MSP Tutorials - Table of Contents

Topics

• Introduction
• How Digital Audio Works
• How MSP Works - Max Patches and the MSP Signal Network
• Audio I/O - Audio input and output with MSP

Basics

• Test Tone - Making sound
• Adjustable Oscillator - Adjusting parameters of MSP objects
• Wavetable Oscillator - Using sample data to generate sound
• Routing Signals - Switching and moving audio around the patcher
• Basics Review

Additive and Modulation Synthesis

• Additive Synthesis - Adding sine waves to make a complex tone
• Tremolo and Ring Modulation - Multiplying sine waves to generate sideband effects
• AM Synthesis - Using amplitude modulation
• Vibrato and Frequency Modulation - Using sine waves to modulate other sine waves
• FM Synthesis - Using FM modulation to create time-varying timbres

Sampling and Recording

• Record and Play Samples - Using sample memory to play back audio files
• Playing From Multiple Sample Points - Playing back from multiple points in sample memory simultaneously
• Sample Playback with Loops - Using looping sample memory
• Variable Length Wavetables - Creating complex oscillators from sample data
• Waveshaping Synthesis - Using sample data as a lookup table
• Recording and Playing Soundfiles - Playing and recording audio files from disk
• Sampling Review

Filters and Subtractive Synthesis

• Simple Filters - Basic filter objects in MSP
• Variable-type filters - Using variable-type filters
• Analog-style synthesis - Using complex waveform generators in MSP
• Subtractive synthesis - Using noise generators with filters
• Parallel and serial filters - Creating networks of filters

Dynamics Processing

• Envelope Following - Generating a control curve from a complex signal
• Dynamics Processing - Creating dynamic compressors, limiters, and gates in MSP
• Distortion - Using audio waveshaping for signal distortion

MIDI and MSP

• Mapping MIDI to MSP - Scaling values for MIDI control of audio patchers
• MIDI Synthesizer - Mapping standard MIDI parameters for synthesizer control
• MIDI Sampler - Creating simple MIDI-compatible samplers in MSP

Polyphony and Resource Management

• Creating Polyphonic Abstractions - Using the poly~ object to manage multiple copies of an MSP patcher
• Granular synthesis - Scheduled polyphonic synthesis and parallel thread allocation
• Audio-rate Control Data - Using downsampled signal chains to generate Max data

Sequencing

• Audio-rate sequencing - Using ramp generators for sample-accurate event triggering

Panning

• Simple panning - Controlling multiple sound outputs in MSP
• Stereo panning - Mixing multiple sources in a stereo context
• Multi-channel panning - Working with more than two audio outputs in MSP

Analysis

• Signals and Meters - Metering MSP audio within the patcher
• Oscilloscopes and Spectroscopes - Looking at MSP signal data within the patcher
• Simple Fourier Analysis - Using the FFT to work with MSP audio in the frequency domain
• Advanced Fourier Analysis - Using the pfft~ object to create frequency-domain signal processors

Delays

• Simple Delay Lines - Managing simple delays with tapin~ and tapout~
• Delay Lines with Feedback - Using feedback in MSP delay networks
• Automatic gain control with Feedback - Managing feedback using dynamics processing
• Flanger - Using variable-length delays to create a flanger effect
• Chorus - Using variable-length delays to create a chorus effect
• Comb Filtering - Using comb filters to create resonation effects

Plug-ins

• Plugin Effects - Using Plugin Processors within MSP
• Plugin Instruments - Using Plugin Instruments within MSP
• AMXD devices - Using Max for live patches within MSP

Compression

• What is Compression?
• Peak Limiting
• Basic Compression
• Tweaking Compression
• Compression on Real Instruments
• Multiband Compression 1
• Multiband Compression 2
• Keying
• Microsounds
• Ducking
• Controlling Feedback