usdryad@hotmail.com

Im through the first 13 tutorials of MAXtutorial and out of curiosity i looked through to see if there was a tutorial on how to get sound to come out of this program, and lo and behold, no there isnt. Max reads my midi piano fine, but it wont play any sounds, not with audio out, not with notein > noteout, not with midiin > midiout or any combination thereof, on any DSP setting. Is there some magic button i am unaware of that makes this program produce sound?

On a similar note, at what point in the tutorials am i expected to start hearing something?

this-is-an-audio-program-right

MSP is something like "Max signal processing"

Max is not an 'audio' program - this is a programming environment 

that coincidentally makes producing video and audio easy.

Max is logic and midi, msp is signal processing (which can be used to 

generate noise), Jitter is matrix processing (hat can be used to 

On Dec 18, 2006, at 10:50 PM, Ettin wrote:

> Im through the first 13 tutorials of MAXtutorial and out of 

> curiosity i looked through to see if there was a tutorial on how to 

> get sound to come out of this program, and lo and behold, no there 

> isnt. Max reads my midi piano fine, but it wont play any sounds, 

> not with audio out, not with notein > noteout, not with midiin >

> midiout or any combination thereof, on any DSP setting. Is there 

> some magic button i am unaware of that makes this program produce 

> On a similar note, at what point in the tutorials am i expected to 

Max is not an 'audio' program - this is a programming environment  
that coincidentally makes producing video and audio easy.

Max is logic and midi, msp is signal processing (which can be used to  
generate noise), Jitter is matrix processing (hat can be used to  
generate 2D and 3D images) -

>
> Im through the first 13 tutorials of MAXtutorial and out of  
> curiosity i looked through to see if there was a tutorial on how to  
> get sound to come out of this program, and lo and behold, no there  
> isnt. Max reads my midi piano fine, but it wont play any sounds,  
> not with audio out, not with notein > noteout, not with midiin >
> midiout or any combination thereof, on any DSP setting. Is there  
> some magic button i am unaware of that makes this program produce  
> sound?
>
> On a similar note, at what point in the tutorials am i expected to  
> start hearing something?

> Is there some magic button i am unaware of that makes this program produce 

> Is there some magic button i am unaware of that makes this program produce 
> sound?

If all you want to do is get sound, then you can simply select your built-in midi device, as opposed to sending your audio to an external device, e.g. in Windows, you might choose 'Microsoft Synthesizer' in the midi setup menu.

MSP will allow you to do the sorts of things you'd normally have to throw your external synth into Edit mode to do...but a lot more of course, since it allows you to actually create the functions you plan to tweak.

Could anyone direct me to a patch that shows the most fundemental setup for getting sound to come from my midi piano, through max, to my speakers?

> Could anyone direct me to a patch that shows the most fundemental 

> setup for getting sound to come from my midi piano, through max, to 

>
> Could anyone direct me to a patch that shows the most fundemental  
> setup for getting sound to come from my midi piano, through max, to  
> my speakers?


You should immediately go to you kitchen, and check if espresso machine is 

on. I've heard rumors max won't produce any sound if you are cooking long 

You should immediately go to you kitchen, and check if espresso machine is 
on. I've heard rumors max won't produce any sound if you are cooking long 
espresso nearby. Short ones should work.

Quote: usdryad@hotmail.com wrote on Wed, 20 December 2006 07:04

----------------------------------------------------

> Could anyone direct me to a patch that shows the most fundemental setup for getting sound to come from my midi piano, through max, to my speakers?

btw don't forget to connect a midi cable from your computer's midi output to your midi piano and to connect an audio cable from you midi piano to your amplifier.

- a link with the midi device driver of your system

- a conversion between velocity and note values to a 3-byte midi message

- a user interface that provides feedback on your actions

- a threading mechanism to manage events generated by your user interface

As vade stated, max is not an audio program but a programming environment. It makes programming audio applications so easy that a lot of people confuse it with an audio program.

