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Using Max with Other Applications
The Max application has two virtual sources — two sets of inputs and outputs that let you send MIDI data to and from other programs that are running on your computer. MIDI Setup Window displays of these virtual sources.
The output devices “from Max/MSP 1” and “from Max/ MSP 2” are virtual sources of MIDI for other programs. You can select them MIDI inputs in another application and your application will receive MIDI data from Max.
The input devices “to Max/MSP 1” and “to Max/MSP 2” are virtual destinations — sources of MIDI input to Max from other programs. In order to use them, you must select “to Max/MSP 1” or “to Max/MSP 2” as MIDI output devices in another application.

Sending MIDI data to Max from another application
The following example shows how to select “to Max/MSP 1” as a MIDI output destination in Ableton Live using the MIDI channel strip:
The following example shows how to select “to Max/MSP 1” as a MIDI input destination in a Max patch:
Max will now receive MIDI data sent from your other application.

Sending MIDI data from Max to another application
The following example shows how to select “from Max/MSP 1” as a MIDI input destination in Ableton Live using the MIDI channel strip:
The following example shows how to select “from Max/MSP 1” as a MIDI output destination in a Max patch:
Max will now send MIDI data to your other application.

By default, Max creates two “virtual” MIDI ports for both input and output. To create additional virtual ports to your MIDI system in addition to to/from Max/MSP 1 and to/from Max/MSP 2, you will need to send messages to the Max application. At the present time, CoreMIDI is the only driver which supports the creation of virtual MIDI ports.

Adding Additional Virtual MIDI Ports

The process for creating virtual output ports is the same, except that you type
;#SM createoutport <portname> <drivername>
into the message box.
Virtual MIDI ports are not saved with your other Max setup preferences; they must be recreated whenever you restart Max. You can do this by adding a loadbang object and a message box to your Max patch.