Discuss the various methods you use in music production, from compressor settings to equipment type.
By DJElemes Thu Feb 28, 2013 9:26 am
Just wondering if any people use Max/MSP or PureData?

I have not seen any threads regarding this so i guess not but i am sure more people are getting into DSP.

I have programmed a few DSP devices i am willing to share if people want.

Hoping people could share some patches.
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By tapedeck Thu Feb 28, 2013 2:59 pm
big fan of pd.
never actually tried max though.

i love being able to create a brand new instrument in a very short amount of time.

still, i use chuck a lot more than pd.
By m56p87 Thu Feb 28, 2013 4:39 pm
I hate max msp, don't get me wrong it's extremely powerful. But it's not fun to use at all, takes forever just to build something simple. Granted you get a lot of control, but unless you NEED to build a completely unique instrument and/or interface for that instrument. It will just suck for you. Hell I like doing that stuff an it still sucks to make stuff in max. It's the opposite of sitting down and jamming, you'll spend days building a sequencer with half the features of sequencers in 1980. It's extremely powerful but dosnt lend itself to a fun creative process. My observation about max/msp was that they took bits from coding/math/audio and made a big confusing mess, it's just enough code to not be an easy audio workspace and just enough DSP to not be an easy coding workspace. Unless your making some pretentious interactive generative art and music installment piece just use reaktor or something.

I've only used pure data to mangle and reassign midi messages.
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By tapedeck Thu Feb 28, 2013 4:55 pm
^^ well someone who has never played the guitar might have a similar reaction when they first get the guitar. it can all come down to practice.

it can be pretty quick - especially for 'generative' stuff / psuedo-random applications.

i once coded a very easy to use sequencer ala pink floyd 'on the run' in pd in about 10 minutes. after that initial 10 minutes it was just time to jam.

the other night i wanted to just get into chuck a bit, so 30 minutes and ~30 lines of code later i had a nice, key-constrained, semi-random harmonizer that is a pleasure to jam with.

it can be hard to get into this stuff, but for the right situation they can be really cool - it is nice to only expose the controls you need for the application.

personally, i dislike the graphic environment and prefer the text-based programming concepts.

anyone into super collider? that is something that i never could get started with - it is very unique (and very powerful).
By m56p87 Thu Feb 28, 2013 5:27 pm
I have a decent understanding of Max/msp. I've made some basic audio programs in VB/C++ as well. My problem is the implementation. If it was code based, or graphically based that would be one thing. But for me personally smashing both together is really confusing. With programs like this I enjoy that "painting on a blank canvas" feeling. Max msp surely lacks this IMHO. I also don't like programs where you have to dig deep to reveal all portions of informations and code. Although much simpler I prefer the layout of reaktor much more, and with the core cells they are getting closer to code based creation like Max msp.

In so many words its not that I don't get it, it's that I don't like what I get. :mrgreen:

*super collider has always been on my list as well.
By DJElemes Mon Mar 04, 2013 1:09 am
i like it for drones and creating atmospheric textures. also like making random but rhythmical glitch/electro acoustic style skits

the other upside is you can use it to reroute data signals within the computer.

i use this in my jazz band where i trigger samples using a wii mote duct taped to my saxophone :nod: also been using it to create audio triggers to control video. and using video feeds mapped to colour/movement to manipulate visuals - makes for a killer live show!
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By Harmoncj Wed Mar 06, 2013 9:18 pm
m56p87 wrote:I hate max msp, don't get me wrong it's extremely powerful. But it's not fun to use at all, takes forever just to build something simple. Granted you get a lot of control, but unless you NEED to build a completely unique instrument and/or interface for that instrument. It will just suck for you. Hell I like doing that stuff an it still sucks to make stuff in max. It's the opposite of sitting down and jamming, you'll spend days building a sequencer with half the features of sequencers in 1980. It's extremely powerful but dosnt lend itself to a fun creative process. My observation about max/msp was that they took bits from coding/math/audio and made a big confusing mess, it's just enough code to not be an easy audio workspace and just enough DSP to not be an easy coding workspace. Unless your making some pretentious interactive generative art and music installment piece just use reaktor or something.

I've only used pure data to mangle and reassign midi messages.


I didn't want to agree with you but I have to admit you accurately summed up my experiences with pure data. :lol: MIDI routing/processing alone makes it an indispensable tool, but I personally never had the energy/patience for much else.