Max/MSP AlternativesMusic Production Apps like Max/MSP

Max/MSP is described as 'Interactive visual programming environment for music, audio, and media' and is a music production app in the audio & music category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Max/MSP for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Web-based and Android apps. The best Max/MSP alternative is VCV Rack, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Max/MSP are Pure Data, SuperCollider, Vuo and DISTRHO Cardinal.

Max/MSP iconMax/MSP
  21
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Interactive visual programming environment for music, audio, and media

In use for over twenty years by performers,...

More about Max/MSP
Max/MSP alternatives page was last updated Jan 22, 2025
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  1. VCV Rack icon
     23 likes
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    VCV Rack is a modular synthesizer inspired by Eurorack systems. It acts a host for virtual modules which perform various audio processes. E.G. oscillators, filters, envelope generators, sequencers and more that can be connected freely in almost limitless combinations.

    26 VCV Rack alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    VCV Rack Features

    1.  Modular System
    2.  Standalone
    3.  Synthesizer
    4.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Support for MIDI
    7.  Virtual Instrument
    8.  Live Performance
    9.  Music Looper
    10.  Music Sequencer

    VCV Rack VS Max/MSP

     
    Comments about VCV Rack as an Alternative to Max/MSP
    puikheid
    Negative Nov 13, 2024
    0

    Max/MSP is a programming language, VCV Rack is a virtual modular environment.

    While there are some similarities their use-cases are wildly different.

    Max/MSP Icon
    VCV Rack icon
    • VCV Rack is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Max/MSP.

    • VCV Rack is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Max/MSP.

    • VCV Rack is Free and Open SourceMax/MSP is Paid and Proprietary
  2. Pure Data icon
     39 likes
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    Pd (aka Pure Data) is a real-time graphical programming environment for audio, video, and graphical processing. It is the third major branch of the family of patcher programming languages known as Max (Max/FTS, ISPW Max, Max/MSP, jMax, etc.

    44 Pure Data alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Pure Data Features

    1.  Support for MIDI
    2.  Visual Programming

    Pure Data VS Max/MSP

     
    Comments about Pure Data as an Alternative to Max/MSP
    Guest
    Positive Apr 26, 2018
    2

    The original one I used and it's open source.

    puikheid
    Positive Nov 13, 2024
    0

    Pure Data is quite literally the MSP in Max/MSP. Without Pure Data Max/MSP wouldn't exist.

    It is the most commonly used alternative to Max/MSP and has many similar features. It's standard UI is more "classic", but due to its opensource nature there are a lot of custom builds and integrations using it.

    Max/MSP Icon
    Pure Data icon
    • Almost everyone thinks Pure Data is a great Max/MSP alternative.

    • Pure Data is Free and Open SourceMax/MSP is Paid and Proprietary
  3. SuperCollider icon
     15 likes
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    SuperCollider is a platform for audio synthesis and algorithmic composition, used by musicians, artists, and researchers working with sound. It consists of:

    33 SuperCollider alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    SuperCollider Features

    1.  Real-time processing

    SuperCollider VS Max/MSP

     
  4. Vuo icon
     10 likes
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    Vuo lets media creators make interactive animations, exhibits, performances, and professional-grade media projects by connecting up simple building blocks. Media creators can use these blocks to manipulate audio input, images, layers, videos, and 2D + 3D graphics, as well as...

    25 Vuo alternatives

    License model

    • Free PersonalOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac

    Top Vuo Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Node Based
    3.  Command line interface
    4.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    5.  Support for Layers
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Support for 4K
    8.  Colour Grading
    9.  Support for scripting
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Support for MIDI
    12.  Portable

    Vuo VS Max/MSP

     
  5. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Cardinal is a free and open-source virtual modular synthesizer plugin based on VCV Rack but with a focus on being a fully self-contained plugin version. It's available as CLAP, LV2, VST2 and VST3 audio plugin for FreeBSD, Linux, macOS and...

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    DISTRHO Cardinal Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Support for MIDI
    3.  Synth rack
    4.  Modular System

    DISTRHO Cardinal VS Max/MSP

     
  6. TouchDesigner icon
     9 likes
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    TouchDesigner is a complete authoring tool for building interactive 3D art, visualizations, prototypes and UIs. Derivative makes and supports TouchDesigner and offers their services to do custom production using TouchDesigner.

    33 TouchDesigner alternatives

    License model

    • Free PersonalProprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows

    TouchDesigner Features

    1.  Node Based
    2.  Interactive Visualization

    TouchDesigner VS Max/MSP

     
  7. Reaktor icon
     10 likes
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    Native Instruments Reaktor is a virtual, modular synthesis platform. REAKTOR also provides a platform for modular synthesis in the form of Blocks – a range of sound generating and sound shaping modules.

    20 Reaktor alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows

    Reaktor Features

    1.  Synthesizer
    2.  Modular System

    Reaktor VS Max/MSP

     
  8. HISE icon
     6 likes
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    HISE is a cross-platform open source audio application for building virtual instruments. It emphasizes on sampling, but includes some basic synthesis features for making hybrid instruments as well as audio effects.

    10 HISE alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    HISE Features

    1.  Virtual Instrument

    HISE VS Max/MSP

     
  9. OpenFrameworks icon
     24 likes
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    openFrameworks is an open source C++ toolkit designed to assist the creative process by providing a simple and intuitive framework for experimentation. The toolkit is designed to work as a general purpose glue, and wraps together several commonly used libraries, including:

    16 OpenFrameworks alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    OpenFrameworks Features

    1.  C++

    OpenFrameworks VS Max/MSP

     
  10. ChucK icon
     6 likes
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    ChucK is a programming language for real-time sound synthesis and music creation. ChucK presents a unique time-based, concurrent programming model that's precise and expressive (we call this strongly-timed), dynamic control rates, and the ability to add and modify code...

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    ChucK VS Max/MSP

     
  11. TunePad icon
     1 like
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    TunePad is a free online platform for creating music with the Python programming language. Our step-by-step tutorials are perfect for beginners, and our advanced production tools power music making for experienced users.

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Online

    TunePad Features

    1.  Support for MIDI
    2.  Virtual Instrument
    3.  Live Performance
    4.  Music Sequencer
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Music Looper
    7.  Browser-based

    TunePad VS Max/MSP

     
    • TunePad is the most popular Web-based alternative to Max/MSP.

    • TunePad is Free and ProprietaryMax/MSP is Paid and Proprietary
  12. SynthCraft icon
     2 likes
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    SynthCraft provides a modular canvas and GUI designer for visually building audio plugins. Connect pre-compiled DSP modules together with virtual patch cables to create and modify sound. The app uses a built-in high speed DSP/C compiler to build native 32/64-bit binaries so no...

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows

    SynthCraft Features

    1.  Modular System

    SynthCraft VS Max/MSP

     
12 of 41 Max/MSP alternatives