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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Getting started with Max

Level: beginners with notions of programming

In this series of online workshops you will explore the most important programming techniques and concepts when working with Max, empowering you to begin to build your own 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 MIDI sequencer device that features a wealth of musical manipulation options. This series of workshops aims to provide beginner’s with suitable skills to begin exploring the Max environment.


This online workshop is interactive and you will have opportunities to work with peers and ask questions to an experienced teacher. 

Timetable and outcomes

Session 1, 19th September 2020, 4pm UK / 11am EST / 8am PT

  • Identify key elements of the Max Interface
  • Create objects and route patch cables
  • Configure Object properties via the Inspector
  • Locate and utilise the Max help system

Session 2, 20th September 2020, 4pm UK / 11am EST / 8am PT

  • Utilise Max messages
  • Build lists and work with numerical data
  • Construct data flow and configure message ordering
  • Build logic circuits and apply math transformations

Session 3, 26th September 2020, 4pm UK / 11am EST / 8am PT

  • Configure and apply user interface objects
  • Build graphical user interfaces via Presentation Mode
  • Encapsulate patchers and sub patchers
  • Successfully apply data management techniques

Session 4, 27th September 2020, 4pm UK / 11am EST / 8am PT

  • Construct MIDI messages in Max
  • Utilise virtual instruments to play musical ideas
  • Manipulate data to create musical pieces
  • Explore further possibilities within Max
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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