The 2005 RGB Christmas Light Project: MAX/MSP & Jitter Patch

If you're not terribly familiar with Jitter (neither was I until a few days ago) here's a walkthrough of the patch.

On the top left, the 'read' button opens a movie file using a standard 'open' dialog box. The file plays in the upper left window.

Then the video information (which is actually a 4-layer matrix consisting of transparency, red, green and blue data) is downsampled to a 32 x 24 pixel grid.

The next set of boxes, 'jit.matrix 1 char 32...' extract one row of the pixel data from the red, blue and green planes. You'll see that the srcdimstart object is currently fed by the number 9, which means I'm using row 9 of pixel data to drive the chain.

The extracted data is glued back together in a matrix 96 measuring 96 columns by 1 row. This shows up in the third black rectangle.

The three boxes on top which contain the numbers '3 6 9 ...' are the DMX channel addresses. Each pixel sits at 3 consecutive DMX addresses.

Finally, the color data is merged with the channel information and sent as a list to the DMXUSB object, which packs it up and sends it out the door to the USB-DMX interface.

Very simple in retrospect.

Note that if you're trying to copy this design, you'll need to purchase the dmxusbpro external and download the Lobjects tools as well.

Lmerge doesn't come with the standard Max installation.

Here's a screenshot of the patch:

And here's the raw text ifyou want to play around on your own:

