Tzu-Chuan Lin
Electronic Media Review, Volume Seven: 2021-2022
ABSTRACT
Max (also known as Max/MSP) is a visual programming language that is developed and maintained by Cycling 74. It was developed in the 1980s, and many extensions have been added to Max at different stages, such as MSP for real-time digital audio, and Jitter for video processing. Max is widely loved by artists, software designers, composers, and researchers for their performances, recordings, and installations.
However, a visual programming language like Max is different from the C language or Python, which uses textual code to create programs. Instead, Max allows users to create programs by graphically manipulating the elements in the program, which makes it hard for the conservator to understand it by normal programming logic. In addition, as Max is a commercial software and not open-source, it is more difficult and risky to preserve software-based artworks that used it.
The article will bring out the various applications of Max by analyzing three different artworks as case studies. The first is a sound installation that converts real-time data through Max into a soundscape. The second is an interactive installation of 1995 which used an older version of Max (2.5.2). By examining different conservation strategies like migration, emulation, and reinterpretation, the most suitable conservation methods will be researched. The output of the different case studies might show similarities, while on the other hand an alternative conservation approach might be more suited for each specific work.
AUTHOR
Tzu-Chuan Lin
State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany