Metering in Max

It’s always helpful to be able to see your audio, but can it also be fun? Or interesting? Or a method for creative experimentation? Where does the line exist between audio metering and visualization? 

We commissioned three amazing Max users to make patches which straddle, or maybe blur, the line between metering and visualizing. Scope out the results:

Ben Thorn

@ben.thorn

Ben: For this patch I was inspired by ‘ghost hunting’ equipment and thought it would be interesting to combine traditional metering representations (such VU Meters) with something more novel. 

I also started working on the patch in the lead up to halloween, and I’d just moved, so a haunted house seemed apt.

 The patch can be used to monitor multiple audio signals, each time the signal level passes the threshold it accumulates a counter which increases the frequency and intensity of ‘hauntings’.

 This was also my first time working with Javascript within Max so forgive the mess, hopefully you can salvage some use from it.

Download GhostMeter patch by Ben Thorn

Ringtone Tools

@ringtone.tools

Ringtone Tools: The meter simulates standing wave interference patterns based on Chladni figures—the geometric shapes that form when sand settles on a vibrating metal plate. Input any two numbers, and the device generates overlapping wave patterns based on their ratio. Simple ratios like 1:1 or 3:2 create simple shapes, while complex ratios like 15:8 or 19:20 produce intricate, chaotic patterns.

Most audio meters show individual measurements—a signal at -12dB, a frequency at 440Hz. But in music, context is everything. I wanted a way to show the relationship between things. Standing Wave Calculator reveals how two frequencies relate to each other, creating a visual spectrum from simplicity to chaos.

Download Standing Wave Calculator patch by Ringtone Tools

Claire Kwong

@clairebkwong

I use Max primarily as a visualist – I manipulate and project video behind musicians as they play. I often increase the video intensity as the music gets louder. This is exactly what the meter~ object does! When I looked at meter~, I immediately noticed that I could customize multiple colors. I decided to extract pixels from a video and put each one into a meter~, rendering a video entirely with meter~ objects. I've always loved how you can arrange Max objects to make creative and unexpected layouts. I want to spotlight the meter~ object itself as a work of art. You can use this patch to VJ with any combination of sound and video you like!

Download pixelmeter patch by @clairebkwong