Ableton Forum

I know what it says it can be used for but I want to know how people are using it with live. is it really that handy? am I going to have to become a brain surgeon to figure it out?

will I be able to create a lfo plugin with it so I can automate things in live with a real lfo?

is there a place out there were people share their bidule creations so we can all use them?

I don't have answers to your questions. Bidule looks cool, but using it needs a physics degree!

You want to use the arpeggiator? you need to put in frequencies!! Egads!!!

Also, the interface is tedious. There appears to be no easy way to auto connect, replace, or drop a module inline. The couple hours I spent trying it made me wish it had a smart gui and less numbers and more feel.

I suggest you try out max/msp.

It's fully functional for 30 days.

It seemed alien to me when i first looked at it. But it comes with the best tutorials in the business. And all the helpfiles are actually interactive patches.
After doing about 20 or 30 tutorials, you'll already be making your own MIDI tools...

I know very little about programming and math. But max kinda makes sense.

Bidule was simpler for me then Max for just easy MIDI route switching stuff....

-Ben

MrYellow wrote:Bidule was simpler for me then Max for just easy MIDI route switching stuff....

-Ben

Yeah, i kinda like the visual options that max offers. I started off with bidule and i'll probably even try out more of these visual programming apps..
They all have different things to offer.
Some things are 10 times easier in bidule, but the same applies for max. (in my case at least)

So max and bidule can maybe control for example the frequency of abletons erosion tool and stuff like that ?

see I really don't plan on spending any time building things. I just want to get user devices or whatever you call them and route them accordingly.

what I really want is complex cc generators that I can link to things in ableton so all my knobs do fun bouncing and boinging and jumping.

Really they can control the heat of your toaster if u want.

-Ben

yeah I know they can do this. the real question is am i going to find ready made lfo's and random cc generators that I can rewire with live easily. cause I just plain don't have time to learn to make my own in bidule, max, or reaktor

I play I don't make ya know?

yes and no

let me explain. u can find quite a bit in terms of patches which have lfo's and generating cc info is easy in max. the problem is you will most likely have to adapt patches to your requirements.

for example: if u want to create an lfo, but u want to have it beat sync'd... easy to find an lfo patch, but u need to work out how to sync it (and yes rewire is an option). it's not that difficult!

for me the whole point of max/msp is that u can adapt it to ur needs. u dont have to conform to someone else's approach. unfortunately, if u dont want to make / program (unless u can find someone to do it for you) then u aint ever going to see those crazy cc msg...

i also agree with (the) hoff2k, the tutorials provided with max are some of the best tutorials you will find in this field. AND u also have to remember the huge online resources for this app, just check the forum at c74 as a starting point.
the users are generally helpful when u describe a project / idea which ur trying to implement in max.

in the meanwhile, check this out:
http://www.dspaudio.com/

check out the nortron max app... u'll get the idea of the potential and u can buy it ready made!

HTH (BTW i'm not an expert in quantum physics)

justin

Fun with Max

http://hellokupo.livejournal.com/460227.html

The stuff you want to do is piss easy with MAX/MSP and Bidule. Max has a great tutorial, if you can't do what you want after a night or two working through it (and actually trying the exercises) then read it again because you mustn't have read it the first time.

Given that Max/MSP is 5 times as expensive as Bidule, isn't it a difference between investing $500 in another DAW/SoftSynth type software package and getting a handy utility App/VST for $100?

DeadlyKungFu wrote:Given that Max/MSP is 5 times as expensive as Bidule, isn't it a difference between investing $500 in another DAW/SoftSynth type software package and getting a handy utility App/VST for $100?

Right on the money. I'd compare it to buying a spiffy 2 osc softsynth. What do you do when you want to add that 3rd oscillator? Or do wavescanning? or? etc. Max, if anything, offers the big, expandable system opportunities.

I actually wish I had gone straight to Max instead of going to all the others:

Bidule back when it first came out - Liked it, then saw how the different modules worked, then didn't like it!

EnergyXT - still cool, but just not enough. Higher level than Bidule, so somewhat limited.

Reaktor - cool user lib, but building the rocking stuff gets kind of retarded, imo. And those wires really p*ssed me off! Argh, at least Max has a cooler, more functional interface.

Makes me wonder what would have happened if I had simply started on SuperCollider or PureData years ago?!?

What does Max do that Bidule doesn't?

I doubt I would get $500 worth out of Max cause I am fairly happy with my studio setup as is, but Bidule for $75 seems like a price comensurate with how often I would actually use it. The odd task here and there sort of user.