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 begin to build your own synthesis devices. This workshop aims to provide you with suitable skills to begin exploring synthesis devices in the Max MSP environment.

Session Learning Outcomes

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

• Define the basic building blocks of synthesis

• Build oscillators via MSP oscillator objects

• Explore various filter responses via MSP filter objects

• Begin to build modulation sources for synthesis devices

Session Study Topics

• MSP synthesis objects

• MSP oscillator objects

• MSP filter objects

• LFO & envelope properties

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.

Difficulty level: Beginner

Overview

Markov chains are mathematical models that have existed in various forms since the 19th century, which have been used to aid statistical modelling in many real-world contexts, from economics to cruise control in cars. Composers have also found musical uses for Markov Chains, although the implied mathematical knowledge needed to implement them often appears daunting.

In this workshop we will demystify the Markov Chain and make use of the popular ml.star library in Max/MSP to implement Markov Chains for musical composition. This will involve preparing and playing MIDI files into the system (as a form of Machine Learning) and capturing the subsequent output as new MIDI files. By the end of the session you will have the knowledge of how to incorporate Markov Chains into your future compositions at various levels.

Topics

• Max
• Markov Chains
• Machine Learning
• Algorithmic Composition

Requirements 

• You should have a basic understanding of the Max workflow and different data types.
• Knowledge of MIDI format and routing to DAWs (Ableton, Logic etc) would be a plus, although Max instruments will be provided.
• No prior knowledge of advanced mathematical or machine learning concepts are necessary, the focus will be on musical application.

About the workshop leader

Samuel Pearce-Davies is a composer, performer, music programmer and Max hacker living in Cornwall, UK.

With a classical music background, it was his introduction to Max/MSP during undergraduate studies at Falmouth University that sparked Sam’s passion for music programming and algorithmic composition.

Going on to complete a Research Masters in computer music, Sam is now studying a PhD at Plymouth University in music-focused AI.

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.

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.

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.

This practice-led course will show you how to make an electronic textile interface for music performance. We will learn a DIY technique to craft with e-textile materials and then explore how to make music with the handcrafted interface in a number of ways. Each session will follow on from the last, developing your knowledge through a series of hands-on projects, delivered in four online workshops. 

Level: beginner with notions of DIY electronics and programming

• Some familiarity or experience of working with Arduino and/or Max/MSP (or similar platforms) is desirable
• A tabletop space to work at
• Computer, with USB port
• Arduino IDE (Free – download here: https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software)
• Max 8 (Free 30 day trial available – you will be instructed to download this for the final session)

This workshop is available internationally. Please order your DIY kit before the dispatch date for your location. Kits will be posted using a Royal Mail tracked service.

UK dispatch date: Friday 17th November

Worldwide dispatch date: Friday 3rd November

We will work with the Lilypad Arduino, a microcontroller board designed for use with e-textiles and wearables projects, and Max/MSP, an object-orientated programming language for music making. The workshop series will cover the fundamentals of working with e-textiles and these technologies, giving a basis for participants to continue to develop their creative ideas when working with sound and interactive textiles.

Tues 24th Nov, 6pm UK –  Workshop 1: Crafting an e-textile interface

In this workshop, we will explore an approach to working with electronic textiles and handcraft. This workshop will introduce needle felting as a DIY method of working with e-textiles. We will make an interactive and touch sensitive textile interface, to then be used in a number of ways, throughout the four sessions of this course. Through crafting the brightly coloured interface, we will explore a creative approach to interface design and learn how traditional crafts can be combined with e-textile materials to result in novel interfaces for music performance.

Tues 1st Dec, 6pm UK – Workshop 2: Bringing your craft work to life: capacitive sensing and visualising sensor data with the Lilypad Arduino

In this session, we will transform the needle felted piece from Workshop 1 into an interactive and touch sensitive interface. We will introduce the Lilypad Arduino and explore capacitive sensing as a method of bringing your textile work to life. You will learn several approaches to visualising interaction data on screen, as well as the fundamentals of working with Arduino IDE.

