Mike S

I've got a little patch that has a number of different states which are triggered by MIDI input. Due to some problems with Coll and Dict in Max for Live I'm trying to use Dict exclusively to store and recall these parameters. I'm also doing some randomisation of parameters, which can be set by the user to randomise all parameters, or parameters individually.

This is an example of the parameters triggered when note number 60 is received.

"60" : [ 0.0, 167040.03125, 0.01, 100.0, 1, 0, 0, 1.0 ]

What I can't immediately get from the Dict file is how to set one of these values associated with "60" individually. I believe you can do this with Coll using 'nsub', but again, I can't use Coll reliably.

I realise that I could output all relevant data in to some JS arrays and keep track of things that way but it seems a bit long winded to do it that way.

What I can't immediately get from the Dict file is how to set one of these values associated with "60" individually. I believe you can do this with Coll using 'nsub', but again, I can't use Coll reliably. 

strategies-for-savingrecalling-multiple-instances-of-parameters

Ive done very similar thing , for midi and data .

U have to look at the Dict help - arrays tab .To be honset ive never bothered to format messages for setting array elements directly (but its not a big deal) . Ive been doing it through JS as it was much easier to create much complex conditional setup for storing/exchanging data frequently . If those operations require high priority then u have to get comfortable with direct mesagess i guess .

Ive done very similar thing , for midi and data .
U have to look at the Dict help - arrays tab .To be honset ive never bothered to format messages for setting array elements directly (but its not a big deal) . Ive been doing it through JS as it was much easier to create much complex conditional setup for storing/exchanging data frequently . If those operations require high priority then u have to get comfortable with direct mesagess i guess .
But in JS this is such simple as

I actually looked at that page! Wood/Trees/etc.

I went about using JS to format messages, but seems a weird way to do it when it's all there in JS.

If I have a Dict named ---params, can I reference and update it in JS like your example by..

If yes is it OK to use this JS for each instance of a M4L device?

I remember a really good Dict JS tutorial but can't seem to find it...

If there were PM's i would make Skype round up according to my experiences with this topic .

Yes this is how u reference your Max instance of Dict .

Ive done this for M4L . multiple devices (around 20) uses this system without any problems . Some share Dicts too . U can feel free to use it however u want .

If by any chance u will find out that your system gets less responsive due to Dict I/O . The best practice is to clone your main instance .

 var maindict = new Dict("---name"); // somewhere stored . or referenced every time 
 var tempdict = new Dict();
 tempdict.clone("---name");
/// do your stuff at clone
 maindict.clone(tempdict.name);
 tempdict.freepeer();


but i dont think u will get to that point as me . I just got too crazy with this .

If there were PM's i would make Skype round up according to my experiences with this topic .
But maybe JAN will do one tutorial :)

Yes this is how u reference your Max instance of Dict .
Ive done this for M4L . multiple devices (around 20) uses this system without any problems . Some share Dicts too . U can feel free to use it however u want . 

but i dont think u will get to that point as me . I just got too crazy with this .


I'm having some trouble getting values. Is the 'item' in this case the index of the value I want to get that is relative to entry 60?

OK seems I've got it now. Why do you need quotes after the key?

I don't think you need it anymore. In previous versions (

I don't think you need it anymore.  In previous versions (


Strategies for saving/recalling multiple instances of parameters