Quote: usdryad@hotmail.com wrote on Wed, 20 December 2006 07:04
----------------------------------------------------
> Could anyone direct me to a patch that shows the most fundemental setup for getting sound to come from my midi piano, through max, to my speakers?
----------------------------------------------------

Look at this code as the way to program 
       - a link with the midi device driver of your system
       - an open and initialized midi port
       - a conversion between velocity and note values to a 3-byte midi message
       - a user interface that provides feedback on your actions
       - a threading mechanism to manage events generated by your user interface
       - etc
       - etc

> Could anyone direct me to a patch that shows the most fundemental

> setup for getting sound to come from my midi piano, through max, to

You need to connect physically your audio out of the midi piano to the 

audio in of your sound card. Then activate with one of the switches audio:

If you expect the internal Midi sound device to route audio to Max, its 

more complicated. Because the internal Midi program doesn't know 

anything about Max and can't do anything but sending its audio to your 

Software solutions depend on the operating system and hardware...

Usually the internal GM sound synths are so bad that nobody bothers too 

much to use them. (Only Midi programs use them, I don't know of any 

"audio" programs which use them (as audio))

Ettin wrote:
> Could anyone direct me to a patch that shows the most fundemental
> setup for getting sound to come from my midi piano, through max, to
> my speakers?

You need to connect physically your audio out of the midi piano to the 
audio in of your sound card. Then activate with one of the switches audio:

If you expect the internal Midi sound device to route audio to Max, its 
more complicated. Because the internal Midi program doesn't know 
anything about Max and can't do anything but sending its audio to your 
computers standard outputs.

Usually the internal GM sound synths are so bad that nobody bothers too 
much to use them. (Only Midi programs use them, I don't know of any 
"audio" programs which use them (as audio))

-- 
Stefan Tiedje------------x-------
--_____-----------|--------------
--(_|_ ----|-----|-----()-------
-- _|_)----|-----()--------------
----------()--------www.ccmix.com


Quote: usdryad@hotmail.com wrote on Tue, 19 December 2006 23:04

eventually the objects [dac~] and [adc~] will do this

if you need help about how to move your mouse cursor

Quote: usdryad@hotmail.com wrote on Tue, 19 December 2006 23:04
----------------------------------------------------
> Could anyone direct me to a patch that shows the most fundemental setup for getting sound to come from my midi piano, through max, to my speakers?
----------------------------------------------------

eventually the objects [dac~] and [adc~] will do this
for you.

if you need help about how to move your mouse cursor
or how to make coffee call me offline.

stephan and mattijs, your patches dont work, under any dsp or midi setting.

I can play my midi piano fine through cubase, it will always make sound, so my setup and connections are fine. Why is it no one here knows how to make a midi piano play through max out to the speakers?

stephan and mattijs, your patches dont work, under any dsp or midi setting. 

I can play my midi piano fine through cubase, it will always make sound, so my setup and connections are fine. Why is it no one here knows how to make a midi piano play through max out to the speakers?


The very wording of your question (and this followup response) is 

somewhat vague. Do you want MaxMSP to control the MIDI piano via 

MIDI; or do you want the audio from the MIDI piano to somehow be 

processed through MaxMSP; or both of these? It is unclear exactly 

what you are after. Perhaps rewording your request in less ambiguous 

For now, however, perhaps the key is that you don't yet have a good 

grasp of MaxMSP? In addition to just 'loading and running the 

patches' there are a number of configuration details you need to 

specify before MaxMSP will send/receive audio and/or MIDI. Did you 

properly configure the MIDI settings within MaxMSP? Did you properly 

configure the connection to whatever audio interface & driver you are 

using? These are all covered in the MaxMSP documentation. As well, if 

you want to process the audio from your piano, is the audio output 

from the piano routed into the computer, then the computer audio 

routed back out to your speakers? There are a number of variables 

here...since (presumably) no one on the list has seen your setup, 

it's hard to magically provide solutions. It's more a matter of 

providing some ideas for possible solutions for you to explore on 

In any case, I'd suggest a more cooperative attitude...especially 

when asking for help. It makes folks more inclined to share their 

knowledge & experience. Just my $0.02 worth...

