MIDI Tools is a comprehensive set of rhythm generation and transformation tools designed specifically for creating intricate musical patterns within the Live software environment. As a member of the Max for Live team, I was responsible for designing novel MIDI tools crafted using Max MSP, a visual coding environment, and developing workflows tailored for newcomers to construct custom MIDI tools.
As the Principal Designer for Max for Live, my core responsibilities included designing the new creative workflows for Live 12, MIDI Tools and Modulation. I also conducted research workshops to explore future concepts for extending Live’s capabilities through Max, and built a UX vision around this research. Throughout the Live 12 production cycle, I contributed to short-term projects like the Max Showcase Devices to help onboard beginners to Max, outlined better documentation needs, and led the redesign of Max for Live’s community website, maxforlive.com.
MIDI Tools empowers musicians to craft custom musical patterns using Max MSP. To explore the full potential of this feature, I worked closely with stakeholders from 2 companies, Ableton and Cycling74, to develop ideas and prototypes in Max. I designed the tools needed to test various musical parameters that could be manipulated in Live using the Live API. This included functionalities such as modifying pitch, adjusting velocity, generating MIDI notes, and more. I worked with engineers to gather MIDI note data as structured readable dictionaries, that users could manipulate with Max objects. I also co-designed new Max objects for better usability with Live's API.
Read the documentation for more depth:
Ableton MIDI Tools
Cycling74 Max MSP MIDI Tools
Through this extensive exploration and prototyping, we were able to define a more robust and intuitive musical structure in JSON, which users could seamlessly access via the API and the new max objects. Ultimately, our efforts culminated in enhanced dictionaries for MIDI note data and a suite of tools that provided users with a solid foundation to begin creating.
MIDI tools was a success among music makers, encouraging some to create and sell their own tools right after the Live 12 release. You can find user created midi generators and midi transformation tools on maxforlive.com.
When collaborating with third-party MIDI Tool creators, I discovered that numerous Max MSP creators encountered challenges in designing GUIs with Max MSP. Notably, they faced difficulties in creating their own GUIs utilizing v8ui and JSUI, Max MSP’s JavaScript objects. In response to this limitation, I developed the FigMax plugin specifically designed for Max MSP creators, enabling them to generate GUIs by converting vector graphics from Figma into MGraphics code for Max.
Team
James Bradbury, Rachel Susser, Toby Carpenter, Alex Korach, Stas Mankovich, Hidde De Jong
