Apple revamps Logic Studio audio suite
Apple released on Thursday the next major version of Logic Studio, the company's suite of professional audio applications.
I was given early access to the new version and have been using it for some time now. I can say the new features will not only improve your workflow, but will also improve the sound of your music.
Logic Studio consists of three main applications: Logic Pro 9, MainStage 2, and Soundtrack Pro 3. As part of the bundle you also get 80 Studio Effects plug-ins, 40 software instrument plug-ins, more than 1,700 sampled instruments, and over 20,000 Apple Loops.
I've been a guitar player for the better part of 20 years and a Logic Pro user for the last five. While I've enjoyed using Logic Pro, there are some features that have been on my wish list for some time. They're here now.
Amp Designer, Pedalboard
Logic Pro included its own guitar amp modeling software for some time. Guitar Amp Pro was an adequate piece of software, but it lacked a lot of the tone that I typically look for in my tracks.
Guitar tone is a very subjective thing. What sounds great to one person may sound weak to another. It's critically important to have the ability to adjust the guitar tone and make tiny changes to the amp parameters until you're satisfied.
Amp Designer, Apple's new amp modeling software, fulfills these requirements. Apple obviously spent a lot of time on the design of Amp Designer. While that doesn't help with the sound, it certainly does help with the familiarity with the software. If the software looks and acts like an amp, you're more apt to approach it like you would a real amp.
I'm not saying that design makes for great sound, but it does affect the way you approach using the software.
When it comes to sound, the new amp models are very impressive. Apple doesn't use the actual names of the amps, but you can easily guess at what the amps are by looking at them.
Amp Designer comes with 25 amps, 25 cabinets, and three mics. The mics, amps, and cabs can be mixed and matched to achieve virtually any kind of sound you want.
Pedalboard is a virtual stompbox that goes hand-in-hand with Amp Designer, giving you more options and ways to shape the sound of your guitar tone. Again, Apple spent a lot of time on the design of Pedalboard, but it's the sound that makes the software standout.
Pedalboard includes 30 stompboxes in all and includes Overdrive, Distortion, Fuzz, Delay, Chorus, Flange, Phaser, Tremolo, Treble Boost, Wah, and even a mixer, so that you can put effects on channel A or channel B.
Flex Time and manipulating audio
Flex Time is one of the best overall features of Logic. It does basically what the name says--it allows you to manipulate the timing and tempo of recorded audio or flex time. Users of Pro Tools' Elastic Audio will already be familiar with concept behind Flex Time, as the features have the same aim.
This is an incredibly easy feature to use and truly a handy one to have at your fingertips. Have you ever recorded a piece of audio and found you were off, even just a little bit? It's one of those things that drives you crazy when you listen to the music.
Flex Time allows you to adjust just those pieces of audio without affecting the rest of the performance.
Here's an example of what I did to test Flex Time. I put down a Beta Monkey drum loop, recorded a short blues rhythm guitar track and then recorded a second track of solo guitar. I purposely recorded the solo track way out of time, just to see what I could do with it.
I enabled Flex Time on the solo track, and Logic analyzed the waveform, which took a few seconds. You can then click on the markers and move the audio in-place to line it up to a spot that you think sounds better.
Flex Time gives you a warning by turning orange and then red if you've stretch the audio too far. You can also adjust the audio automatically by quantizing it, but that sounds a little too mechanical for my tastes.
Over 200 new features
Guitar amps and manipulating time are not the only new features in Logic Studio. In fact, Apple says that it has included more than 200 new features and enhancements in the suite of apps.
Logic Pro 9 gives you the ability to access more tools using mouse click zones; scoring has been improved; and more shortcut menus have been added to more areas of the application.
MainStage 2 received a lot of attention from Apple, not only with Amp Designer and Pedalboard, but with other new features as well. A Loopback plug-in gives you the ability to play and record multiple loops; new templates with a cover flow interface are included; and a Playback plug-in lets you playback audio with the push of a button.
Bottom line
Logic Studio is a clear winner for Apple. Whether you are a guitar player looking for improved amp sounds or an engineer that wants to improve your workflow, Logic Studio has something new for you.
Logic Studio costs $499. Current owners of Logic Studio or Logic Pro can purchase an upgrade for $199. Logic Express users can upgrade for $299.
