Max/MSP/Jitter is a graphical programming environment available from Cycling74 software. Originally developed my Miller Puckett for Opcode Technology in the late 1980s, Max was a MIDI-based programming environment for musicians, composers, educators, etc. It was one the first visually-driven programming environments (i.e., developing via a GUI vs. a command line or text editor), a trend that would be followed during the next decade with environments such as Visual C++, Delphi and Visual Basic. In the late 90s, the MSP layer was added for audio and digital synthesis functionality. Opcode was purchased by Gibson Guitars around that time and product development ceased soon thereafter. Max/MSP resurfaced with Cycling74, which added the Jitter component for advanced graphic and video functionality.
Learning Max/MSP/Jitter
For starters, Cycling74 maintains a forum and learner area on its website:
http://cycling74.com/learnmax/
This is not particularly useful for beginners, though some of the posts will be speak to that. It is, however, useful to intermediate-to-advanced users.
Secondly, I will be posting some primers and source code on this blog.
One does need to undertake the whole package at the outset. Rather, getting familiar with the Max objects first is a great idea. Following that, trying out the MSP objects is a logical next step. A lot of users could stop there and still have a lot of great developer tools for creating applications for music, audio, and multimedia that could be useful in areas such as performance, education, composing, plug-ins, digital synthesis, etc. However, learning the Jitter component as a final step makes sense in terms of a building process. Users can even purchase each component separately, although you'll get them cheaper if you buy them all at once.
GD-1 Monophonic Synthesizer
As part of a class I taught in Max/MSP, one of the projects was the creation of a software synthesizer. I developed the GD-1 as a proof-of-concept to show the class. OS X users can download it by clicking HERE.
The README file contains information on running the app. It should open in the Max/MSP Runtime environment automatically. While I did format it for Windows as well, I had trouble with the file formats and the run-time environment consistently working in Windows XP. I have not tried it in Vista or 7. I suspect the latest version of Max/MSP does a better job about this issue.
The GD-1 contains an on-screen keyboard, and can also be played via an external MIDI controller. It features two oscillators, which can be set to a handful of different waveform generators. Users can turn on and off filters (since it's a monophonic synthesizer, a new note must be struck before filter changes take effect). There is also a pitch bend control and the ability to use IAC to use the GD-1 with other apps.
I experienced a hard drive crash in early 2010 and while most things were backed up, not all things were. I lost some source code as well as some pictures, and to the best of my recollection the GD-1 source files and objects were among them. It's possible I may have them on a storage drive somewhere, so if anyone reading this blog is interested, I will undertake a search for it. Or, if I run across it, I'll gladly post it on this blog.
