This is the third in a three-part workshop series on Max 7 taking place at InterAccess during February: February 4 (Intro to Max 7), February 11 (Fundamentals for Audio Projects), and February 25 (Detecting Movement with Real-Time Video). Sign up for the full series, or select one or two workshops to support your creative practice.

Detecting Movement with Real-Time Video

One of the most essential techniques when creating an interactive work is determining when a user is present to engage with the piece. In this workshop, you will learn how to use a webcam to detect a participant in an interactive installation, using the webcam feed as input to initiate interactive events.

The instructor will provide basic patches that you will use during the workshop to learn the workflow for detecting movement using real-time video in Max 7. This includes using real-time video feeds to create audio and video output for interactive projects.

At the end of this workshop you will leave with patches and learning materials to start working on your own interactive video installations in Max 7.

David Rokeby often uses Max as a major component for his projects. His piece Watch (1995-2008) uses some of the same basic techniques that we will cover in this workshop.

More on Max 7 here: cycling74.com/max7/

Date: Thursday February 25

Time: 7pm-10pm

Registration Fee: 

Single Workshop: $45 With Annual Studio/Workshop Pass (see below); $60 Regular Price

Full Series: $135 With Annual Studio/Workshop Pass (see below); $180 Regular Price 

Material Fee: None.

What, if any, prerequisite knowledge should students have? This is an intermediate workshop. You are expected to have basic knowledge of Max 7, or have taken Intro to Max 7 (February 4 or a past IA workshop) or an equivalent course. Specifically, you should understand how to use a webcam with Max 7 and how to playback audio and /or video files in Max 7.
 
What To Bring: A laptop with a working webcam. A Mac is preferable, but Max runs on PCs, too. Our instructor Kyle has experience in both environments.

What to Install: Download the Max 7 trial here: cycling74.com/downloads/. 

The Max 7 Demo only works for 30 days, so install and run this a day or two before the workshop. If you have passed your trial date, Max 7 has a $10/month subscription model.

NOTE: PC users must install the 32-Bit version of Max (not the 64-Bit!) and Quicktime 7.

Interactive Installations in Max 7 (Series)

Learn to create interactive installations, where video, audio, and hardware respond to viewers! In this workshop series you will learn to use the Max 7 programming environment to manipulate live video feeds in real-time, create sound-reactive works, and learn techniques to initiate interactive events.

We recommend Intro to Max 7 if you have not used Max 7 before, or if you want to refresh your skills.

Intro-level skills are required in order to register for the second and third workshops in this series, Fundamentals for Audio Projects and Detecting Movement With Real-Time Video, as well as all Max 7 courses offered in 2016. If you have not taken Intro to Max with IA in the past, Hilary Martin, Interim Education Manager, will contact you before we confirm your registration for courses beyond the Intro level.

About the Instructor: Kyle Duffield is a Toronto based Intermedia Artist and Interaction Designer and Co-Collaborator of the artist collective Hopkins Duffield. His skill sets range from audio, video, electronics, programming, game design, and technically complex A/V setups as he seeks to find the balance between creativity, pragmatism, experimentation, and ambition. Additionally, Kyle is the Interaction and User Interface Designer for Sonic Wear, an educator, as well as a freelance technical consultant. Kyle is currently focusing on teaching interactive art, and is continually striving to create unforgettable technological experiences.