Jim Dalrymple has followed Apple and the Mac industry for the last 15 years, first as part of MacCentral and then in various positions at Macworld. A guitar player for 20 years, Jim also writes about the professional audio market, examining the best ways to write and record songs on a Macintosh with Logic Pro and Pro Tools. Jim is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. 
People, if you want to make great music, go to a quite place, write some poetry and stop borrowing your friends MacBook to create bee-bops just to be the next Lady GaGa! Music starts with words, you don't put it into motion on a whim and that's all Logic is about.
I am at the point where the more obscure the band is, the more I seem to like them... Tiger Lou, Novastar, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Supergrass, Bat For Lashes, Vampire Weekend... stuff that is virtually unheard of in the US.
Of course, American Idol isn't really helping the music industry much either. I wish Apple would come out with the iRazor so the author would shave that heinous beard of his ;)
The fact is, if you can put tools in the hands of more people, you'll find talent where you couldn't find it before.
Your lame argument could be applied when multitrack recording and synthesizers the Michael Jackson used were released too - did they ruin the music industry.
And you are kidding yourself if you think Thriller was the best musical "genius" album ever recorded.
A crappy bee bop demo is enough to showcase a good idea written in a quiet place and starting with words.
Like someone said before me,this is just a tool...I agree with you to some extent but since you mentioned Micheal Jackson and Quincy Jones not having Logic,I've had the honor of working in a houseband with an incredible keyboardist who played on most of those actual records and even HE uses Logic! He's the one who recommended it to me! Having gear like this can connect musicians that normally wouldn't get a chance to play together.It's just a matter of staying true to music and not letting the software replace what we actually do.Hopefully one day you'll be able to see it's worth.
Continue making great music my friend,just don't go off because someone decides to use a different approach.As a musician,creatvity and being open-minded to new things should be our strongest qualities!
Peace,
JC
"Music starts with words, you don't put it into motion on a whim..."
Are you kidding? Music doesn't start with a formula of any kind. Creating music is entirely about being inspired - a whim as you called it.
With comments like " you wanna be startin' somethin' you can't finish." you come off very immature. Grow up.
One last thing, Garage Band (and Pro logic, which I imagine would have some if not all of the same features, as G.B.) is a very helpful tool to learn how music is made.. such as tempo, rhythm, time signatures, musical notes, and so on and so on.
@ thelemurking....... if by Mayfield, you meant Curtis Mayfield, then he is far from obscure, he IS/Was one of the biggest names in the music business.
to which I'll add, instead of having a room filled of expensive mixing etc. equipment, why not have a computer and software, that can do virtually all of, if not all of, the same features as the larger more expensive equipment.
If there's any actual people out there that are in the business, I'm not saying that software can or does replace the old school equipment, but it does seem to be a great alternative to those that can not afford a multi million dollar recording studio and equipment.
what is music?
Is a poem music? Is a song music? or is music totally separate from either of those?
Stop lying, you don't know what music is if it slapped you in the face. Songs are poetry put into motion. Michael Jackson and Quincy would not use Pro Tools or Logic, listen to Michael's last studio album, Invincible which came out in October 2001, mostly live instruments. Yes, there are few obvious tracks that are synthesized with software, but at least he did not OD on it."
Dude, get a grip. Once again, the software is used mainly for recording, mixing, etc. There are plenty of artists using real instruments but use various IOs along side software like Pro Tools. Also, I agree with some of the other posters. The insult game only shows your ignorance and immaturity.
i use Garageband, Soundtrack, Soundtrack Pro, MOTU's Digital Performer & Reason(not so much). all of these are tools to help me achieve a musical vision/expression & Apple has done well in making the tools of the $1,000,000.00 studios available to anyone who buys a Mac(Garageband is part of the iLife suite). w/ access to great samples from $100,000.00 Bosendorfer pianos that i can play using my $300.00 MIDI keyboard, to vintage bass & guitar amps that are $1,500.00 or more. & now to have the pedalboard is very cool. if you play guitar, especially Rock or any type of Metal, then you know that having 3 or 4 pedals can easily run $300.00 to $500.00 or the access to various guitar modeling say for a 1959 Les Paul Gold Top that retails for $20,000.00-$25,000.00 is terrific for a kid learning to play. many of us use computers to make music, movies or create stunning photos & the truth is more & more of our collective creative endeavors are being created & enjoyed using computers & their related technologies/software.
the music i prefer for listening is Jazz, mostly Straight Ahead or Be-Bop, some Blues, w/ a bit of Country that rocks in the mix. i've ben playing music for over 20 years in various bands--bass & some hand percussion & writing while a solitary venture, doesn't mean i shouldn't use electronic tools-using drum loops to build a sequence may help me more accurately convey my thoughts to a drummer since i don't play a trap set. Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Copeland, Gershwin, Bob Hope, Muddy Waters, Bob Marley all used the most & best of technology available to them @ the they were living. you're probably not very happy that Les Paul gave us the multi-track recorder & process, so all the musicians don't have to be in the same place, @ the same time & play the piece perfectly. multi-tracking, something else MJ & Q wouldn't have been able to do w/out.