On Dec 21, 2006, at 3:39 PM, Ettin wrote:

> stephan and mattijs, your patches dont work, under any dsp or midi 

> I can play my midi piano fine through cubase, it will always make 

> sound, so my setup and connections are fine. Why is it no one here 

> knows how to make a midi piano play through max out to the speakers?

Associate Professor of Contemporary Music

*opportunities for composers & sound artists*

The very wording of your question (and this followup response) is  
somewhat vague. Do you want MaxMSP to control the MIDI piano via  
MIDI; or do you want the audio from the MIDI piano to somehow be  
processed through MaxMSP; or both of these? It is unclear exactly  
what you are after. Perhaps rewording your request in less ambiguous  
fashion would be helpful.

For now, however, perhaps the key is that you don't yet have a good  
grasp of MaxMSP? In addition to just 'loading and running the  
patches' there are a number of configuration details you need to  
specify before MaxMSP will send/receive audio and/or MIDI. Did you  
properly configure the MIDI settings within MaxMSP? Did you properly  
configure the connection to whatever audio interface & driver you are  
using? These are all covered in the MaxMSP documentation. As well, if  
you want to process the audio from your piano, is the audio output  
from the piano routed into the computer, then the computer audio  
routed back out to your speakers? There are a number of variables  
here...since (presumably) no one on the list has seen your setup,  
it's hard to magically provide solutions. It's more a matter of  
providing some ideas for possible solutions for you to explore on  
your own.

In any case, I'd suggest a more cooperative attitude...especially  
when asking for help.  It makes folks more inclined to share their  
knowledge & experience. Just my $0.02 worth...

>
> stephan and mattijs, your patches dont work, under any dsp or midi  
> setting.
>
> I can play my midi piano fine through cubase, it will always make  
> sound, so my setup and connections are fine. Why is it no one here  
> knows how to make a midi piano play through max out to the speakers?

Associate Professor of Contemporary Music
College of Santa Fe
Contemporary Music Program
1600 St. Michaels Drive
Santa Fe NM 87505
http://pubweb.csf.edu/~smill
(505) 473-6197

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SFIFEM
Atrium Sound Space
OVOS
*opportunities for composers & sound artists*

why should you expect to get something straight away? who told you that would happen?

The hour's approaching to give it your best / And you've got to reach your prime / That's when you need to put yourself to the test / And show us the passage of time / We're gonna need a montage / Ooh, it takes a montage / Show a lot of things happening at once / Remind everyone of what's going on / In every shot, show a little improvement / To show it all would take too long / That's called a montage / Girl, we want a montage / In anything, if you want to go / From just a beginner to a pro / You need a montage / Even Rocky had a montage / Always fade out in a montage / If you fade out it seems like more time has passed in a montage..

not my words, but the words of top gear magazine

I'm going to go out on a limb here and try to answer your question as directly and concretely as I can. Remember that most folks here are willing to help beginners, but not real supportive of rewriting the Max documentation on the forums for those who don't read it on their own. But this is relatively simple and straightforward, so here we go. (On down, I cite the pages in the documentation that covers all of this).

If I can infer some details from your sketchy comments--when you are using Cubase, the MIDI data from your physical MIDI keyboard is (automatically?) either routed to some software synthesizer that is either part of Cubase or your OS, or to a piece of hardware--either your sound card or an external synth that is receiving MIDI from your computer. You should know what that synth is, how to access it in Cubase, how to choose patches on it, how to change the routing to a different synth, etc. If you have that information in hand, then you are well on your way. In any case, some kind of synthesizer that lives on or in the software of your computer or in an external piece of hardware connected via MIDI is actually producing the audio data that has its last conversion in your brain as sound. You are triggering the synth with your keyboard, with Cubase handling the routing.

