User Forum

Phi · #1 22-04-2004, 16:27

Hi,

I'm used to work with Max/MSP for building stand-alone applications and Pluggo plug-ins.

I just discover Reaktor (demo version) which seems very appropriate for a similar purpose.

Have you some experiences to share about these two environments, comments, advices, suggestions... ?

Thank you very much in advance.

John Nowak · #2 22-04-2004, 19:00

They are two entirely different, non-competing products. Max is a programming language. Reaktor is not. Reaktor has high-level modules. Max does not. Max lets you build standalones. Reaktor does not. Reaktor works as a VST/AU. Max does not. Et cetera.

Use the demo. You'll see the differences for yourself. :-) As for me, I own both, and find uses for both of them.

arturnowak · #3 22-04-2004, 21:36

Originally posted by John Nowak
As for me, I own both, and find uses for both of them.

John, is it possible to sync both, if they run in stand alone mode? For example: create crazy control data in Max and send it via... MIDI? to Reaktor, which would actually produce sound?

John Nowak · #4 22-04-2004, 21:38

raminkeene · #5 22-04-2004, 22:15

i have to agree with john, it's probably not worth even arranging the contest......

jeb52 · #6 22-04-2004, 22:46

You might as well also give Tassman 4 a try when the demo is ready, although I'm not sure where it would fit in John's reply, if at all. There is already a lengthy (and at times unecessarily vicious) comparison of Reaktor and Tassman on the AA forum. I suspect they would all compliment one another quite well.

http://www.applied-acoustics.com/

Jonathan

fleetmouse · #7 23-04-2004, 00:48

I'm starting to mess around with Max/MSP - they're very different for the reasons already mentioned, and another big difference is Max has much better documentation. I think if I learn it in depth I'll be able to do much more interesting things in Reaktor.

I don't get the impression that Max/MSP is capable of the kinds of gorgeous tones you can easily get out of Reaktor - though a week or two of tutorials may prove me wrong.

I just tried running the midi out from Max into Reaktor, using Midi Yoke - it works great. You could do some utterly insane wacky hijinks with both those doohickies wired together, I reckon.

Phi · #8 23-04-2004, 16:32

Thanks a lot for your point of views!
Reaktor is a great audio tool. And not only for prototyping!
I think I'm going to work with both of these environments.

John Nowak · #9 23-04-2004, 17:54

I think you'll enjoy Reaktor very much if you're coming from Max. It's much easier to throw stuff together. Reaktor is much less dependent on order of signal flow, and only sends floats between its inputs and output. No need for messages, packing, unpack, prepending, and all that other stuff we're so used to doing. It allows you to build without thinking. :-) Or at least, thinking about the creative side mainly, and little about the implementation. You'll never find yourself stopping to think how to do something after you are proficient with the program. It just flows very quickly.. although the speed of the flow is limited by the GUI interface, but you have the same thing with Max.

raminkeene · #10 24-04-2004, 00:31

Phi, read the solarX interview in the artists interview sections....will give you an answer (of sorts) to your question

ramin

Phi · #11 24-04-2004, 18:49

John,

"Reaktor works as a VST/AU. Max does not"

Just for info:

Building a Pluggo plug-in from a Max patch runs as VST/AU/MAS/RTAS but on Mac only.

Phi · #12 24-04-2004, 18:51

Jonathan,

Yes, Tassman is another great tool.
Is it possible to build stand-app and plugs with Tassman?

Phi · #13 24-04-2004, 18:56

fleetmouse,

"I don't get the impression that Max/MSP is capable of the kinds of gorgeous tones you can easily get out of Reaktor"

I agree. Reaktor offers an enormous built-in audio engine on which one can create synths and effects.
With MSP, you'll probably have to begin from scratch.

Phi · #14 24-04-2004, 19:11

Originally posted by John Nowak
... thinking about the creative side mainly, and little about the implementation...

Hi john,

Yes, after some days with the OSX demo, it's what I appreciate: creativity!
And it seems very easy to create a custom GUI.
(Making a Pluggo plug-in from a Max patcher is not so easy! ;-)

Thanks for your enthusiast words!

Phi · #15 24-04-2004, 19:29

Hi ramin,

Originally posted by raminkeene
Phi, read the solarX interview in the artists interview sections....will give you an answer (of sorts) to your question

"I did not work with MSP/MAX and SuperCollider as I am not a Mac user"

Max/MSP is availbale for Windows now ;-)

Thanks for this interesting and infomative interview!