ml.lib: Robust, Cross-platform, Open-source Machine Learning for Max and Pure Data

Jamie Bullock, and Ali Momeni

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

Abstract

This paper documents the development of ml.lib: a set of open-source tools designed for employing a wide range of machine learning techniques within two popular real-time programming environments, namely Max and Pure Data. ml.lib is a cross-platform, lightweight wrapper around Nick Gillian's Gesture Recognition Toolkit, a C++ library that includes a wide range of data processing and machine learning techniques. ml.lib adapts these techniques for real-time use within popular data-flow IDEs, allowing instrument designers and performers to integrate robust learning, classification and mapping approaches within their existing workflows. ml.lib has been carefully de-signed to allow users to experiment with and incorporate ma-chine learning techniques within an interactive arts context with minimal prior knowledge. A simple, logical and consistent, scalable interface has been provided across over sixteen exter-nals in order to maximize learnability and discoverability. A focus on portability and maintainability has enabled ml.lib to support a range of computing architectures---including ARM---and operating systems such as Mac OS, GNU/Linux and Win-dows, making it the most comprehensive machine learning implementation available for Max and Pure Data.

Citation

Jamie Bullock, and Ali Momeni. 2015. ml.lib: Robust, Cross-platform, Open-source Machine Learning for Max and Pure Data. Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1179038

BibTeX Entry

@inproceedings{amomenib2015,
 abstract = {This paper documents the development of ml.lib: a set of open-source tools designed for employing a wide range of machine learning techniques within two popular real-time programming environments, namely Max and Pure Data. ml.lib is a cross-platform, lightweight wrapper around Nick Gillian's Gesture Recognition Toolkit, a C++ library that includes a wide range of data processing and machine learning techniques. ml.lib adapts these techniques for real-time use within popular data-flow IDEs, allowing instrument designers and performers to integrate robust learning, classification and mapping approaches within their existing workflows. ml.lib has been carefully de-signed to allow users to experiment with and incorporate ma-chine learning techniques within an interactive arts context with minimal prior knowledge. A simple, logical and consistent, scalable interface has been provided across over sixteen exter-nals in order to maximize learnability and discoverability. A focus on portability and maintainability has enabled ml.lib to support a range of computing architectures---including ARM---and operating systems such as Mac OS, GNU/Linux and Win-dows, making it the most comprehensive machine learning implementation available for Max and Pure Data.},
 address = {Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA},
 author = {Jamie Bullock and Ali Momeni},
 booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
 doi = {10.5281/zenodo.1179038},
 editor = {Edgar Berdahl and Jesse Allison},
 issn = {2220-4806},
 month = {May},
 pages = {265--270},
 publisher = {Louisiana State University},
 title = {ml.lib: Robust, Cross-platform, Open-source Machine Learning for Max and Pure Data},
 url = {http://www.nime.org/proceedings/2015/nime2015_201.pdf},
 year = {2015}
}