RE: [microsound] Max/MSP alternatives for the PC

[mark <mark@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This one comes up again and again and anyones opinion is of course just 
that (as is mine). That clear: 

PD - busy and active community and there are plenty of externals and 
more appearing all the time. I use PD and I can't see myself bothering 
with Max/MSP for PC when it comes out - why pay £400+ when I can 
have PD for less. Good community of external writers as well - if you
can't 
program you may well be able to get people to build you things.
Jmax - Jmax looks lovely but it just doesn't have the get up and go
behind 
it of PD - there was a discussion recently on the Jmax list about how it

can't compete with PD. Getting a working version on windows can 
sometimes be a pain in the arse too although the mailing list is good 
for help. 
OSW - looks interesting, there is something about the graphics 
that has put me off digging in so you will have to ask others. 

Stability wise PD is good - the odd external will crash out but you 
can avoid those. The only time it really crashes for me is when 
I am developing a new external - as you would expect. I know that 
Miller (the author) uses it for live performance so stability is a key
issue (in fact he has mentioned that he has avoided putting in features 
because they will effect the stability). There are also plenty of people

using it to make music etc. 

Summary - PD is brilliant! :-) 

mark 



-----Original Message-----
From: Wakefield Graham [mailto:Graham.Wakefield@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: 03 September 2002 12:21
To: 'microsound'; mulch-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx;
'nord_modular@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'
Subject: RE: [microsound] Max/MSP alternatives for the PC


[sorry for cross-posting]

Hi all, 

I've been creating music and patches for a long time with Reaktor, but
really I want to investigate the fourth generation modular languages
like Max/MSP; however I don't have a Macintosh at my disposal.

I've been recommended from various people the following options for PC:

PD (http://www.pure-data.org/)
JMAX (http://www.ircam.fr/equipes/temps-reel/jmax/en/index.php3)
OSW (http://osw.sourceforge.net/)
and of course Max/MSP for PC (when/if it happens)

Are there any others?

Unfortunately, I don't really have time to explore each to discover
which I should dedicate to learning, I'd like to hear what users have to
say about each.  

Apart from a general understanding of the overall differences between
them, I am particularly interested in: 1. Stability (I want the system
to take the place of Reaktor in my live performances, as I have found
Reaktor unstable generally), particularly when using multiple audio
streams/processes 2. GUI - I find Reaktor unbelievably irritating in its
lack of modularity/inability to 'switch' modules etc., I know the
applications above all offer more, but I'd like to know how easy people
have found them to use. Aesthetics is important too. 3. User community -
I also work with the Nord Modular, and very much appreciate the online
community that goes with it, and I'd like to be working with other
people in the same way.  However I'm not a hardcore programmer, I'm
unlikely to ever begin programming externals in C etc. 4. Connectivity -
I do program for multimedia however, and I'd like to know what
possibilites there are/may be in the future to interconnect the audio
application and visual software (video, flash, director etc.) 5. Ability
to create reliable standalone applications 6. Future possibilities

I know I'm asking a lot of detail here, but I'm sure I'm not the only
person in my situation, and others would also appreciate some info from
experienced users of these packages.

Thank you very much in advance

Graham

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