With Max, you will do all the routing right there in the patcher window where you do everything else. Unless you are using a softsynth VST plugin, you should not need to use any MSP objects to accomplish what you are asking, because Max will only be dealing with MIDI data, not audio data.

Let's say your keyboard is a "Kawasaki 1200-76," and you're using a SoundFont/DLS bank for your sounds (what your web browser might use when it comes across a MIDI file embedded in a page), say "crazy_banks.dls". Your patcher would have notein, midiin, ctlin, bendin, etc. MIDI input objects at the top to receive the MIDI input. When the patcher is locked, you can double-click on those objects to choose which midi device it should listen to for data (in your case, Kawasaki 1200-76). (In edit mode, command-dblclick or ctrl-dblclick.) The simplest thing is notein connected to noteout. Do the same double click thing on the noteout, and choose the crazy_banks.dls from the list. If instead you want the MIDI output to go back out through your MIDI interface to another hardware synth (or even the Kawasaki 1200), then choose the appropriate port from the popup menu on the output object.

All this will work beautifully if you have no problems in your setup. All the setup stuff is covered thoroughly in Max46Fundamentals, p. 8 and pp. 23-37. Especially look at p. 28 (using the MIDI setup window), 29 (default devices for midi objects, and using the DLS synthesizer), and 31-32 (virtual input and output).

If you've done the first 13 Max tutorials, then you have done number 12 which covers the patching aspect of all of this. Again, all the gory setup details are given full treatment in the Fundamentals document, including creating your own virtual ports and the like.

Max automatically sets up two handy-dandy virtual in and out ports for inter-application MIDI connections. You should be able to route your noteout object to "from MaxMSP 1" (the first vitual port), and set your software synth to receive on this same port. If after all this you are still having trouble, check to see that Max's notein is listening on the channel that your keyboard is sending on, and that the synth at the end of the MIDI chain is likewise on the right channel, or listening to all channels.

If you still are having trouble, first check the volume of your computer, your speakers, check the fuses in your amplifier, or have your doctor check clean out your ears (don't dare try to clean it out yourself).

If you opened Tutorial 12 and didn't hear some default software synth, then I understand a little frustration on your part. Go back over you MIDI setup with the Fundamentals document, and all should be well. Go back to tutorial 12, double click on all those input and output objects to choose the appropriate ports, and it should work.

It's worth noting that you should have some fun using Max/MSP in conjunction with Cubase because of all the interapplication routing that it supports. You can use the virtual MIDI ports, create your own, use Soundflower to route audio channels between them, or use MSP's rewire~ object to use Rewire technology.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and try to answer your question as directly and concretely as I can.  Remember that most folks here are willing to help beginners, but not real supportive of rewriting the Max documentation on the forums for those who don't read it on their own.  But this is relatively simple and straightforward, so here we go.  (On down, I cite the pages in the documentation that covers all of this).

If I can infer some details from your sketchy comments--when you are using Cubase, the MIDI data from your physical MIDI keyboard is (automatically?) either routed to some software synthesizer that is either part of Cubase or your OS, or to a piece of hardware--either your sound card or an external synth that is receiving MIDI from your computer.  You should know what that synth is, how to access it in Cubase, how to choose patches on it, how to change the routing to a different synth, etc.  If you have that information in hand, then you are well on your way.  In any case, some kind of synthesizer that lives on or in the software of your computer or in an external piece of hardware connected via MIDI is actually producing the audio data that has its last conversion in your brain as sound.  You are triggering the synth with your keyboard, with Cubase handling the routing.

With Max, you will do all the routing right there in the patcher window where you do everything else.  Unless you are using a softsynth VST plugin, you should not need to use any MSP objects to accomplish what you are asking, because Max will only be dealing with MIDI data, not audio data.

