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  • Research

    The fundamental principle of IRCAM is to encourage productive interaction among scientific research, technological developments, and contemporary music production. Since its establishment in 1977, this initiative has provided the foundation for the institute’s activities. One of the major issues is the importance of contributing to the renewal of musical expression through science and technology. Conversely, sp…

    • Research Topics
    • The STMS Lab
    • Research Teams
    • Sound Systems and Signals: Audio/Acoustics, InstruMents
    • Acoustic and Cognitive Spaces
    • Sound Perception and Design
    • Sound Analysis-Synthesis
    • Sound Music Movement Interaction
    • Musical Representations
    • Analysis of Musical Practices
    • Projects
    • Sound Workshop
    • The Musical Body
    • Creative Dynamics
    • Finished Projects
  • Creation

    IRCAM is an internationally recognized research center dedicated to creating new technologies for music. The institute offers a unique experimental environment where composers strive to enlarge their musical experience through the concepts expressed in new technologies.

    • Composers & Artists in Studio
    • Chloé Thévenin in studio
    • Oren Boneh in studio
    • Tristan Murail in studio
    • Martin Matalon in studio
    • Sébastien Gaxie in studio
    • Murcof in the studio
    • Vimala Pons in studio
    • Lucie Antunes in studio
    • Deena Abdelwahed in the studio
    • Music-Fictions
    • Artistic Research Residency
    • Artistic Residencies: The Blog
    • Rendez Vous 24.25
    • 2024-2025
    • Replay Concerts
    • Seasons from 1996 to present
    • ManiFeste-2024 Website
    • ManiFeste festival from 2012 to 2024
    • L’Étincelle, IRCAM’s journal of creation
  • Transmission

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    • Training Courses
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    • AIMove Master
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    • Digital Workshops
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    • ULYSSES Ensemble
    • Auditors
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  • Max Initiation (session 1) / Max IRCAM Certificate - level 1








November 24 through Sat 29 November 2025,
10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
Ircam
salle Nono
Language

French

Level

Beginner

Prices

Full rate : 1650 €
Mbre Forum Premium : 1155 €
Students : 825 €

Practical Information

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Reserve

Transmission
Software Training






Max Initiation (session 1) / Max IRCAM Certificate - level 1

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Learn the basics of programming in Max
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Maxis a graphical programming program for processing, generating and interacting with MIDI data, audio and video streams, and any other type of data, such as sensor data.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will have acquired the skills needed to develop simple patches. They will be able to autonomously assess the needs required to set up a project involving Max.

The training will be followed by an exam for the Max IRCAM Certificate level 1. This exam evaluates users in a real-life profes-sional situation

Public

Any creative person who wants to work on a project requiring Max: composers, developers, performers, sound technicians, choreographers, sound creators, video artists, live coders, music or art teachers, makers, researchers in computer music, etc.

Prerequisites

  • Basic knowledge of computer music (digital sound, MIDI protocol).
  • Good understanding of sequencer software (DAW audio-digital workstation) such as Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Reaper, or another audio editing software program (WaveLab, SoundStation, Audacity, Adobe Audition, etc.).
  • Good understanding of the English vocabulary used in the software.
  • Mastery of the basic functions of a Mac computer (use of a keyboard and mouse, create and manage files and folders, use menus, launch an application).
  • Basic mathematical concepts will facilitate participants' understanding: integers, rational and decimal numbers, sums, sub-tractions, multiplications, divisions, absolute value, study of simple functions.

Prior to this course, participants are strongly advised to download Max and run it in demo version (30 days with full functionality) to complete at least Max tutorials 1-6 (Max Basic Tutorials 1-6. Open "Reference" in the Help menu to access these tutorials).

Training Period and Organization

36 hours of training. Monday- Saturday, November 24-29, 2025. 10am-1pm & 2:30pm-5:30pm
10 students maximum

In the event that IRCAM cannot physically welcome students for a program that requires face-to-face instruction, the pro-gram and the certification test will be cancelled.

Edit

Program

Jitter will not be addressed.

Certain details of the training program are subject to modification as the software on which it is based is updated.

Monday

Morning

Discover Max's environment, paradigm, and application domains.
Learn about object and data types.
Master the general operation of objects in Max.

