Snapshots allow you to save the state of your patcher, including the internal state of VST and Audio Units plug-ins and Max for Live (AMXD) devices. Snapshots use the Parameter system to determine what to save.
Displaying the Snapshots pane
- To display the snapshots pane, click on the snapshots button located on the right patcher window toolbar.
Patcher Snapshots
Patcher Snapshots contain the state of all parameters in a patcher hierarchy. They are saved and recalled at the top-level of a patcher hierarchy, but will save subpatcher parameters. If you would like to create an entity that has it's own Snapshots, you will need to make an amxd~ and host it in a patcher.
View Patcher Snapshots
Snapshot Management
At the bottom of the pane are a few icons that allow you to manage your snapshots. In order:
Each individual snapshot has some additional icons. The triangle icon allows you to recall and select a snapshot.
To select a snapshot without recalling it, click to the right of the snapshot name - the name of the snapshot will be highlighted, but the triangle icon is not lit. This technique is useful when deleting snapshots.
The triangle icon next to the snapshot name will turn orange when the current snapshot has changed but not been saved.
Embedding Snapshots
The circle icon allows you to ‘embed’ the snapshot into the patcher. When you do this, your snapshot data is embedded within the patcher document itself - you don’t need to include any extra files.
Snapshot files are always saved in the ~Documents/Max7/Snapshots folder, whether they are embedded or not. For this reason, it is a good practice to name your patcher file prior to creating snapshots.
Snapshots placed anywhere in the Max search path will be locatable by Max.
Snapshots Contextual Menu
Effects Snapshots
Effects snapshots store the parameter states of plug-ins or Max for Live devices hosted by the vst~ and amxd~ objects.
When you select a vst~ or amxd~ object in your patcher window, the snapshots pane will display any snapshots associated with they selected device.
vst~ or amxd~ snapshots are not embedded - they are available as presets whenever the particular plug-in or Max for Live device is instantiated. This allows you to create and share presets for your favorite reverb plug-ins or Max for Live devices and share them with others.
Snapshot files are written to the ~Documents/Max7/Snapshots folder, and they can be read from anywhere in Max’s search path.
Embedded device snapshots are useful if you want patcher-file portability. For example, you can create a performance patch that relies on changing among five device presets, and have that data stored as a part of your patcher file.
The header/title bar for vst~ and amxd~ objects lets you create and recall new snapshots when the patcher window is locked. The camera icon creates snapshots, and the circular icon to the right will recall snapshots.
You can still use patcher snapshots in a locked patcher using the snapshot pane.
Pattr Integration
Snapshots can be easily integrated into your pattr workflow. Using a pattrstorage object along with pattr objects or an autopattr object, the internal state of your VST, AU or AMXD can be recalled.
See the pattr and autopattr help files for example usage (under the 'snapshots' tab).
Messages
All snapshot-enabled objects (amxd~, vst~ and thispatcher) understand the messages: