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 FM architecture. This workshop aims to provide you with suitable skills to begin exploring FM synthesis devices in the Max MSP environment.

Session Learning Outcomes

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

• Build FM carrier and modulators via MSP oscillator objects

• Explore FM’s spectral sonic properties

• Construct modulation sources for FM synthesis devices

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

Session Study Topics

• MSP oscillator objects for FM

• Sonograms, scopes and the frequency domain

• LFO, line & envelope properties

• FM’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.

Level: Intermediate

In this series of 4 2-hours workshop, Kevin Kripper, the author of Vsynth, explains  how to interconnect the different 80 modules that come with Vsynth, exploring video techniques and practices that can create aesthetics associated with the history of the electronic image but also complex patterns founded in some basic functions of nature.

Here’s what you’ll learn in each workshop:

Lesson 1: video oscillators, mixers, colorizers.

Lesson 2: modulations (pm, fm, pwm, hue, among others).

Lesson 3: filters/convolutions and video feedback techniques.

Lesson 4: working with presets, scenes, audio and midi.

Vsynth is a high level package of modules for Max/Jitter that together make a modular video synthesizer. Its simplicity made it the perfect tool to introduce yourself to video synthesis and image processing. Since It can be connected to other parts of Max, other softwares and hardwares it can also become a really powerful and adaptable video tool for any kind of job.

Requirements

• Basic knowledge of Max and Jitter
• Have Max 8 installed
• Familiarity with audio-synthesis or computer graphics would be useful.

About the workshop leader

Kevin Kripper (Buenos Aires, 1991) is a visual artist and indie software developer. He’s worked on several projects that link art, technology, education and toolmaking which has exhibited in festivals such as +CODE, Innovar, Wrong Biennale, MUTEK, among others. In 2016 he won first place at the Itaú Visual Arts Award with his work Deconstrucento. In addition, since 2012 he’s been dedicated to create digital tools that extend the creative possibilities of visual artists and musicians from all over the world. During 2017, he participated in the Toolmaker residency at Signal Culture (Owego, NY) and in 2018 received a mention in the Technology applied to Art category from the ArCiTec Award for the development of Vsynth.

https://www.instagram.com/vsynth74/

https://cycling74.com/articles/an-interview-with-kevin-kripper