dthomas86

This is bit of a strange topic but for my degree I need to purpose a business statement on my major project which is designing a synth in max msp.

So was thinking of setting up a business with other employees who are confident in programming in max and performers/musician with (little programming knowledge) who are looking for a unique patch for achieving a specific scenario can drop the company an email to design a unique patch.

I know its a bit silly but I think this is the only way of making a business out of max patches specific to my project.

Tell me what you think and if you can think of other ideas. I know this isn't a technical post regarding patching help and is a bit off topic but would appreciate some feedback. Cheers everyone :)

Hey,
  This is bit of a strange topic but for my degree I need to purpose a business statement on my major project which is designing a synth in max msp.
  So was thinking of setting up a business with other employees who are confident in programming in max and performers/musician with (little programming knowledge) who are looking for a unique patch for achieving a specific scenario  can drop the company an email to design a unique patch.
  I know its a bit silly but I think this is the only way of making a business out of max patches specific to my project.
I can't stand business essays ha!
  Tell me what you think and if you can think of other ideas.   I know this isn't a technical post regarding patching help and is a bit off topic but would appreciate some feedback.  Cheers everyone :)


turning-your-patches-into-a-business

you seem to be more advanced than your university, dont let them fuck you up.

cheers roman. It's just for an essay not looking to set up a business at all don't even know where to start.

As its for a module in my third year I have to apply my business plan to my final major project. And I thought of learning max for it as there is no course through out the 3 years of my university degree that even mentions or uses maxmsp!

As loads of people have recorded their bands and created albums for theirs I am pretty much looking for a business plan towards max because the people that have recorded bands can but their business plan forward for home studio set ups and investment.

I thought it would be a good to "hire" employees to build unique patches for specific customers who want an interactive performance, instruments built in max.

This is the only way I can think of using max as part of my business plan.

I much rather just focus on stuff geared towards music not bloody getting involved in the business side of things!

cheers roman.  It's just for an essay not looking to set up a business at all don't even know where to start.
  As its for a module in my third year I have to apply my business plan to my final major project.  And I thought of learning max for it as there is no course through out the 3 years of my university degree that even mentions or uses maxmsp!
  As loads of people have recorded their bands and created albums for theirs I am pretty much looking for a business plan towards max because the people that have recorded bands can but their business plan forward for home studio set ups and investment.
  I thought it would be a good to "hire" employees to build unique patches for specific customers who want an interactive performance, instruments built in max.
  This is the only way I can think of using max as part of my business plan.
  I much rather just focus on stuff geared towards music not bloody getting involved in the business side of things!


if i would have a good idea i would have told you.

but i find the question you have been confronted with totally stupid.

i mean, given that maxmsp is (compared to high level languages)

more or less only for prototyping or live use / installation ... "commercial"

if i would have a good idea i would have told you.
but i find the question you have been confronted with totally stupid.

i mean, given that maxmsp is (compared to high level languages)
more or less only for prototyping or live use / installation ... "commercial"
seems far away.


I hate the thought of taking something you love and turning it into a business.

The only reason I learnt (and still learning) MaxMSP is purely because I enjoy creating things out of it and wanted to take up a new hobbie (which has taken over my life ha).

I see no way how I can propose a business plan out of what I am doing!

I hate the thought of taking something you love and turning it into a business.
  The only reason I learnt (and still learning) MaxMSP is purely because I enjoy creating things out of it and wanted to take up a new hobbie (which has taken over my life ha).
  I see no way how I can propose a business plan out of what I am doing!
It's totally outrageous ha!


I'm about to sell my applications and *should* do well if all goes to plan.

You need something worth selling though.


@Mike, are you using a protection scheme? care to share?

am always looking for potential options for selling apps down the road...

Send an email to : machinesleet4 (at) gmail (dot) com

Sorry for this spam but its currently for my final year business planning project in music technology. Would appreciate it if you could take the time to fill in the questionnaire (I know its a silly questionnaire but has to be done).

I like to thank everyone who takes part and would appreciate it if you could give me any feedback. And sorry for spamming questionnaires like this but as I said its for academic purposes only.

Cheers Please get as many people to fill it in thanks once again

Hey everyone,
  Sorry for this spam but its currently for my final year business planning project in music technology.  Would appreciate it if you could take the time to fill in the questionnaire (I know its a silly questionnaire but has to be done).

  I like to thank everyone who takes part and would appreciate it if you could give me any feedback.  And sorry for spamming questionnaires like this but as I said its for academic purposes only.

  Cheers  Please get as many people to fill it in thanks once again


I will chime in here with a little of my own experience. I have for some years now, made *some* money creating custom applications (using Max/MSP/Jitter) for a small number of clients. To some degree, my helping, or trying to help other users with problems on this board is in part payback to the C74 community for the benefits I've consequently gained...

Generally most of these applications are custom programs for interactive installations or unique sound applications where there is no "off-the-shelf" solution for. The point I'm getting to is that as great a world as MAx etc provides, it is not an ideal development environment for relatively mainstream projects (ie commercial synths, etc), and you are probably better placed finding and filling niches (as I think your suggesting anyway) rather than competing with the big guns who are more than likely working with bigger development teams and more "appropriate" development environments. There will always be a few exceptions, and I'd love for this to be different in general but that's how I see it..

And PS: even though I do sometimes do Max programming for money, I still love every minute ; ).

Spectro has a point about filling niches. You'd have to be good though.