Let's say your keyboard is a "Kawasaki 1200-76," and you're using a SoundFont/DLS bank for your sounds (what your web browser might use when it comes across a MIDI file embedded in a page), say "crazy_banks.dls".  Your patcher would have notein, midiin, ctlin, bendin, etc. MIDI input objects at the top to receive the MIDI input.  When the patcher is locked, you can double-click on those objects to choose which midi device it should listen to for data (in your case, Kawasaki 1200-76).  (In edit mode, command-dblclick or ctrl-dblclick.)  The simplest thing is notein connected to noteout.  Do the same double click thing on the noteout, and choose the crazy_banks.dls from the list.  If instead you want the MIDI output to go back out through your MIDI interface to another hardware synth (or even the Kawasaki 1200), then choose the appropriate port from the popup menu on the output object.

All this will work beautifully if you have no problems in your setup.  All the setup stuff is covered thoroughly in Max46Fundamentals, p. 8 and pp. 23-37.  Especially look at p. 28 (using the MIDI setup window), 29 (default devices for midi objects, and using the DLS synthesizer), and 31-32 (virtual input and output).

If you've done the first 13 Max tutorials, then you have done number 12 which covers the patching aspect of all of this.  Again, all the gory setup details are given full treatment in the Fundamentals document, including creating your own virtual ports and the like.

Max automatically sets up two handy-dandy virtual in and out ports for inter-application MIDI connections.  You should be able to route your noteout object to "from MaxMSP 1" (the first vitual port), and set your software synth to receive on this same port.  If after all this you are still having trouble, check to see that Max's notein is listening on the channel that your keyboard is sending on, and that the synth at the end of the MIDI chain is likewise on the right channel, or listening to all channels.

If you opened Tutorial 12 and didn't hear some default software synth, then I understand a little frustration on your part.  Go back over you MIDI setup with the Fundamentals document, and all should be well.  Go back to tutorial 12, double click on all those input and output objects to choose the appropriate ports, and it should work.

It's worth noting that you should have some fun using Max/MSP in conjunction with Cubase because of all the interapplication routing that it supports.  You can use the virtual MIDI ports, create your own, use Soundflower to route audio channels between them, or use MSP's rewire~ object to use Rewire technology.


> stephan and mattijs, your patches dont work, under any dsp or midi

For sure they work here... (I can play my sounds fine through Max/MSP)

> I can play my midi piano fine through cubase, it will always make

> sound, so my setup and connections are fine. Why is it no one here

We still have no idea what you are dealing with. There are a trillion 

"midi piano"s out there some are hardware (these boxes with black and 

white keys you have to put your fingers on and which don't need a 

computer) some are part of your operating system very different between 

Apple OS X and Windoof. Some are plug-ins which is also software, some 

are standalone programs. The only info so far we have is, that you run 

Cubase where everything seems fine. (But there must be a reason why you 

Which Midi piano:____________ (hardware/software)

How did you connect everything______ (cables, Audio/Midi)

Expect that most Max users don't know Cubase, but some will...

(My last touch on Cubase is almost a decade ago...)

Its good to learn not only what buttons to touch to make it sound, but 

also to know why there is sound. For Max this is essential elsewise 

Garageband is suited better for your needs...

Out of your question to which tutorial to go to hear sound let me assume 

you didn't do them yet and you even don't know the difference between 

Max and MSP... (You don't need a Midi piano to hear sound by the 

Ettin wrote:
> stephan and mattijs, your patches dont work, under any dsp or midi
> setting.

> I can play my midi piano fine through cubase, it will always make
> sound, so my setup and connections are fine. Why is it no one here
> knows how to make a midi piano play through max out to the speakers? 

