages: Numbers • Other Other types types of sliders sliders with different different outlooks and configurations • (see (see Tutori Tutorial al 14) 14)





























































































































































Max Fundamentals

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