I am really sure that it takes years to become good in it.years to get anywhere close to realizing your personal full potential in Reaktor or MAX. I'll get to my actual answer after addressing your other points. So all in all, I'd say that they are very different from each other, but both worth knowing. That being said I find it much easier to get started with than "raw programming" in Reaktor (working with Blocks or higher-level objects is easier in NI's program), and the documentation is 2nd to none. It isn't all that CPU efficient unless you debug a lot (and code at lower levels, often), and it is hard to get your products working in traditional production environments (outside Ableton Live, and even then there are limitations). That being said, it isn't really the best environment for either learning to build or building synths, because in its generality it also gains overhead. It is capable of literally anything audio-related if you are willing to port in lower-level languages (C, C++, C#, some scripting) or work in pure math (Gen, the newest "extension" to MAX, allows for some serious number-crunching). MAX/MSP is more of a "stand-alone environment", an audio-dedicated visual programming language if you will. It also is much more "plug-and-play" than MAX, having a much higher quality built-in library of higher-level signal components. It is geared towards - and has the built-in tools for - building instruments and effects to be used in a "production ecosystem". It doesn't really stand on its own, it needs a host to be most effective. Reaktor is more intended to be a "plug-in environment". The important thing to remember is that they are both extremely deep programs and decidedly different in application, but also very similar in execution. The truth is that they are pretty "comparable", in terms of learning workflow - if you learn one, you'll have a decent grasp on the other far more quickly than if you had no experience with either. So, Reaktor or Max if you had to choose one of them?I think you're asking the wrong question. So, Reaktor or Max if you had to choose one of them? I am really sure that it takes years to become good in it. Of course blocks are a big step forward, it seems easier creating sounds with it but for me it is - as I said - about versatility and the depth of the program. I already spent some time using Reaktor 5.5 (did not upgraded to 6) so there is a little bit of experience from my side. That being said, MAX is in a lot of ways less "intimidating" in terms of workflow, because its environment is insanely well thought-out and intuitive. Gen makes this much easier than it used to be, but getting great-sounding "synth parts" is far more involved than just pulling up and expecting great results. There is also the issue of needing to program oscillators and filters if you want to match the SQ of Reaktor or stand-alone. That isn't to say they can't be done - they certainly can - but it is kinda "overkill" for that. MAX is really better for creating whole "environments" than single-use units like synthesizers. This is especially true in R6, where they introduced the "Blocks" functionality! Personally, I find it a bit less elegant than MAX in terms of "patching workflow", but it makes up for that in other ways. It has better sounding built-in "pieces" (oscillators and filters) and a very flexible environment for putting them together. Reaktor is what you are looking for, if you just want to make your own synths. They look similar, but are actually quite different.
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