Tues 8th Dec, 6pm UK – Workshop 3: Composing through code: making an e-textile step sequencer with the Lilypad Arduino

This week, we will develop our coding skills and learn an approach to using your e-textile interface with the Lilypad Arduino, as a standalone music making device. We will write, edit and compose through code, to create a playful step sequencer that makes music as you touch the textile interface. 

Tues 15th Dec, 6pm UK – Workshop 4: Interactive textiles and Max/MSP

Workshop 4 will introduce a method of using your handcrafted interface with Max/MSP. From this workshop, you will know how to program your Lilypad Arduino, to allow your e-textile interface to control parameters in a Max patch. We will make a software-based sampler, where pre-recorded sound files are triggered by touching the interactive textile interface. Some familiarity and a basic working knowledge of Max/MSP is desirable, but not essential. Participants with experience in Max are welcome to bring their own patches to experiment with.

—

A DIY kit, with all of the craft tools and materials you will need, is included in the workshop price and will be posted to your home in advance of the course.  

There are two kits available, please select the kit that you will require: 

Kit 1 is a full kit and includes a Lilypad Arduino and all of the craft tools and materials you will need for the course. 

Kit 2 includes all of the craft tools and materials you will need to make the e-textile interface, but does not include the Lilypad Arduino and USB cable. 

(Kit 2 is best suited if you already have a Lilypad Arduino or would prefer to use an alternative board. Please note that this course focuses on working with the Lilypad and so support for alternative boards will be limited and only recommended for more experienced participants.)

Kit 1 contents:

• Lilypad Arduino
• USB cable
• 10 x crocodile clips
• Speaker
• Wool 
• Steel wool
• 3 x Needle felting tools 
• Embroidery hoop
• Fabric
• Copper tape

Kit 2 contents:

• 10 x crocodile clips
• Speaker
• Wool 
• Steel wool
• 3 x Needle felting tools 
• Embroidery hoop
• Fabric
• Copper tape

Federico Foderaro is an audiovisual composer, teacher and designer for interactive multimedia installations, author of the YouTube channel Amazing Max Stuff.

In this live-stream, Federico presents some of his live visual projects using particles systems. Join the live-stream to learn how to create stunning animated videos running at high performance. This free live-stream is followed by a series of 4 workshops starting 20th October led by Federico to learn in depth video programming.

His main interest is the creation of audiovisual works and fragments, where the technical research is deeply linked with the artistic output.
The main tool used in his production is the software Max/MSP from Cycling74, which allows for real-time programming and execution of both audio and video, and represents a perfect mix between problem-solving and artistic expression.

Beside his artistic work, Federico teaches the software Max/MSP, both online and in workshops in different venues. The creation of commercial audio-visual interactive installations is also a big part of his work life, having led in the years to satisfactory collaborations and professional achievements.

This practice-led course will show you how to make an electronic textile interface for music performance. We will learn a DIY technique to craft with e-textile materials and then explore how to make music with the handcrafted interface in a number of ways. Each session will follow on from the last, developing your knowledge through a series of hands-on projects, delivered in four online workshops. 

Level: beginner with notions of DIY electronics and programming

• Some familiarity or experience of working with Arduino and/or Max/MSP (or similar platforms) is desirable
• A tabletop space to work at
• Computer, with USB port
• Arduino IDE (Free – download here: https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software)
• Max 8 (Free 30 day trial available – you will be instructed to download this for the final session)

Availability

This workshop is available internationally. Please order your DIY kit before the dispatch date for your location. Kits will be posted using a Royal Mail tracked service.

UK dispatch date: Friday 25th September

Worldwide dispatch date: Friday 18th September

All sessions are led by a live workshop leader, and are recorded. If you miss one, you can watch it later.

We will work with the Lilypad Arduino, a microcontroller board designed for use with e-textiles and wearables projects, and Max/MSP, an object-orientated programming language for music making. The workshop series will cover the fundamentals of working with e-textiles and these technologies, giving a basis for participants to continue to develop their creative ideas when working with sound and interactive textiles.

Wed 30th Sept, 6pm UK –  Workshop 1: Crafting an e-textile interface

In this workshop, we will explore an approach to working with electronic textiles and handcraft. This workshop will introduce needle felting as a DIY method of working with e-textiles. We will make an interactive and touch sensitive textile interface, to then be used in a number of ways, throughout the four sessions of this course. Through crafting the brightly coloured interface, we will explore a creative approach to interface design and learn how traditional crafts can be combined with e-textile materials to result in novel interfaces for music performance.

