I love learning Max MSP, particularly the control over the structure of my program visually and how that helps me to construct its framework, the help functions are extensive and actually helpful! Getting constructive feedback on my patches makes the process of learning so much more efficient, as it’s not so much about making mistakes, as things just won’t work if you do, but for someone to show you a shorter or more robust way of programming something kills bad habits from the start.
The structure of the program is built with modularity and flexibility in mind. I’m developing a number of parameters accessible to change so this really becomes a tool in addition to my glasswork, something I can use in various ways to develop new and different work.
The structured and directional learning of Max is in sharp contrast with trying to get various elements of hardware to talk to each other. I have definitely underestimated the time, knowledge and effort this would take to get right. I naively assumed, as I’d more or less decided which peripherals/externals I’d be using based on other projects and some research, it would be a matter of purchasing them, reading the manual (yes, I actually enjoy this part!), connecting everything up and after some trouble shooting with the programming I’d be able to get them to work.
Newsflash: electronic parts frequently come, in an incredibly anonymous way, in a small plastic bag labeled with just the part number, placed in a jiffy bag … and that’s it! Never with instructions, rarely with a schematic of how to wire, what or where; any particular warnings; what you’d use it for, etc.…
This is where you spend hours on the internet, you learn about schematics, power adaptors, electric circuits, wires, resistors, capacitors, voltage and so on. Then the troubleshooting of getting the various elements to talk to each other and in the way you want easily becomes a couple of days or weeks. I’m going to spare you the very long, tedious explanation and reasoning that happened in between and why I’m now using Max MSP with a Teensy 3.5, SK6812 Neopixels and my very solid basic laptop webcam, instead of Arduino, WS2812B Neopixels and a Kinect.
It’s actually quite hard not to get side tracked. So many possibilities are opening up and ideas are coming thick and fast, but the only way to get anywhere is to keep my goals in mind and concentrate on the task in hand. Making a stable prototype that can be used as a module in larger implementations/projects. The desire to make this into something more specific would lead to a short time gain, but I really want something that I can treat as another element I build work with, a flexible, scaleable, interactive unit that opens up my opportunities to work I’m really interested in.
Alongside this I’ve been working with Hackspace Leeds to make acrylic hanging structures to incorporate the Neopixels in and hang the glass work from. For my demo I’ve decided to use some existing pieces and build a larger installation out of that. I’ll be demoing and talking about my progress so far as part of Come Find Us – Leeds. It’s on Dec 7, 2018 at Patrick Studios, LS9 7EH: 7 – 9pm. Find out more here https://www.comefindusleeds.co.uk/ and for up to date info on the event go to their fb page
