SeriesApple Logic

- Were there any compatibility issues? Not at all, it worked straight away with any audio interface I've ever plugged into the mac. Logic Pro X doesn't like the 32bits plugins anymore, though, so if you have many of them it might not be your best choice for a DAW (unless you want to use stuff like jbridge... personally I like to keep things simple). - Is the general configuration/setup simple? Very. All you have to do is download it from the AppStore. The main package is pretty small, and if you want to use the extra stuff (wich is a lot) it asks you to download it separately as soon as you click on a preset or open a project that needs something you didn't install yet. But in my opinion the best you can do is just go to the 'download additional content' menu, click on everything and let it sort things out, so you don't have to even think about it anymore. - Is the manual clear and sufficient? - Are the typical functions easily accessible? To be honest, I've never read the manual. This is a good thing. :) SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE - For how long have you been using it? Almost a year, already! - Does the software work correctly in this configuration? - Is this configuration (software and gear) stable? Works really well, never had any problem with interfaces or plugins (I don't use many third party plugins, actually, but anyway...). - What performance are you getting? (if quantifiable) I'm on a mac book air - the cheapest one, 2014 i5 1.4Ghz, 4gb RAM - and it runs smoothly here, even with around 40 tracks on a project and many plugins on tracks and buses and etc. So far I didn't have to freeze tracks or anything to be able to work. I've even tried opening a project from an external USB 3.0 drive, with no problems at all. OVERALL OPINION - What thing do you like most/least about it? I make soudntracks for videogames, so what I like the most is definitely the sound library and it's hundreds and hundreds of loops, all the presets, and stuff like 'drummer' that Logic has. Its always easy to quickly get an idea from your head to the computer, and give it some polishment later by tweaking what the presets already gave you. On the other side, some virtual instruments haven't been updated since Logic 9. The strings are weak, so are the brass sections... I like the drums and the synths, but if you really need to make people believe that those instruments are real, you better get some other libraries. Apart from that, all the MIDI editing is pretty easy to do, the interface is clean and organized and once you learn (or customize) some shortcuts you can work quite fast. - Did you try many other models before getting this one? I've worked with Cubase, Sonar, Nuendo, Reaper, Pro Tools... I don't really like to say 'best', but Logic certainly has many features that are very useful to me and the kind of work that I do. - What is your opinion about the value for the price? It's a bargain, no doubt about it! - Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice? After some four years without releasing a new version it really looks like now the team behind Logic is working well. Unless some other software shows me something that really makes my life a lot easier, I don't see a reason to change it.

Apple Logic Studio 9 was my main program that I would use a year ago. It was my go to program because of the VST’s that come with it. I think Logic has some of the best “built in” VST’s out of any program that has come out so far. Everything with Logic 9 is easy to use if you are already familiar with it, if you are new to Logic then you will have some issues and you will need to take a long look at the manual. The manual is in depth and has all of the info that you need to troubleshoot or just learn how to navigate your way through the menu’s in Logic 9. When you purchase Logic 9 you will get a few disk , the bonuses are Soundtrack Pro 3, Studio Effects, MainStage 2 and a few others that I cant remember off the top of my head. Apple also has a website where you can watch tutorials on how to work with Logic just in case reading the manual Pdf isn’t your thing. I have been using Logic since 7 came out years ago and I continue to use it now on my Macbook Air. I never really finish a full song in Logic though because I like to work in Pro Tools as well. Some people say they would rather use Logic than Pro Tools but to me they both go hand and hand if you know how to use them correctly. Logic 9 was a great improvement from Logic 8. Apple continues to keep adding new features to Logic that keeps me on my toes. If you have a newer Mac computer, I highly suggest investing in Logic! It will be one of the best investments you have made in your music career because it is probably the best music creating software from composing to recording all in one that is out now. It is a must have.

Apple Logic Express 7 is a program that you can do almost everything in. I don’t think you can still purchase it though because they have upgraded versions now. Logic Express 7 is not really the full version of Logic also known as the pro versions of logic. There are some big differences in the Express and Pro versions and mainly it’s the plug in instruments. Also, maybe a few effects from the mixer as well. Apple Logic Express 7 belongs in more of a classroom type setting if you ask me. It just seems as if they watered down the pro version. So maybe for people who cant afford to get the Pro version would get Express 7 but I just don’t think it’s a good idea. SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE As with all of Logics software it will run great on your mac, remember its mac only! I do wish Logic would come out with a windows based version. I think they could make a lot of money if they did because there are a lot of pc users that would love to try Logic. OVERALL OPINION Overall, its great but if you can afford to get the pro version get it. Don’t get the Express 7 because you will just need to upgrade to pro anyways at some point or another. So you mine as well just save up and get the pro version and save your self from the headach. Unless you get the Logic Express 7 and have the money to get some good plug ins. But if you have the money for some good plug ins you mine as well just upgrade to pro and be ready to go right off the bat and skip Express. But all in all Express 7 is a good software but I recommend going with the Pro version, you wont regret it.

