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

The need for TouchDesigner


TouchDesigner is a software that allows us to build very efficient tools for real-time video processing, 3D rendering, procedural visual work, multi-touch interfaces, and much more in a very easy visual way. Its flexibility has been used in numerous large-scale commercial projects, so, in general, we can be sure it's rock solid. As with Max, it's a very open system that can be expanded upon easily with custom additions. Added to it is the fact that we can use Python within TD, which makes it an even more powerful system. However, why don't we just stick with Jitter? Jitter is great for many things, and certainly everything we see in the TD-related chapters can somehow also be done in Max/Jitter. However, some things would require us to write a good amount of OpenGL Shading Language (GLSL) code while working solely inside Jitter and trying to achieve these same things. Max came from algorithmic composition and moved towards audio processing. TD, in contrast, genuinely...