MaxMSP Windows specific FAQ

Is Max for Windows the same as the Mac version?

It includes basically all of the same objects as the Mac version. Some objects in Max that are Mac-specific or no longer supported are not included in the Windows version.

Am I able to exchange files between the Windows and Macintosh versions?

MaxMSP for Windows reads and writes the same binary and text format patcher and data files as the Mac version.Collectives created on Windows Max are platform independent and may be opened on either Windows or Macintosh Max version 4.3 or greater.

What do all the file extensions mean?

Windows uses file extensions to tell the difference between files, so if you double click a file without a file extension, nothing will happen. You can rename your file with a .pat extension and Windows will know to use MaxMSP to open the file. Windows MaxMSP also uses .mxb for the binary patcher format, .mxe for externals, and .mxf for collectives.

What kind of audio support does MaxMSP have?

MaxMSP has support for MME, DirectSound and ASIO audio drivers. It can act as a host for VST plugins and instruments. It can also act as a Rewire host and client.

What soundcards work with MaxMSP?

All standard internal soundcards, and all other soundcards which support MME, DirectSound and ASIO drivers. If for some reason your soundcard is not working, even though it works with your other Audio Applications, please drop us a line or call, we want to hear about it.

Special Notes about soundcards.

• RME HDSP cards have MME and DirectSound drivers, but do not operate stably using current versions of these drivers. The HDSP system is optimized for ASIO driver support, and we recommend using this ASIO driver within MaxMSP.

• Laptop computers using the SoundMAX system should always use the MME driver, despite its relatively high latency. DirectSound and ASIO drivers are not directly available for this hardware, and will use emulation layers that will add more latency than already present.

Are DirectX plugins supported?

DirectX plugins are not supported. If you would really like them to be, or you have any other requests for MaxMSP, please send us a note

Can I use Windows MaxMSP to design plug-ins for Pluggo?

Yes. Check out Windows Pluggo

Will Max support Windows 95? 98? 2000? NT?

Cycling'74 only officially supports the use of Windows XP, Home or Pro. It may run on Windows 2000 but is not supported. We offer no guarantees whatsoever on any other iteration of Windows.

What processing speed is recommended?

MaxMSP runs well on PIII's, P4's, Athlons, and similar processors of various clock rates. A 500 Mhz PIII or better processor is recommended.

How much room do I need on my hard drive for MaxMSP?

A full install of Max/MSP will use about 25 megs.

Is there a technical support hotline for Windows MaxMSP?

Yes. Simply call +1 415 869-3717 and leave a message with your name, contact telephone number, timezone and a convenient callback time, and our support staff will call you back to assist you. You may also send an email with these same details plus details of your problem.

What's all this about Quicktime, do I really need it?

Windows MaxMSP, as a result of its Macintosh roots, still relies on Quicktime code for parts of its internal operations. At this stage we recommend a FULL install of Quicktime, which will make possible many of Max's advanced graphic features, and mp3 support, among other things. You can download a Quicktime for Windows installer here.

Why won't my SDII files work?

SD2 files are inherently a Macintosh only format (resource based header).They will never work directly in MaxMSP. They will need to be converted first into something else (WAV, AIFF). However, if you were to transfer SD2 files to the PC and knew the sampling rate/bit depth/number of channels, you could open the raw file and make use of the force header calls to play back the file. The data byte offset would be zero, as the data fork contains only audio data.

What is the denormal problem and how does MaxMSP get around it?

The denormal problem is the situation which arises when calculations involving extremely small numbers use a very large proportion of the CPU on x86 processors. These small numbers are most commonly the result of some system with feedback, e.g. a delay line, reverb, or IIR filter such as biquad~, allpass~, comb~, lores~,etc. The MSP filter objects and the times~ object (*~ ) on windows have special code to set these small values to zero. As a precaution, if one were to use tapin~/tapout~ or send~/receive~, one should insert at least one copy of times~ (*~) in the feedback chain to avoid these small numbers.

Can I make my own externals?

Yes. You can get hold of a copy of the SDK for Windows here
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