Windows10 sound OK / no sound in MAX8 environment
I've just begun the MAX8 kadenze tutorial and am using a TIME-LIMITED version of MAX8.
Sound works as expected on Windows; has been working with Ableton Live11; was working last night with MAX8; but is not working now in the MAX8 environment.
The sound-related interfaces in play on the WIN10 platform are:
- Sound settings,
- Volume mixer,
- Spatial sound,
- Sounds, and
- Troubleshoot sound settings (useless in MAX8 context)
Sound-related interfaces in play on the MAX8 application are:
- Options/Audio Status...
- Extras/Audiotester
Ableton AUDIO Preferences are:
- Driver Type: MME/DirectX
- Audio Input Device: Microphone (Realtek Audio) DX
- Audio Output Device: Speakers (Focusrite Usb Audio) DX
I'm sure this is all just fascinating. However, NOW I just need to activate sound (it was working last night!) so I can continue to work with MAX8.
In other words, I don't have the time to now understand the differences between plugout; dac-; ezdac-; Liv; ad-mme; (None); ad_asio Focusrite USB ASIO; ad_directsound; NonRealTime; ad_portaudio MME; ad_portaudio Windows DirectSound; ad_portaudio Windows WASAPI; ad_portaudio Windows WDM-KS; ad_rewire; ASIO driver; MME/DirectX; Realtek Audio DX; Focusrite Usb Audio DX, etc.
In my last 4 hours of trying to find a solution I think I've learned that MAX8 and MAX for live (M4L) might not even be the same programs--and therefore I might even be barking up the wrong tree (aka forum) even asking a question about MAX8 (I posted this on an Ableton Forum). But I'm pretty sure they're related!!
I just need to know how to set my computer and MAX8 application so as to get sound up and running and be able to continue with my classes!
Thank you in advance!!
Hi! I'm also a beginner / not an expert, but I know that for me, making sure the driver was set to ad-mme was important. Then, I chose my audio interface (a Motu for me, not a Focusrite) for the input and output device.
Maybe this combination will work for you. I learned mostly through trial and error, and cannot explain the differences between each setting, but know that it worked for me on a Windows 11 running Max 8, and worked for a few of my friends as well on different machines.
Not sure this is the problem, but usually you can't use 2 audio software at the same time with one audio interface in Windows, the first one will block all the others.
Depending on the drivers you may be able to change that (by disabling "exclusive mode" or something like that), but with some you can't.
Thank you both.
Katarina, this is a bit off topic, but have you had any issues using Win11 running Max8 or Ableton, if you are running a DAW?
Hi, apologies for the delay in response.
I do not have a DAW, so have not had this issue.
However, I have had the issues that NAMAKEMON issued when I was trying to route Max output so that it went straight to Zoom (no longer an issue - it can play over Zoom easily now). What I found was that I needed to use virtual audio cables and internal routing and mixing to do both,. After a few weeks of trying to get this to work, I stopped trying, and relied on recording.
@Joost, one step at a time:
Max and M4L are ALMOST identical. Max is designed to work in its own environment and can interface to almost anything whereas M4L is specifically designed to run inside (and only inside) Ableton Live. The command set is almost identical though. As such, the full version of Max is more expensive as Ableton have a special licence to bundle M4L with Live and add it on at reduce rates.
Next, Windows can only really run one external audio driver at a time. You need to decide which. Max can pretty much handle any type of driver but the audio settings in Max must match the devices you have set up in Windows otherwise you might not get any output. So configure Windows first and then configure Max to match.
If you are using M4L inside Ableton then it will be Ableton that determines the audio output so match Ableton to Windows
Finally, make sure that the audio settings in Max/M4L are directing your output to the correct ports, either on your Focusright or via Ableton.
Thank you for clarifying the distinction between MAX and M4L.
So is it accurate to think that, despite the fact I currently expect my MAX endeavors will primarily be in the DAW arena, that initially training myself to use and understand MAX is a worthwhile endeavor because most everything I learn will apply equally to M4L, and, while operating within MAX, I will be exposing myself to a larger context of situations than M4L can address?
@Joost, I'd say that was a perfectly reasonable conclusion.
I chose to use Max simply because I don't use Ableton Live. I use Cubase as a DAW and Mixing-Station to control my digital mixer. My biggest project sits between those and my X-Touch control desk so M4L wouldn't be any use. And last week I knocked up an analogue clock to display on my Windows desktop. But having learnt a lot over the past year, I can still help people with their M4L projects.
the main difference are these few little things which are naturally the difference between something releated to plugins and something releated to a runtime and making standalone apps.
but normal max for example includes the "live." GUI objects and they work there, too. likewise you could also ignore them in m4l and use only the other ones.