Sat 3rd Oct, 6pm UK – Workshop 2: Bringing your craft work to life: capacitive sensing and visualising sensor data with the Lilypad Arduino

In this session, we will transform the needle felted piece from Workshop 1 into an interactive and touch sensitive interface. We will introduce the Lilypad Arduino and explore capacitive sensing as a method of bringing your textile work to life. You will learn several approaches to visualising interaction data on screen, as well as the fundamentals of working with Arduino IDE.

Fri 23rd Oct, 6pm UK – Workshop 3: Composing through code: making an e-textile step sequencer with the Lilypad Arduino

This week, we will develop our coding skills and learn an approach to using your e-textile interface with the Lilypad Arduino, as a standalone music making device. We will write, edit and compose through code, to create a playful step sequencer that makes music as you touch the textile interface. 

Sat 7th Nov, 6pm UK – Workshop 4: Interactive textiles and Max/MSP

Workshop 4 will introduce a method of using your handcrafted interface with Max/MSP. From this workshop, you will know how to program your Lilypad Arduino, to allow your e-textile interface to control parameters in a Max patch. We will make a software-based sampler, where pre-recorded sound files are triggered by touching the interactive textile interface. Some familiarity and a basic working knowledge of Max/MSP is desirable, but not essential. Participants with experience in Max are welcome to bring their own patches to experiment with.

—

A DIY kit, with all of the craft tools and materials you will need, is included in the workshop price and will be posted to your home in advance of the course.  

There are two kits available, please select the kit that you will require: 

Kit 1 is a full kit and includes a Lilypad Arduino and all of the craft tools and materials you will need for the course. 

Kit 2 includes all of the craft tools and materials you will need to make the e-textile interface, but does not include the Lilypad Arduino and USB cable. 

(Kit 2 is best suited if you already have a Lilypad Arduino or would prefer to use an alternative board. Please note that this course focuses on working with the Lilypad and so support for alternative boards will be limited and only recommended for more experienced participants.)

Kit 1 contents:

• Lilypad Arduino
• USB cable
• 10 x crocodile clips
• Speaker
• Wool 
• Steel wool
• 3 x Needle felting tools 
• Embroidery hoop
• Fabric
• Copper tape

Kit 2 contents:

• 10 x crocodile clips
• Speaker
• Wool 
• Steel wool
• 3 x Needle felting tools 
• Embroidery hoop
• Fabric
• Copper tape

 

In this series of 23 videos you will explore fundamental sound generation and synthesis techniques and concepts when working with Max, empowering you to begin to build your own synthesis patches and devices that you can deploy in your own music and multimedia projects.

Through a series of guided exercises you will engage in the pragmatic creation of a basic synthesis device that features a wealth of sound manipulation options. This series of workshops aims to provide intermediate Max users with suitable skills to deploy audio DSP and synthesis skills within the Max environment.

Requirements

• A computer and internet connection
• A good working knowledge of computer systems
• Intermediate skills working with Max (i.e. ability to construct basic patches, familiarity with Max workflows, understanding of signal flow, use of messages and lists, creation of objects and adaptation of their properties etc).
• Some familiarity with music creation applications such as a DAW
• Access to a copy of Max 8 (i.e. trial or full license)

Session 1 Learning Outcomes

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

• Identify key elements of the MSP domain
• Create MSP objects and route patch cables
• Compare and contrast possibilities offered by objects within the MSP environment
• Locate and utilise the Max help & Reference system

Session 2 Learning Outcomes

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

• Construct MIDI signal routing
• Deploy MSP oscillators & filter objects
• Build envelope generators for synthesis devices
• Route and sum signal flow

Session 3 Learning Outcomes

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

• Build multi-function LFOs
• Configure modulation routing within synthesis devices
• Utilise BPatchers within patches
• Successfully apply data management techniques

Session 4 Learning Outcomes

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

• Construct and deploy GUI designs
• Utilise presets within Max / MSP patches
• Transform MSP patches into M4L or standalone devices
• Explore further possibilities within MSP

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