We still have no idea what you are dealing with. There are a trillion 
"midi piano"s out there some are hardware (these boxes with black and 
white keys you have to put your fingers on and which don't need a 
computer) some are part of your operating system very different between 
Apple OS X and Windoof. Some are plug-ins which is also software, some 
are standalone programs. The only info so far we have is, that you run 
Cubase where everything seems fine. (But there must be a reason why you 
want to look into Max... ;-)

Please
Which Midi piano:____________ (hardware/software)
Which OS_____________________
Which computer_______
Which audio interface_____
Which driver______
Which Max/MSP version________
How did you connect everything______ (cables, Audio/Midi)

Expect that most Max users don't know Cubase, but some will...
(My last touch on Cubase is almost a decade ago...)
Its good to learn not only what buttons to touch to make it sound, but 
also to know why there is sound. For Max this is essential elsewise 
Garageband is suited better for your needs...

Out of your question to which tutorial to go to hear sound let me assume 
you didn't do them yet and you even don't know the difference between 
Max and MSP... (You don't need a Midi piano to hear sound by the 
way...(and it sounds better ;-))

Please, stop whimping. For sure, stefan & mattijs patches work fine, 

they are not first timers... Having sound with Midi for the first time 

in Cubase is always a nightmare. If you've find out how to do it, you'll 

also be able to take the same time to understand Max a little better. 

Also, "midi piano play through max out of the speakers" doesn't make any 

sense at all. As ou can read in the recent answers, users here ask you 

for more understandable informations. Last but not least, don't take it 

as an offense, but are you sure you really need to do some MaxMSP in 

your life ? if you go crazy like this on your first attempt, what will 

f.e chanfrault | aka | personal computer music

> >>>>>> |sublime music for a desperate people|

> stephan and mattijs, your patches dont work, under any dsp or midi setting. 

> I can play my midi piano fine through cubase, it will always make sound, so my setup and connections are fine. Why is it no one here knows how to make a midi piano play through max out to the speakers?

Please, stop whimping. For sure, stefan & mattijs patches work fine, 
they are not first timers... Having sound with Midi for the first time 
in Cubase is always a nightmare. If you've find out how to do it, you'll 
also be able to take the same time to understand Max a little better. 
Also, "midi piano play through max out of the speakers" doesn't make any 
sense at all. As ou can read in the recent answers, users here ask you 
for more understandable informations. Last but not least, don't take it 
as an offense, but are you sure you really need to do some MaxMSP in 
your life ? if you go crazy like this on your first attempt, what will 
it be next ?

f.e chanfrault | aka | personal computer music
> >>>>>> http://www.personal-computer-music.com
> >>>>>> |sublime music for a desperate people|

Ettin wrote:
> stephan and mattijs, your patches dont work, under any dsp or midi setting. 
>
> I can play my midi piano fine through cubase, it will always make sound, so my setup and connections are fine. Why is it no one here knows how to make a midi piano play through max out to the speakers?
>
>


Quote: usdryad@hotmail.com wrote on Thu, 21 December 2006 23:39

Uhh.. are we supposed to take offense now? Do you have any idea who you are talking to? I suppose not.

Quote: usdryad@hotmail.com wrote on Thu, 21 December 2006 23:39
----------------------------------------------------
> stephan and mattijs, your patches dont work, under any dsp or midi setting. 
>
> I can play my midi piano fine through cubase, it will always make sound, so my setup and connections are fine. Why is it no one here knows how to make a midi piano play through max out to the speakers?
----------------------------------------------------

Uhh.. are we supposed to take offense now? Do you have any idea who you are talking to? I suppose not.


ugh sorry posted while quite drunk...still you get the idea.

just sit down quietly and play around with the thing, its really not difficult to get started. and be respectful on these boards, because the quality and willingness of people to help is better than any forum i know of, shroomery included

> Why is it no one here knows how to make a midi piano play through max out

Ok, I'll admit it. All of us have special part of DNA code that is used as a

part of superb PACE protection algorythm. If you don't have it in your

For some money, I could send you few drops of my blood,so that you could try

it out. There are free alternatives though, checkout what this guy did: 

> Why is it no one here knows how to make a midi piano play through max out
> to the speakers?

