> Step by step

1. Getting started

1 “We’re going to build this from scratch, so you can learn how to get into the basic functionality of using Max For Live. At the moment, we’re looking at a blank, empty MIDI track. The browser on the left hand side features our Max For Live categories: Max Audio Effect, Max Instrument and Max MIDI Effect. We’ll be building an audio effect.” 2 “The default, empty Max Audio Effect object preset is what we want to start with in order to build our device. It’s definitely recommended to always start with the empty default preset. It’s a bit mental to try and go into an existing device and try and build something inside it. You’ll really just want to start with a blank canvas.” 3 “This device doesn’t do very much. We’ve got the preset button for saving our preset inside the Live User Library, and we have a Hotswap button to navigate some of the inbuilt presets in our library. But there’s a big difference between a Max For Live device and a builtin Ableton instrument or third-party VST/ AU: the Edit button.” (See TheEditButton.) 4 “Let’s look at the Max For Live GUI. What we’re seeing here is the Patching window. In a nutshell, the Patching window contains quite a lot of important functions and features that we’re going to use throughout the development of this particular device.” 5 “Also, you’ve got some typical objects up here – for example, saving your Max For Live device in the File menu. There are a few other options here to allow you to arrange some of your objects. There’s a great feature to zoom in and out of your Patching window.” 6 “One thing we’ll do quite a bit is jump between Live and Max. If you’re running MacOS, you can get to the Application switcher with the Cmd+Tab key command, which lets you navigate apps – similarly to Windows+Tab – and we can move between Live and Max quickly.”