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amxd~ Reference

Host Max for Live devices

amxd~

Description

Use the amxd~ object to load a Max for Live device and use it in MSP. When the amxd~ object is instantiated as mcs.amxd~ its audio inputs combined into a single multichannel input and its audio outputs are combined into a single multichannel output.

Arguments

devicename [symbol]

Name of the Max for Live device to load.

Attributes

active [int] (default: 1)

Setting active to false will disable audio and MIDI processing.

annotation_name [symbol] (default: )

The string that is prepended to annotations. This shows up in the Info pane in Live, and the clue window in Max.

autosize [int] (default: 1)

Automatically calculate the window size for the Max for Live device on load.

mcisolate [int] (default: 0)

Isolate parameter changes to a specified channel.

parameter_enable [int]

Enables use of this object with Max for Live Parameters and allows for setting initial parameter values in the Max environment.

patchername [symbol] (default: <none>)

Specify the Max for Live device to be loaded

showheader [int] (default: 1)

Show a Header for the Max for Live device.

Common Box Attributes

annotation [symbol]

Sets the text that will be displayed in the Clue window when the user moves the mouse over the object.

background [int] (default: 0)

Adds or removes the object from the patcher's background layer. background 1 adds the object to the background layer, background 0 removes it. Objects in the background layer are shown behind all objects in the default foreground layer.

color [4 floats]

Sets the color for the object box outline.

fontface [int]

Sets the type style used by the object. The options are:

plain
bold
italic
bold italic

Possible values:

0 = 'regular'
1 = 'bold'
2 = 'italic'
3 = 'bold italic'

fontname [symbol]

Sets the object's font.

fontsize [float]

Sets the object's font size (in points).

Possible values:

'8'
'9'
'10'
'11'
'12'
'13'
'14'
'16'
'18'
'20'
'24'
'30'
'36'
'48'
'64'
'72'

hidden [int] (default: 0)

Toggles whether an object is hidden when the patcher is locked.

hint [symbol]

Sets the text that will be displayed in as a pop-up hint when the user moves the mouse over the object in a locked patcher.

ignoreclick [int] (default: 0)

Toggles whether an object ignores mouse clicks in a locked patcher.

jspainterfile [symbol]

JS Painter File

patching_rect [4 floats] (default: 0. 0. 100. 0.)

Sets the position and size of the object in the patcher window.

position [2 floats]

g/s(set)

Sets the object's x and y position in both patching and presentation modes (if the object belongs to its patcher's presentation), leaving its size unchanged.

presentation [int] (default: 0)

Sets whether an object belongs to the patcher's presentation.

presentation_rect [4 floats] (default: 0. 0. 0. 0.)

Sets the x and y position and width and height of the object in the patcher's presentation, leaving its patching position unchanged.

rect [4 floats]

g/s(set)

Sets the x and y position and width and height of the object in both patching and presentation modes (if the object belongs to its patcher's presentation).

size [2 floats]

g/s(set)

Sets the object's width and height in both patching and presentation modes (if the object belongs to its patcher's presentation), leaving its position unchanged.

textcolor [4 floats]

Sets the color for the object's text in RGBA format.

textjustification [int]

Sets the justification for the object's text.

Possible values:

0 = 'left'
1 = 'center'
2 = 'right'

varname [symbol]

Sets the patcher's scripting name, which can be used to address the object by name in pattr, scripting messages to thispatcher, and the js object.

Snapshot Attributes

autosave [int]

g/s(set)

When the containing patcher is saved, the state of this object's snapshots will also be saved.

Parameter Attributes

Order

Typeint

Sets the order of recall of this parameter. Lower numbers are recalled first. The order of recall of parameters with the same order number is undefined.

Parameter Mode Enable

Typeint

Parameter Mode Enable (not available from Parameters window)

Link to Scripting Name

Typeint

When checked, the Scripting Name is linked to the Long Name attribute.

Long Name

Typesymbol

The long name of the parameter. This name must be unique per patcher hierarchy.

Short Name

Typesymbol

Sets the short name for the object's visual display. The maximum length varies according to letter width, but is generally in a range of 5 to 7 characters.

Type

Typeint

Specifies the data type. The data types used in Max for Live are:

Float
Int
Enum (enumerated list)
Blob

Note: By convention, the Live application uses floating point numbers for its calculations; the native integer representation is limited to 256 values, with a default range of 0-255 (similar to the char data type used in Jitter). When working with Live UI objects whose integer values will exceed this range, the Type attribute should be set to Float, and the Unit Style attribute should be set to Int.

Range/Enum

Typelist

When used with an integer or floating point data type, this field is used to specify the minimum and maximum values of the parameter.
When used with an enumerated list (Enum) data type, this field contains a space-delimited list of the enumerated values (if list items contain a space or special characters, the name should be enclosed in double quotes).

Modulation Mode

Typeint

Sets the Modulation Mode used by the Live application. The modulation modes are:

None
Unipolar
Bipolar
Additive
Absolute

Modulation Range

Typelist

This parameter is only used with the Absolute modulation mode. It specifies defines the range of values used.

Initial Enable

Typeint

When checked (set to 1), the UI object can store an initialization value. The value is set using the Initial attribute (see below).

Initial

Typelist

Sets the initial value to be stored and used when the Initial Enable attribute is checked.

