DAW for MAX msp/jitter

[william lawes]

I would like to start learning MAX msp/jitter to do live electronics, which current laptop is recommended for this kind of work? I also want to be able to wire instruments together in a way that will allow each instrument to affect and be affected by the other instrument's in/output. I have been using a DX7 into a moog voyager, but I want to wire in a banjo and acoustic guitars to the voyager. Also is there a way to convert a contact mic signal to midi?

[whyterabbyt]

I would like to start learning MAX msp/jitter to do live electronics, which current laptop is recommended for this kind of work?

Difficult to say. MIDI-only MAX stuff worked fine on the systems of ten, fifteen years ago. If its lots of realtime audio stuff you want to do, then it'd be comparable to any system suitable for any audio work; generally the faster the better with the proviso that MAX stuff is less efficient than hardcoded synths and effects.

I also want to be able to wire instruments together in a way that will allow each instrument to affect and be affected by the other instrument's in/output.

That probably means a soundcard with multiple inputs, one per instrument.

Also is there a way to convert a contact mic signal to midi?

Yeah, although it'd vary as to what component of the signal you want converted. Simple amplitude is easy, while pitch and/or frequency analysis is harder.

[william lawes]

Thanks very much!