Where to learn Max

[krismkelley]

So, I downloaded a demo of Max / MSP and am loving working through some of the tutorials included. I was wondering if any of you out there who are Max fanatics can point me to a good learning resource. I'm interested in more in-depth project based tutorials. I know there is quite a bit on the Cycling 74 website, I was just wondering if some experienced users had some advice for me. I can't wait for Max for Live to come out and I am trying to brush up so that I am ready. I'm also really interesting in using video as an input device to make some sounds.

Thanks in advance.

KRIS

[Nick the Zombie]

I found this guy's tutorials to be indispensable: http://www.youtube.com/user/BazTutorials

Good luck!

[jeffplaysmoog]

Niiice, I've never seen that before. As far as Max goes there are a scant few books on the subject that are pretty good. The tutorial files come with the program and are interactive so they are certainly the best place to start... They are very logical and are actually written using the Max program.

[krismkelley]

Thanks alot guys. I will certainly take a look at those video tutorials. I learn much better through video than reading.

[Michael Hatsis]

The most important learning tool for max is to have a goal or a small project in mind. For instance, I got into max by simply replicating my bomes midi translator patch, back then bomes was quite simple. It just converted one type of midi to another. After a couple days with max i saw the big picture, that MIDI is just a couple of numbers and that you can make it do anything you want.

after you have your goal down, then all of the info you need is in the tutorials and on the cycling site, especially the forum.

again, come up with a simple idea, midi is a good place to start, then use the tutorials and cycling site to get to your goal.

[elxicano]

Whoa... is there really a demo available of Max for Live??? Please send me a link!!

[mnmlmike]

Nope no Max4Live demo just a demo of the full app Max/MSP which has nothing to do with live.

As far as resourced I remember the included tutorials being EXCELLENT and I think there is like what 80 of them or something? After that I know there are some Max online user groups or something. I feel like the Cycling website is where its at for all that info

[elxicano]

Nope no Max4Live demo just a demo of the full app Max/MSP which has nothing to do with live.

As far as resourced I remember the included tutorials being EXCELLENT and I think there is like what 80 of them or something? After that I know there are some Max online user groups or something. I feel like the Cycling website is where its at for all that info

Okay... I got excited and began nervously searching the Abes website for info without luck. Someday it will happen.

[nathannn]

why does everyone say that the tutorials are so great?
i think they are horrible. it takes the a whole paragraph to explain something that could be put into a sentence.
also why dont they name the objects for what they are... i think ring mod is named something like *~ why not just call it ring mod??? learning the real functions of an object and remembering them has to be the biggest pain about max. its like they are trying to make it difficult.

[Bynar]

why does everyone say that the tutorials are so great?
i think they are horrible. it takes the a whole paragraph to explain something that could be put into a sentence.
also why dont they name the objects for what they are... i think ring mod is named something like *~ why not just call it ring mod??? learning the real functions of an object and remembering them has to be the biggest pain about max. its like they are trying to make it difficult.

*~ is not just an object used for ring modulation, its primary use is to multiply or scale dsp signals. Simply put, *~ is a volume control for signals. In the case of ring modulation, you are modulating an amplitude of another signal at a rapid rate to create new harmonics.

I agree that the tutorials can be a little bit intimidating at first, but Max is a very sophisticated program and every inch of data is important( I remember my annoyance with the emphasis of right to left ordering in patches when I was learning a couple years ago). Just hang in there, you will learn a whole lot about signal processing if you take time to soak up all that information.

[LOFA]

Yo, Bynar- Pleasure to meet another Max user in PGH

FWIW, the BAZ tutorials are absolutely phenomenal. I recreated each patch after discovering them last week, just so I could learn some new habits. I did not expect to come away with so much from them.
I almost suggest that people try to do these along with him before or immediately after doing some of the tutorials. The tutorials, however, are key. By all means finish each of them.

Again, Baz makes this stuff seem approachable. I highly recommend checking his tutorials out.

[monohusche]

@Bynar: fully agree....the biggest thing about Max (and also reason for the steep learning curve) is that its based on signal processing and math fundamentals (should say MSP in that case).

Apart from making it harder to learn, it allows one to see the big picture and to come up with novel ways of working with signals, off the beaten path. Ring modulation is just one specific example of signal processing (albeit well known) which happens to use signal amplification (*~). Doesn't mean that *~ couldn't be used for other things as well which have nothing to do with ring modulation.

looks like nathann and bynar are talking about different levels of the same pyramid. Nathann, maybe you should check out Reaktor which to me seems (haven't really worked with it) to reflect that higher level.

[Bynar]

Yo, Bynar- Pleasure to meet another Max user in PGH

FWIW, the BAZ tutorials are absolutely phenomenal. I recreated each patch after discovering them last week, just so I could learn some new habits. I did not expect to come away with so much from them.
I almost suggest that people try to do these along with him before or immediately after doing some of the tutorials. The tutorials, however, are key. By all means finish each of them.

Again, Baz makes this stuff seem approachable. I highly recommend checking his tutorials out.

Very cool, I just moved here from the Bay Area about a month ago. You should let me in on what computer music happenings go on here!