3 Questions, possible to do that with Max? Modular Synth
Hi all!
Too bad I've areally low inet connection today, can't browse around too much, but I know I would not be able to sleep without answerd questions. ;)
1) Do I need programming skills in c++ or equal, to work with max?
2) Would it be possible to create not just vst, but rather something like synthedit/synthmaker?
3) Would it be possible (when 2 is not possible), to create a completely modular synth with max?
1) no.
2) no.
3) yes.
:)
Fast n short answer. ty!
1) no, in fact C programming skills are a barrier to the Max paradigm
2) VST? Seriously? Welcome to our world :P
3) Yes, yes, yes. But be prepared to BEAP.
I think it's a damn shame that one can't build VSTs with Max. I think it would be great if it was possible to build a standalone "library" as opposed to "app" that could be opened by some kind of wrapper that would look like a VST to the outside world
I actually built a modular synth, which is available here
and there are some problematic CPU limitations. If you build at the MSP level, the collation of individual objects communicate at I/O block size, and are cpu inefficient in aggregate. If you build at the gen~ level, the objects are efficient, but there is no way to stop the interconnections from re=evaluating at every audio clock cycle. Over half of the cpu usage in godel 2 is in the modulation matrix alone.
The reason that VSTs are no longer supported is that the MAX scheduler cannot run predictably as a VST slave. So there is no way to make it work within a wrapper.
Awww... To say it with Phil Collins: Ther's some missunderstanding!
Modular Synth was ment like Sonigen Modular, where you could put modules together.
Well... What I need is a really flexible way to create own plugins and I want to do it without programming.
A really, really good way goes ZynAddSubFX, but the workflow is horrible.
From what I read yesterday I was sure it is possible to do Applications with it.
Well, I could make godel 2 more 'modular', but it would increase the CPU load dramatically. As it is, all possible oscillator audio modulations are hard wired, and the modulation matrix supports modulation of all control parameters by all control sources. So it is in effect modular. It just doesnt have patch cords.
otherwise if you really want something really modular, I suggest the most recent design from Mr. Nord, which is free and runs in a web browser.
Could you elaborate on this? What is it about the predictability (or lack thereof) that gets in the way?
The reason that VSTs are no longer supported is that the MAX scheduler cannot run predictably as a VST slave.
Im not really the person to elaborate on that. I dont really know enough to explain it without being sure I dont say something wrong.
In Max 7 you can use a library of M4L devices which behave and look like VST/AU plugins. But I guess that Ableton Live is needed for building the devices.
Re. Soningen Modular, Alex - that's exactly how BEAP works, and it's included in the standard vanilla install.
@ernest well then in that case in what basis did you make the claim in the first place?
BEAP is monophonic. With a basic rig of analog emulation modules in gen~ and about a year of optimization work, I was able to get 32 voices playing reliably on a 3ghz i7. At the moment, as far as I know, that is the best there is.
hm. :)
1) luckily no.
2a) to create plug-ins you would need a machine with not higher than windows 8 or OSX 10.4.11 and a copy of Max 4.6. and, in case you want to build your VST patches with max 7, you would need to know which objects were availabel in max4 and which not. also, from what i know, in mavericks there are only two host programs left which work with the long unsupported pluggo format: protools and live.
2b) to create "something like synthedit" max is the perfect tool. with one restriction of course: no direct VST export from max 6 or 7 without the above workaround and restrictions.
3) in theory you can create anything with max and msp. what remains difficult is feedback loops, at least if you are outside gen. what is also difficult is de/convolution. or multirate. or some more things. but to be fair, a good implementation of a virtual analog synthesizer circuit is also not very easy in an object orientated language, isnt it?
-110
hmhm... ;)
Theoretically you've sweeten my day Roman, but I'm afraid it will goe above what I'm able to learn within a year of using Max in the future. Anyways it's good to know, that it is possible.
Sonigen Modular... Well, well... Would love to use it, but it resist to show up in my Cubase Elements 6. Dunno why... It seems I'm the only one in whole inet having that problem... lol