emmanuel223

May I disturb with a very newbie question?

As an artist, I often make synchronized slideshows. I usually use a mac connected to 3 video projectors through a Matrox image divider (it takes a very large image, cut it into 3 and send them to each video projector). It could also be done with a local network of computer, each attached to a video projector.

The flow of still images is precisely edited through a video editor such as Adobe Premiere or Final Cut. So I have a video file made of precisely timed still images. It allows very precise control but is also very cumbersome (video files are huge, every little change requires to go back to final cut, render the file to output a new video file).

A friend of mine told me slideshows could probably be done much more efficiently through Max. Advantage of Max, he told me would be its real time flexibility, allowing me to change the sequencing of images (their order, the time each one appears - duration of each picture being different from others-, etc) on the spot, up to the last minute.

Because, there was a cheap Pure Data workshop in my area, I got a training in Pd for 3 month but was quickly overwhelmed by its difficulty. Even with some pro help, I was never able to make a patch that allow me to precisely control the sequence of images of slideshows.

I am thinking again to dip into Max but before purchasing it, may I ask a few questions

- do you think that Max will be significantly easier than Pd to do what I'm trying to?

- in general, is Max suitable for my goals?

- I tried to search google for "max for synchronized slideshows" but could not find anything that I could understand - searching "slideshow"inside cycling74 tutorial also only leads to 2 answers way beyond newbies possibilities! Would you have advice on where to start? There are so many tutorials, it s daunting!

Sadly, I already downloaded a trial version months ago, so I cannot use the trial mode to make up my mind.

Because, there was a cheap Pure Data workshop in my area, I got a training in Pd for 3 month but was quickly overwhelmed by its difficulty. Even with some pro help, I was never able to make a patch that allow me to precisely control the sequence of images of slideshows. 

I am thinking again to dip into Max but before purchasing it, may I ask a few questions
- do you think that Max will be significantly easier than Pd to do what I'm trying to?
- in general, is Max suitable for my goals?
- I tried to search google for "max for synchronized slideshows" but could not find anything that I could understand - searching "slideshow"inside cycling74 tutorial also only leads to 2 answers way beyond newbies possibilities! Would you have advice on where to start? There are so many tutorials, it s daunting!

newbie-max-for-synchronized-slideshows

Max can definitely do what you want. I haven't done enough visual work with Pd to know whether you'd be happy with that, but at least it's free, so you can try it out, and if it's not satisfactory, then Max.

Thank you very much for your reply. Make me want to try Max!

Would you have advice for where to start? I browsed C74 tutorials but what I found were either too complex or very remote from my goals. Would you have any ideas where I could find a simple tutorial as linked as possible to my goal?

Emmanuel, I think you should dive first in a few basic max and jitter tutorials to enjoy your experience with Max. Then you will be able to understand some patches doing what yOu want, or heading to. Also have a look at video through OpenGL as this is necessary to optimise video work in jitter. You will find a lot of useful patches in the Examples folder. Michael Todd has made two nice starting tutorials for a friend of his on Vimeo.

Lastly, you have to know that Max7 should come in a few weeks with a lot of (needed) improvements on the Jitter part. So, just dive in, and welcome !

Emmanuel, I think you should dive first in a few basic max and jitter tutorials to enjoy your experience with Max. Then you will be able to understand some patches doing what yOu want, or heading to. Also have a look at video through OpenGL as this is necessary to optimise video work in jitter. You will find a lot of useful patches in the Examples folder. Michael Todd has made two nice starting tutorials for a friend of his on Vimeo.
Lastly, you have to know that Max7 should come in a few weeks with a lot of (needed) improvements on the Jitter part. So, just dive in, and welcome !


[Newbie] Max for synchronized slideshows