max v2;
#N vpatcher 82 59 1526 1018;
#P origin -3 17;
#P window setfont "Sans Serif" 9.;
#P newex 532 795 46 196617 jit.print;
#P comment 138 785 251 196617 • indicates whether a device is opened or not;
#P toggle 117 784 15 0;
#P comment 148 673 217 196617 • set all DMX channels temporarily to zero;
#P toggle 81 653 15 0;
#P message 81 672 61 196617 blackout \$1;
#P window linecount 3;
#P comment 148 625 208 196617 • get the parameters of the DMX USB Pro Interface (i.e. refresh rate \, break time and mark after brake time);
#P window linecount 1;
#P message 81 624 55 196617 getparams;
#P message 114 502 43 196617 receive;
#P message 81 502 29 196617 send;
#P message 81 593 63 196617 channels 96;
#P comment 146 538 213 196617 • set DMX StartCode (default = 0);
#P message 81 537 61 196617 startcode 0;
#P comment 160 466 152 196617 • control your light setup;
#N vpatcher 97 337 661 575;
#P window setfont "Sans Serif" 9.;
#P message 555 69 23 196617 255;
#P newex 555 37 44 196617 loadbang;
#P newex 455 301 27 196617 int 0;
#P button 445 256 15 0;
#P newex 455 278 27 196617 * 0.;
#P flonum 472 256 35 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 221 221 221 222 222 222 0 0 0;
#P newex 396 301 27 196617 int 0;
#P button 386 256 15 0;
#P newex 396 278 27 196617 * 0.;
#P flonum 413 256 35 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 221 221 221 222 222 222 0 0 0;
#P newex 336 301 27 196617 int 0;
#P button 326 256 15 0;
#P newex 336 278 27 196617 * 0.;
#P flonum 353 256 35 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 221 221 221 222 222 222 0 0 0;
#P newex 277 301 27 196617 int 0;
#P button 267 256 15 0;
#P newex 277 278 27 196617 * 0.;
#P flonum 294 256 35 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 221 221 221 222 222 222 0 0 0;
#P newex 217 301 27 196617 int 0;
#P button 207 256 15 0;
#P newex 217 278 27 196617 * 0.;
#P flonum 234 256 35 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 221 221 221 222 222 222 0 0 0;
#P newex 158 301 27 196617 int 0;
#P button 148 256 15 0;
#P newex 158 278 27 196617 * 0.;
#P flonum 175 256 35 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 221 221 221 222 222 222 0 0 0;
#P newex 98 301 27 196617 int 0;
#P button 88 256 15 0;
#P newex 98 278 27 196617 * 0.;
#P flonum 115 256 35 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 221 221 221 222 222 222 0 0 0;
#P newex 39 301 27 196617 int 0;
#P button 29 256 15 0;
#P newex 39 278 27 196617 * 0.;
#P flonum 56 256 35 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 221 221 221 222 222 222 0 0 0;
#P newex 425 370 27 196617 int 0;
#P button 415 325 15 0;
#P newex 425 347 27 196617 * 0.;
#P flonum 442 325 35 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 221 221 221 222 222 222 0 0 0;
#P newex 366 370 27 196617 int 0;
#P button 356 325 15 0;
#P newex 366 347 27 196617 * 0.;
#P flonum 383 325 35 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 221 221 221 222 222 222 0 0 0;
#P newex 306 370 27 196617 int 0;
#P button 296 325 15 0;
#P newex 306 347 27 196617 * 0.;
#P flonum 323 325 35 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 221 221 221 222 222 222 0 0 0;
#P newex 247 370 27 196617 int 0;
#P button 237 325 15 0;
#P newex 247 347 27 196617 * 0.;
#P flonum 264 325 35 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 221 221 221 222 222 222 0 0 0;
#P newex 187 370 27 196617 int 0;
#P button 177 325 15 0;
#P newex 187 347 27 196617 * 0.;
#P flonum 204 325 35 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 221 221 221 222 222 222 0 0 0;
#P newex 128 370 27 196617 int 0;
