Cycling '74
Encyclopedia
Cycling '74 is a San Francisco-based software development
company and music label, specializing in Interactive Media
. The company is best known for their work with the digital signal processing
software environment Max
. Many
. The company's official website states that "the name Cycling '74 comes from a 1974 bicycle catalog from which some of the images that decorated our original site were inspired". The Wayback Machine provides an archive of the website (from December 1998) here.
C74 began producing the MSP extension to Opcode Systems
's 1990 program "Max" in the mid 1990s, and in 1998 started distributing both products together. There is no longer a version of Max without audio processing, so the two environments are now technically inseparable.
environment. The company has published the program since 1999, and in 2008 released a major overhaul of the package (released as Max 5). A major Sound On Sound
article (August 2008) focused mainly on the new GUI
of the software. The new interface was designed using the Juce
package. Aside from re-designed graphics, the development of the new system concentrated on the original code base, and has provided integrated documentation and debugging
. From the release of Max 5, MSP and Jitter were included in the one package. Many people use Max.
plug-in for Max, allowing realtime audio synthesis.
manipulation of 3D graphics and video
.
design. Pluggo was required to export Max "patches" for use in digital audio workstation
(DAW) host environments, but has been discontinued since Max 5.
, developed by Ableton
and Cycling ’74, to build unique synths and effects, create algorithmic composition tools, or fuse Live and controller hardware into new music machines. Unlike Pluggo, you can edit the device created with Max for Live directly from the Live
by pressing the edit button.
- a live compilation album by the Freight Elevator Quartet
. The current artist roster is:
Software development
Software development is the development of a software product...
company and music label, specializing in Interactive Media
Interactive media
Interactive media normally refers to products and services on digital computer-based systems which respond to the user’s actions by presenting content such as text, graphics, animation, video, audio, etc.-Terminology:...
. The company is best known for their work with the digital signal processing
Digital signal processing
Digital signal processing is concerned with the representation of discrete time signals by a sequence of numbers or symbols and the processing of these signals. Digital signal processing and analog signal processing are subfields of signal processing...
software environment Max
Max (software)
Max is a visual programming language for music and multimedia developed and maintained by San Francisco-based software company Cycling '74. During its 20-year history, it has been widely used by composers, performers, software designers, researchers, and artists for creating innovative recordings,...
. Many
History
Cycling '74 (C74) was founded in 1997 by David Zicarelli to serve as the distributor for his various collections of softwareComputer software
Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it....
. The company's official website states that "the name Cycling '74 comes from a 1974 bicycle catalog from which some of the images that decorated our original site were inspired". The Wayback Machine provides an archive of the website (from December 1998) here.
C74 began producing the MSP extension to Opcode Systems
Opcode Systems
Opcode Systems, Inc. was founded in 1985 by Dave Oppenheim and based in and around Palo Alto, California, USA. Opcode produced MIDI sequencing software for the Mac OS and Microsoft Windows, which would later include digital audio capabilities, as well as audio and MIDI hardware interfaces...
's 1990 program "Max" in the mid 1990s, and in 1998 started distributing both products together. There is no longer a version of Max without audio processing, so the two environments are now technically inseparable.
Max
C74 is perhaps best known as the distributor and current developer of the Max/MSP digital signal processingDigital signal processing
Digital signal processing is concerned with the representation of discrete time signals by a sequence of numbers or symbols and the processing of these signals. Digital signal processing and analog signal processing are subfields of signal processing...
environment. The company has published the program since 1999, and in 2008 released a major overhaul of the package (released as Max 5). A major Sound On Sound
Sound on Sound
Sound on Sound is an independently-owned monthly music technology magazine published by SOS Publications Group, based in Cambridge, UK. The magazine includes product tests of electronic musical performance and recording devices, and interviews with industry professionals...
article (August 2008) focused mainly on the new GUI
Gui
Gui or guee is a generic term to refer to grilled dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients. The term derives from the verb, "gupda" in Korean, which literally...
of the software. The new interface was designed using the Juce
Juce
JUCE is a free software, cross-platform C++ application framework, used for the development of GUI applications and plug-ins.The aim of JUCE is to allow software to be written such that the same source code will compile and run identically on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux platforms...
package. Aside from re-designed graphics, the development of the new system concentrated on the original code base, and has provided integrated documentation and debugging
Debugger
A debugger or debugging tool is a computer program that is used to test and debug other programs . The code to be examined might alternatively be running on an instruction set simulator , a technique that allows great power in its ability to halt when specific conditions are encountered but which...
