Get Started with Max

First thing: Download the latest version of Max, if you haven't already.

The Main Ideas

Terminology

Swipe through the slides to learn some basic terms you will come across when learning Max.

Patch

This refers to the programs that you create in Max. You create Max patches and you patch in Max. This is what a simple one looks like.

Lock/Unlock

A patch can either be locked or unlocked. You unlock a patch to edit it and you lock a patch to perform with it and adjust UI objects.

Console

A window (Window > Max Console) that displays status information, error messages, and warnings related to your patch.

Patch Cord

Patch cords are what you use to connect objects in Max. Information is passed from one object to another using a patch cord.

Object

Objects are the building blocks of a patch – they perform specific tasks, and operate like miniature programs within the larger environment. Here is a print object.

Attribute

Many objects have attributes, which are settings or properties that tell the object how to do its job. In this case, @popup is an attribute of the print object.

Message

Max patches function by passing messages between objects. Messages tell objects what to do. When you press this message box, it tells the "print" object to print "hello maxers!" to the console and the popup.

Bang

Bang is a type of message that tells the receiving object to do whatever it is designed to do. This button sends a bang, telling the print object to "Go!" Once pressed, it prints "bang" into the console and shows a popup.

Try it out in Max!

The code you see here is a Copy-Compressed code for Max. It makes it easy to share patches with other users.

• Copy the full code
• Open a new patcher window in Max (File > New Patcher)
• Paste it directly into the patcher window

----------begin_max5_patcher---------- 357.3ocmSEraCBCC8L7UjkyrJBih51o8eLMUEnVsoBRhRBcLU0+8k3.scaLs sdIH+hse44m4XZBsVM.VJ4IxKjjjioIIHT.HYLNg1wGZZ4VLMZGXs7s.MKdm CFbH9NnsUQ7oBF6cS2J66DxVvgkVLBp4tlcB410FnwEolUtbQdFgUTE9rJOb VTrHm75kFo5cSchMhFgbuqgXanzyEH1fuJU896YKoArSoogir+nNq6cNkbVg v9Ygrp5JcTTNc9e0QMWtcds7.8L4FdG3.yZPxqawJyuAcJg27M9a1o1HjNxy ZktWSX21XnnrH74Q1uXm4ynS10dFVGsUH+5pJRc.+yBzp5MMSyxowF4B8a.q SH4Ng2fuJIVLoYGh+YlVdaLEkHWqO3++YLajDuasWYBgqxvPgLFhSMpANHlx uBQ3Fua37VQuAeXzgpRZrT0FvH6En4kFjmmRbSP5WkrZdTI3BS5ozOvtjfe. -----------end_max5_patcher-----------

In-App Help Menu

Inside the Max application, the Help Menu is one of the best places to get started. Work with real patches by learning from guided lessons, or simply start exploring and manipulating objects on your own.

If you want to dig in, here's a more detailed guide about our Tutorials and Reference Pages.

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Navigate to Help > Browse Lessons to launch step-by-step patch-alongs with easy to follow videos.

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Help > Reference will open up the Documentation browser where you can find tutorials and guides for more detailed explanations.

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Or, navigate to Help > Examples to take a look at fully functional patches. Edit any patch, or take them apart to make them your own. Copy and paste from any patch into yours.

Online Tutorials

These beginner tutorials and resources are to get you patching as quickly as possible. Vizzie and BEAP are pre-built modules in Max that allow you to play around with the patching environment right away.

A Brief Introduction to Vizzie

Vizzie was originally created as a way for absolute beginners to learn some basic techniques of Max and to start having fun right off.

A Few Minutes with BEAP

BEAP is a set to tools developed by Matthew Davidson at the Berklee School of Music. Easy to use as the Vizzie modules, but mirrors some of the functionality of a Eurorack modular synthesizer.

Are you ready for something deeper? Check out these tutorials to dig in a bit more.

Programming in Max for Live (Youtube Video Series)

A practical guide to programming in the Max For Live environment.

Did You Know? 2.0 (Youtube Video Series)

We've created a series of practical tips, tricks, and secret handshakes to help you patch faster.

Jitter Recipes

Here you will find some clever solutions, advanced trans-coding techniques, groovy audio/visual toys, and basic building blocks for more complex processing.

Search Sidebar

When in doubt, Max 8 features a powerful Search Sidebar to help you access thousands of resources in Max and online.

Find it by clicking on the search icon found at the top right hand side of the patcher window.

More Resources