Getting Confident With Gen~ / LIVE Session – Workshop series

Workshop series 

Dates & Times: Mondays: 12th / 19th / 26th July and 2nd August 2021 6pm UK / 7pm Berlin / 10am LA / 1pm NYC

Level: Previous experience with Gen~ is required i.e. completion of Getting Started With Gen~ workshop series

Example of topic that students are expected to be knowledgeable with before workshop:

  • The Gen~ environment

  • Basic audio processing in Gen~

  • Gen~ operators and data management

Example of topic that students are expected to be knowledgeable with after workshop:

  • Multi Tap Delay operator with cubic interpolation

  • Biquad and filter coefficients

  • Basic reverb structures

  • Basic CodeBox

Develop a myriad of highly efficient signal processing operations in Max using Gen~. In this series of 4 workshops, you will apply signal processing techniques to build and code a variety of patches with Gen~ in Max. The course contains 20 plus custom-made example patches along with audio samples that you will build as exercises during the course and be able to use in your own projects.

Series Learning Outcomes

By the end of this series a successful student will be able to:

  • Become confident with the Gen~ environment

  • Build various audio processing tools via Gen~ (i.e. flanger, chorus, ping pong delays, multi tap delays, distortion)

  • Construct Gen~ filter, equalization and reverb tools

  • Become familiar with the Gen~ CodeBox environment

Series Study Topics

  • The Gen~ environment

  • Audio processing in Gen~

  • Gen~ filter, equalization and reverb tools

  • Gen~ CodeBox

Requirements

  • A computer and internet connection

  • A web cam and mic

  • A Zoom account

  • Access to a copy of Max 8 (i.e. trial or full license)

About the workshop leader 

Phelan Kane is a Berlin & London based music producer, engineer, artist, developer and educator.

He is currently running the electronic music record label Meta Junction Recordings and the audio software development company Meta Function. He has released the Max for Live device synth Wave Junction in partnership with Sonicstate.

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Abstract Performance in Ableton and Max For Live – On demand

Level: Intermediate

Ableton and Cycling 74’s Max For Live offer a vast playground of opportunities to create unique and rich electronic music performances. In this workshop you will create a performance instrument. This workshop aims to provide you with suitable skills to begin exploring improvised performance in Ableton Live and Max For Live.

Session Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session a successful student will be able to:

  • Discuss various forms of performance approaches in Ableton and Max For Live plus their advantages and weaknesses.

  • Explore one approach that gives most flexibility and ease for performing.

  • Gather assets in Ableton and Max For Live to use in the performance and how to fit them into our chosen approach.

  • Develop the approach into a complex performance orientated instrument based in the Ableton and Max For Live Environments

Session Study Topics

  • Deploy Ableton and Max For Live devices to create a musical performance.
  • Load and organize sounds into Ableton’s Drum Rack.
  • Enhance the performability of our instrument using midi processes.
  • Develop the approach using Ableton and Max For Live effects.

Requirements

  • A computer and internet connection

  • A good working knowledge of computer systems

  • A basic awareness of music theory and audio processing

  • Good familiarity with Ableton and Max For Live

  • Access to a copy of Ableton Live 10 Suite, or Ableton Live 10 with a Max For Live license.

  • A midi controller is desirable.

About the workshop leader

Ned Rush aka Duncan Wilson is a musician, producer and performer. He’s most likely known best for his YouTube channel, which features a rich and vast quantity of videos including tutorials, software development, visual art, sound design, internet comedy, and of course music.

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Abstract Composition in Ableton and Max For Live – On demand

Level: Intermediate

Ableton and Cycling 74’s Max For Live offer a vast playground of programming opportunities to create unique compositions and rich sound designs. In this workshop you will create musical and sonic ideas using abstract techniques of composition. This workshop aims to provide you with suitable skills to begin exploring generative composition and complex sound design.

Session Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session a successful student will be able to:

  • Discuss the relevance of using generative processes in certain musical contexts.

  • Explore how we can use these processes to create musical ideas.

  • Look at ways to capture these ideas to use for future projects.

  • Exploring various sound design techniques to add colour and shape.

