Knowing Javascript, how long will it take me to learn Max 4 Live?

Learn about building and using Max for Live devices.
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leo_music_9
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2020 2:23 pm

Knowing Javascript, how long will it take me to learn Max 4 Live?

Post by leo_music_9 » Mon Nov 23, 2020 4:31 pm

Hi guys,

I'm a front end developer and also an Ableton user. I just learned that max for live uses javascript.

how long do you think I'll take me to learn max for live to the level in which I can create my own MIDI devices? (given I already know javascript)

I'm just interested in MIDI devices.

Thanks.

doubleUG
Posts: 249
Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2011 7:19 am

Re: Knowing Javascript, how long will it take me to learn Max 4 Live?

Post by doubleUG » Tue Nov 24, 2020 5:49 pm

cant say. Midi is mostly a manipulation of a list with 2 items.
So you can simply use midiin->midiparse or midiselect->to js (javascript)>midiformat>midiout

<pre><code>
----------begin_max5_patcher----------
490.3ocsUssiaCBD8YGo7Of3Y2Hahysp9mTUEQrY2RjMXAiSSTT+2WXvrIZ2
jMVQdevF4y.blybymmNIgtSeTXojeR9MII4rCIAw7HIQfDZC+XYM2hajpD+S
uaOMs2FHNBHdirRp6f2Mzxgx+JUut0HJg.ErrkyxRIy2fKEq7uYrYYj+DOjp
qQppE.RU9UntaNBmEgkUHwNu4GqnH1+mNwu5VRGE87h1zvGjjJvk0rGHoU2V
RrHb.CN0JBWOUpbzSnzK22Upd4yq5RcSiPAeV1+hbR2Q1yOvskFYKP.uh+xP
PQFp50a7K4KBekMFo0EieZcuc.oynV17bUn42Mcd67372cIK+fnZqCy4Qa4.
Xj65fPGZxEklPeQVKT7F7ZowS6UjwABByVm0c0n4rfw9X3n2h3nzJFRHkgs6
aXyV7Lgz02Ojld4ouaI1zj9f9G12yTCo5qiG4Xs05BbHX1XWh4U7MUa9GUaX
WzZo5S+C.8augODCr5NSYjovHnTxUtdkvBREGjZ0UaZUXS2OXOX5lOD5VNZz
wFBcyGM5xGBcraRWetj21dPXr8mHvjqvcu1boIxUipBeGJhnFwAY7HgePQ4F
WYK3pY6LgYLGWVP6OstRXTcR7BbHds5oF6M7yjrs7fpvdnoSba3MEA+2V.
-----------end_max5_patcher-----------
</code></pre>
copy the text, open Live > drag in empty M4L device > open Max editor > paste > save M4L device
https://docs.cycling74.com/max8/vignett ... ng_patches

https://doubleUG.bandcamp.com/releases

ian_h
Posts: 12
Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2020 11:55 am

Re: Knowing Javascript, how long will it take me to learn Max 4 Live?

Post by ian_h » Tue Nov 24, 2020 8:26 pm

Does that preserve the timing of your midi events, seeing how JS runs in the low-priority thread?

leo_music_9
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2020 2:23 pm

Re: Knowing Javascript, how long will it take me to learn Max 4 Live?

Post by leo_music_9 » Sun Nov 29, 2020 2:56 pm

doubleUG wrote:
Tue Nov 24, 2020 5:49 pm
cant say. Midi is mostly a manipulation of a list with 2 items.
So you can simply use midiin->midiparse or midiselect->to js (javascript)>midiformat>midiout

<pre><code>
----------begin_max5_patcher----------
490.3ocsUssiaCBD8YGo7Of3Y2Hahysp9mTUEQrY2RjMXAiSSTT+2WXvrIZ2
jMVQdevF4y.blybymmNIgtSeTXojeR9MII4rCIAw7HIQfDZC+XYM2hajpD+S
uaOMs2FHNBHdirRp6f2Mzxgx+JUut0HJg.ErrkyxRIy2fKEq7uYrYYj+DOjp
qQppE.RU9UntaNBmEgkUHwNu4GqnH1+mNwu5VRGE87h1zvGjjJvk0rGHoU2V
RrHb.CN0JBWOUpbzSnzK22Upd4yq5RcSiPAeV1+hbR2Q1yOvskFYKP.uh+xP
PQFp50a7K4KBekMFo0EieZcuc.oynV17bUn42Mcd67372cIK+fnZqCy4Qa4.
Xj65fPGZxEklPeQVKT7F7ZowS6UjwABByVm0c0n4rfw9X3n2h3nzJFRHkgs6
aXyV7Lgz02Ojld4ouaI1zj9f9G12yTCo5qiG4Xs05BbHX1XWh4U7MUa9GUaX
WzZo5S+C.8augODCr5NSYjovHnTxUtdkvBREGjZ0UaZUXS2OXOX5lOD5VNZz
wFBcyGM5xGBcraRWetj21dPXr8mHvjqvcu1boIxUipBeGJhnFwAY7HgePQ4F
WYK3pY6LgYLGWVP6OstRXTcR7BbHds5oF6M7yjrs7fpvdnoSba3MEA+2V.
-----------end_max5_patcher-----------
</code></pre>
Thanks doubleUG.

I actually need it just to fix the little bug the the Real-time quantizer you made me has.
I the MIDI guitar player.

The device is incredible and almost perfect, but unfortunatelly, with that little thing, it's hard to use it on a live performance (which was the main purpose)

I don't want to be annoying, but do you think you can help me fixing that?

If I had another way to do it, I wouldn't bother you, but unfortunately...

Best,
Leo

grrrz
Posts: 156
Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2020 1:54 pm

Re: Knowing Javascript, how long will it take me to learn Max 4 Live?

Post by grrrz » Tue Dec 29, 2020 1:43 pm

leo_music_9 wrote:
Mon Nov 23, 2020 4:31 pm
Hi guys,

I'm a front end developer and also an Ableton user. I just learned that max for live uses javascript.

how long do you think I'll take me to learn max for live to the level in which I can create my own MIDI devices? (given I already know javascript)

I'm just interested in MIDI devices.

Thanks.
It'd probably be fairly easy. I don't know how JS integrates with max and how it'd help you; but in general graphical programming is more accessible than regular programming.
That being say there are a few things that'd be annoying to anyone coming from "regular" programming:
-you have to deal with the timing of events. You have to understand the order in which they're fired; sometimes using delays to sync them up; that can cause a few headheaches.
-there can be a huge amount of copy paste depending of the thing you're doing; even if sometimes better ways are possible; and it can be frustrating.
-tidying up your patch so it's understandable by yourself or another human is a big part of max programming; and it's time consuming comparing to just adding lines of codes.
I'd be curious to know how JS integration can help with some of those repetitive or annoying tasks. For complex projects; multiple instances of sub-abstractions are a big help.

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