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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

    In support of IRCAM's research and creation missions, the educational program seeks to shed light on the current and future meaning of the interactions among the arts, sciences, and technology as well as sharing its models of knowledge, know-how, and innovations with the widest possible audience.

    • Training Courses
    • Training Courses 2025.26
    • Max, Max for Live
    • Computer-Assisted Composition
    • ASAP & Partiels
    • Sound spatialization
    • Generative AI
    • Practical Information
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    • Cursus Program on Composition and Computer Music
    • Master ATIAM
    • Sound Design Master's Program
    • Mixed-Music
    • AIMove Master
    • Discover Research at IRCAM
    • Cultural Outreach
    • Cultural Mediation at Middle School Students
    • Médiations culturelles au lycée
    • Digital Workshops
    • TACT
    • Images of a Work Collection
    • Group Tours
    • ManiFeste-2025 Festival Academy
    • 2025 ÉLAN award
    • Spatial Composition Workshop
    • In Situ Polytopes
    • ULYSSES Ensemble
    • Auditors
  • Innovations

    Engaged with societal and economic issues at the intersection of culture and IT, research at Ircam has forged a reputation for itself in the world of international research as an interdisciplinary benchmark in the science and technology of sound and music, constantly attentive to the new needs and uses in society.

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  • Max Intermediate / Max IRCAM Certificate - level 2








February 9 through Sat 14 February 2026,
10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
Ircam
salle Nono
Language

French

Level

Intermediate

Prices

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

Practical Information

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Reserve

Transmission
Software Training






Max Intermediate / Max IRCAM Certificate - level 2

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Improve your knowledge and mastery of Max
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Max is a graphical programming program that lets you process, generate and interact with MIDI data, audio and video streams, or any other type of data, such as sensor data.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will have acquired advanced programming skills in Max, and a solid knowledge of its multi-channel functionalities. They will be able to create complex patches and select the tools (software and hardware) adapted to their project with Max.

The training will be followed by an exam for the Max IRCAM Certificate level 2. This exam evaluates users in a real-life professional 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 the field of computer music, etc

Prerequisites

  • Participants must be able to attest to sufficient knowledge and skills in Max and its environment or have successfully completed the course Max Initiation.
  • Good understanding of sequencer software (DAW audio-digital workstation) such as Pro Tools, Logic, Reaper, Ableton Live 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).
  • Regular practice of Max 8.
  • Basic mathematical concepts will facilitate participants' understanding: integers, rational and decimal numbers, sums, subtractions, multiplications, divisions, absolute value, study of simple trigonometric functions.

Prior to the training, it is suggested that participants complete all the tutorials available in the software, or demon-strate equivalent knowledge through the use of Max.

Training Period and Organization

36 hours of training. Monday-Saturday, February 9-14, 2026. 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 program and the IRCAM Certificate test will be cancelled.

Edit

Program

Jitter will not be addressed.
Some details of the training program are subject to modification as the software on which it is based develops.

Monday

MorningSummary of data types in MAX. Data structures: lists, <coll>, <dict>.
In-depth use of data structures for collecting and retrieving parameters and trajectories: <coll>, <zl>, <expr>, <vexpr>, <nodes>.
AfternoonReview and implementation of an architecture as a basis for general development: input, output, dry/wet mixing, crossfade, stereo and quadraphonic panning.
Modularity and encapsulation, essential elements of a concert patch, interface, initialization procedures.
Development of a concert patch.

Tuesday

MorningIntroduction to polyphony and poly-procedural generalization in MAX: <poly~>.
Parallelism and polyphony: practical examples, additive synthesis, polyphonic synthesizer.
AfternoonIntroduction to MC functionalities. Application for additive synthesis.
Polyphonic audio player.

Wednesday

MorningIn-depth study and application of a polyphonic sampler and granular synthesizer using <poly~>.
AfternoonManagement of audio streams by matrixing (<matrix~>, <matrixctl>...) and integration into development architecture.

Thursday

Morning and afternoonKnow the principles and applications of frequency-domain processing: Fourier series, Fourier transform, and FFT.
Development of processing in the frequency domain using the discrete short-time Fourier transform (STFT): use of <pfft~>, its abstractions and specific objects.
Practical application: filtering, convolution and cross-synthesis, spectral delay.

Friday

Morning and afternoon
Low-level development in Max: discovery of the <gen~> extension and its uses.
Practice, processing, synthesis using physical models, resonator bank, MC Gen~.

Saturday

MorningReview, complementary work.
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;
  • Didactic Materials: Video-projected presentations. A class guide will be given at the beginning of each training ses-sion and all complementary files will be given as needed.

The Max and Ableton Live environments are not provided as part of 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 2 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 2

3 hours // Saturday, February 14, 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 on screen captures;
  • Following a break, a series of exercises is given to the applicant with several concrete cases, with increasing difficul-ty. The applicant must find solutions, as if they 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 specifications.

A certificate with the results will be sent to the participants 3 weeks following the exam.

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