One thing I realised is that max would be a great environment for creating small applications, that teachers can use during lessons for students that is smaller then around 13 years. In these kinds of instances at has to be so much about playing, interactivity etc. I don't know if it is a field that catches your attention, but it is open area.

A big thank you to everyone who as participated in the survey and also for you guys who have discussed a lot of issues with making a profit out of you applications and further ideas!

I've also made money doing custom work for various clients. Most has been LED-related, some worked with sensors and motion tracking, and one was fully in the computer (for music theory/ear-training). Yes, it's not much money, and the projects tend to spiral on and on...but it's more a labor of love (and learning) than anything. Plus if they're documented, they can lead to more business. Often, just meeting other interesting people through a project is the real payoff.

I do want to eventually sell apps as well, and am hoping to find a good solution for distribution and protection. There's no reason Max apps can't compete with other platforms---there are just too many advantages to Max for one's apps to not get out there and get sold. The prototying is so fantastic, yes, but it shouldn't stop there...you can get as slick as you want with UI and functionality, there really are no limits. And so many programming/UI elements are so much easier in this environment!

@Home Surgery, about the education apps---yes, that's exactly where I want to go. Tons of possibilities there. Game elements are a bit tricky, and not directly supported like in some other environments, but certainly are possible (collision detection for example). I'm really interested to see what's possible for learning about mathematics, physics, music, and visual art through a Max-created app. It's perfectly-suited for these areas in so many ways... :)

I sell my standalones (and Pluggo plugins, may they rest in peace) commercially. As people above have said, if you can find a niche in the market that you can fill, Max apps can definitely fit the bill.

I sell my standalones (and Pluggo plugins, may they rest in peace) commercially.  As people above have said, if you can find a niche in the market that you can fill, Max apps can definitely fit the bill.


I'm interested by all these opinions here.

@Dan, standalones mean you make synth only? or do you build fx too and uses them with Jack/Soundflower or other stuff ?

Hi I am a teacher in a high school and we are becoming more and more technological (smartboard, projector,pc in every class) I was wondering if someone as ever work on a project or a patch for teenager.... I am a good programmer in max/msp and jitter and if someone have ideas they are welcome. Right now in school I have work with vj and dj application using max and the results are very appreciated by the students. But now I want to integrated more pedagogical issues with my patch (I.E using max with google map for example...)

Hi I am a teacher in a high school and we are becoming more and more technological (smartboard, projector,pc in every class) I was wondering if someone as ever work on a project or a patch for teenager.... I am a good programmer in max/msp and jitter and if someone have ideas they are welcome.  Right now in school I have work with vj and dj application using max and the results are very appreciated by the students.  But now I want to integrated more pedagogical issues with my patch (I.E using max with google map for example...)

Actually, none of my commercial standalones have been synths - instead, sequencers, patching utilities, etc.. See 

Actually, none of my commercial standalones have been synths - instead, sequencers, patching utilities, etc.. See http://defectiverecords.com


By sequencers, you mean sequencers for external hardware? for other softwares?

The one used with Ableton live works on the L/R outputs of the DAW?

I'm curious because I'm currently thinking about the best way in my case to make audio plugins, commercials.

Maybe we can discuss private.. I don't like to hi jack threads :p

But here is ok for me if everyone is ok too :)

Dan, I'm interested.
By sequencers, you mean sequencers for external hardware? for other softwares?
The one used with Ableton live works on the L/R outputs of the DAW?
do you use it as an external fx ?

I'm curious because I'm currently thinking about the best way in my case to make audio plugins, commercials.
Maybe we can discuss private.. I don't like to hi jack threads :p
But here is ok for me if everyone is ok too :)


Sequencers for either hardware or software synthesizers. See the product's specific pages for more details, you can read the documentation and/or download a free demo.

For Ableton plugin (Major Malfunction) - it's a regular VST (Pluggo-based) plugin, but the timing seemed to work best in Live, and so I decided to only support it on this platform. But it does work fairly well with other hosts too.

@julien:
Sequencers for either hardware or software synthesizers.  See the product's specific pages for more details, you can read the documentation and/or download a free demo.

For Ableton plugin (Major Malfunction) - it's a regular VST (Pluggo-based) plugin, but the timing seemed to work best in Live, and so I decided to only support it on this platform.  But it does work fairly well with other hosts too.


I don't own pluggo and I heard that VST through pluggo could really crash Ableton but I trust you, and I didn't test it on my own.

I can code c++ (not too bad, I don't mean as an expert!)

I'll follow your activity with interest !

@Dan,
okay.
I don't own pluggo and I heard that VST through pluggo could really crash Ableton but I trust you, and I didn't test it on my own.

I can code c++ (not too bad, I don't mean as an expert!)
But I want to use my max5 experience.

Pluggo would have been a nice option.
Unfortunately, I didn't buy it.

Keep the good work!
I'll follow your activity with interest !


hi, can i hijack this thread and ask a question about creating standalone MAX patches?

i have tried this, but when i export/create as standalone - it works, but when i open up the patch - it just opens in MAX - as usual. am i missing something?

if you export with .mxf option, it exports only the patch + some elements "compile" inside.

how do you "open the patch" ?
if you export with .mxf option, it exports only the patch + some elements "compile" inside.

i actually got it, it was my fault (stoopid!) - i was building as a collective, not as an app. i am on a mac too, but thanks!

Turning your Patches into a business