12. Connecting Our Software to the World | Multimedia Programming Using Max/MSP and TouchDesigner

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Multimedia Programming Using Max/MSP and TouchDesigner

By : Lechner

4.9 (8)

Multimedia Programming Using Max/MSP and TouchDesigner

4.9 (8)

By: 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.

Preface

Preface

What this book covers

What you need for this book

Who this book is for

Conventions

Reader feedback

Customer support

Free Chapter

1. Getting Started with Max

1. Getting Started with Max

Understanding the basic concepts of Max

Modular basis for expressions

When to use Max

Summary

Exercises

2. Max Setup and Basics

2. Max Setup and Basics

Setting things up

Basic Max patching and GUI

Creating our Hello World program

A quick overview of GUI

Summary

3. Advanced Programming Techniques in Max

3. Advanced Programming Techniques in Max

Introducing the synthesizer example

Initializing a patcher

Excursus of microscopic timing and message ordering

A bpatcher for MIDI input

Sending and receiving data

The #n notation

Collections of data

More message box magic

Structuring our patches

Timing in Max

The event priority

Debugging

Scripting and the this patcher

Summary

4. Basic Audio in Max/MSP

4. Basic Audio in Max/MSP

Basic audio principles

Audio synthesis

Sampling and audio file playback

Mixing and signal routing

Summary

5. Advanced Audio in Max/MSP

5. Advanced Audio in Max/MSP

More sampling

FX

FFT

Sample-accurate sequencing

Summary

6. Low-level Patching in Gen

6. Low-level Patching in Gen

Introducing Gen

The Gen workspace

Examples

Further reading

Summary

7. Video in Max/Jitter

7. Video in Max/Jitter

Inputting and outputting Jitter data

Getting started with the Jitter matrix

Using OpenGL in Jitter

Summary

8. Max for Live

8. Max for Live

Introducing the fundamentals of Max for Live

Parameters and saving

The Live API

An example device – a parameter modulator

Summary

9. Basic Visualization Using TouchDesigner

9. Basic Visualization Using TouchDesigner

The need for TouchDesigner

How to get help

Basics and UI of TouchDesigner

Summary

10. Advanced Visualization Using TouchDesigner

10. Advanced Visualization Using TouchDesigner

The basic audio-reactive video

A 2D composting example

Replicator COMP

Connecting Max and TD

A component for lots of movies

Converting between OP families

Dealing with time

Introducing 3D rendering

Summary

11. 3D Rendering and Examples

11. 3D Rendering and Examples

Interactive and non-procedural tools

The Geo COMP

Camera, light, and shading

Summary

12. Connecting Our Software to the World

12. Connecting Our Software to the World

Analog synths and control voltage

Arduino and microcontrollers

Multi-touch screens

Interfacing other programs

Multispeaker setups

Exporting an application

Collaborative work

Summary

Index

Index

Multispeaker setups

We haven't discussed multispeaker setups at all. In fact, most of our audio examples were only mono. While stereo is just straightforward and sends signals to multiple audio outputs too, what if we'd like to have some more sophisticated control about the spatialization in a, say, four-speaker setup? This can get really complex, so we rely on some externals here.

There are multiple techniques to approach the problem of how to perceptually position an acoustic phenomenon in 3D space. One of them is called ambisonics. For ambisonics, the following three different libraries are available:

In the following screenshot, you can see a patch contained in the ICST Max/MSP package. It illustrates the library's capabilities in distributing two sounds over eight speakers, but these are not the limits of the system.

As you...

Visually different images

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