Ok, I'll admit it. All of us have special part of DNA code that is used as a
part of superb PACE protection algorythm. If you don't have it in your
blood, max won't produce any sound.
For some money, I could send you few drops of my blood,so that you could try
it out. There are free alternatives though, checkout what this guy did: 
http://www.spermcube.org/

"Which Midi piano:____________ (hardware/software)

How did you connect everything______ (cables, Audio/Midi)"

1. There are a million midi KEYBOARDS which are the crappy non weighted keys with the generic soundbanks that will play la cucaracha that you can buy for $20 at walmart. There is only one midi PIANO (not a specific brand) a full range one with weighted keys, and a quality soundbank of 1-4 voices, w/ pedal that will cost you at least $1k.

4. My audio interface is my audio card, audiophile 192.

7. my midi piano connects to my soundcard via a midi cable whose signal is recieved by my mother board, (pci slot 4) sent to and processed by my processors (intel 3.8ghz) which utilizes my ram (1gb corsair ddr2 800) (cause god knows my L1 and L2 caches cant hold it all) which corresponds to a collection of 1's and 0's stored on a set of magnetic platters equaling a total potential storage space of 350Gb, of which turns out to comprise both cubase (which does process this data into air vibrations called sound) and MAXMSP4.5 (which doesnt). The information processed by all these components is sent back out through my audio card on a set of mono outs to a reciever/amp through RCA's, which appear to amplify and process that data (DAC perhaps? im not familiar with the technology) out through a couple thin cables to my speakers. I suppose from there i rely on the physics of air and space to receive these vibrations through little hairs in my cochlea which convert it to brainwaves which i then perceive (i hope, or maybe the smartasses on this thread are right and ive figured away to turn this off only when using maxmsp).

so yes, if you cant understand "i want to play my midi piano through msp and out through my speakers", and by speakers i mean i dont want the signal to stop there but to actually reach my ears, then i hope this will have clarified a few things.

"Which Midi piano:____________ (hardware/software)
Which OS_____________________
Which computer_______
Which audio interface_____
Which driver______
Which Max/MSP version________
How did you connect everything______ (cables, Audio/Midi)"

1. There are a million midi KEYBOARDS which are the crappy non weighted keys with the generic soundbanks that will play la cucaracha that you can buy for $20 at walmart. There is only one midi PIANO (not a specific brand) a full range one with weighted keys, and a quality soundbank of 1-4 voices, w/ pedal that will cost you at least $1k.  

2.XPpro
3.The one im typing this on
4. My audio interface is my audio card, audiophile 192.
5. um, the latest. 
6. 4.5
7. my midi piano connects to my soundcard via a midi cable whose signal is recieved by my mother board, (pci slot 4) sent to and processed by my processors (intel 3.8ghz) which utilizes my ram (1gb corsair ddr2 800) (cause god knows my L1 and L2 caches cant hold it all) which corresponds to a collection of 1's and 0's stored on a set of magnetic platters equaling a total potential storage space of 350Gb, of which turns out to comprise both cubase (which does process this data into air vibrations called sound) and MAXMSP4.5 (which doesnt). The information processed by all these components is sent back out through my audio card on a set of mono outs to a reciever/amp through RCA's, which appear to amplify and process that data (DAC perhaps? im not familiar with the technology) out through a couple thin cables to my speakers. I suppose from there i rely on the physics of air and space to receive these vibrations through little hairs in my cochlea which convert it to brainwaves which i then perceive (i hope, or maybe the smartasses on this thread are right and ive figured away to turn this off only when using maxmsp). 

so yes, if you cant understand "i want to play my midi piano through msp and out through my speakers", and by speakers i mean i dont want the signal to stop there but to actually reach my ears, then i hope this will have clarified a few things.


one thing i forgot to mention, if i were speaking of a software based midi keyboard, it would be called a softsynth.

If you're using 4.5 read "MaxGettingStarted.pdf" included in the 

This is an "audio" program right?