This is a video introduction to Max 5, an interactive graphical programming environment for music, audio, and media.
Max is the graphical programming environment that provides user interface, timing, communications, and MIDI support. MSP adds on real-time audio synthesis and DSP, and Jitter extends Max with video and matrix data processing.
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This movie is rather old but I think its really suiting that it eventually made it to Synthtopia.
It gives you a very good overview of what can and cannot be done. And the nice thing here is that all of this is also possible with Max for Live.
Many people (myself included) don't seem to realize this at first but at the core M4L is basically Max/MSP inside Live. So much you can do with this stuff, it should be forbidden :-)) (yes, it has caused me some hours worth of sleep :-))
Naturally even an environment as Max has pro's and con's. If you're into programming (javascript, java, c/c++) as well as music then Max might be very suitable for you since you can actually enhance on it using those languages (I'm currently fighting M4L with Java myself, it takes getting used to, but its fun and doable).
On the other hand; if your aim is to create stand alone vst's and the likes then Max might not be the best choice. Can't comment on what might be better suited since I honestly don't know.
But considering how Max has its own soundengine, supports Rewire and its patches can be used free of charge using the runtime (that's Max, *not* Max for Live) it sure earns its spot in the place of the professional software IMO.
This movie is rather old but I think its really suiting that it eventually made it to Synthtopia.
It gives you a very good overview of what can and cannot be done. And the nice thing here is that all of this is also possible with Max for Live.
Many people (myself included) don't seem to realize this at first but at the core M4L is basically Max/MSP inside Live. So much you can do with this stuff, it should be forbidden :-)) (yes, it has caused me some hours worth of sleep :-))
Naturally even an environment as Max has pro's and con's. If you're into programming (javascript, java, c/c++) as well as music then Max might be very suitable for you since you can actually enhance on it using those languages (I'm currently fighting M4L with Java myself, it takes getting used to, but its fun and doable).
On the other hand; if your aim is to create stand alone vst's and the likes then Max might not be the best choice. Can't comment on what might be better suited since I honestly don't know.
But considering how Max has its own soundengine, supports Rewire and its patches can be used free of charge using the runtime (that's Max, *not* Max for Live) it sure earns its spot in the place of the professional software IMO.