MSP Synthesis/Signal Processing Software to Host and Create VST PlugIns
March 26, 1998
Cycling74, a new company founded by David
Zicarelli, today announced the ability to both host and create VST Plug-Ins
from within MSP, realtime synthesis and signal processing software. The
announcement was made at a launch party for MSP sponsored by the Center for
New Music and Audio Technology (CNMAT) at the University of California at
Berkeley on Thursday, March 26, 1998. The event included performances by
composers Paul deMarinis and Laetitia Sonami.
MSP is actually a set of DSP extensions to the MAX 3.5 graphical
programming environment. MSP consists of over 60 objects that synthesize,
process, analyze and delay audio signals in realtime on a Power PC Mac OS
computer. The objects can be grabbed and grouped in a graphical manner to
create custom applications that leverage the power of the MAX environment.
MSP is useful for musicians, sound designers, educators and researchers. A
free Runtime version is available that runs any application created with
MSP. It includes the complete set of objects, tutorials, and a number of
useful demos.
Now users can build applications with MSP that can host VST Plug-Ins or
build their own VST Plug-Ins. Virtual Studio Technology is a realtime
native DSP Plug-in technology developed by Steinberg. VST is utilized by
major digital audio software programs such as Cubase, Logic Audio and Metro
and is supported by over a dozen Plug-In developers and digital audio
hardware manufacturers.
Using MSP will be a familiar experience to those who have used a patchable
analog synthesizer. An oscillator is connected to a filter using patch
cords and the sound instantly changes. The 60 objects cover synthesis,
input/output, signal processing, sampling, math, control and signal
analysis. C programmers can create their own objects to add to this basic
collection. MAX 3.5 is required to create and edit MSP applications and is
available from Opcode Systems at www.opcode.com.
As part of its educational focus, MSP includes 25 hands-on tutorials written by
Christopher Dobrian, author of the highly-regarded MAX manual. It also
features an array of online help features and an onscreen oscilloscope that
can monitor any point in a DSP patch.
Requirements:
No additional hardware is required to run MSP. A Power PC MacOS computer
with Apple's Sound Manager provides 16-bit stereo audio input and output at
44.1kHz. MSP also directly supports 16-bit and 24-bit PCI-based audio
hardware from Digidesign and Sonorus with support for cards from Lucid
Technology, Korg and Emagic in the future. MAX 3.5 is required to create
and edit MSP applications and is available from Opcode Systems at
www.opcode.com.
Availability:
MSP can be downloaded at the Cycling '74 web site at
http://www.cycling74.com. Users transform the trial version into a
fully-functional copy of MSP by purchasing an authorization code online for
$295. MSP is also being distributed by the IRCAM Forum user's
group(www.ircam.fr/msp), which is also providing MSP versions of IRCAM
software to Forum users.
Cycling '74 distributes and supports music software by David Zicarelli,
including MSP and M 2.5 (a new version of the classic interactive
algorithmic composition program). He wrote the first graphical patch
editor, Opcode's DX7 Editor in 1985. Zicarelli also wrote a collection of
innovative compositional programs in the 1980s that were distributed by
Intelligent Music. These programs included M, Jam Factory, Ovaltune and
UpBeat. In 1989, he developed a commercial version of MAX for Opcode
Systems in conjunction with Miller Puckette at IRCAM. With a Ph.D in
Hearing and Speech Sciences from Stanford University, Zicarelli also
teaches and lectures on computer music. For more information, visit their web sites at www.cycling74.com, www.opcode.com, and www.ircam.fr/msp. | 
