MuShoo

So I was floating around my application folder today, and realized I still had Max 4 installed. And then I further realized, I kind of miss the max 4 icon.

It's just so... goofy and fun. There's a geeky 1950's-esque scientist (perhaps his name is Max?) ...and a wisk? It makes very little sense to me, but for some reason, those two seemingly unrelated objects read almost perfectly as quintessentially 'Max.'

Anyone know the history of it? And possibly even the splash screens from Max/MSP/Jitter (why the mouse?) I'm feeling nostalgic and never really knew a lot of the gory details of Max's history (just the basics - Miller Puckette at IRCAM, Opcode, the annoyingness of NATO's creator, etc)

So I was floating around my application folder today, and realized I still had Max 4 installed.  And then I further realized, I kind of miss the max 4 icon. 

It's just so... goofy and fun.  There's a geeky 1950's-esque scientist (perhaps his name is Max?)  ...and a wisk?  It makes very little sense to me, but for some reason, those two seemingly unrelated objects read almost perfectly as quintessentially 'Max.'

Anyone know the history of it?  And possibly even the splash screens from Max/MSP/Jitter (why the mouse?)  I'm feeling nostalgic and never really knew a lot of the gory details of Max's history (just the basics - Miller Puckette at IRCAM, Opcode, the annoyingness of NATO's creator, etc)


the-max-icon

it is out of place, but in some way fits perfectly, because it is not like everything else. it was not flash or anything. quite random in some way.

i remember my first encounter with a max program that had that face on when you started it, some 6-8 years ago, i think. i laughed, because it was quirky as you say.

also it had the seat belts loading screen as well, which was even more weirder. trying to think 'where is the connection between this program and seat belts?'

come to think of it, i may change my max logo...

i remember my first encounter with a max program that had that face on when you started it, some 6-8 years ago, i think. i laughed, because it was quirky as you say.
also it had the seat belts loading screen as well, which was even more weirder. trying to think 'where is the connection between this program and seat belts?'

come to think of it, i may change my max logo...


Max 3 had a stylized portrait of a man wearing glasses and a bow tie. Although I have never seen Max Mathews wear either, I assumed the image was supposed to resemble what people might have thought Dr. Mathews might have looked like.

Regarding the Max 4 icon, there was yet another image of what someone might have thought its namesake might have appeared 50 years ago. Or maybe it was, as Gag Halfrunt would have said, "vell, it's just zis guy, you know?"

As for the splash screen, at the time David Zicarelli expressed a desire that Max/MSP should's imagery should involve artwork. The belts were an artwork created independently that David presumably liked.

I really miss those belts. Best splash screen I've ever seen and it really touched on everything max was. The icon was decent but change is good. This icon doesn't really say much about the program (which is what I thought icons were for) but I guess someone at cycling was understandably sick of being the only unbranded audio software company. Strange how experimental digital music has gained a style like bleach bottles.

I really miss those belts.  Best splash screen I've ever seen and it really touched on everything max was.  The icon was decent but change is good.  This icon doesn't really say much about the program (which is what I thought icons were for) but I guess someone at cycling was understandably sick of being the only unbranded audio software company.  Strange how experimental digital music has gained a style like bleach bottles.


Regarding the whisk, Mr. Zicarelli once said:"Next time you are in your kitchen, take out an ordinary whisk--you know, the kind with which you beat eggs or mix flour--and grasp it at the very top. Now drag it across a wood surface such as a floor or cutting board outfitted with a contact mic using a technique that allows you to change directions and angles quickly. Voila: you will have replicated a fair portion of the electronic and computer music literature."

http://finearts.uvic.ca/icmc2001/after/keynote.php3

You can read where that came from here: http://finearts.uvic.ca/icmc2001/after/keynote.php3

bdc wrote on Sun, 02 August 2009 16:49Regarding the whisk, Mr. Zicarelli once said:"Next time you are in your kitchen, take out an ordinary whisk--you know, the kind with which you beat eggs or mix flour--and grasp it at the very top. Now drag it across a wood surface such as a floor or cutting board outfitted with a contact mic using a technique that allows you to change directions and angles quickly. Voila: you will have replicated a fair portion of the electronic and computer music literature."

The Max Icon