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− | FTM is a shared library for Max/MSP providing a small and simple real-time object system and optimized services to be used within Max/MSP externals. | + | * [[A brief introduction to FTM]] |
| + | * [[Credits]] |
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− | The basic idea of FTM is to extend the data types exchanged between the objects in a Max/MSP patch by complex data structures such as sequences, matrices, dictionaries, break point functions, tuples and whatever might seem helpful for the processing of music, sound and motion capture data.
| + | == Publications == |
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− | The FTM library and its Java editors are based on the jMax project and distributed under the Lesser GNU Public License (LGPL). The sources of FTM are available via [[http://sourceforge.net/projects/ftm/ CVS at SourceForge.net]]
| + | {{:FTM Publications}} |
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− | | + | == ... concerning FTM packages == |
− | ----
| + | {{:Gabor Publications}} |
− | == Data structures ==
| + | {{:MnM Publications}} |
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− | FTM allows for static and dynamic creation of complex data structures. The following classes are currently implemented and documented:
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− | {|
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− | | align="right" | '''''mat'''''
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− | | width="24" align="center" | ...
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− | | matrix of arbitrary values
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− | |-
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− | | align="right" | '''''dict'''''
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− | | width="24" align="center" | ...
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− | | dictionary of arbitrary key/value pairs
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− | |-
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− | | align="right" | '''''track'''''
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− | | width="24" align="center" | ...
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− | | sequence of time-tagged values
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− | |-
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− | | align="right" | '''''fmat'''''
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− | | width="24" align="center" | ...
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− | | matrix of floats
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− | |-
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− | | align="right" | '''''bpf'''''
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− | | width="24" align="center" | ...
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− | | break point function
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− | |-
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− | | align="right" | '''''tuple'''''
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− | | width="24" align="center" | ...
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− | | immutable array of arbitrary values
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− | |-
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− | | align="right" | '''''scoob'''''
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− | | width="24" align="center" | ...
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− | | score object (note, trill, rest, etc.)
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− | |-
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− | | align="right" | '''''midi'''''
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− | | width="24" align="center" | ...
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− | | midi event
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− | |}
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− | FTM objects can contain references to other FTM objects. A simple garbage collector handles transparently the destruction of dynamically created FTM objects referenced by multiple elements of a patch.
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− | Static FTM objects are created in a patcher using a dedicated Max/MSP external called ftm.object.
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− | [[Image:About.ftm.object.gif|frame|none|
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− | <font size="-2">example of a static FTM object in a Max/MSP patcher</font>]]
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− | They can be named within a local or global scope and marked persistent to be saved within the patcher. FTM provides a serialization mechanism to recursively save the content of objects and the contained objects.
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− | FTM externals can refer to FTM objects and dynamically create objects. FTM objects can be sent in lists or as single values using a dedicated FTM object message.
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− | While basic operations of FTM objects are implemented as methods of the FTM classes, more complex interactions with FTM objects use operators in form of Max/MSP externals.
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− | ----
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− | == Operators ==
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− | FTM comes with an extended message box - the ftm.mess external - which integrates classical Max message syntax with FTM names, infix expression evaluation, function calls and method invocation including return values.
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− | [[Image:About.ftm.mess.gif|frame|none|
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− | <font size="-2">examples of the FTM message box</font>]]
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− | Apart from ftm.object and ftm.mess, FTM includes a set of externals implementing basic functionalities such as iteration, playing, interpolation, etc. and the conversion between FTM objects and Max values or lists.
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− | [[Image:About.ftm.operators.gif|frame|none|
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− | <font size="-2">example of FTM externals operating on FTM objects (the MIDI parsing objects convert a MIDI byte stream into a stream of FTM MIDI events)</font>]]
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− | Operators specific to a certain field of applications are assembled to separate object sets such as Gabor for sound analysis/resynthesis and MnM for mapping and recognition techniques.
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− | ----
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− | == Editors and file formats ==
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− | The editors for FTM objects are implemented in Java and integrated into Max/MSP using mxj. Simple double-clicking on an FTM object in a patcher opens its editor.
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− | The communication between FTM objects in a Max/MSP patcher and their Java editors is hidden by the FTM library. By using a transfer protocol such as OSC the GUI could be easily detached from Max/MSP to allow for the distribution of patches and editors among multiple machines.
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− | [[Image:About.ftm.trackeditor.gif|none|frame|
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− | <font size="-2">screen shot of the track editor for score objects</font>]]
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− | FTM currently supports simple text files and standard MIDI files. Import and export of SDIF files is currently being finalized and a score interchange format such as MusicXML will be supported in the near future.
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− | Most of these import and export methods are implemented for the FTM track class as it provides a generic container for temporal sequences.
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− | ----
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− | == Jitter & JavaScript support ==
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− | (from FTM 2.0)
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− | From a certain point of view one can look at FTM as something like Jitter. Like Jitter, it is a shared library installed next to the Max/MSP application. Like Jitter, it extends the set of things one can send through the connections and process by Max/MSP externals.
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− | A bridge between FTM and Jitter - the ftm.jitter external - converts FTM matrices into Jitter matrices and vice versa.
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− | FTM objects can also be created, accessed and manipulated in the Max/MSP JavaScript externals ''js'' and ''jsui''.
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