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:
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Build oscillator and filter networks with MSP objects
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Build modulation patches with MSP objects
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Build step sequencers with Max and MSP objects
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Explore use of signal routing in interesting and creative ways using MSP objects.
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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
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A computer and internet connection
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A web cam and mic
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A Zoom account
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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.
Getting started with Max – LIVE Session 3rd Edition(all Thursdays in February)
This workshop series was added as the other two series planned in January and February were sold out.
LIVE Sessions on Thursdays 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th February 2021, 6pm GMT
Get started with interactive audio and video, and discover the possibilities of the Max environment. In this series of workshops, you will learn how to manipulate audio, MIDI, samples, oscillators and program your own interactive canvas.
Connect together Max’s building blocks to create unexpected results, and use them in your music productions.
Learn from guided examples and live interactions with teachers and other participants.
This series of online workshops aims to enable you to work with Max confidently on your own.
Session overview
Session 1 – Understand the Max environment
Session 2 – Connect building blocks together
Session 3 – Master the user interface
Session 4 – Work with your MIDI devices
Taught by Phelan Kane
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.
He specialises in sound design and production techniques such as synthesis and sampling, alongside audio processing and plug-in development.
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.
Requirements:
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A computer and internet connection
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A good working knowledge of computer systems
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Access to a copy of Max 8
Synthesis with Max: Physical Modelling
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 Physical Modelling architecture. This workshop aims to provide you with suitable skills to begin exploring Physical Modelling synthesis devices in the Max MSP environment.
Session Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session you will be able to:
- Build Physical Modelling devices via MSP oscillator objects
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Explore Physical Modelling spectral sonic properties
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Construct modulation sources for Physical Modelling synthesis devices
- Define the sonic timbre and strengths and weakness of Physical Modelling synthesis
Session Study Topics
- MSP oscillator objects for Physical Modelling
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Sonograms, scopes and the frequency domain
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LFO, line & envelope properties
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Physical Modelling’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.
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
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Build various filter responses via MSP filter objects
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Construct modulation sources for subtractive synthesis devices
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Define the sonic timbre and strengths and weakness of subtractive synthesis
Session Study Topics
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MSP oscillator objects
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Filter networks & responses
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LFO & envelope properties
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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
Synthesis with Max: Granular
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 Granular architecture. This workshop aims to provide you with suitable skills to begin exploring Granular synthesis devices in the Max MSP environment.
Session Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session you will be able to:
- Build Granular oscillators via MSP oscillator objects
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Explore Granular’s spectral sonic properties
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Construct modulation sources for Granular synthesis devices
- Define the sonic timbre and strengths and weakness of Granular synthesis
Session Study Topics
- MSP oscillator objects for Granular
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Sonograms, scopes and the frequency domain
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LFO, line & envelope properties
-
Granular’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.
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
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Explore Wavetable’s spectral sonic properties
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Construct modulation sources for Wavetable synthesis devices
- Define the sonic timbre and strengths and weakness of Wavetable synthesis
Session Study Topics
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MSP oscillator objects for Wavetable
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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.
An Introduction to Synthesis with Max
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
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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.
Video synthesis with Vsynth workshop
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