The word ‘MIDI’ often brings to mind a particular type of sound or musical style, but these are just things that were made with the assistance of MIDI. Although the MIDI ‘standard’ encompasses much more, it is fundamentally a method of communication. This is commonly called a ‘communication protocol’. Max was first developed as a way of generating, processing or manipulating data like MIDI, and it is still a core component of the software. Here are some links on how to get started with configuring, sending, and receiving MIDI with Max.
See Also
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Using Max with Other Applications | Using Max with Other Applications |
| MIDI Setup Window | MIDI Setup Window |
| Rewire | Rewire |
| Max MIDI Tutorial 1: Basic MIDI | Max MIDI Tutorial 1: Basic MIDI |
| Max MIDI Tutorial 2: MIDI Note Management | Max MIDI Tutorial 2: MIDI Note Management |
| Max MIDI Tutorial 3: MIDI Parsing | Max MIDI Tutorial 3: MIDI Parsing |
| Max MIDI Tutorial 4: MIDI Basic Sequencing | Max MIDI Tutorial 4: MIDI Basic Sequencing |
| Max MIDI Tutorial 5: MIDI Advanced Sequencing | Max MIDI Tutorial 5: MIDI Advanced Sequencing |
| bendin | Output MIDI pitch bend values |
| bendout | Send MIDI pitch bend messages |
| ctlin | Output received MIDI control values |
| ctlout | Transmit MIDI controller messages |
| midiformat | Prepare data in the form of a MIDI message |
| midiin | Output raw MIDI data |
| midiout | Transmit raw MIDI data |
| midiparse | Interpret raw MIDI data |
| notein | Receive MIDI note messages |
| noteout | Transmit MIDI note messages |
| pgmin | Receive MIDI program changes |
| pgmout | Send MIDI program changes |
| polyin | Received MIDI poly pressure |
| polyout | Send MIDI poly pressure |
| rtin | Receive MIDI real time messages |
| seq | Sequencer for recording and playing MIDI data |
| sysexin | Receive MIDI system exclusive messages |
| touchin | Receive MIDI aftertouch values |
| touchout | Transmit MIDI aftertouch messages |
| midiselect | Select and interpret raw MIDI data |
| ftom | Convert frequency to a MIDI note number |
| midiflush | Send MIDI note-offs for hanging note-ons |
| midiinfo | Fill a pop-up menu with MIDI device names |
| mtof | Convert a MIDI note number to frequency |
| sxformat | Prepare MIDI system exclusive messages |
| xbendin | Interpret extra precision MIDI pitch bend values |
| xbendout | Format extra precision MIDI pitch bend messages |
| xnotein | Interpret MIDI note messages with release velocity |
| xnoteout | Format MIDI note messages with release velocity |
| ftom~ | Convert frequency to MIDI note numbers at signal-rate |
| mtof~ | Convert a MIDI note number to frequency at signal rate |
| sustain | Hold note-off messages for release |
| kslider | Output numbers from an onscreen keyboard |
| makenote | Generate a note-on/note-off pair |
| mtr | Record and sequence messages |
| vst~ | Host VST, VST3 and Audio Unit plug-ins |
Step by Step: Adventures in Sequencing with Max/MSP
Gregory Taylor, published by Cycling '74
Cycling '74 Max Online Documentation. Browse and search the Max MSP Documentation and Reference online.
This book provides the recipes for over a dozen step sequencers that range from basic to surprisingly deep.
Check out Max 8 features. 29 The vst object now supports VST3 plug-ins. 30 The line object works with multi-segment ramps and is compatible with the function object. 31 The dial object includes four new modes: Live, Classic, Needle and Pan and the live.dial. Gregory Taylor, published by Cycling '74. This book provides the recipes for over a dozen step sequencers that range from basic to surprisingly deep. Browse by category. Books in English. Theory and Practice with Max 8 - Volume 1 (Fourth Edition) Alessandro Cipriani and Maurizio Giri.
Browse by category
David Creasey
Designed for music technology students, enthusiasts, and professionals. It describes the practical design of audio processes, with a step-by-step approach from basic concepts all the way to sophisticated effects and synthesizers. Max users will be most interested in Parts II (Modification), III (Synthesis) and IV (Control), and may also find some interesting information in Part I (which concerns sound analysis).
Amazon UK
Eric Lyon
Be guided step-by-step through the process of designing externals, from concept through implementation in English.
Alessandro Cipriani and Maurizio Giri (Foreword by David Zicarelli)
This book explains sound design, music and concepts through Max, and gives lots of examples throughout. Available in Italian and English. Volume 1 updated for Max 7.
Alessandro Cipriani and Maurizio Giri
This book provides the reader with skill and understanding in using Max/MSP for sound design and musical composition.
Geoffrey Kidde
Learning Music Theory with Logic, Max, and Finale presents a comprehensive music theory curriculum based in the tools and resources of three software programs. Included are descriptions and recipes for Max patchers that demonstrate essential concepts, including rhythmic patterns, intervals, scales, triads, seventh chords, melody, and diatonic and chromatic chord progressions.
Julien Bayle
A guide explaining the Max integration inside Ableton Live, the LOM use and much more (Available in French and English).
