With Max 8 comes first-class support for multi-channel audio processing, courtesy of a framework and set of objects that go under the collective banner MC. To get the most from Max 8, you'll need to skim through the release documentation - or read the rest of this article! Multiplication Tables
There are patching improvements, but the refinements are, by and large, subtle, and nothing jumps xout in the interface. Working with Max 8 doesn't initially seem that different to Max 7: the icons in the toolbars haven't changed that much, and neither have the various pull-down and pop-up menus. Of course, colours and fonts can always be customised in patchers, and Max 8 offers a handful of overall application colour 'styles', including the Max 7 look if you're particularly attached to it. I'm still not a massive fan of the default colour scheme and font, but the increased contrast helps. This seems especially effective in text-rich areas like the console, reference and property inspector panes. On first appearance, nothing much seems to have happened: patcher windows are still, by default, pale grey with a dark grey surround, but the dark greys are noticeably darker, improving contrast and adding some visual 'punch'. As well as offering functional improvements, Max 6 and Max 7 each did some redecorating, resulting in a distinct visual appearance for each revision. To strain the analogy somewhat, Max entered adulthood with version 5 (reviewed in August 2008), which delivered a new, flexible, user interface to its graphical programming features.
Max 8 continues the evolution of Cycling '74's flagship media programming environment as it progresses through what must be, in software terms, a comfortable but active middle age.
Max 8 sees Cycling '74 enhance both multi-channel audio and JavaScript support, among many other improvements.