#P button 118 325 15 0;
#P newex 128 347 27 196617 * 0.;
#P flonum 145 325 35 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 221 221 221 222 222 222 0 0 0;
#P newex 68 370 27 196617 int 0;
#P button 58 325 15 0;
#P newex 68 347 27 196617 * 0.;
#P flonum 85 325 35 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 221 221 221 222 222 222 0 0 0;
#P newex 9 370 27 196617 int 0;
#P button -1 325 15 0;
#P newex 9 347 27 196617 * 0.;
#P flonum 26 325 35 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 221 221 221 222 222 222 0 0 0;
#P newex 503 227 31 196617 / 254.;
#P window setfont "Sans Serif" 12.;
#P comment 492 197 78 196620 MASTER;
#P user uslider 503 43 25 127 255 1 0 0;
#P comment 454 197 29 196620 16;
#P comment 424 197 29 196620 15;
#P comment 392 197 29 196620 14;
#P comment 365 197 29 196620 13;
#P comment 335 197 29 196620 12;
#P comment 303 197 29 196620 11;
#P comment 276 197 29 196620 10;
#P comment 248 197 29 196620 9;
#P comment 220 197 29 196620 8;
#P comment 188 197 29 196620 7;
#P comment 161 197 29 196620 6;
#P comment 129 197 29 196620 5;
#P comment 101 197 29 196620 4;
#P comment 69 197 29 196620 3;
#P comment 42 197 29 196620 2;
#P window setfont "Sans Serif" 9.;
#P message 455 393 30 196617 16 \$1;
#P message 425 393 30 196617 15 \$1;
#P message 396 393 30 196617 14 \$1;
#P message 366 393 30 196617 13 \$1;
#P message 336 393 30 196617 12 \$1;
#P message 306 393 30 196617 11 \$1;
#P message 277 393 30 196617 10 \$1;
#P message 247 393 26 196617 9 \$1;
#P message 217 393 26 196617 8 \$1;
#P message 187 393 26 196617 7 \$1;
#P message 158 393 26 196617 6 \$1;
#P message 128 393 26 196617 5 \$1;
#P message 98 393 26 196617 4 \$1;
#P message 68 393 26 196617 3 \$1;
#P message 39 393 26 196617 2 \$1;
#P message 9 393 26 196617 1 \$1;
#P user uslider 455 43 18 128 255 1 0 0;
#P user uslider 425 43 18 128 255 1 0 0;
#P user uslider 396 43 18 128 255 1 0 0;
#P user uslider 366 43 18 128 255 1 0 0;
#P user uslider 336 43 18 128 255 1 0 0;
#P user uslider 306 43 18 128 255 1 0 0;
#P user uslider 277 43 18 128 255 1 0 0;
#P user uslider 247 43 18 128 255 1 0 0;
#P user uslider 217 43 18 128 255 1 0 0;
#P user uslider 187 43 18 128 255 1 0 0;
#P user uslider 158 43 18 128 255 1 0 0;
#P user uslider 128 43 18 128 255 1 0 0;
#P user uslider 98 43 18 128 255 1 0 0;
#P user uslider 68 43 18 128 255 1 0 0;
#P user uslider 39 43 18 128 255 1 0 0;
#P user uslider 9 43 18 128 255 1 0 0;
#P outlet 221 422 15 0;
#P window setfont "Sans Serif" 18.;
#P comment 7 10 515 196626 Open DMX USB Interface: control 16 DMX channels;
#P window setfont "Sans Serif" 12.;
#P comment 10 197 29 196620 1;
#P connect 53 0 55 0;
#P connect 55 0 54 0;
#P hidden connect 3 0 54 0;
#P connect 54 0 56 0;
#P connect 56 0 19 0;
#P connect 52 0 53 0;
#P connect 53 0 54 1;
#P connect 85 0 87 0;
#P connect 87 0 86 0;
#P hidden connect 4 0 86 0;
#P connect 86 0 88 0;
#P connect 88 0 20 0;
#P connect 52 0 85 0;
#P connect 85 0 86 1;
#P connect 57 0 59 0;
#P connect 59 0 58 0;
#P hidden connect 5 0 58 0;
#P connect 58 0 60 0;
#P connect 60 0 21 0;
#P connect 52 0 57 0;
#P connect 57 0 58 1;
#P connect 89 0 91 0;
#P connect 91 0 90 0;
#P hidden connect 6 0 90 0;
#P connect 90 0 92 0;
#P connect 92 0 22 0;
#P connect 52 0 89 0;
#P connect 89 0 90 1;
#P connect 61 0 63 0;
#P connect 63 0 62 0;
#P hidden connect 7 0 62 0;
#P connect 62 0 64 0;
#P connect 64 0 23 0;
#P connect 52 0 61 0;
#P connect 61 0 62 1;
#P connect 93 0 95 0;
#P connect 95 0 94 0;
#P hidden connect 8 0 94 0;
#P connect 94 0 96 0;
#P connect 96 0 24 0;
