How do I install the Maxmsp skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/maxmsp in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Maxmsp safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Independent scanners report: SkillSpector: PASS, Skill Scanner: PASS. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Maxmsp?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Maxmsp free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Maxmsp?

tomevault-io (@tomevault-io) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Maxmsp by tomevault-io — Agent Skill

Name: Maxmsp
Author: tomevault-io

File contents

MANDATORY CHECKLIST - Follow Before EVERY Action

BEFORE placing ANY object:

0. Consider whether the task at hand is best served by using a subpatcher.
1. Call get_avoid_rect_position() FIRST
2. Use returned [left, top, right, bottom] to calculate position
3. Place at y = bottom + 50 (minimum)

NEVER skip this step. NEVER guess positions.

Required acknowledgment flags:

Math objects (+, -, *, /, %, pow, scale) and pack/pak/unpack:

JSON strips .0 from numbers! Use STRING args: ["0", "127", "0", "25."]
Strings with . are converted to floats, without . to ints
For unpack, use ["f", "f", "f"] (type specifier)
Set int_mode=True if integer truncation is intentional
Exception: scale with output range ≤ 2 auto-detects float intent

dial - use instead of live.dial, requires @size:

Float 0-1: ['@size', 1, '@floatoutput', 1]
Bipolar -1 to 1: ['@min', -1, '@size', 2, '@floatoutput', 1, '@mode', 6]
Int 0-127: ['@size', 127]
Max @size 255 - larger creates unusable UI; use flonum/number instead (bypass with extend=True)
live.dial rejected (bypass with use_live_dial=True)

trigger/t - fires RIGHT-TO-LEFT:

Set trigger_rtl=True to acknowledge
[t b f] sends f FIRST, then b

random - needs BANG to trigger (numbers only set range):

Set random_bang=True to acknowledge
Use [t b] to convert numbers to bangs before random

coll - data doesn't persist unless embedded:

Always include @embed 1 in args: ['mycoll', '@embed', 1]

Signal Flow Rules

Auto-summing: MSP inlets automatically sum all incoming signals. Never use +~ just to combine signals - connect them both to the same inlet instead.

Delay feedback: Connect feedback directly to tapin~, never through a mixer first.

Placement Rules

After calling get_avoid_rect_position() → [left, top, right, bottom]:

First object: [left, bottom + 50]
Same row: x += previous_width + 25
New row: x = left, y += 50

Subpatchers

Use subpatchers for: effects, voices, drums, sequencers, mixers, modulation.

create_subpatcher([x, y], "varname", "display_name")
enter_subpatcher("varname")
  add inlet/outlet objects
  build internal logic
exit_subpatcher()
connect from parent

MCP Tools

Tool	Purpose
`get_avoid_rect_position()`	REQUIRED before placing
`add_max_object(pos, type, var, args)`	Create object
`move_object(var, x, y)`	Reposition
`recreate_with_args(var, args)`	Change creation-time args
`get_object_connections(var)`	Get all connections
`create_subpatcher(pos, var, name)`	Create p object
`enter_subpatcher(var)` / `exit_subpatcher()`	Navigate subpatchers

line~ messages - must have EVEN number of values (pairs):

[0, 0, 1, 500, 0, 500] for instant→0, ramp→1 in 500ms, →0 in 500ms
Odd count rejected (set not_line_msg=True to bypass)

Message Boxes

Use numbers: [200, 0, 50]
NOT strings: ["200", "0", "50"] (creates literal quotes)
Fixed 70px width (user adjusts)

Source: ersatzben/maxmsp-mcp — distributed by TomeVault.

---name: maxmspdescription: Critical MaxMSP MCP rules for object placement, gotchas, and tool usage. Invoke before creating/modifying Max patches. Use when this capability is needed.---# MANDATORY CHECKLIST - Follow Before EVERY Action## BEFORE placing ANY object:```0. Consider whether the task at hand is best served by using a subpatcher.1. Call get_avoid_rect_position() FIRST2. Use returned [left, top, right, bottom] to calculate position3. Place at y = bottom + 50 (minimum)```**NEVER skip this step. NEVER guess positions.**## Required acknowledgment flags:**Math objects** (`+`, `-`, `*`, `/`, `%`, `pow`, `scale`) and **pack/pak/unpack**:- JSON strips `.0` from numbers! Use STRING args: `["0", "127", "0", "25."]`- Strings with `.` are converted to floats, without `.` to ints- For unpack, use `["f", "f", "f"]` (type specifier)- Set `int_mode=True` if integer truncation is intentional- Exception: `scale` with output range ≤ 2 auto-detects float intent**dial** - use instead of live.dial, requires `@size`:- Float 0-1: `['@size', 1, '@floatoutput', 1]`- Bipolar -1 to 1: `['@min', -1, '@size', 2, '@floatoutput', 1, '@mode', 6]`- Int 0-127: `['@size', 127]`- **Max @size 255** - larger creates unusable UI; use `flonum`/`number` instead (bypass with `extend=True`)- `live.dial` rejected (bypass with `use_live_dial=True`)**trigger/t** - fires RIGHT-TO-LEFT:- Set `trigger_rtl=True` to acknowledge- `[t b f]` sends `f` FIRST, then `b`**random** - needs BANG to trigger (numbers only set range):- Set `random_bang=True` to acknowledge- Use `[t b]` to convert numbers to bangs before `random`**coll** - data doesn't persist unless embedded:- Always include `@embed 1` in args: `['mycoll', '@embed', 1]`---# Signal Flow Rules**Auto-summing**: MSP inlets automatically sum all incoming signals. Never use `+~` just to combine signals - connect them both to the same inlet instead.**Delay feedback**: Connect feedback directly to `tapin~`, never through a mixer first.---# Placement RulesAfter calling `get_avoid_rect_position()` → `[left, top, right, bottom]`:- First object: `[left, bottom + 50]`- Same row: x += previous_width + 25- New row: x = left, y += 50---# Subpatchers**Use subpatchers** for: effects, voices, drums, sequencers, mixers, modulation.```create_subpatcher([x, y], "varname", "display_name")enter_subpatcher("varname") add inlet/outlet objects build internal logicexit_subpatcher()connect from parent```---# MCP Tools| Tool | Purpose ||------|---------|| `get_avoid_rect_position()` | **REQUIRED** before placing || `add_max_object(pos, type, var, args)` | Create object || `move_object(var, x, y)` | Reposition || `recreate_with_args(var, args)` | Change creation-time args || `get_object_connections(var)` | Get all connections || `create_subpatcher(pos, var, name)` | Create p object || `enter_subpatcher(var)` / `exit_subpatcher()` | Navigate subpatchers |**line~ messages** - must have EVEN number of values (pairs):- `[0, 0, 1, 500, 0, 500]` for instant→0, ramp→1 in 500ms, →0 in 500ms- Odd count rejected (set `not_line_msg=True` to bypass)---# Message Boxes- Use numbers: `[200, 0, 50]`- NOT strings: `["200", "0", "50"]` (creates literal quotes)- Fixed 70px width (user adjusts)---> Source: [ersatzben/maxmsp-mcp](https://github.com/ersatzben/maxmsp-mcp) — distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io).

Frequently asked questions

Maxmsp