MSP is a graphical
programming environment designed for music and
multimedia applications. MSP is a new addition to an older program,
Max.
Max operates on incoming and outgoing
MIDI signals (and generates
MIDI signals), while MSP operates on and/or generates
digital audio signals.
Max and MSP are not seperate programs, however, they are merged into one program and elements from each can be used simultaneously (i.e. using a MIDI signal to control a digital audio signal, and vice versa).
Max is named for Max V. Mathews, computer music pioneer and sailing enthusiast. MSP does not officially stand for anything, but could perhaps stand for "Max Signal Processing" or "Miller S. Puckette" (the original creator of MAX), as well as other, less probable, acronyms.
For a brief description on the way Max (and therefore MSP) works, see the node on Max.
MAX/MSP are now owned by Cycling '74 (www.cycling74.com)