How can I send a slider value from Max to a local website (in real-time)?

Miscbeginneradvanced
Onno Surewaard's icon

Onno Surewaard

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to send a changing slider value from Max (Max/MSP) to a local website (e.g., localhost:8080) in real-time, so that I can use it in JavaScript—for example, to drive visuals or update an interface.

What I have so far:

  • A slider in Max whose value changes continuously.

  • A basic website running locally where I can use JavaScript.

  • Some experience with node.script and WebSockets inside Max, but I’m also open to any simpler or more reliable alternatives (e.g., HTTP requests, OSC to browser, etc.).

My questions:

  1. What’s the simplest and most stable way to get a slider value from Max to a local website in real-time?

  2. Do I need to use node.script for this, or is there a better approach?

  3. How should I receive and use the data on the web side (JavaScript)?

Bonus points for a minimal working example patch or setup 😄

Thanks in advance!

TFL's icon

TFL

  1. Two possible approaches:

    • If you're fine running your website inside of your Max patch, the simplest solution is by far [jweb] to display your website, to which you can send data directly via patching. See here to get how to receive messages from the Max patch in your website's js code.

    • If you want to be able to run your website on a dedicated browser (or from another device), then you'll need to run a web server, possibly with [node.script], send your slider data to this server via messages to [node.script], and handle yourself the server code to make it send the received slider data to your website, for example through Server-Sent Events (SSE) or websocket.

  2. If you choose second option (website running outside of Max) then yes, or other tool that allow you to run a web server (standalone nodejs, python, etc.), depending on what you're the most comfortable with.

  3. Briefly answered in 1.