In order to add extra functionality to max, you can download and install “3rd party externals”.  These are binaries that you download, unzip and place within your MAX SEARCH PATH (i.e. in Max, go to Options > File Preferences… and add the folder where you’ll put your 3rd party extensions; I recommend a folder called “_for-Max” in your “Documents” folder).

Some helpful examples:

• Physical Computing: Maxuino
  • how to connect motors/lights/solenoids/leds to Max with Maxuino
• Machine Vision: OpenCV for Max (cv.jit)
• Audio Analsyis for Max: Zsa Objects (Emmanuel Jourdain) and analyzer~ (Trista Jehan)