1.1 Package contents and installation

After downloading and installing Open Instruments (see the README file), you may take a look into the folder but don't even bother to look at all subfolders and their content. After reading this chapter, hopefully, you'll know where to reach things from MaxMSP.

But first there are some concepts you should know:

• The Open Instruments framework is composed by an API and its own library, plus other libraries (basically Max objects);
• The API is also a Max abstraction that you can open from Max's menu: Extras->oi.api ;
• Objects from the API Library will only work within the API's context (I'll address that later), that's why help-files from these objects will print errors into the Max window whenever oi.api isn't open;
• Objects from other libraries, in /OpenInstruments/patchers/Libs/, can be used in any MaxMSP just like "regular" Max objects.
• You can distinguish objects from both libraries by their nomenclature: objects from the API Lib start with oi. (standing for Open Instruments, ex: oi.api ) and the remaining objects will start with o. (standing for Open, ex: o.polypattr).

Now let's walk through the main contents of the package that can be accessed easily in MaxMSP:

extras: as you might have noticed there are some other extras within Open Instruments. Here you can find more information about OI (Open Instruments), some general purpose tools, and two different versions of the API, which I'll also discuss later.

templates: accessed through Max's menu "File->New From Template", will help you start developing instruments, pieces and concerts with Open Instruments. Also, if you want to develop your own Open Instruments objects you can use the development templates provided.

clippings: you can quickly access OI objects by right-clicking an unlocked patch, and then going under "Paste From", and selecting an object through the contextual menu. There you'll see three different Open Instrument categories: Modules (OI modules), Quickies and Utilities /still wondering about merging the last two/.

Ok, now I'm going to invite you to explore things a lit bit while I write the next chapters :) PS: you can check all OI objects from: Extras->oi.overview->oi.frameworkoverview