#P connect 52 0 93 0;
#P connect 93 0 94 1;
#P connect 65 0 67 0;
#P connect 67 0 66 0;
#P hidden connect 9 0 66 0;
#P connect 66 0 68 0;
#P connect 68 0 25 0;
#P connect 52 0 65 0;
#P connect 65 0 66 1;
#P connect 97 0 99 0;
#P connect 99 0 98 0;
#P hidden connect 10 0 98 0;
#P connect 98 0 100 0;
#P connect 100 0 26 0;
#P connect 19 0 2 0;
#P connect 20 0 2 0;
#P connect 21 0 2 0;
#P connect 22 0 2 0;
#P connect 23 0 2 0;
#P connect 24 0 2 0;
#P connect 25 0 2 0;
#P connect 26 0 2 0;
#P connect 27 0 2 0;
#P connect 28 0 2 0;
#P connect 29 0 2 0;
#P connect 30 0 2 0;
#P connect 31 0 2 0;
#P connect 32 0 2 0;
#P connect 33 0 2 0;
#P connect 34 0 2 0;
#P connect 52 0 97 0;
#P connect 97 0 98 1;
#P connect 69 0 71 0;
#P connect 71 0 70 0;
#P hidden connect 11 0 70 0;
#P connect 70 0 72 0;
#P connect 72 0 27 0;
#P connect 52 0 69 0;
#P connect 69 0 70 1;
#P connect 101 0 103 0;
#P connect 103 0 102 0;
#P hidden connect 12 0 102 0;
#P connect 102 0 104 0;
#P connect 104 0 28 0;
#P connect 52 0 101 0;
#P connect 101 0 102 1;
#P connect 73 0 75 0;
#P connect 75 0 74 0;
#P hidden connect 13 0 74 0;
#P connect 74 0 76 0;
#P connect 76 0 29 0;
#P connect 52 0 73 0;
#P connect 73 0 74 1;
#P connect 105 0 107 0;
#P connect 107 0 106 0;
#P hidden connect 14 0 106 0;
#P connect 106 0 108 0;
#P connect 108 0 30 0;
#P connect 52 0 105 0;
#P connect 105 0 106 1;
#P connect 77 0 79 0;
#P connect 79 0 78 0;
#P hidden connect 15 0 78 0;
#P connect 78 0 80 0;
#P connect 80 0 31 0;
#P connect 52 0 77 0;
#P connect 77 0 78 1;
#P connect 109 0 111 0;
#P connect 111 0 110 0;
#P hidden connect 16 0 110 0;
#P connect 110 0 112 0;
#P connect 112 0 32 0;
#P connect 52 0 109 0;
#P connect 109 0 110 1;
#P connect 81 0 83 0;
#P connect 83 0 82 0;
#P hidden connect 17 0 82 0;
#P connect 82 0 84 0;
#P connect 84 0 33 0;
#P connect 52 0 81 0;
#P connect 81 0 82 1;
#P connect 113 0 115 0;
#P connect 115 0 114 0;
#P hidden connect 18 0 114 0;
#P connect 114 0 116 0;
#P connect 116 0 34 0;
#P connect 52 0 113 0;
#P connect 113 0 114 1;
#P hidden connect 118 0 50 0;
#P hidden connect 50 0 52 0;
#P connect 117 0 118 0;
#P pop;
#P newobj 82 464 73 196617 p fadercontrol;
#P message 238 727 32 196617 close;
#P message 61 443 154 196617 4 5 5 90 6 74 7 100 8 34 9 87;
#P window linecount 2;
#P comment 162 503 173 196617 • set whether 'dmxusb' should send (default) or receive DMX data;
#P window linecount 1;
#P message 80 728 148 196617 open /dev/tty.usbserial-2B13;
#P window linecount 2;
#P comment 145 566 213 196617 • set refresh rate in frames per second (possible values are 1 - 44 \, default = 10);
#P window linecount 1;
#P message 81 565 59 196617 refresh 40;
#P comment 117 703 197 196617 • print some info to the Max window;
#P message 81 702 31 196617 print;
#P newex 61 760 66 196617 dmxusbpro;
#B color 5;
#P toggle 416 697 13 0;
#P message 416 718 49 196617 useall \$1;
#P message 529 666 31 196617 clear;
#P newex 528 750 59 196617 Lmerge 1 2;
#P newex 531 825 32 196617 print;
#P newex 592 643 43 196617 jit.spill;
#P newex 493 644 43 196617 jit.spill;
#P user jit.pwindow 222 221 162 122 0 1 0 0 1 0;
#P newex 477 234 141 196617 jit.glue @rows 1 @columns 3;
#P newex 477 186 139 196617 jit.matrix green 1 char 32 1;
#P user jit.fpsgui 46 327 60 196617 0;
#P newex 458 474 141 196617 jit.glue @rows 1 @columns 3;
#P user jit.pwindow 422 510 162 122 0 1 0 0 1 0;
#P newex 459 447 111 196617 jit.matrix 1 char 32 1;
#P newex 460 422 111 196617 jit.matrix 1 char 32 1;
#P newex 460 399 111 196617 jit.matrix 1 char 32 1;
#P newex 476 163 132 196617 jit.matrix blue 1 char 32 1;
