Max is a visual environment for making your own MIDI, audio and video contraptions.  I've been learning how to use it since I got my early present last week - Max for Ableton Live.  

Using Max, you can now interact with Ableton in ways that were either not possible, or only possible using python - a programming language for people who like to concern themselves with whitespace.

Here's a kit recorded by miaoux miaoux which I saw on the monome forums here

Once again, two versions: simpler and sampler. The simpler version has been been put into an instrument rack and the macro knobs are mapped to some effects. Have fun with those knobs.

Miaoux Miaoux has some music up here: http://www.myspace.com/miaouxmiaoux

I'm particularly enjoying the first track right now - hrvatski.

He also has a video up on vimeo - http://www.vimeo.com/1269911 .

Thanks for the samples mr. MM!

So you're creating a sampled and layered instrument. Maybe it's a drumkit or a set of bells.

In my case I sat at my drumkit and recorded all microphones. I hit the snare from very soft to very loud. I then did the same for every other drum.

Around 2003 I bought my first mac, a G5 dual 2GHZ

One year later a processor burnt out on it.
Two years after that it likes to shut down randomly and spin the fans up like mad.

Soon after I bought a g4 laptop.

Three years later the logic board burnt out on it.
One year after that was fixed, the battery no longer charges and disconnecting it from the battery shuts it down.

My first IPhone died 4 months after buying it.

3 pairs of IPhone headphones all gradually lost sound in one earbud.

I've converted my EXS24 Sonor drum kit into an Ableton Live Instrument rack which uses the Sampler instrument. You'll need to own that plugin.

There are several chains holding samplers. After you've installed and opened the pack, click the downward pointing arrow next to "SamsSonor" on the SamsSonor track. You'll see the subgroups where you can mix and add effects. Enjoy!

Update: I've also added the simpler version.