Reference Manual

4 71 Max for Live
Chapter 25
Max for Live
Max for Live, an add-on product co-developed with Cycling ’74, allows users to extend and
customize Live by creating instruments, audio effects, and MIDI devices. Max for Live can also
be used to extend the functionality of hardware controllers and even modify clips and param-
eters within a Live Set.
In addition to providing a comprehensive toolkit for building devices, Max for Live also comes
with a collection of pre-made instruments, effects and tutorials. These can be used just like Live’s
built-in devices and can also give you ideas for your own device building projects. Please note
that this content will only be available after Max is installed and authorized.
25.1 Installing and Authorizing Max for Live
In order to use Max for Live, you must install Live 8.1 (or newer) and Max 5.1 (or newer). Max is
available as a download from Cycling ’74’s website
6
.
Like all Ableton add-ons, Max for Live must be authorized before it can be used. The chapter
on authorizing Live (page 11) contains more information about this process, and in-depth
instructions can be found at the Ableton website
7
.
If you’ve installed Max to somewhere other than the default location, you will first need to point
to it in Live’s File/Folder Preferences:
6 http://www.cycling74.com/
7 http://www.ableton.com/authorization-live8