Max/MSP/Jitter for Music: A Practical Guide to Developing Interactive Music Systems for Education and More

by V.J. Manzo

In Max/MSP/Jitter for Music, expert author and music technologist V. J. Manzo provides a user-friendly introduction to a powerful programming language that can be used to write custom software for musical interaction. Through clear, step-by-step instructions illustrated with numerous examples of working systems, the book equips readers with everything they need to know in order to design and complete meaningful music projects. The book also discusses ways to interact with software beyond the mouse and keyboard through use of camera tracking, pitch tracking, video game controllers, sensors, mobile devices, and more. The book does not require any prerequisite programming skills, but rather walks readers through a series of small projects through which they will immediately begin to develop software applications for practical musical projects. As the book progresses, and as the individual's knowledge of the language grows, the projects become more sophisticated.

This new and expanded second edition brings the book fully up-to-date including additional applications in integrating Max with Ableton Live. It also includes a variety of additional projects as part of the final three project chapters.

The book is of special value both to software programmers working in Max/MSP/Jitter and to music educators looking to supplement their lessons with interactive instructional tools, develop adaptive instruments to aid in student composition and performance activities, and create measurement tools with which to conduct music education research.

Genres: Music, Reference, Design, Programming

434 pages, Hardcover

First published November 25, 2011

Reviews

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the book to be a useful introduction into Max, even though I am not planning on doing any teaching.

I would have liked to know a lot more about what the objects actually do and all of the ways that it is possible to achieve these. For example the author never explains that you can copy an object or selected objects simply by highlighting them and holding down 'alt' and dragging the mouse. There are many processes that can be simplified and the author has chosen not address these. And for someone who is just learning I would have thought this to be quite important.

Nonetheless, by the end of the book I was able to build quite complex patches that I was able to adapt to my style of music.

[Fang · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a bewildered newbie in algorithmic composition, I've found this book all I need for a jumpstart. Highly recommend it to any detail-oriented minds who want to program interactive music using Max/Msp.

[Fai Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's the perfect book for beginners.