For everybody out there with the black Max generation 3, how many brakes do you use as well as what is your spool tension?

Check out Glen's video on how to cast a baitcaster.  The advice on setting up the reel is spot on for the reel you mention. One piece of advice; Educate your thumb to using a baitcaster, your casting accuracy will improve and backlashes will diminish.

Just set the brakes somewhere around the middle. The exact number of clicks doesn't matter, just in that middle range. Then adjust the spool tension for each different bait by holding the rod out and backing off the tension until the bait drops to the ground without the line overrunning. I used those a lot around a decade ago when I started. These days my spool tension is set so loose that I can't trust anyone to cast using my stuff without warning them or tightening it up so they don't trash my spool of line.