Book Image

Multimedia Programming Using Max/MSP and TouchDesigner

By : Patrik Lechner
Book Image

Multimedia Programming Using Max/MSP and TouchDesigner

By: Patrik Lechner

Overview of this book

Max 6 and TouchDesigner are both high-level visual programming languages based on the metaphor of connecting computational objects with patch cords. This guide will teach you how to design and build high-quality audio-visual systems in Max 6 and TouchDesigner, giving you competence in both designing and using these real-time systems. In the first few chapters, you will learn the basics of designing tools to generate audio-visual experiences through easy-to-follow instructions aimed at beginners and intermediate. Then, we combine tools such as Gen, Jitter, and TouchDesigner to work along with Max 6 to create 2D and 3D visualizations, this book provides you with tutorials based on creating generative art synchronized to audio. By the end of the book, you will be able to design and structure highly interactive, real-time systems.
Table of Contents (19 chapters)
Multimedia Programming Using Max/MSP and TouchDesigner
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

FFT


FFT stands for Fast Fourier Transform. It is the only one of several Fourier Transforms we will use here, but let's drop the "fast" for a moment and talk about the Fourier Transform first. We have talked a lot about spectra and frequencies, but have mainly stayed in the time domain. The Fourier Transform (or Fourier analysis) is a way to switch into the frequency domain. The Inverse Fourier Transform (or Fourier synthesis) is a way to go back again to the time domain. The Fourier Transform is converting a continuous signal, a function of time x(t) to a continuous signal, a function of frequency X(f).

How will this be done? Fourier (among others) proved that any continuous signal can be represented as a sum of sinusoids. Now, I could present a fancy formula here, and I will, but let's first think about it a bit. What helped me most in understanding the Fourier Transform is this; what if we want to see how much of anything is contained in anything else in math? Right, we divide; to see...