Session Study Topics

  • Deploy Ableton and Max For Live devices to generate musical content.
  • Develop this content with various devices such as instruments and effects.
  • Capture, edit and consolidate the content.
    • Reflect on the content we created and discuss ways to develop the project further.

Requirements

  • A computer and internet connection

  • A good working knowledge of computer systems

  • A basic awareness of music theory and audio processing

  • Good familiarity with Ableton and Max For Live

  • Access to a copy of Ableton Live 10 Suite, or Ableton Live 10 with a Max For Live license.

About the workshop leader

Ned Rush aka Duncan Wilson is a musician, producer and performer. He’s most likely known best for his YouTube channel, which features a rich and vast quantity of videos including tutorials, software development, visual art, sound design, internet comedy, and of course music.

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Synthesis with Max: Subtractive

Level: Intermediate

What you will learn in this course

Cycling 74’s Max / MSP offers a vast playground of programming opportunities to create your own synthesis devices. In this workshop you will build your own synthesis device that utilizes a subtractive architecture. This workshop aims to provide you with suitable skills to begin exploring subtractive synthesis devices in the Max MSP environment.

Session Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session you will be able to:

  • Deploy MSP oscillator objects

  • Build various filter responses via MSP filter objects

  • Construct modulation sources for subtractive synthesis devices

  • Define the sonic timbre and strengths and weakness of subtractive synthesis

Session Study Topics

  • MSP oscillator objects

  • Filter networks & responses

  • LFO & envelope properties

  • Subtractive’s timbre. Strengths and weaknesses

Requirements

  • A computer and internet connection
  • A good working knowledge of computer systems
  • An basic awareness of audio processing
  • Good familiarity with MSP
  • Access to a copy of Max 8 (i.e. trial or full license)

About the workshop leader

Ned Rush aka Duncan Wilson is a musician, producer and performer. He’s known best for his YouTube channel, which features a rich and vast quantity of videos including tutorials, software development, visual art, sound design, internet comedy, and of course music

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Synthesis with Max: Wavetable

Level: Intermediate

What you will learn in this course

Cycling 74’s Max / MSP offers a vast playground of programming opportunities to create your own synthesis devices. In this workshop you will build your own synthesis device that utilizes a Wavetable architecture. This workshop aims to provide you with suitable skills to begin exploring Wavetable synthesis devices in the Max MSP environment.

Session Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session you will be able to:

  • Build Wavetable oscillators via MSP oscillator objects

  • Explore Wavetable’s spectral sonic properties

  • Construct modulation sources for Wavetable synthesis devices

  • Define the sonic timbre and strengths and weakness of Wavetable synthesis

Session Study Topics

  • MSP oscillator objects for Wavetable

  • Sonograms, scopes and the frequency domain

  • LFO, line & envelope properties

  • Wavetable’s timbre. Strengths and weaknesses

Requirements

  • A computer and internet connection
  • A good working knowledge of computer systems
  • An basic awareness of audio processing
  • Good familiarity with MSP
  • Access to a copy of Max 8 (i.e. trial or full license)

About the workshop leader

Phelan Kane is a Berlin & London based music producer, engineer, artist, developer and educator. For over twenty years he has been active in both the music industry and the contemporary music education sector, with a focus on electronic music and alternative bands. His specialism is sound design and production techniques such as synthesis and sampling, alongside audio processing and plug-in development.

His credits include collaborations with Placebo, Radiohead, Fad Gadget, Depeche Mode, Moby, Snow Patrol, Mute, Sony BMG, Universal, EMI and Warner Bros.

He holds an MA in Audio Technology from the London College of Music, University of West London, an MSc in Sound & Music Computing at the Center for Digital Music at Queen Mary, University of London and in 2008 became one of the world’s first wave of Ableton Certified Trainers. He is a member of the UK’s Music Producers Guild, holds a PG Cert in Learning & Teaching, is an Affiliate of the Institute for Learning, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and until recently was Chairman of the London Committee for the British Section of the Audio Engineering Society.

He is currently running the electronic music record label Meta Junction Recordings and the audio software development company Meta Function, which specialize in Max for Live devices releasing the M4L synth Wave Junction in partnership with Sonicstate.