#P newex 477 209 129 196617 jit.matrix red 1 char 32 1;
#P button 284 72 15 0;
#P newex 381 102 55 196617 jit.fill red;
#P newex 381 162 65 196617 jit.fill green;
#P window linecount 2;
#P message 381 127 244 196617 2 5 8 11 14 17 20 23 26 29 32 35 38 41 44 47 50 53 56 59 62 65 68 71 74 77 80 83 86 89 92 95;
#P message 381 65 244 196617 1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49 52 55 58 61 64 67 70 73 76 79 82 85 88 91 94;
#P newex 463 357 237 196617 jit.matrix 1 char 32 @planemap 3 @thru 1 @srcdimstart 0 0 @srcdimend 32 0 @usesrcdim 1;
#P newex 461 317 237 196617 jit.matrix 1 char 32 @planemap 2 @thru 1 @srcdimstart 0 0 @srcdimend 32 0 @usesrcdim 1;
#P window linecount 1;
#P message 674 205 86 196617 srcdimend 32 \$1;
#P number 655 146 45 9 0 319 3 3 0 0 0 221 221 221 222 222 222 0 0 0;
#P message 655 228 85 196617 srcdimstart 0 \$1;
#P window linecount 2;
#P newex 460 279 237 196617 jit.matrix 1 char 32 @planemap 1 @thru 1 @srcdimstart 0 0 @srcdimend 32 0 @usesrcdim 1;
#P window linecount 1;
#P newex 382 42 58 196617 jit.fill blue;
#P window linecount 2;
#P message 382 9 244 196617 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 48 51 54 57 60 63 66 69 72 75 78 81 84 87 90 93 96;
#P window linecount 1;
#P hidden newex 57 391 104 196617 bgcolor 220 220 192;
#P newex 223 162 117 196617 jit.matrix 4 char 32 24;
#P window setfont "Sans Serif" 18.;
#P comment 25 0 208 196626 DMX Video Driver;
#P window setfont "Sans Serif" 9.;
#P user jit.fpsgui 423 644 60 196617 0;
#P message 149 71 31 196617 start;
#P message 119 71 27 196617 stop;
#P user jit.pwindow 26 186 162 122 0 1 0 0 1 0;
#P flonum 183 47 35 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 221 221 221 222 222 222 0 0 0;
#P message 183 71 42 196617 rate \$1;
#P message 89 71 28 196617 read;
#P toggle 27 47 15 0;
#P newex 27 75 52 196617 metro 40;
#P newex 27 110 103 196617 jit.qt.movie 320 240;
#P user jit.pwindow 591 511 162 122 0 1 0 0 1 0;
#P connect 3 0 2 0;
#P connect 2 0 1 0;
#P fasten 5 0 1 0 188 97 32 97;
#P fasten 4 0 1 0 94 97 32 97;
#P fasten 8 0 1 0 124 97 32 97;
#P fasten 9 0 1 0 154 97 32 97;
#P connect 1 0 7 0;
#P connect 7 0 34 0;
#P connect 41 0 45 0;
#P connect 52 0 45 0;
#P fasten 58 0 45 0 86 614 66 614;
#P fasten 54 0 45 0 87 487 66 487;
#P fasten 53 0 45 0 243 750 66 750;
#P fasten 50 0 45 0 85 750 66 750;
#P fasten 46 0 45 0 86 723 66 723;
#P fasten 48 0 45 0 86 586 66 586;
#P fasten 56 0 45 0 86 558 66 558;
#P fasten 59 0 45 0 86 522 66 522;
#P fasten 60 0 45 0 119 522 66 522;
#P fasten 61 0 45 0 86 645 66 645;
#P fasten 63 0 45 0 86 694 66 694;
#P connect 64 0 63 0;
#P connect 45 1 66 0;
#P connect 6 0 5 0;
#P connect 1 0 12 0;
#P connect 12 0 37 0;
#P connect 26 0 22 0;
#P connect 22 0 25 0;
#P connect 26 0 23 0;
#P connect 23 0 24 0;
#P connect 26 0 14 0;
#P connect 14 0 15 0;
#P connect 44 0 43 0;
#P connect 33 0 32 0;
#P connect 32 0 10 0;
#P connect 29 0 33 0;
#P connect 21 0 31 0;
#P connect 17 0 16 0;
#P connect 12 0 16 0;
#P connect 16 0 29 0;
#P connect 20 0 30 0;
#P connect 17 0 20 0;
#P connect 12 0 20 0;
#P connect 17 0 21 0;
#P connect 12 0 21 0;
#P connect 26 0 28 0;
#P connect 26 0 35 0;
#P connect 26 0 27 0;
#P connect 2 0 36 0;
#P connect 27 0 36 0;
#P connect 32 0 38 0;
#P connect 30 0 33 1;
#P connect 39 0 41 0;
#P hidden connect 43 0 41 0;
#P fasten 42 0 41 0 534 681 533 681;
#P connect 35 0 36 1;
#P connect 38 0 41 1;
#P connect 31 0 33 2;
#P connect 36 0 0 0;
#P connect 0 0 39 0;
#P connect 28 0 36 2;
#P connect 18 0 17 0;
#P fasten 18 0 19 0 660 202 679 202;
#P pop;