Max for Live
Max for Live is an optional module integrated in Ableton Live. Max includes object that mimic the graphical interfaces of effects or devices in Live. These objects let users include their own devices or instruments in a Live session taking into account the parameters of the effects in the application’s automation .
Objectives
Upon completion of this course participants will have the skills necessary to create new effects and devices in Live with Max for Live: creation of a synthesizer, creation of audio effects. Participants will be able to control Live’s graphical interface using Max for Live
Public
Composers, musicians, theater managers, etc.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of Ableton Live on MacOS or Windows: notions of track, scene, manipulation of MIDI and audio clips, manipulation of automation in clips, etc.
Assessment
Assessment of acquired knowledge using a multiple-choice test (1 hour) taken at the end of training.
A certificate at the end of the program is given to each participant with the results of the exam.
Program
Monday
| Morning | Installation and set-up of Live for Max for Live; Study of different types of devices for Max for Live: MIDI, audio, instrument; Introduction to basic principles of programming in Max; Order of execution of a patch; Introduction of a “trigger” object to define the order of execution; Using good habits with live.gui objects. |
| Afternoon | Creation of MIDI effects: transposing notes; The ddg.mono object; The flush object; Use of the "parameter" window. |
Tuesday
| Morning | The <ZL> objects; The <patcher> object; Creation of a MIDI effect: random note generator. |
| Afternoon | Synchronization of a device with Live, creation of a sequencer step by step; The <live.grid> object. |
Wednesday
| Morning | Audio in Max; Basics of subtractive synthesis: oscillator, filter, ADSR envelope; Creation of a monophonic synthesizer with the aforementioned elements. |
| Afternoon | The <poly~> object; Automatic management of polyphony with <thispoly~>; Creation of a polyphonic synthesizer with the aforementioned instrument. |
Thursday
| Morning | Delay in Max : <tapin~> and <tapout~>; Creating of audio effects: delay lines. |
| Afternoon | Adding frequency shift and feedback; Envelope and synthesis follower. |
Friday
| Morning | Control of Live’s graphical interface: live.path, live.object, live.observe, live.remote~; Realization of simple tasks with a combination of the aforementioned objects; Use of abstractions provided with Max for Live. |
| Afternoon | Reception of OSC data generated by TouchOSC to control a Live session; Use of the name of a Live clip to modify the function of an effect. |
Saturday
| Morning | Review of the notions seen during the week; Question and answer session on students’ ideas/project that can make use of Max for Live. |
| Afternoon | Free work on computers; Assessment of acquired knowledge using a multiple-choice test (1 hour). |