Tutorials and Topics - Peabody Computer Music

Tutorial 1Fundamentals:Test tonepatch, or by sending a number in the left inlet, or by connecting another MSP object tothe left inlet.Starting and stopping signal processingThe way to turn audio on and off is by sending the Max messages start and stop (or 1 and 0)to the left inlet of a dac~ object (or an adc~ object, discussed in a later chapter). Sendingstart or stop to any dac~ or adc~ object enables or disables processing for all signalnetworks.The simplest possible signal networkAlthough dac~ is part of a signal network, it also understands certain Max messages, suchas start and stop. Many of the MSP objects function in this manner, accepting certain Maxmessages as well as audio signals.Listening to the Test ToneThe first time you start up Max/MSP, it will try to use your computer's default sound cardand driver (Core Audio on Macintosh or MME on Windows) for audio input and output.If you have the audio output of your computer connected to headphones or an amplifier,you should hear the output of MSP through it. If you don't have an audio cable connectedto your computer, you'll hear the sound through the computer's internal speaker.In order to get MSP up and running properly, we recommend that you start the tutorialsusing your computer’s built-in sound hardware. If you want to use an external audiointerface or sound care, please refer to the Audio Input and Output chapter for details onconfiguring MSP to work with audio hardware.• Set your audio amplifier (or amplified speakers) to their minimum setting, then clickon the start message box. Adjust your audio amplifier to the desired maximum setting,then click on the stop message box to turn off that annoying test tone.TroubleshootingIf you don't hear any sound coming from your computer when you start the dac~ in thisexample, check the level setting on your amplifier or mixer, and check all your audioconnections. Check that the sound output isn't currently muted. On Macintosh, the60