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Experimental Audio FX in Max

Level: Intermediate

In this workshop you will build an experimental audio FX device that utilizes buffers to create a novel delay line. Experimental processing will be added to the signal path to provide unique sound design possibilities. This workshop aims to provide you with suitable skills to begin exploring building unique, novel and experimental audio FX devices in the Max MSP environment.

Session Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session a successful student will be able to:

  • Identify MSP objects for building delay FX devices
  • Build delay line audio FX devices via buffer, record and groove
  • Build feedback and processing networks
  • Explore UI concepts and design

Requirements

  • A computer and internet connection
  • A good working knowledge of computer systems
  • An basic awareness of audio processing
  • Good familiarity with MSP
  • Access to a copy of Max 8 (i.e. trial or full license)

About the workshop leader

Ned Rush aka Duncan Wilson is a musician, producer and performer. He’s known best for his YouTube channel, which features a rich and vast quantity of videos including tutorials, software development, visual art, sound design, internet comedy, and of course music.

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Building Audio FX in Gen

Level: advanced

Date: 19th November 2020, 6pm GMT

In this workshop, you will explore tools and techniques to create bespoke audio FX tools in Gen via Max. Explore delay effects, circular buffers, modulation delays, LFOs, and multi-tap delays via a series of exercises. This workshop aims to enrich your musical output via the application of self-made audio FX and novel sound design techniques. Gen provides highly optimised audio processes that matches C++ and is the ideal technology for improving complex Max patches and free CPU.

Session Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session a successful student will be able to:

  • Identify key Gen objects for audio FX devices

  • Build delay line audio FX devices with feedback networks

  • Configure Gen parameters and properties

  • Add LFO networks for use in Flanger and Chorus audio FX devices

Session Study Topics

  • Gen objects

  • Circular buffers

  • Gen variables and parameters

  • LFO modulation sources

Requirements

  • A computer and internet connection

  • A good working knowledge of computer systems

  • An basic awareness of audio processing

  • Good familiarity with MSP

  • Access to a copy of Max 8 (i.e. trial or full license)

About the workshop leader

Phelan Kane is a Berlin & London based music producer, engineer, artist, developer and educator. For over twenty years he has been active in both the music industry and the contemporary music education sector, with a focus on electronic music and alternative bands.

His specialism is sound design and production techniques such as synthesis and sampling, alongside audio processing and plug-in development. His credits include collaborations with Placebo, Radiohead, Fad Gadget, Depeche Mode, Moby, Snow Patrol, Mute, Sony BMG, Universal, EMI and Warner Bros. He holds an MA in Audio Technology from the London College of Music, University of West London, an MSc in Sound & Music Computing at the Center for Digital Music at Queen Mary, University of London and in 2008 became one of the world’s first wave of Ableton Certified Trainers.

He is a member of the UK’s Music Producers Guild, holds a PG Cert in Learning & Teaching, is an Affiliate of the Institute for Learning, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and until recently was Chairman of the London Committee for the British Section of the Audio Engineering Society. He is currently running the electronic music record label Meta Junction Recordings and the audio software development company Meta Function, which specialize in Max for Live devices releasing the M4L synth Wave Junction in partnership with Sonicstate.

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Build samplers with Max

Level Intermediate. Knowledge of Max or Pure Data is required, and some rudiments of digital audio.

In this workshop you will build both single cycle and loop based sampler devices, empowering you to utilise them in your own patches. This workshop aims to provide you with suitable skills to begin to explore building sampler devices in the Max environment.

Session Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session a successful student will be able to:

  • Identify key MSP objects for sampler devices

  • Utilise buffer and waveform objects

  • Build single cycle waveform sampler devices

  • Build loop based sampler devices

Requirements

  • A computer and internet connection

  • A good working knowledge of computer systems

  • An basic awareness of audio processing

  • Good familiarity with MSP

  • Access to a copy of Max 8 (i.e. trial or full license)

About the workshop leader


Phelan Kane is a Berlin & London based music producer, engineer, artist, developer and educator. For over twenty years he has been active in both the music industry and the contemporary music education sector, with a focus on electronic music and alternative bands.

