What I want to do is far too complicated for me to simply start from an empty Max patch, so I'm taking ideas from various patches and programmes to get my desired results.
Instead of using a webcam, I'm using Synapse, a programme that lets you use the Microsoft Kinect to create music using audio/visual/text programmes such as MaxMSP and Ableton.
A very brief overview and demo of synapse can be found here;
At the end of the video, he uses his left hand to manipulate pitch and downsampling using the Y and X axis respectively. This isn't on Max, but on Ableton. The programme looks very simple to use (for basic things like that...) and it is a perfect example of what I want to do. Using this, I could let my left hand control pitch bending/volume, while my right controls the notes themselves. Since Kinect uses 3D sensoring, I could assign which octave the performer plays on to the Z axis.
The main problem is that I can't test it out at college because the Macs here won't let me install new programmes without Admin permission. Meaning I'm going to have to download Max/Ableton/Synapse onto my own laptop, which is good because it means I'll be able to work from home.
Another thing I've been toying around with is the Kinect Beatwheel, for Max and Synapse. The beatwheel lets me control samples using the Kinect again, but in a much simpler way.
The only problem with this is that it lets me control a sample loop that's already playing; this would be handy if I wanted to manipulate my backing track.
I've joined the Cycling 74 community, and have began posting on the forums. Since I can't use any of the programmes on the computers at college, though, I'm a bit restricted on what I can do there - until I install all the programmes on my own laptop.
Therein lies another problem, though - I'll only be getting 30 day trials for everything. The final performance is more than 30 days away. Meaning I won't be able to use what I create (or 'edit'. Saying 'create' is a bit cheeky...) on the actual day where I need it. But we'll cross that bridge when we come to it...
