VOID Shared Memory (Live, Max, Touchdesigner)

VOID Shared Memory is a system designed to connect Max, Max for Live and TouchDesigner using local shared memory, allowing continuous parameters, envelopes, triggers and arbitrary data to circulate between environments with very low latency and deterministic timing, without relying on OSC, MIDI or any network-based protocol.

Project page (documentation & overview):
https://structure-void.com/tools/void-shared-memory/

Demo playlist (Live ↔ TouchDesigner workflows):
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1jAw-VM7x1bIBdWO3WS6hUXiz-jpJQOY

Download (Gumroad):
https://structurevoid.gumroad.com/l/Void-SharedMemory

On the Max side, the project includes:

• Custom Max externals written in C++ (reader / writer)

• A set of Max for Live devices built on top of these externals

• Tools for data generation, analysis, encoding and transmission directly from Live

On the TouchDesigner side, the same shared memory layer is accessed via custom CHOP operators, also developed in C++, ensuring a consistent and controlled data pipeline across environments.

This is not a closed or monolithic tool, but a technical foundation: a collection of modular, low-level components developed entirely in-house, designed to be readable, hackable and reusable for advanced Max-based systems.

Typical Max-oriented use cases include:

• High-performance parameter streaming from Max / Live to external systems

• Audio-driven control (envelopes, frequency analysis, triggers) without OSC overhead

• Deterministic synchronization between Max-driven audio and visual engines

• Experimental control architectures beyond standard Max messaging

The project is distributed as part of an ongoing R&D initiative, and includes:

• Max externals (C++)

• Max for Live devices

• TouchDesigner custom CHOPs

• Ableton Live demo sets

• TouchDesigner demo networks

All components are provided together to support experimentation, inspection and reuse.

I will likely continue to develop additional Max for Live devices on top of this shared memory layer, and I’m also planning to release an unofficial Max package gathering the core externals and related tools, to simplify standalone Max usage.

Compatibility note (brief): Max externals & Touchdesigner CHOPs are provided as universal binaries. Due to current host-level constraints, Max for Live devices are officially supported on Apple Silicon systems.

Happy to discuss implementation details, SDK aspects or Max-oriented workflows.