Unit Style

Typeint

Sets the unit style to be used when displaying values. The unit style values are: Int: displays integer values
Float: displays floating point values
Time: displays time values in milliseconds (ms)
Hertz: displays frequency values (Hz/kHz).
deciBel: displays loudness (dB)
%: Percentage
Pan: displays Left and Right values
Semitones: displays steps (st)
MIDI: displays pitch corresponding to the MIDI note number
Custom: displays custom data type
Native: defaults to floating point values

Custom Units

Typesymbol

Sets the units to be used with the 'Custom' unit style (see "Unit Style", above). Custom unit strings may be simple symbols (e.g. "Harmonic(s)"), in which case the parameter's value will be displayed in its 'Native' display mode, followed by the symbol (e.g. "12 Harmonic(s)" for an Int-typed parameter or "12.54 Harmonic(s)" for a Float-typed parameter). For additional control over the numerical component displayed, a sprintf-style string may be used (e.g. "%0.2f Bogon(s)", which would display a value such as ".87 Bogons").

Exponent

Typefloat

When set to a value other than 1., the parameter's input and output values will be exponentially scaled according to the factor entered in this column.

Steps

Typeint

The number of steps available between the minimum and maximum values of a parameter. For instance, if the parameter has a range from 0.-64., with Steps set to 4, the user can only set the parameter to 0, 21.33, 42.66 and 64.

Parameter Visibility

Typeint

For automatable parameters (Int, Float, Enum), 'Stored Only' disables automation, although parameter values are stored in presets. 'Hidden' causes the parameter's value to be ignored when storing and recalling data. Non-automatable parameters (Blob) are 'Stored Only' by default, and can be set to 'Hidden', if desired.

Update Limit (ms)

Typeint

Speed limits values triggered by automation.

Defer Automation Output

Typeint

Defers values triggered by automation.

Messages

anything

Arguments

Parameter [list]
Control Parameter values with a message consisting of the parameter name and the value e.g.: "Gain -6"

(drag)

Drag a Max for Live .amxd file from the patcher window sidebar or the Finder/Explorer onto an amxd~ object to load the Max for Live device into the object.

(mouse)

Click and drag a Max for Live .amxd file from the patcher window sidebar to create an amxd~ object containing the Max for Live device.

drag_replace

In an unlocked patch, drag any Max for Live device onto the amxd~ object to replace the loaded device.

getinfo

Arguments

parameter-name [symbol]
Get info about a specific parameter out of the 4th outlet.

getparams

Get a list of all available parameters out of the 4th outlet.

getvalue

Arguments

parameter-name [symbol]
Get the value of a specific parameter out of the 4th outlet.

midievent

Arguments

MIDI-message (2 to 4 numbers) [list]
The word midievent, followed by two to four numbers, sends a MIDI event to the Max for Live device. The first three number arguments are the bytes of the MIDI message. The fourth, optional, argument is a detune parameter used for MIDI note messages. The value ranges from -63 to 64 cents, with 0 being the default.

midiin

Arguments

MIDI [int]
In the third inlet, send MIDI messages to the Max for Live device.

open

Arguments

window-coordinates [list]
The open message with no arguments opens a floating window for the Max for Live device. If the window was previously opened, then the edit window location will be brought to the front.

signal

Input to be processed by the Max for Live device. If the device is an instrument plug-in, the input will be ignored.

Snapshot Messages

snapshot7.0.0

Arguments

file-name [symbol]
Create a snapshot. When embedsnapshot is on it will be saved into the current patcher. Otherwise it will be saved in an external file. You can determine the filename by an argument to this message.

restore7.0.0

Arguments

file-name [symbol]
Restore a snapshot. When embedsnapshot is on, the snapshot that is embedded in the current patcher will be used. Otherwise it will be loaded from an external file. You can determine the filename by an argument to this message.

addsnapshot

Arguments

userpath [String]
index [Number]
name [String]
Add a new snapshot. If there are no arguments, it will append the new snapshot to the current list of snapshots. If the first argument is a string containing a file path, Max will try to save a .maxsnap file to that location. If the first argument is a number, it will save the snapshot to that slot, incrementing subsequent slots. If the second argument is a string, it will set the name of the snapshot.

deletesnapshot

Arguments

index [Number]
Delete a snapshot at the given index, decrementing subsequent slots.

exportsnapshot

Arguments

index [Number]
filename [String]
Exports a snapshot from the given index, specified by the first argument. The second argument specifies the file name and path to export a maxsnap file to. If the second argument is empty, a File dialog box will open, allowing you to specify a file name and location.

importsnapshot

Arguments

index [Number]
filename [String]
Imports a snapshot to the given index, specified by the first argument. The second argument specifies the file name and path to load a maxsnap file from. If the second argument is empty, a File dialog box will open, allowing you to choose a file.

setsnapshotname

Arguments

index [Number]
name [String]
Set the name of the snapshot at the given index.

setembedsnapshot

Arguments

index [Number]
embedstate [Number]
Set the embed state of the snapshot at the index.

movesnapshot

Arguments

srcindex [Number]
dstindex [Number]
Change a snapshot's index.

See Also

Name Description
MC MC
rewire~ Host ReWire devices
vst~ Host VST, VST3 and Audio Unit plug-ins
mcs.amxd~ Host Max for Live devices