bngrdn

I'm new to MaxMSP and am trying to wrap my head around it and its functionality and would appreciate it if someone, who has a better grasp on it, could answer some of my - I assume rather stupid - questions:

First, is it possible AND common to use Max to control external VSTs like Native Instruments Reaktor or Battery? For example, to send MIDI from a patch created in Max to a synth in Reaktor?

Second, if it is possible to control external VSTs, is it common to use a DAW such as Logic or, of course, Ableton to run the VSTs while using ReWire to run Max within the DAW to trigger the VSTs?

Lastly, I would be very interested if anyone knows of any well designed algorithmic, generative, analog style sequencer (e.g., Doepfer MAQ16/3), or step sequencer patches that can be used to trigger external VSTs?

newbie-questions-suggested-algorithmicgenerativesequencer-patches

of course, you can read AudioUnits and VSTs inside Max with the 

object. This is very flexible and you can do a lot of things, check the help file.

For your second point : never tried it, but it seems possible ; however this may seem a little heavy, so you may encounter some problems. Try!

Third point : probably. You can begin searching here : 

This is how I can help you :
of course, you can read AudioUnits and VSTs inside Max with the vst~object. This is very flexible and you can do a lot of things, check the help file.

Third point : probably. You can begin searching here : https://cycling74.com/project/


Re your second question, absolutely. If you don't need the audio transferring capabilities of ReWire, you can simply send MIDI from Max to any DAW or synth application using the virtual MIDI port "from Max 1" and/or "from Max 2". Works great, and is super simple. Max for Live is of course wonderful, but Live is so very MIDI-controllable that I find I often only need simple MIDI communication from Max to Live. Running both applications at once is no big burden for any reasonably modern computer.

Thanks for both of your replies. I appreciate it.

Christoper, it's funny you should reply to my post because I've actually just started to read your Algorithmic Composition blog.

Anyway, can either of you tell me if it is common for MaxMSP users to use MaxMSP by itself to produce commercial quality audio recordings or do users usually use it together with a DAW?

Ideally, I would like to use MaxMSP to create simple sequencers, possibly of an algorithmic nature, that can trigger VSTs within Logic or Ableton to aid my music productions. Does this seem like a good use of MaxMSP?

Thanks for both of your replies. I appreciate it. 

Newbie Questions & Suggested Algorithmic/Generative/Sequencer Patches