Build your own modular synth with MSP – On-demand

Level: Beginner/Intermediate

Learn to program patches with MSP to make a custom modular environment.

Cycling 74’s Max / MSP offers a vast playground of programming opportunities to create your own synthesis devices. In this series you will build custom modules to create your own modular synthesis environment. This series aims to provide you with suitable skills to begin exploring synthesis and UI design in the Max MSP environment.

Series Learning Outcomes

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

  • Build oscillator and filter networks with MSP objects

  • Build modulation patches with MSP objects

  • Build step sequencers with Max and MSP objects

  • Explore use of signal routing in interesting and creative ways using MSP objects.

  • Build custom modules using UI objects and bpatchers

Session 1 / 2 / 3 / 4

  • MSP objects for synthesis, filters and modulation 
  • MSP objects to control signal routing
  • UI objects and bpatchers
  • UI objects for sequencers

 

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 

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.

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.