Unique Max for Live Devices That Will Make You Re-Think Ableton Live
Ableton Live is a unique DAW because it features a Max for Live integration which allows users and third party developers to turn it into much more than a DAW.
You literally have the ability to create a custom sequencer, your own instruments, audio effects, or whatever else you can dream up that would help your workflow when making tracks. Just look up the basics in a max for live tutorial and get patching!
Today we're going to dive in to what Max for Live is in detail and our favorite devices that all make good starting points if you're new to the platform.
What is Max for Live?
The short answer is Max For Live is a programming environment that allows you to extend Ableton's functionality.
How does Max for Live Make Ableton stand out from other DAWs?
Is there some effect or feature you wish existed but the Ableton folks didn't include? Have ideas for creating unique software instruments? Can't find what you want from third party music plugin developers?
With Max for Live you can potentially solve these problems for yourself and others by rolling up your sleeves and building what you need yourself.
You can build you own instruments, audio effects, MIDI effects, or automate the DAW itself to do interesting things via the Live Object Model.
How Do You Use Max for Live Devices?
There is a large ecosystem of Max for Live devices created independently by the Live community that are effectively like Ableton-only plugins. You just drag them onto a track like any other audio or MIDI devices or effects.
More recently, with the release of RNBO, Max developers are able to build devices that can be packaged as VSTs or web formats with features that extend the software even further.
What is the difference between Max for Live and Max/MSP?
Max/MSP is standalone software that is older than Ableton and originates at IRCAM in Paris.
Max for Live is an integrated version of Max you must use from inside a full copy of Ableton Live Suite.
Can you use Max for Live Without Ableton?
No, you would need a copy of Max/MSP which is a unique license and has some differences in the way you can access the program.
They didn't call it Max...for Live for nothing!
Is Max for Live free?
Max for Live is included with Ableton Suite only, not Standard or Intro.
So no. You need to buy the most expensive version of Ableton, but this is worth it in our opinion because you get most of Ableton's juiciest features and plugins.
Our top 5 Max for Live Devices
Now that you have some background on what Max for Live is & how it is different than Max/MSP, let's dive in and explore our favorite devices.
It was truly difficult to pick 5 individual devices out of an ecosystem with thousands, so we tried to make sure some official Ableton devices were included that are really powerful, as well as some suites of devices that will make you rethink what a DAW even is. #2 on our list certainly had that effect.
1. IRCAMAX 2
A suite of plugins from the source! Without IRCAM we probably would not have Ableton Live at all thanks to the innovative work that happens there and this set of live devices does not disappoint.
There are 12 devices in total with the IRCAMAX 2 bundle, 8 audio effects, 2 instruments, and 2 MIDI effects that all have an interesting twist somewhere.
Synths
Some highlights include the Matrix Synth and Modalys physical modeling synth which allows you to mimic the resonance of pipes, various membranes, drums and other physical objects.
You can then use this to process just about anything from an entire track to a single element of a track. This kind of flexibility makes for a great tool in a sound design situation or for a composer who wants to find new sonic territories.
CHROMAX
We've previously written quite a bit about how a MIDI note and it's velocity are a data source that can be mapped to a large variety of parameters to modulate or interact with or alter your sounds, especially in virtual instruments.
CHROMAX is designed for this! You can use MIDI clips to connect MIDI data to audio processing in real time.
But this is just scratching the surface, this suite of devices can do a lot!
IRCAMAX 2 is worth a look if you want to experiment with new, alien sonic textures or find a fresh, non-standard audio effect other DAWs might not have.
2. Zwobot
You can make your own visuals inside of Ableton Live using Zwobot. Yes, you read that right!
Check it out:
Because Max includes something called Jitter under the hood, it is able to work with real time image processing, particle systems, and other effects you'd expect to see inside of 3D software like Blender or Cinema4D.
Why is this a big deal? You can easily tether visual events to audio events. For example, say you have an Ableton Push controller you use to play live by triggering clips or effects.
You can use the data coming from the Push to also control your visuals. It requires a fairly fast computer to keep up, but the possibilities of this are big. You could potentially run your own visuals while you perform a live set or use the Zwobot output as an input to a dedicated VJ who controls the final video feed the audience sees.
Zwobot is a suite of Max for Live visual tools you can use to add energy to a live show or create content for promoting your work online.
3. Pretty Much Anything Dillon Bastan Designs
He's probably most well known for his Inspired by Nature series of devices which totally blew us away the first time we used them.
The user interface on each device is very unique and allows you to generate (as promised) very organic sounds and rhythms that have their own twist on them.
But the fun doesn't end there!
For example, this thing:
He has his own effects on his website that are all highly original and are among the best max plugins being made be independent designers.
Dillon has a very unique voice as a plugin and device developer and we recommend keeping an eye on his YouTube channel for when he releases new devices.
4. Drum Synth
These are a set of Max for Live devices that come bundled with Ableton, but we wanted to mention them here because they're buried in the browser so there's a decent shot you've had them all along and didn't realize it.
We use this collection in two primary ways.
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When we're in a rush
When you're designing drums, its common to layer a bunch of sounds together as a composite. You may have one piece of something for the transient, another for the fundamental frequency, and something else for color on top.
We've previously written about this as well as sell our our sample packs and Ableton drum racks that are completely custom creations so take it from us:
The Drum Synth plugins are very, very helpful for laying into to a collage of drum samples you eventually will flatten and load into a sequencer as standalone samples. They don't have a ton of vibe or color on their own, so they are very flexible.
And they're free devices! You probably already have them!
5. Convolution Reverb Pro
This is an absolute must have Max for Live plugin. Lots of people are very vocal about the stock Ableton Reverb plugin having a character they don't like or feels not so flexible.
Convolution Reverb Pro is the other stock Ableton Reverb. It's much more flexible because you can blend the reverb captured from an impulse sample in their library or provide your own which can be used for it's intended purpose or others.
Why We Love Convolution Reverb for sound design
You can generate a lot of unexpected sounds for your music by hacking a convolution reverb. It's much more than just a reverb device.
It works like this:
You place Convolution Reverb after a sample, live device, instrument, audio track, or whatever you want to process.
Enable the effect then, instead of using a typical convolution impulse, drag in something you'd never think to use for convolution. Samples you took from a field recorder, a drum beat, or something with lots of transients are usually interesting.
Chances a good that you will hear some sounds you've never made before. Then you can continue to modify the effect with supplemental max for live devices like envelope follower automating the wet/dry parameters or delay to extend the effect.
Explore More
We encourage you to explore the live devices in the Max for Live ecosystem, there are a lot of live devices to try and new ones come out every day.
In the meantime, check out our sample packs, instruments, and devices to get the creative juices flowing.
