Help needed! Max/Msp or Max for Live with Ableton Live?
Hello, as a potential new entry to the world of Max/Msp, I want to understand whether I need the standalone version of Max or I need the Ableton Live 10 with the integrated Max for Live.
I am a classical guitarist and I want to experiment with live electronics in order to play with effects and midi foot controllers. Can Max/Msp be used as DAW or I need Ableton Live in order to manage the effects I will create on Max?
Thank you!
Hi Kostantinos, you definitely don't need Ableton Live to do this. However, if you are new to this process, you may find that the access to all the max4live devices that others have made in the same area makes it worthwhile for you. A lot of the shared max development in that area now targets Live as the host platform.
Dear Iain thank you for your reply. I totally understand your point but Im still not convinced on whether I should invest my time and money to use Ableton Live when the whole point is to use Max for Live. Two and last questions if you dont mind: 1) Can you do multitrack recording on Max/Msp? 2) Can you use any other DAW other than Ableton?
Thanks again!
You can definitely use max productive with other DAWs. I use it with Reaper as well as Live, which I prefer for recording and mixing (I use Live for.. live playing!) If you are reluctant to spend on Live (understandable) I would try things out on Max for a month or two on the month-by-month price to see if you're able to do what you want. You definitely will be able to, you just might be doing more roll-you-own functionality. Many people do that kind of thing in Max alone.
Thanks Iain! I will try Max first as a stand-alone application and then see what I truly need.
Related question: I'm a Max user now, curious about Live. Since I'm running a full version of Max 8, what version of Live 10 (Intro/Standard/Suite) would be a good choice? Does my Max 8 allow me to do what M4L does if I'm also using Live? I welcome advice! Thanks!
You need a version that has Max4Live specifically, but check the websites because there are cross-grade discounts for people who already own full Max (or at least there was when I first bought it). They keep changing what is bundled with what with the different releases. Having full Max makes editing your own M4L patches a lot more pleasant though.
I appreciate your clear explanation. Thank you! I'll investigate my options.