live/max question

[xXxEVILxXx]

I'd never coded before, and assigned myself a "class" of doing Max tutorial lessons each night after work. I'd do the tutorial, attempt to construct the patch as instructed, I'd use the object definition window to try to fully understand how and what each object could be used. And then I'd try to use the new object(s) in an idea of my own and try to get my head around the concept of each object.
It's not too hard to learn, just realize it's like learning to play guitar or to paint, at first it's kinda boring and repeatative, but it gets a lot more fun quick.
At first I'd go through maybe 2-3 tutorials a night, some later ones maybe 1 a night.
Start with the Max tutorials up to maybe lesson 7-10, then maybe start doing some of the MSP tut's. You can do it and use the free full version for a month before it stops working. If you really try to treat it like a class, you'll know by the end of the month whether it's something you'd like to buy.
Hope you find it useful, you can do stuff that no one other music app will let you do.
Good luck.

how well do you consider yourself with coding?

i'm only asking, b/c like the op, i've been interested in max/msp & jitter for quite sometime, but have been hesitant as it's not very quick to pick and get working...

however, the more i see/hear the things that get accomplished using the software, make me very interested in trying to really get into it...

might try what you said to do for the month free trial, but something i also wanted to know about [not sure if this has been discussed and/or announced, as i don't come here to often], but what is happening with ableton & cycle'74? aren't they working on something new together?

i only ask, b/c of that announcement a while back, but then a release of a new ableton? so quick after 6?

just really curious, cause i would hate to get really into max/msp/jitter and have to learn something else [hopefully it would encompass a lot of what i would learn and be adaptive in a new environment? guess time will tell on that one], once they came out with something from their joint venture...

[Tone Deft]

I'd never coded before, and assigned myself a "class" of doing Max tutorial lessons each night after work. I'd do the tutorial, attempt to construct the patch as instructed, I'd use the object definition window to try to fully understand how and what each object could be used. And then I'd try to use the new object(s) in an idea of my own and try to get my head around the concept of each object.
It's not too hard to learn, just realize it's like learning to play guitar or to paint, at first it's kinda boring and repeatative, but it gets a lot more fun quick.
At first I'd go through maybe 2-3 tutorials a night, some later ones maybe 1 a night.
Start with the Max tutorials up to maybe lesson 7-10, then maybe start doing some of the MSP tut's. You can do it and use the free full version for a month before it stops working. If you really try to treat it like a class, you'll know by the end of the month whether it's something you'd like to buy.
Hope you find it useful, you can do stuff that no one other music app will let you do.
Good luck.

how well do you consider yourself with coding?

i'm only asking, b/c like the op, i've been interested in max/msp & jitter for quite sometime, but have been hesitant as it's not very quick to pick and get working...

however, the more i see/hear the things that get accomplished using the software, make me very interested in trying to really get into it...

might try what you said to do for the month free trial, but something i also wanted to know about [not sure if this has been discussed and/or announced, as i don't come here to often], but what is happening with ableton & cycle'74? aren't they working on something new together?

i only ask, b/c of that announcement a while back, but then a release of a new ableton? so quick after 6?

just really curious, cause i would hate to get really into max/msp/jitter and have to learn something else [hopefully it would encompass a lot of what i would learn and be adaptive in a new environment? guess time will tell on that one], once they came out with something from their joint venture...

IMO it's good to have done some coding before because learning a language you write some code and run it but the @#$%&*ing computer isn't doing what you told it, in reality it's doing exactly what you told it, you're just learning. so, knowing the PATIENCE involved in learning a language is important.

where max/msp differs from other languages is that with every language you pretty much have the same types of commands, deicision trees (if/then/else/case/select), functions, pointers, variables, constants. max/msp is a collection of objects, some are redundant, some are really odd, it's a mixed bag. with EVERY max project there are 8 ways to do it, the more you write the better you get.

I know ~15 languages, max is one that's unlike all the others, but I've been enjoying geeking out with it, lots of fun in that dorky kind of way. I can't say that any of the other languages I've done are similar to max in the least bit but it's a similar mindset.

[LOFA]

max is my first language. It is a steep learning curve but well worth it imo.

[corygilbert]

Evil
good question, I have really had no coding experience at all before Max.
For me the graphical environment was something that really helped me to envision how the virtual circuit works.
I had had a very basic understanding of how analog audio circuits work, Osc to filter to ADSR to effects to output etc.
As well as a small understanding of basic circuit design, how resistors, capacitors and pots work.
But honestly, I don't think that's anything that anyone couldn't grasp pretty quick.
I'd say to definately give it a try, my point was just that come at it with the right mindset. You're not going to start making tracks right away with your own patches.
But seriously approach it for a month like a class, maybe 4-5 nights a week for an hour or two. Try making your own after learning and dissecting other patches that do what you'd eventually like to achieve.
Hell, it's a bitchin app for free for a month. Give er a go if you think you'd like to do stuff like what's it's capable of.
Oh, and no I don't work for Cycling, I know I'm raving, it's just that I had tried it half-heartedly maybe 3 times on a friends machine before I sat down and really tried to "get it". And it was well worth the trouble.

edit: Oh and TD is totally right, PATIENCE is very important, you will fuck up something stupid on almost every patch. Just remember to use your logic and realize that computers are very fast thinkers but they are very stupid, you've got to spell it out.