English
Todd Winkler
V. J. Manzo
Use Max to write custom software for musical interaction. The book will discuss the concepts needed to complete your project, complete many projects in a step-by-step style guide, and look at numerous included software examples of working systems.
Fransisco Colasanto
Fransisco Colasanto
Offers teaching techniques for different levels and a reference source on the Max programming language, written in English and Spanish.
Spanish E-book
Gregory Taylor, published by Cycling '74
This book provides the recipes for over a dozen step sequencers that range from basic to surprisingly deep.
Peter Elsea
Explore topics from the fundamentals of acoustics through the basics of recording, composition with the tools of music concreté, and music production with MIDI instruments, softsynths and digital audio Workstations. Later sections of the book cover synthesis in depth and introduce high powered computer composition languages including Csound, ChucK, and Max/MSP.
Masayuki Akamatsu
Gregory Taylor, published by Cycling '74
This book provides the recipes for over a dozen step sequencers that range from basic to surprisingly deep.
Fransisco Colasanto
Fransisco Colasanto
Offers teaching techniques for different levels and a reference source on the Max programming language, written in English and Spanish.
Spanish E-book
Fransisco Colasanto
Has music and sound focused academic text on how to program with MaxMSP, written in Spanish.
Carlos D. Perales
An introduction to the digital synthesis through Max MSP or vice versa. At the same time that the different types of synthesis and their theoretical principles are explained, the resources offered by this digital tool are explored through a detailed explanation of practical examples.
Julien Bayle
A guide explaining the Max integration inside Ableton Live, the LOM use and much more (Available in French and English).
English
David Creasey
Designed for music technology students, enthusiasts, and professionals. It describes the practical design of audio processes, with a step-by-step approach from basic concepts all the way to sophisticated effects and synthesizers. Max users will be most interested in Parts II (Modification), III (Synthesis) and IV (Control), and may also find some interesting information in Part I (which concerns sound analysis).
Amazon UK
Alessandro Cipriani and Maurizio Giri (Foreword by David Zicarelli)
This book explains sound design, music and concepts through Max, and gives lots of examples throughout. Available in Italian and English. Volume 1 updated for Max 7.
Geoffrey Kidde
Learning Music Theory with Logic, Max, and Finale presents a comprehensive music theory curriculum based in the tools and resources of three software programs. Included are descriptions and recipes for Max patchers that demonstrate essential concepts, including rhythmic patterns, intervals, scales, triads, seventh chords, melody, and diatonic and chromatic chord progressions.
Julien Bayle
A guide explaining the Max integration inside Ableton Live, the LOM use and much more (Available in French and English).
English
V. J. Manzo
Use Max to write custom software for musical interaction. The book will discuss the concepts needed to complete your project, complete many projects in a step-by-step style guide, and look at numerous included software examples of working systems.
Fransisco Colasanto
Fransisco Colasanto
Offers teaching techniques for different levels and a reference source on the Max programming language, written in English and Spanish.
Spanish E-book
Gregory Taylor, published by Cycling '74
This book provides the recipes for over a dozen step sequencers that range from basic to surprisingly deep.
Masayuki Akamatsu
David Creasey
Designed for music technology students, enthusiasts, and professionals. It describes the practical design of audio processes, with a step-by-step approach from basic concepts all the way to sophisticated effects and synthesizers. Max users will be most interested in Parts II (Modification), III (Synthesis) and IV (Control), and may also find some interesting information in Part I (which concerns sound analysis).
Amazon UK
Eric Lyon
Be guided step-by-step through the process of designing externals, from concept through implementation in English.
Alessandro Cipriani and Maurizio Giri
This book provides the reader with skill and understanding in using Max/MSP for sound design and musical composition.
Geoffrey Kidde
Learning Music Theory with Logic, Max, and Finale presents a comprehensive music theory curriculum based in the tools and resources of three software programs. Included are descriptions and recipes for Max patchers that demonstrate essential concepts, including rhythmic patterns, intervals, scales, triads, seventh chords, melody, and diatonic and chromatic chord progressions.
V. J. Manzo
Use Max to write custom software for musical interaction. The book will discuss the concepts needed to complete your project, complete many projects in a step-by-step style guide, and look at numerous included software examples of working systems.
Todd Winkler
Fransisco Colasanto
Has music and sound focused academic text on how to program with MaxMSP, written in Spanish.
Gregory Taylor, published by Cycling '74
This book provides the recipes for over a dozen step sequencers that range from basic to surprisingly deep.
Cycling 74 Max 8 1 09 2
Carlos D. Perales
An introduction to the digital synthesis through Max MSP or vice versa. At the same time that the different types of synthesis and their theoretical principles are explained, the resources offered by this digital tool are explored through a detailed explanation of practical examples.
Peter Elsea
Explore topics from the fundamentals of acoustics through the basics of recording, composition with the tools of music concreté, and music production with MIDI instruments, softsynths and digital audio Workstations. Later sections of the book cover synthesis in depth and introduce high powered computer composition languages including Csound, ChucK, and Max/MSP.
Cycling Max 8
If you have a book to recommend that covers Max in some way, email the details to us.