AfternoonThe issue of the execution of processes in real-time and master the principles of the execution order (<trigger>).
Analyze and understand MIDI data flows, manipulating them in real-time: use of MIDI protocol objects (<midiin>, <notein>, <ctlin>, <bendin>…).
Control a MIDI synthesizer using a MIDI keyboard. MIDI effects implementation: transposition, chord generator, “MIDI echo”.

Tuesday

Morning

Advanced data manipulation: data groups (lists and message boxes).
Discover and use fundamental objects dedicated to data transmission (<send>, <receive>, <route>, <select>, <gate>...) and data storage (<int>, <float>, <list> or <zl> objects...).
Discover and use fundamental objects dedicated to random process generation (<random>, <urn>, <drunk>...). Introduce the concept of encapsulation (<patcher> and abstractions).
Implementation of random MIDI event generators.

AfternoonLearn more about algorithms for generating random MIDI notes: conditional manipulation of data groups (<list>), programming an "arpeggiator".

Wednesday

Morning

Becoming familiar with the audio operation in Max.
Discover the "Audio Status" window, understand and master Max's basic audio settings. Audio inputs and outputs in Max.
The difference between data and audio streams.
Fundamental audio operations: multiplying and adjusting volume, adding and mixing signals, crossfading between signals.
Introduction to sound synthesis: noise generators (<noise~>, <pink~>...), oscillators (<cycle~>, <saw~>...), enve-lope generators (<line~>, <curve~>), filters (<biquad~>, <filtergraph~>, <lores~>) and real-time control

AfternoonRealization, control, and step by step improvement of a monophonic synthesizer played from a keyboard

Thursday

Morning

Discover and use the fundamental objects dedicated to recording and playing sounds from a file (<sfplay~>, <playlist~>) or buffer (<buffer~>, <play~>, <groove~>...).
Step-by-step realization, control and enhancement of a sound sampler, played from a keyboard.

AfternoonIntroduction to real-time audio processing: amplitude modulation, ring modulation, delay lines, echo, and their im-plementation in Max.

Friday

Morning

Real-time audio effects based on modulation of a delay line: chorus and flanging.
Frequency shift: <freqshift~>.
Transposition with delay lines: doppler effect and <transposer>.

AfternoonAnalyze the audio stream and extract relevant information using simple modules: amplitude tracking and pitch tracking (<yin~>, <sigmund~>)
The first steps towards the global architecture of a more complex patch: modular organization integrating several of processes carried out during the week.

Saturday

Morning

Explore and manage Max's external resources: use of external libraries, package manager.
Overview of Max advanced training.
Reviewing and consolidating skills

AfternoonExam


Educational Resources and Techniques

  • Classroom equipped with computers with all the necessary software installed, headphones, and MIDI keyboards
  • Class Format: Training alternates between presentations, explanations on theory, studying examples to analyze, and hands-on exercises (accompanied and independent)
  • Didactic Materials: Video-projected presentations. A class guide will be given at the beginning of each training session and all complementary files will be given as needed.

The Max and Ableton Live environments are not included in the course fee.


Supervision

  • Welcome the first day of training beginning at 9:45am
  • Attendance controlled; signature of an attendance sheet required every morning and afternoon
  • A certificate at the end of the program is given to each participant with the results of the exam

.Assessment

  • IRCAM Certificate exam for Max level 1 taken at the end of training. Test of the applicant’s knowledge with open questions and comments on screen captures, exercises on concrete cases (3 hours)

Exam for Max IRCAM Certificate - level 1

3 hours // Saturday, January 17, 2026, 2:30pm-5:30pm
10 students maximum

The IRCAM Certificate test is made up of two parts (90 minutes each):

  • A test of the applicant’s knowledge with open questions and comments and screen captures
  • Following a break, a series of exercises is given to the applicant with several concrete cases, with increasing difficulty. The applicant must find solutions, as if she were in a professional situation (test on a Mac computer with Max)

This exam evaluates users in a real-life professional situation

The jury, made up of a teacher (IRCAM Computer Music Designers/ Specialized Instructors) and a specialist in Max, will eval-uate 3 major criteria:

  • Theory: restitute basic knowledge on Max and its environment (vocabulary for the MIDI and audio system, programming conventions)
  • Analysis: analyze and interpret the Max programs’ functioning, offer “debugging” solutions;
  • Application: apply this knowledge and skills to the conception and realization of interactive Max interfaces with precise speci-fications

A certificate with the results will be sent to the participants 3 weeks following the exam.Certificat Ircam - Max niveau 1

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