Books: "Designing Sound" + "Electronic Music and Sound Design"

[chuck]

Has anyone here read the following two books?  I ordered them recently - I'm looking forward to teaching myself Max/MSP and/or PD later this year.

• Designing Sound, by Andy Farnell
• Electronic Music and Sound Design - Theory and Practice with Max/MSP - volume 1, by Alessandro Cipriani, Maurizio Giri

I have a number of 'traditional' computer music books, but I bought these specifically because they are appear to be less theoretical and more hands on (nothing wrong with theoretical, IMO, I'm just looking to finally get my hands really dirty). 

Any other alternative recommendations specifically pertaining to Max/MSP and/or PD (beyond their help files)?  I don't have a lot of experience with either, but I'm attracted to both b/c of their insane flexibility (at least, that's my understanding - please correct me if I'm wrong and redirect me to 'right' software - I'm not opposed to straight C coding if that's what it takes, but I'd prefer leveraging existing/'modern' frameworks). 

I'd also love to hear of any music theory books that are approachable to a novice - perhaps I'll start a different thread for that.  I'm currently (very slowly) getting through Tymoczko's A Geometry of Music.  I don't have the proper music theory background for the book (e.g., I can't read sheet music), but I love the framework and inspiration it provides.

[billygomberg]

The go to tome is Computer Music Tutorial by Curtis Roads.  This should detail a lot of issues and avenues.

however I don't think I've ever encountered a MaxMSP book that is satisfactory or will lead you in the direction you actually want to go (which is something you may not know yet).  The best way to get dirty hands w/Max and PD is really to get in there and try to execute your ideas.

[oootini]

i have the second book you mention. it'll certainly give you a good start with max. that said, i agree with billy. just get in there and get stuck into the tutorials. you'll start figuring out how to get what you want once you have a handle on the basics. there are nice little patches included with that book which you should certainly pull apart for your own use.

also, [trigger] is your friend.

worryingly, i've noticed that max lingo is starting to creep into my everyday lexicon. people look at you strangely when you say things like bang as a verb.

[oootini]

also, vj manzo's MOL objects are an amazing collection of objects for working with notes and harmony.

http://www.vjmanzo.com/clients/vincemanzo/modal_change/

[chuck]

Thanks you two - great stuff. 

I'm not surprised by your advice - though it helps hearing it.  Expertise in anything comes from practice, etc.  And yes, I don't know the exact direction I want to go in. 

I do have Roads' Computer Music Tutorial, but haven't spent nearly enough time with it.

[billygomberg]

worryingly, i've noticed that max lingo is starting to creep into my everyday lexicon. people look at you strangely when you say things like bang as a verb.

oh I've been at this place for years.  I regret not buying a c74 headband or "loadbang" t-shirt back in like 2002.

the Roads book is huge and dense, and don't expect it to change yr music or yr life.  I must post this every year on this forum, but the strength of Max/PD is being able to do something exactly as you need to, be as bloated or as lean as you see fit.  at the end of the day, it is still programming and as such is bundled with frustration and roadblocks.

my suggestion is really to keep it lean (which can be hard when you can JUST PATCH EVERYTHING TOGETHER), work on basic fluencies and make building blocks.  obviously there are a few of us here that can help.  ask questions!

[moize]

my fondest memory of Max/MSP was during an evening my friend Rie Nakajima was performing, when another artist that same night was introduced as using “Max forward slash m s p”…