Audio Effects, MIDI Effects & Instruments: Max for Live Device Types Explained

Every Max for Live device belongs to a category, and the category tells you two things: what it does, and where it goes in your track's signal chain. Getting this right is the difference between a device that works instantly and one that seems "broken." Here's each type.

Instruments

Instruments generate sound from MIDI notes — synthesizers, samplers, drum machines and physical-modelling engines. They sit at the start of a MIDI track's device chain. Everything after an instrument (audio effects) processes the sound it produces.

Audio Effects

Audio Effects process an existing audio signal: reverbs, delays, distortion, compressors, filters, granular and spectral processors. They work on any Audio track, or after an Instrument on a MIDI track. This is the largest category — where you'll find the most experimental, can't-get-it-anywhere-else sound design tools.

MIDI Effects

MIDI Effects transform note data before it reaches an instrument. Arpeggiators, chord generators, scale/quantize tools, randomizers and note utilities all live here. Because they act on notes, they must come before the instrument in the chain — a MIDI Effect on its own makes no sound.

MIDI Generators and MIDI Transformations

Two more specific MIDI categories you'll see on max4.live:

• MIDI Generators create note data from scratch — step and euclidean sequencers, generative and algorithmic pattern makers.
• MIDI Transformations reshape existing MIDI — scale mappers, humanizers, velocity and timing processors.

Quick reference

MIDI track chain order is always: MIDI Effects → Instrument → Audio Effects. If a device isn't doing anything, check it's in the right slot for its type. Browse the full catalogue filtered by type to find what you need.