Tell me what I should know about the Beatles, or Queen? I'm sure you should be able to prove to me that their music would've sounded better recorded direct to mono 1/4" at 3.5ips.
Even if everyone agreed that the music industry was being ruined (which is BS because there's always been bad music and good music), you'd still be hard pressed to prove that it was due to a software tool existing, rather than business and production decisions made by people, not inanimate software.
Matter of fact, if you are dealing with a studio that isnt running, Pro-tools, Cubase, or Logic, you are most likely in the wrong studio! The other DAW's on the market are for your-average-joe-producer. There are alot of guys working in the smaller named programs (ableton, reason, ect) and send their final stuff to an engineer using Cubase, Logic, ProTools...
So whoever said computers have screwed up music, your an idiot, because every big song from about 1990 up until now, was arranged, and mixed, and copmiled on a computer.
It is not because "PowerPC stinks", it is because IBM, Motorola have never invested in and supported GPU processing technology.
So, we see the results. Snow Leopard is Intel only, heavy GPU enhanced software is Intel only etc.
@musicismusic software enabled untalented idiots who can't really sing, perform to call themselves "artists". Anything before 1980 has more credibility because of it. I am sure the people you politely (!) call idiots simply reminds that fact and they don't speak about a real artist who uses these tools to enhance already good artistic material.
wowwww.
obviously you guys aren't musicians or you would know that many hours and hard work are put in when using those programs and that that you still use ACTUAL INSTRUMENTS when making a song.
the program won't do a damn thing for you in less you write the music.
and logic didn't make lady gaga
it was her millions of fans who haven't heard real musical influences in their life therefore not knowing what quality music is made her.
Mr. dee's post is what's wrong with people today; Ignorance.
I have to agree with the 'It's just a tool' argument. An analogous statement was made about graphic design a few years back, which I just love. "Good computers make bad design suck faster." (or something close to that.) Talent will rise to the top regardless of the vehicle, and indeed, as another poster said, making sophisticated tools available to the masses will allow talent to be found in more places. If you don't like bad music, don't buy it. How it was made is irrelevant.
Kudos to Apple for a great software package.
Logic Studio is used in top recording studios just like any other program. It is now becoming the dominant choice for mac based studios and many people choose Logic over the industry standard Pro Tools because it is simple to use, easy to bring a simple idea to a finished composition and it is used to score, and master records. Logic studio is not just for amateur, It is used across the globe as a professional choice for recording hit artists and is used for everything from songwriting, to recording, to mixing and to mastering.
It is stupid to only consider this program as a cheap way of making cheap crap music. Yes it does happen, but there is the professional side which everyone has left out.
Logic Studio is for both professional and amateurs, how you use the program, whether you make crap music or good music is YOUR fault not Apple's. How you use a program is your choice. Apple can only take the responsibility of making high quality recording software for both professionals and even better, for a more amateur market that enjoys making music and aspiring songwriters and bands.
Thanks to Apple for some great recording features. Flex time looks awesome and the guitar amps is another great addition to the already humongous package. Thanks Apple
- by Dave-Tate August 7, 2009 4:00 AM PDT
- This is the biggest load of ******** i've heard in a long time. Do you have any idea of some of the people who use logic in either their writing or producing? Nine Inch Nails,Depeche Mode, Peter Gabriel, Rick Rubin,Chemical Brothers, RADIOHEAD.
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(42 Comments)Here is a direct quote from Nigel Godrich:
?We mainly used the Mac as an instrument to create new sounds or treat things to make new sounds rather than using it as a multitrack device.?
and:
"...Logic is an astounding piece of software. It?s almost too powerful!?
All logic did, was put the power of a studio, within the grasp of most musicians. Ofcourse you're going to get some crap, but there is now a culture of literally THOUSANDS of truly independent musicians making music that can have the same level of production as those multi-million dollar recording artists.