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Visuals in Ableton Max for Live Workshops
Intensive learning, fun exercises, and professor guidance
Sabina Covarrubias, PhD, is an audiovisual artist, live performer, and developer, and the founder of Synesthetic Devices. She teaches how to expand Ableton Live performances with live visuals using Jitter in Max for Live. Drawing from her own stage practice with custom-built tools, her workshops cover audio-reactive, MIDI-driven, and tempo-based generative visuals—all created directly inside Ableton Live Suite, with no third-party applications. With eight years of teaching experience, her approach is practical, inspiring, and in-depth. Workshops are available in English, French, or Spanish.
Choose the right workshop for your institution, festival, event or group of people.
Options:
Wondering what can you create using Jitter? Take a look to my Jitter demo page here.
This video shows the workshop Live Visuals in Ableton Live with Max for Live, given by Sabina Covarrubias at the Bideotikan Festival in Bilbao, 2025. Many thanks to Bideotikan for sharing this video.
More about the festival here: https://bideotikan.art/
Image: Obsessum and Digital Dust, Max for Live devices developed by Sabina C. for www.synestheticdevices.com
Workshop title:
Introduction to Live Visuals in Ableton with Max for Live, 2-days intensive Workshop
Learn to create audio-reactive live video in this two-day workshop. This workshop is intensive and fun with a lot of practice.
This workshop is an introduction to the world of live-video in Ableton Suite using the Max for Live environment. The course is designed for musicians and sound-artists who want to add interesting visuals and virtual environments to their music, multi-media artists interested in moving their work into animation or interactivity, DJ’s wanting to create their own audio-visual show, or anyone curious about how live video-synthesis and process is made within Ableton.
This live-video workshop includes video file modifications, 3D rendering, and animation in real time. Over two days, you will develop the essential skills to allow you to successfully learn and use Jitter, the image processing and syntehsis library) in Max for Live.
Time: Seven hours each day. Usually: 10:00 – 18:00 each day with a one hour lunch break (participants must buy or bring their own lunch).
Participant profile: Participants will ideally be familiar with Max MSP software or Pure Data and/or audio-software or object-orientated programming.
If you are new to both but enthusiastic and a fast learner this workshop is also for you!
Equipment: Participants are required to bring their own computer with Ableton Suite 12 installed (Mac or Windows). The preferred computer specifications are:
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Ram 8G or higher (you can work with 4G, however you risk the programe running slowly);
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Processor 2.3 GHz or higher, Intel Core i7;
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GPU: Intel HD Graphics 4000 1536 MB or higher.
Host equipment: Classroom equipped with projector, internet access for students, screen for projection, blackboard, stereo sound system, internet connection, place for a maximum of 40 students.
Programe outline: This schedule might vary depending on the students requirements and previous Max-MSP experience.
Day 1.
10.00 – 13.00: The day will start by learning about settings, patch cords and playback of a video sequence. Participants will explore colour representation, video capture and matrix resizing operations and many other features. At the end of the morning session, participants will be able to modify a movie sequence in realtime.
14.00 – 18.00: In the afternoon jit.fx, and basicaudio aplitud analysis will be explained to modify video FX prametters using audio analysis data.
Day 2.
10.00 – 13.00: The second day will begin with an introduction to Open GL in Jitter. This will include rendering, camera, shapes, textures and animation. By the end of the morning session you will be able to modify a 3D shape using audio.
14.00 – 18.00: In the afternoon, you will learn primitive drawing methods and will make a composition using jit.gl.mesh. Sabina will then share tips on ‘learning to learn’, becoming self-taught and Jitter resources.
Please note you must attend both days of the workshop and places are only secured when a full payment has been made. If you need to cancel your booking, we will endeavour to provide a refund if your place on the workshop can be filled.
Fees and Booking : For further information about content, fees and booking availability, please contact Sabina Covarrubias here.
Workshop title:
Introduction to Audio-Reactive Visuals using Jitter. Short Workshop (from 4-hours to 8 hours)
Get a fun and fresh introduction about how to create audio-reactive visuals using Jitter.
