What Else is New in Max 6

This post supplements the contents of the “What’s New in Max 6″ provided in the Beta Release Documentation. Cycling ’74 is improving the Documentation with the release, however there are still some holes. Give ‘em a break though, Cycling ’74 is a 20 person company. If you are experienced with Max, this is intended to be a quick rundown of the interface changes. By no means is it complete, just an overview with some helpful tips for anyone jumping into the Beta that was just released.

Getting Started With Max 6

This new window that pops up when you first open Max 6 is a familiar interface for anyone working with iApps. There are links to the Cycling ’74 website, including the Toolbox which features extensions built by others in the Max Community, Made With Max which includes examples, Forums, Documentation and Video Tutorials. Remember when the only external help was the Documentation and the Email Listserv? This interface is leaps and bounds from Max Documentation just five years ago.

Object Explorer

I always had an issue with the Max 5 Object Browser, it was simply too limited in scope. I missed the way Max 4 handled Object creation, where I could open any Object simply by typing it’s name in the Object Box. Max 5 added an extra step. Well, now the Object Browser is completely revamped, including with new options in how it is displayed. At the bottom right of every patcher window is a button that displays the Object Browser in the Sidebar of the patcher window. At the bottom of the Object Browser Pane is a little cog wheel.

Checking Create Object Box Before Showing Explorer… returns Max 6 to the way objects were created in Max 4, with an updated autocomplete menu when you type in the name of the object you want to create. Awesome! Near the cog wheel is an Option to View By Name. This is great, since the icon view makes the names very small on my MacBook Pro. View By Name also has short descriptions for objects! Perfect for the newbie.

Patcher Sidebar

The button in the bottom right of a patcher window opens the patcher’s Sidebar. The Sidebar has 4 Panes that combine to form an Object Browser, Inspector, Reference, and Max Window. This is the all-in-one stop for functions of the App that used to be found in other Windows or HUDs. Notice the buttons at the bottom of each Pane, it displays Options for that Pane.

Magnifier

Selecting Window -> Magnifier will open a Magnifying Glass that operates like a Loupe in Aperture or Lightroom. Will this come in handy for viewing large patches? It seems somewhat useless, but I suppose time will tell. Different Options for Magnification are available by clicking on the small Arrow of the loupe.

Mixer

Any patch that has MSP Objects patched to a adc~ or dac~ will make the Mixer Icon appear at the bottom of the patcher window. Every patch can now be leveled on its own with this Mixer Controller, pretty handy for MSP aficionados.

Wheel Menu

If you hover over the left side of any object in the Patcher Window, the new Wheel Menu appears. Now you have some options. Hovering over the different sections of the Wheel Menu provides different information, going Clockwise from Object: Messages, Connect, Preferences, Files, and Attributes. Try for yourself to see what all of these do. Clicking on any of the sections opens its contextual menu. Very nice, Cycling ’74.

Well that’s the rundown of the interface changes in Max 6. Overall, a very good improvement indeed Cycling ’74. Stay Tuned for the “10 New Objects Artists Should Know About in Max 6.”