Max Intermediate / Max IRCAM Certificate - level 2
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.
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
| Morning | Summary 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>. |
| Afternoon | Review 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
| Morning | Introduction to polyphony and poly-procedural generalization in MAX: <poly~>. Parallelism and polyphony: practical examples, additive synthesis, polyphonic synthesizer. |
| Afternoon | Introduction to MC functionalities. Application for additive synthesis. Polyphonic audio player. |
Wednesday
| Morning | In-depth study and application of a polyphonic sampler and granular synthesizer using <poly~>. |
| Afternoon | Management of audio streams by matrixing (<matrix~>, <matrixctl>...) and integration into development architecture. |
Thursday
| Morning and afternoon | Know 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
| Morning | Review, complementary work. |
| Afternoon | Exam. |
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.