This workshop is an introduction audio-reactive visuals in the MAX environment. The course is designed for musicians and sound-artists who want to learn how to create audio-reactive visuals using Jitter in Max MSP .
Participant profile: Participants will ideally be familiar with Max MSP software or Pure Data and/or audio-software or object-orientated programming.
If you are new to both but enthusiastic and a fast learner this workshop is also for you!
Equipment: Participants are required to bring their own computer with Ableton Suite 12 installed (Mac or Windows). The preferred computer specifications are:
-
Ram 8G or higher (you can work with 4G, however you risk the programe running slowly);
-
Processor 2.3 GHz or higher, Intel Core i7;
-
GPU: Intel HD Graphics 4000 1536 MB or higher.
Host equipment: Classroom equipped with projector, internet access for students, screen for projection, blackboard, stereo sound system, internet connection, place for a maximum of 40 students
Programme outline: The length of this workshop is flexible. Duration will be determined according to the host needs. From 2 hours to 8 hours. For details please contact the professor here. This schedule might vary depending on the students requirements and previous Max-MSP experience.
Day 1.
Hour 1. Introduction to Jitter in Max MSP
Hour 2. Techniques to perform audio amplitude-visualization
Hour 3. Techniques for mapping audio to visuals
Hour 4. Build your Max for Live Usier Interface and MIDI mapping
If the host wish to add more hours the students will learn and practice more techniques
Fees and Booking : For further information about fees and booking availability, please contact Sabina Covarrubias here.
Workshop title:
Introduction to Audio-Reactive and Audio Generative Visuals using Jitter. (6 intensive days workshop)
Introduction to Max MSP's Jitter library for high quality computer graphics.
Learning Jitter in depth, the following topics are taught over 6 full time days and leaving one day to address the participants' work.
I. Introduction
1.1 Introducing the Jitter library in Max for Live
1.2 Installing the course files
1.3 Settings: the video engine in the Max preferences
1.4 Types of patch cords in Max
1.5 Specific Live objects
II. Visual Sources and Video Effects
2.1 Building a patch: playing a video sequence, GPU vs CPU
2.2 Using a webcam and image files
2.3 Adding video effects
2.4 Using a webcam with jit.grab in detail
2.5 Displaying video
Exercise: Discover FX and build something cool
III. Visualising Amplitude
3.1 Amplitude peak analysis
3.2 Mapping amplitude peaks to FX
3.3 RMS analysis
3.4 Mapping RMS to visual parameters
IV. Introduction to OpenGL in Jitter (Max MSP)
4.1 Introduction to OpenGL in Jitter (Max MSP)
4.2 Creating a 3D shape
4.3 Dimensions and draw modes of a 3D shape
4.4 The notion of vertices in a 3D shape
4.5 Front face and back face of a 3D shape
4.6 Making an audio-reactive 3D shape
V. Building a Device User Interface
5.1 Presentation Mode
5.2 Modularity of UI sections
5.3 Naming variables
5.4 Visible parameters for mapping
VI. Understanding the Matrix in Practice
6.1 Understanding jit.matrix arguments
6.2 Color synthesis in Jitter
6.3 Matrix dimensions and resolution
6.4 Managing matrix data types
6.5 Modifying color with jit.op and jit.gen
Exercise: Build an audio-reactive color modifier or a pixel-art composition
VII. Building a MIDI-Reactive Device
7.1 Understanding MIDI messages
7.2 MIDI-reactive visuals
7.3 A “video scratching” module
VIII. Tempo-Reactive Device
8.1 Understanding transport messages
8.2 Building a visual clock divider
8.3 Animating a 3D shape using a clock divider
IX. Preparing Your Device for Distribution
9.1 Freezing your Max for Live project
9.2 Managing versions
X. Learning How to Learn Jitter Using Online Resources
10.1 Jitter resources
10.2 The Jitter community
XI. Designing Your Project
Workshop title:
Creating Live Visuals in Ableotn using Max for Live , Workshop on demand
Sabina can design the perfect workshop for your institution, festival or group of people.
If you have special needs of time, content, or an idea for a workshop I can design the perfect workshop for you.
Fees and Booking : For further information about fees and booking availability, please contact Sabina Covarrubias here.