Jitter Video/Graphics Extension to MAX/MSP Ported to Windows
January 15, 2004
Cycling '74 announced the debut of the Windows version of Jitter, Video/Matrix/3D graphics processing extensions to the MAX/MSP graphical programming environment. MAX/MSP and Jitter are now cross-platform products with both Mac OS and Windows versions in the same package.
Jitter provides a new level of modularity in graphics processing applications. It includes over 130 new objects for describing and manipulating matrix data--any data that can be expressed in rows and columns, such as video and still images OpenGL-based 3D geometries, text, spreadsheet data, particle systems, voxels, or audio.
Jitter will be useful to anyone interested in real-time and interactive video/3D graphics, data visualization, custom video effects creation, video rendering, and numerous classroom applications, and will dramatically expand the possibilities for Max/MSP owners.
Although the architecture is general, Jitter is highly optimized for use with video data. Jitter includes a robust set of mathematical operators, keying/compositing, analysis, colorspace conversion and color correction, alpha channel processing, spatial warping, convolution-based filters, as well as less traditional video processing objects. Users create modular video processing "patches" out of Jitter components and matrix patch cords in the same way that Max/MSP users create custom audio and MIDI applications.
The Windows versions of the software allow for cross-platform development of applications. Max/MSP/Jitter patches developed on one platform open seamlessly on the other, and use consistent abstractions for all types of media protocols and interfaces, including MIDI, digital audio soundfiles and interfaces, digital video, and 3D graphics. Features are essentially identical between the Windows XP version and version 4.3 of Max/MSP and Jitter version 1.2 for Mac OS X. Users will be able to develop their own Max, MSP, or Jitter external objects written in C, and distribute their work to others using the free Max/MSP runtime application.
Jitter also includes a set of OpenGL objects for reading and rendering of 3D text and models, video and image texturing, hardware and software rendering support, and low-level access to geometry data and the OpenGL API.
The use of a single, generalized matrix data format (of up to 32 dimensions and up to 32 channels or planes) allows for transcoding data for cross-media experimentation. Text may be interpreted as an image, video images converted to 3D geometries, audio turned into particle systems, video data played as audio. These are only a few examples of the creative power and flexibility of the Max/MSP/Jitter environment.
Price and Availability
Max/MSP for Windows is already available, and Jitter for Windows will be available from Cycling '74 dealers worldwide and directly from Cycling '74's website during the first quarter of 2004. The MSRP of the dual platform software are: US$295 for Max, US$495 for Max/MSP, and US$850 for Max/MSP/Jitter. Current owners of Max/MSP can purchase Jitter for US$395. Free crossgrade to owners of Jitter for Mac OS.
For more information, visit their web site at www.cycling74.com. |