. From the release of Max 5, MSP and Jitter were included in the one package. Many people use Max.
MSP
MSP is a DSPDigital signal processor
A digital signal processor is a specialized microprocessor with an architecture optimized for the fast operational needs of digital signal processing.-Typical characteristics:...
plug-in for Max, allowing realtime audio synthesis.
Jitter
Jitter is a plug-in for Max that allows realtimeReal-time computer graphics
Real-time computer graphics is the subfield of computer graphics focused on producing and analyzing images in real time. The term is most often used in reference to interactive 3D computer graphics, typically using a GPU, with video games the most noticeable users...
manipulation of 3D graphics and video
Video
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
.
Pluggo
Pluggo was an extension to Max that provided capabilities for VSTVirtual Studio Technology
Steinberg's Virtual Studio Technology is an interface for integrating software audio synthesizer and effect plugins with audio editors and hard-disk recording systems. VST and similar technologies use digital signal processing to simulate traditional recording studio hardware with software...
design. Pluggo was required to export Max "patches" for use in digital audio workstation
Digital audio workstation
A digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...
(DAW) host environments, but has been discontinued since Max 5.
Max for Live
Max integration into Ableton LiveAbleton Live
Ableton Live is a loop-based software music sequencer and DAW for Mac OS and Windows by Ableton. The latest major release of Live, Version 8, was released in April 2009. In contrast to many other software sequencers, Live is designed to be an instrument for live performances as well as a tool for...
, developed by Ableton
Ableton
Ableton AG is a Berlin-based music software company that produces and distributes the production and performance suite Ableton Live and a collection of related instruments and sample libraries.- History :...
and Cycling ’74, to build unique synths and effects, create algorithmic composition tools, or fuse Live and controller hardware into new music machines. Unlike Pluggo, you can edit the device created with Max for Live directly from the Live
Ableton Live
Ableton Live is a loop-based software music sequencer and DAW for Mac OS and Windows by Ableton. The latest major release of Live, Version 8, was released in April 2009. In contrast to many other software sequencers, Live is designed to be an instrument for live performances as well as a tool for...
by pressing the edit button.
Record Label
Founded in 2000, c74 Music was created to release music produced using Cycling '74 technology. The same year, the label released its first recordAlbum
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
- a live compilation album by the Freight Elevator Quartet
Freight Elevator Quartet
The Freight Elevator Quartet were a music performance group specializing in improvised electronic music active in and around New York City...
. The current artist roster is:
- DR.OX
- Amoebazoid
- Gregory Taylor
- Crater
- John ShirleyJohn ShirleyJohn Shirley is an American fantasist, author of noir fiction, and science-fiction writer. Shirley is a prolific writer of novels and short stories, TV scripts and screenplays who has published over 30 books and 10 collections...
- Leslie Stuck
- Sarah PeeblesSarah PeeblesSarah Peebles is an American-Canadian composer, improviser, and installation artist. She is one of the few non-Japanese performers of the shō, a traditional mouth organ used in gagaku, Japan's imperial court music...
- William Kleinsasser
- Tetsu InoueTetsu InoueTetsu Inoue is a producer of electronic music. His style could be described as ambient with a heavy minimalist influence. He has lived in Japan, San Francisco, and New York, and has collaborated with musicians such as Pete Namlook, Bill Laswell, Andrew Deutsch, Jonah Sharp, and Taylor Deupree.His...
and Carl StoneCarl StoneCarl Stone is an American composer, primarily working in the field of live electronic music. His works have been performed in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and the Near East.Stone studied composition at the California Institute of the Arts with Morton... - Kim CasconeKim CasconeKim Cascone is an American composer of electronic music who is best known for his releases in the ambient, industrial and electro-acoustic genre on his own record company, Silent Records...
- Amnon WolmanAmnon WolmanAmnon Wolman composes music and texts for miscellaneous instruments along with the computer. He holds a doctorate degree in music composition. His catalogue of compositions includes works involving computer generated and processed sounds, symphonic works, vocal and chamber pieces for different...
- InterfaceInterface (band)Interface is an electronic music group based on Long Island, New York. It was founded in 1993 by Eric Eldredge . Its career has been lined with a steady output of songs and dance remixes for other artists and several lineup shifts...
- The Freight Elevator QuartetFreight Elevator QuartetThe Freight Elevator Quartet were a music performance group specializing in improvised electronic music active in and around New York City...