Art Of Metal 3 - Documentation (2026)

This piece uses Max software as an effect processor for real-time sound transformation and spatialization, as well as Ableton Live to generate sound material following the real-time inputs of the three clarinets using Dicy2 agents. The cues are triggered in Max by the computer music designer in tech booth and an internal MIDI driver automatically trigger cues in the Live session.

Audio Config

• 8 audio outputs : 8 speakers surround with 4 subs.

• 11+3 audio inputs : ClarCb, Clar1 Clar2, Wood submix, Brass submix, Perc1 submix, Perc2 submix, Harpe, Piano, String submix, Tutti submix + 3 feedback from Ableton Live session (Dicy2 Agent1, Agent2, Agent 3).

Software requirements

An instance of Max 9 and Ableton Live 12.3.5 running Dicy2 devices is necessary. If you are using older versions of Live, the 2024 version has a working Live 11 session.

MIDI setup

An Asparion D400 was used.
8 faders on pitchbend were used for mixing

1. All Inputs
2. Clar Cb In
3. Clar 1In
4. Clar2 In
5. Orch In
6. Dicy2 (omx) Feedback In
7. DSP direct Master
8. Spat Master

Rotary on 9 (pitchbend) : reverb lvl in main.

Further precisions are given in patch presentation section below to adapt MIDI controllers.

Software installation

Max

This piece uses two Max patches :

• _AOM3_DSP-2026.maxpat (for real-time sound effects)
• _AOMIII_SPAT-2026.maxpat (for real-time spatialization effects)

1. Open AOMIII_2026_Patches.dmg and copy the AOMIII_2026_Patches folder to your computer
2. Open Max 9
3. Open Options > File Preferences... and add 'AOMIII_2026_Patches' folder (enable subfolders)
4. For better readability, I would recommend putting max8 theme in the color theme preferences
5. Open Options > Audio Status... and put the following audio settings :
   - Sampling Rate : 48000
   - I/O Vector Size : 512
   - Signal Vector Size : 256
   - Overdrive : ON
6. Open _AOM3_DSP-2026.maxpat
7. Open _AOMIII_SPAT-2026.maxpat

Patches Presentation

You should see one main DSP window, one main SPAT window, as well as a transport window.

AOM3_DSP

The main patch holds the global score and transport of the electronics. The cues are labelled with a bar number following the score of the piece.
[p transport&score] holds the antescofo object and provides tansport controls (right arrow or midi trig to trig an event)
[p init-defaults] holds some init interface messages
[p ADC-in] provides input patching and monitoring. (in this version, some crosspatch was made to get the proper input order)
[p Matrix] displays the routing matrix off the effects. Usefull to check what is the state for a given event.
[p engines] holds all the DSP effects
[p old_events] is the original qlist system for trigging events. IT IS NOT IN USE ANYMORE as everything has been transferred to antescofo but is here for checks and historical reasons
[p MIDI_mix & Trigs] holds the midi controller connexions. In this version, an Asparion D400 was used to mix and trig the events :
- CC 1 : global input level
- CC 2 : bass clarinet level
- CC 3 : first clarinet level
- CC 4 : second clarinet level
- CC 5 : orchestra level
- CC 6 : dicy 2 agents level
- CC 7 : DSP master level
- CC 8 : SPAT master level
- CC 9 : reverb level
- MIDI note 83, 81 : next cue, previous cue

If you are using other midi controller, please update this setup here.

[p Dicy2_ctls] is a midi hub to communicate with the Live session. It funnels midi cues to trig scenes in Ableton Live session according to the antescofo score using "from Max 1" MIDI internal port.
[p DAC_OUT] is where the physical outputs of the DSP patch are routed : this patch sends most of the sound to the SPAT patch, but some treatments go out directly as well (freezes). Here you can mixdown the setup to fit your speaker layout if needed.

AOMIII_SPAT

The SPAT patch receives sound and data from the DSP patch. It holds instances of Vbaps patches, and uses the ICST ambimonitor and ambicontrols objects to perform trajectories. It outputs 8 channels of audio.
[p AMBIMONITOR] useful to watch trajectories.
[p receive-hp1-8] is where dac is : useful to mixdown if needed.

Ableton Live

1. Install Dicy2 for live
2. Download and unzip ArtOfMetal3_DICY_Live.zip file
3. Open AOM3_Dicy2_2026_v12.3.5.als live set
4. Go to Live > Settings > Audio
   - make your input/output routings for loopback with max
   - Sampling rate : 48000
   - Buffer size : 256
5. a dicy2_server should launch, an authorization for the Dicy2 server app might pop up. If the installation of dicy went well you should see the memory loaded in dicy 2 agents as well as a green led showing they are connected to the server (it can take a little time for the server to be instantiated).
6. Go to Live > Settings > MIDI and activate "from Max 1" remote control

System calibration and tests

AOM DSP
- Check audio outputs. The test level of all speakers should be perceived the same at the mixing point.
- Check MIDI input and select your Asparion D400 or other MIDI controller.
- Check if score AOM3_SCORE.asco is loaded, if not, you can manually open it (it is located in AOMIII_2026_Patches > ArtOfMetal3_DSP-2026 > score)
- Check audio inputs routing

Simulation

As there is no sound files in AOMIII, you can test the FX with simulation files. They are located with the live session in "record_trio_cité" folder. To run a simulation, go to [p ADC_IN] and [p SFPLAY_ROUTING] in main DSP patch. For example, in sfplay1 you can load "trio_full 3-AOM_trio_CLCB 0001 [2024-04-22 195846].wav" and route sfplay1 to Clcb. Then you can play/stop sfplay1 by pressing the toggle button or by pressing & key (on french keyboard) (é for sfplay2, " for sfplay3 and ' for sfplay4). You can pass some cues with your arrow keys to make sure all is working great.

AOM_SPAT :
- Check audio outputs (same as DSP)
- Check if your MIDI controls the master spat fader and the reverb fader
- Check that ICST and trajectories are well loaded in the trajectory~~ menu

AOM spat receives audio from the DSP patch.

Initialization routine

• Launch _AOM3_DSP-2026.maxpat
• Launch _AOMIII_SPAT-2026.maxpat
• Check for errors in Max console window (there shouldn't be any)
• Check MIDI : choose your MIDI controller in max main DSP patch menu
• Launch AOM3_Dicy2_2026_v12.3.5.als
• Check Audio configuration in Max and Live
• Press INIT in the DSP patch
• Check that the score is well loaded in [p transport& score] + Max console window
• Check that the Ableton session has responded to the midi init
• Audio ON in both instances
• you're ready

Performance notes

General :

Make it loud but not aggressive
Use subs in the front and the back.
Use of internal microphones for Clar CB and Bass clarinets is highly recommended
All trigs were done by the computer music designer, but can easily be midi controlled.