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Multimedia Programming Using Max/MSP and TouchDesigner

By : Patrik Lechner

4.9 (8)

Multimedia Programming Using Max/MSP and TouchDesigner

4.9 (8)

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.

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

Creating our Hello World program

So let's start up Max, close the splash screen if you haven't got rid of it already, and make a new patch (command/Ctrl + N). You will see something like what's shown in the following screenshot; without the objects, the cords, the message box, and the sidebar might not be open or it might be in another mode. You don't need to open the sidebar for now, but if you like it, press the button with the number 11 in the following screenshot. We can have the Max window in a separate window. Either way, free floating or in the side bar, open it and I highly recommend that you remember the shortcut for it, which is command/Ctrl + M. Now, we have everything set up to write the obligatory Hello World program:

Creating our Hello World program

So this is our Hello World program. How was this created? What do we see here?

Dissection and construction

First of all, we see three objects here. A [button], a [message], and a [print] object (and of course, a comment object that reads click...

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