Note: The text below uses an older version of the MAX/MSP and phidget drivers. Therefore the examples provided might not directly be compatible with newer verisons of the tools and drivers that you are using. For more information see www.phidgets.com (not supported at TU/e). 

Introduction

Max/MSP is a visual programming environment that offers an intuitive and ‘designerly’ way of programming. It is especially suitable for designing the dynamic aspects of products and systems. The flow of sensor data can be connected to an actuator as simply as dragging a line. Boxes with a wide range of functionality are available for you to map your inputs to a desired output. The visual interface of Max/MSP gives you instant feedback on every action, which allows you to tweak your program to reach the level of detail and subtlety your prototype requires. The picture shows the graphical lay out of a Max/MSP program. The creators of Phidgets provided objects for Max/MSP that provide easy communication with Phidgets.

• Installation
• Documentation
• Support
• Demo projects

Note: Max/MSP is not included in the standard TU/e software library. However, in case your group doesn’t own a valid Max/MSP license, you can obtain a special educational license from www.cycling74.com at a reduced price
 

Installation [top]

Max/MSP is cross-platform, which means it can be used on both Mac OSX and Windows XP. Programs made on one platform will run on the other as well. Installation procedures for the two platforms differs slightly, so here are the platform specific instructions:

Mac OS X

Max/MSP is available at www.cycling74.com under downloads. Select ‘current Mac version’ and ‘Max/MSP with documentation’. The documentation contains a useful tutorial and a reference manual. A .dmg file will be downloaded. When finished, click ‘install Max/MSP’.

An additional installation is needed for using Phidgets with Max/MSP. Note that Phidgets need Mac OSX 10.3.9 or higher to run. 

• Go to www.phidgets.com and to Downloads - Betas. Download the Phidget Max OSX Framework and go to the Phidgets disk that appears in Finder.
• Click the Phidgets.mpkg file to install the complete Phidget Framework.

Two additional steps are needed to get Max/MSP to recognise Phidgets. In the Max/MSP folder on the Phidgets installation disk are the so called Max externals. These externals are the building blocks of any Max program. The Phidgets externals need to be placed in the Max externals folder for the program to recognise them:

• Select all the .mxo files from the Max/MSP folder on the Phidgets installation disk and copy them to the Max externals folder, which you can find by following the ‘Cycling74 folder’ alias in your Max/MSP application directory.
• Go back to the Max/MSP folder on the Phidgets disk and copy all the .help files into the max-help folder. A restart may be necessary for everything to work.

 

Windows XP

Max/MSP for Windows XP is available at www.cycling74.com under Downloads. Select ‘current Windows version’ and ‘Max/MSP with documentation’. The documentation contains a useful tutorial and a reference manual. A zip file will be downloaded. Launch the Max/MSP installer and follow the on-screen instructions. After installation a reboot will be required for Max/MSP to work.

An additional installation is needed for using Phidgets with Max/MSP.

• Go to www.phidgets.com and follow ‘Downloads’ and ‘Release’.
• Download and launch the PHIDGETS.msi installer. This will install the Phidget framework needed for Windows to work with Phidgets
• Go to ‘Downloads’ – ‘Betas’ and download ‘MaxMSP Externals for Windows’. This is a folder that holds the so called Max/MSP externals. These externals are the building blocks of any Max program. The Phidgets externals need to be placed in the Max externals folder for the program to recognise them.
• Select all the .mxe files from the MaxMSP_Windows folder on the Phidgets installation disk and copy them to the Max externals folder, which you can find by following the ‘Cycling74 folder’ alias in your Max/MSP application directory.
• Go back to the MaxMSP_Windows folder and copy all the .help files into the max-help folder. A restart may be necessary for everything to work.

 

Some additional notes for both platforms

Phidgets Inc. is working on the PhidgetsWebServer to become a universal way to control Phidgets from different programming environments. At the moment, Max/MSP still uses custom drivers that can cause compatibility problem with new phidget components and new drivers. In the near future, the way Max/MSP communicates with Phidgets might be changed. Watch the developments at www.phidgets.com.
Max/MSP is not included in the standard TU/e software library. However, in case your group doesn’t own a valid Max/MSP license, you can obtain a special educational license from www.cycling74.com at a reduced price.

 

Documentation [top]

Max/MSP Reference Manual
Max/MSP Tutorial

 

Support [top]

MAX/MSP is offcially not supported at the department of Industrial Design. However, some experts can be found in the domains and the masters. A simple MAX/MSP file that demonstrates how to use phidgets will be put on this website soon.

 

Demo projects [top]

Hit-me-light

A short student project, using the PhidgetLED64 and Max/MSP. Made by Henry Julier, Amanda Ip, Michael Cruz and Justin Rheinfrank.

Interactive lighting closet

A closet equipped with interactive lights that try to heighten creativity in the process of picking clothes. Made by Koo ho Shin, Scott Smith, Megan Langdon, Ellie Choi and Johanna Ham.

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