His specialism is sound design and production techniques such as synthesis and sampling, alongside audio processing and plug-in development. His credits include collaborations with Placebo, Radiohead, Fad Gadget, Depeche Mode, Moby, Snow Patrol, Mute, Sony BMG, Universal, EMI and Warner Bros. He holds an MA in Audio Technology from the London College of Music, University of West London, an MSc in Sound & Music Computing at the Center for Digital Music at Queen Mary, University of London and in 2008 became one of the world’s first wave of Ableton Certified Trainers.

He is a member of the UK’s Music Producers Guild, holds a PG Cert in Learning & Teaching, is an Affiliate of the Institute for Learning, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and until recently was Chairman of the London Committee for the British Section of the Audio Engineering Society. He is currently running the electronic music record label Meta Junction Recordings and the audio software development company Meta Function, which specialize in Max for Live devices releasing the M4L synth Wave Junction in partnership with Sonicstate.

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Building audio effects with Max

Level Intermediate. Knowledge of Max or Pure Data is required, and some rudiments of digital audio.

Max offers a vast playground of programming opportunities to create your own audio FX devices. In this series of workshops you will build delay line, filter, chorus and flanger audio FX devices, empowering you to utilise them in your own patches. This workshop aims to provide you with suitable skills to begin to explore building audio FX devices in the Max MSP environment.

Session Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session a successful student will be able to:

  • Identify key MSP objects for audio FX devices

  • Build delay line audio FX devices with feedback networks

  • Build filter networks for use in audio FX devices

  • Add LFO networks for use in Flanger and Chorus audio FX devices


Requirements

  • A computer and internet connection

  • A good working knowledge of computer systems

  • An basic awareness of audio processing

  • Good familiarity with MSP

  • Access to a copy of Max 8 (i.e. trial or full license)

About the workshop leader

Phelan Kane is a Berlin & London based music producer, engineer, artist, developer and educator. For over twenty years he has been active in both the music industry and the contemporary music education sector, with a focus on electronic music and alternative bands. His specialism is sound design and production techniques such as synthesis and sampling, alongside audio processing and plug-in development. His credits include collaborations with Placebo, Radiohead, Fad Gadget, Depeche Mode, Moby, Snow Patrol, Mute, Sony BMG, Universal, EMI and Warner Bros. He holds an MA in Audio Technology from the London College of Music, University of West London, an MSc in Sound & Music Computing at the Center for Digital Music at Queen Mary, University of London and in 2008 became one of the world’s first wave of Ableton Certified Trainers. He is a member of the UK’s Music Producers Guild, holds a PG Cert in Learning & Teaching, is an Affiliate of the Institute for Learning, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and until recently was Chairman of the London Committee for the British Section of the Audio Engineering Society. He is currently running the electronic music record label Meta Junction Recordings and the audio software development company Meta Function, which specialize in Max for Live devices releasing the M4L synth Wave Junction in partnership with Sonicstate.

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Build a web assembly synthesiser with iPlug 2

Learn to use iPlug2 C++ audio plugin framework to create a synthesiser that runs on the web.

iPlug2 is a new C++ framework that allows you to build cross-platform audio plug-ins, using minimal code. One of the exciting features of iPlug2 is that it lets you turn your plug-in into a web page that anyone can use without a DAW (see for example https://virtualcz.io). In this workshop participants will learn how to build a web based synthesiser using cloud based tools, and publish it to a GitHub pages website. We will look at some basic DSP in order to customise the sound of the synthesiser and we will also customise the user interface. The same project builds native audio plug-ins, although in the workshop we will focus on the web version.

Note from Oli: Even though the workshop might use lots of unfamiliar technologies, iPlug2 is designed to be simple to use and has many of the more confusing aspects of cross platform programming solved for you already. Don’t worry if the technology sounds scary, everyone should be able to build a custom synthesiser using the example projects and workflow.

Requirements

Useful links


About the workshop leader

Oli Larkin is an audio software developer and music technologist with over 15 years of experience developing plug-ins and plug-in frameworks. He has released his own software products and has collaborated with companies such as Roli, Arturia, Focusrite and Ableton. For many years he worked in academia, supporting audio research and sound art projects with his programming skills. Nowadays Oli is working as a freelancer, as well as focusing on his open source projects such as iPlug2

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