POWER TIP
Like Reaktor, Max by Cycling ’74 is a visual programming tool but, unlike Reaktor, it is not in-and-of-itself dedicated to creating audio processors, and has capabilities that extend into many different fields: image and video processing, hardware control, and more. So, in reality, Max is more like a combination of an IDE (Interactive Development Environment –a software suite that assists with code development) and a runtime environment in which programs created with Max – referred to as “patchers” – can run.
> Bang on
This allows Max to be exceptionally openended, because new packages of functionality, known in the coding world as “libraries”, can be created by anybody who feels so inclined. And because Max objects can be coded in a number of languages, including the widely used JavaScript, you don’t need to deal with fiddly compiled languages like C and C# in order to start coding your own Max objects. (The word “object” is used in programming to refer to a “thing” within a program –a value, a controller, an oscillator… whatever!)
One of the most important concepts in Max is the “bang”. Bangs are a special type of message that tells a receiving object to do whatever it is it’s meant to do. For example a live. button object sends a bang when it is clicked; if the live.button’s bang output is connected to a dialogue object, a dialogue window will open when it receives the bang message.
“Max feels a lot closer to writing code than Reaktor does”
MSP and M4L
One of the most important Max libraries for audio processing is MSP. This integrates closely with Max and provides more than 200 objects dedicated to processing and working with audio signals in one way or another. These can be recognised by the tilde (“~”) suffix given to all MSP object names – when you see that tilde you know that the object is intended for handling audio signals.
With Max and MSP you can create all sorts of different synths and effects, but integrating your creations into your music production workflow isn’t so easy because there is no plugin version of Max. Rather, you can either use Max standalone, link Max with your DAW via ReWire, or you can use Ableton Live.
Max For Live (M4L) is a version of Max that integrates tightly with Ableton Live. You can add instruments, audio processors and MIDI processors created with Max directly to a track’s device chain, as well as add empty prototype devices that act as starting points for your own M4L-based devices. The integration includes a library of visual controls – dials, buttons, etc. – that are styled to match Live’s standard look, and access to internal details about Live and its currently loaded set. M4L is a standard part of Live Suite, or can be purchased as an add-on for Live Standard and Live Intro. Ableton also distribute a number of M4L devices, both free and premium.