(max) week two object roundup

It never feels like we make as much progress as expected in week 2. It’s natural to review a bit, and make sure that everyone grasps the opening round of material.

New objects for week 2:

• dial – a UI (user interface) element that outputs numbers using an onscreen dial. It can also respond to incoming numbers, updating its status and outputting the number.
• slider – a UI element that outputs numbers using an onscreen slider, similar to dial.
• ctlin – control in, receives MIDI CC messages, from a specific CC # if specified as an argument, or from any CC # (with appropriate CC #)if no argument specified. ctlin outputs the CC value it receives.
• scale – maps incoming values to an output range.
• s (send) – sends messages to other objects without patch cords.
• r (receive) – receives messages from other objects without patch cords.
• p (patcher) – an object that allows you to create a sub-patcher within a patcher.
• inlet – send messages into a patcher (sub-patcher). Use the comments attribute in the object inspector to give a programming hint that will show when you hover the mouse over the patcher object inlet.
• outlet – send messages out of a patcher (sub-patcher). Same comments format.
• key – allows for computer keyboard input to a patcher. Each key has its own number code. Use the ASCII code outlet so that patchers will work on both Mac and Windows. The <spacebar> gives code 32.
• select – outputs a bang when input matches an argument (out the outlet that corresponds to the argument), passes non-matching data unchanged out right-most outlet. You can use this object to look for 32, the <spacebar> code and output a bang.
• t (trigger) – sends input to multiple outputs, in specified order, helping to ensure proper execution order no matter where destination objects are located in the patcher. Can also be used to a number or a symbol and additional bangs from one message.
• transport – controls a master clock that outputs timing information and messages in musical time (bars, beats, minutes, ticks), and allows for specification of time in musical durations. Affects metro and makenote so far.
• musical time – a specification, not an object. Covered in a separate post.
• umenu – a UI element that creates a pop-up menu. You can fill the pop-up menu with items, choose from the list, and output both the index of the item chosen and the text of the item chosen (out left and middle outlets, respectively).
• tab – a UI element that allows you to select items using multiple buttons, or “tabs,” organized in rows/columns. Output functions the same way as umenu.

Objects listed with a single letter and a work in parenthesis can be used with either the long name or the abbreviation. Most people use the abbreviation for speed, but using the long name can help you remember what the object is and does.