In art, it seems, interactivity is all the rage these days. Whether artists are experimenting with MAX MSP, PureData, Laser Light Sensors or Multichannel Sonic Environments, responsive environments have been taking front row and centre in festivals, galleries, and public spaces.
The problem with all this gadgetry is that the learning curve can be pretty steep, and the content can be uber dorky. But for those who are inclined to suck it up and learn the stuff, the possibilities are awe-inspiring.
For those who want to master MAX, you can start with tutorials in MAX/MSP and JITTER available right on the Cycling 74 Website. If you find those boring, you can look up tutorials by the fabulously amusing Baz on his website: Audiolemon.com.
In 2009, the folks at Cycling 74 made a major step toward world domination in the audio realm with a highly strategic move to make MAX MSP compatible with Ableton Live 8. You can find tutorials on how to use MAX with Live here, at maxingmsp.wordpress.com. This page lists many other valuable programming resources as well, such as the Max Objects Database.
You can definitely count on some hardcore geeking out to make it work, but the results are impressive–magical, even. So why not dive in? A 30 day fully functional trial version is downloadable directly from the website. If you know a little bit about coding and don’t feel like dropping any cash, you can always download PureData, Max’s younger open-source cousin. It was invented by the very same man who came up with the idea for Max in the first place.
