Gary Lee Nelson

I realize that this applies to Max 4 but still...

A while ago I posted a summary of learning resources that I prepared 

residency at Willamette University. I attached it to an email but it did

not reach the list. I when to the forum site and posted the message 

with the attachment but it still didn't arrive on the list. Many people

have downloaded it from the forum and it is still there. You can see my

There seems to be a sudden increase (yeah!) in new users with lots of

questions that can be answered by going through the things on my list.

A while ago I posted a summary of learning resources that I prepared  
for a
residency at Willamette University. I attached it to an email but it did
not reach the list. I when to the forum site and posted the message  
there
with the attachment but it still didn't arrive on the list. Many people
have downloaded it from the forum and it is still there. You can see my
message at

https://cycling74.com/forums/index.php? 
t=msg&goto=122344&rid=0&srch=basic
+learning+resources#msg_122344

https://cycling74.com/forums/index.php? 
t=getfile&id=1007&rid=0&S=55ddb071
cf3cabebed6f971a7549ebe3

There seems to be a sudden increase (yeah!) in new users with lots of
questions that can be answered by going through the things on my list.

Cheers
Gary Lee Nelson
TIMARA Department
Oberlin College
www.timara.oberlin.edu/GaryLeeNelson

learning-maxmspjitter

I'm retired from Oberlin but the teacher in me still kicks in now and 

Reading manuals is not a waste of time. There have been several 

that are almost immediately answered by referring the questioner to a 

object. I love newbies but this makes learning max a very long and

First, read the Max/MSP manuals from cover to cover without trying to 

every detail. This gives a general understanding of what is there.

Then, periodically, skim the manual reading only the headers. On the 

is the name of the object and on the left is a brief description of the

object. If the object has a graphic representation it is in the 

header. I do this about once a week and it takes 10-15 minutes - less 

time I skim. I also skim the bookmarks in the PDF files stopping to read

about objects that I don't recognize or remember. What this does is 

of what is in the toolkit. When a need arises for a particular 

answer by telling myself that that function does exist. Saves me the 

I do the same thing - less perfectly (right, ej, st?) - with the 

Another approach is to use maxobjects.com as a thesaurus. Try searching

"increment decrement." I got seven items including IncDec with some

descriptions running to more than 10 lines. It also included gak, a 

algorithm kit that I did not know about. So (sorry to use my professor

voice) but I learned something useful while looking for something 

I'm retired from Oberlin but the teacher in me still kicks in now and  
then.
Reading manuals is not a waste of time. There have been several  
recent posts
that are almost immediately answered by referring the questioner to a  
basic
object. I love newbies but this makes learning max a very long and
frustrating process.

First, read the Max/MSP manuals from cover to cover without trying to  
get
every detail. This gives a general understanding of what is there.

Then, periodically, skim the manual reading only the headers. On the  
right
is the name of the object and on the left is a brief description of the
object. If the object has a graphic representation it is in the  
middle of the
header. I do this about once a week and it takes 10-15 minutes - less  
each
time I skim. I also skim the bookmarks in the PDF files stopping to read
about objects that I don't recognize or remember. What this does is  
remind me
of what is in the toolkit. When a need arises for a particular  
function I can usually
answer by telling myself that that function does exist. Saves me the  
time
in trying to write it myself.

I do the same thing - less perfectly (right, ej, st?) - with the  
third party
packages that I use regularly.

Another approach is to use maxobjects.com as a thesaurus. Try searching
"increment decrement." I got seven items including IncDec with some
descriptions running to more than 10 lines. It also included gak, a  
genetic
algorithm kit that I did not know about. So (sorry to use my professor
voice) but I learned something useful while looking for something  
else. Now
THAT saves time!

Learning max/msp/jitter