Apple Logic Pro 9 is a very good sequencing program, you can pretty much do your whole song in Logic 9 from the musical creation process to the recording process. You will be very pleased with how much Logic Pro 9 can help you. Even if you have used Logic before and have an earlier version of it. It will still be beneficial for you to upgrade to Pro 9 asap. SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE I ran apple pro logic pr 9 on my mac book pro for a while. It wont crash or cause any problems for you. I have been nothing but please with Pro 9 and its ability to give me a good sounds and a great work flow process. OVERALL OPINION Overall, the best thing about Logic Pro 9 that I love is the synths that come with it. Logic Pro 9 is one of the few softwares that I would say can actually go without having to purchase a bunch of other synths right off the bat. All of the built in (that come with it) synths are high quality and are very unique. Each plug in can be controlled 100 percent from all parameters. It comes with a packed library of great synths and sounds. Only thing that I really didn’t use that came with it where the drums. I imported my own drum kits because I have a unique sound of real live kits that I love. Logic Pro 9’s live drum kits arent that good for me. But that is not problem at all because we all have our own drums we love to use. The mixer track on Logic Pro 9 is top quality too, you can really get a good master if you know what you are doing and have a solid ear. You will have no worries with Logic Pro 9. Its not very cheap though it does cost a good amount of money. But this is actually one of the only softwares I can say that complete with Pro tools on a professional level.

Logic Pro 8, I have used logic for about 3 years, first Logic Pro 7 and now Logic Pro 8. I used this in school, and now my company has a copy, it is $500, the old version Logic Pro 7 was $1000, what a bargain! Wow, what can I say, this program can do so much. I mainly use it to digitally compose music. The midi instruments are much better then anything I have used, (although I know there are better ones out there), and you can even make your own by recording samples, if you have the patience. There are TONS of filters to fine tune your effects of both midi and real instruments, it has digital amplifiers that can make your guitar sound like its hooked up to the real thing! And there are so many choices, so many effects I couldn't even name them all. And with audio you can raise or lower pitch, slow down or speed up. And one of the great things with midi is that you can print out sheet music of your composition, which is great if you are composing for a band or orchestra. There are so many more things this program can do if you take the time to learn them. The only bad thing I can say about this program is that it is not that user friendly, and can take some time to master, although it is still an improvement from previous versions. But once you master it, wow, you can do so much! If you are serious about digital composition or mastering this is a must have, and worth every penny, if you are not serious, just stick with garage band, this program will take some time to learn. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Apple Logic Express 9 is a solid piece of software. It worked great on my Quad Core computer and never crashed once. I have used Express 9 for about a year before leaving to go to Acid. But all Express 9 users will tell you that this software is great. When I first started using it was difficult for me because of the layout of the program, but once I picked up the manual and read through a few parts it was really clear to me how to do everything that I needed to know. I used Express 9 more for recording, it has a simple workflow for recording and its extremely quick. SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE Express 9 is a highly sought after piece of software and its expensive as well. There are a ton of other software's on the market that do the exact same thing as Express 9 and cost a lot cheaper. There is nothing special about this software that makes it worth that much more many than other software's. OVERALL OPINION On things that stands out with Express 9 is the power of the mixer and effects. I love the compression and options that come with it. The compression is something that a lot of software's don’t focus on any more. It seemed like Express 9 focused a lot on the mixing part of making great sounding music. I really appreciate the fact that you have full control over the compression and and tweak it just right and its quicker and easier in this software than it was in Fl Studio and Acid. Overall Express 9 is a powerful piece of software, its well worth the money spent if you have the money to spend. I suggest downloading a trial version of it first to see how you like that layout of it and if you can see your self doing production , recording, or mixing with it.

I have been a Logic user since long before it was an Apple product and have to say that this latest version is by far the best yet! Avid/Digidesign keeps giving me more and more reasons to consider ProTools but the bottom line is why switch when I already have everything I already need right here in Logic. SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE I primarily use this for audio recording and it does an awesome job of that but this latest version gave me some great guitar amp and cabinet models as well as some great instruments (like the EVB3 Hammond Organ). I like the amp/cab models so much I sold all of my other amp/cab gear that I was using for recording and use strictly Logic for all of this now. Additionally I like the EVB3 so much that I quit hauling all of my gear to my old church that had a Hammond C3/Leslie 21H and just resided to using the EVB3 instead. OK, it isn't quite a real Hammond but it is so dang close that the hassle of utilizing the real thing just wasn't worth it any longer. OVERALL OPINION The only thing I would like to see better of is reverb plug-ins. Maybe I am a reverb snob but I think Apple could do better with the plug-ins and default presets. Don't get me wrong, they are great but not in line with the greatness of the rest of the suite. Logic 8 just works. No troubles on my iMac Core 2 Duo. Works perfectly with my current interface and MIDI keyboard. CPU load is minimal, even with tons of plugins going. And at the end of the day, Logic sounds great. My mixes are coming together nicely, and when people hear the songs I'm working on they comment on how professional they sound. I recommend this to all musicians.

Logic has been one of the main competitors to Pro Tools for quite awhile. Ever since around Logic 7, they've really started giving Pro Tools a run for its money. With Logic Pro 8, you get rock solid performance and ease of use that other DAWs don't really seem to offer. Since it's an Apple professional application, there are no issues when it comes to compatibility or usage issues. The manual isn't the greatest, and I find viewing Youtube tutorials to be the best way to learn these powerful applications such as this. They'll walk you through everything step by step and explain why things work the way they do. Setting it up to record audio is very simple, and it should be easy enough to start recording for anybody who has a mic pre for their computer. The hot keys on the keyboard might take awhile to learn, but you can buy an overlay for your keyboard or just do everything with the mouse if you'd like. SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE As with all Apple products, they're rock solid. I haven't experienced a single crash with Waveburner, and that's part of the magic of OS X. You're dealing with one of the best and most stable OSes out there. Everything is optimized for your hardware (assuming you're not using some sort of Hackintosh), and everything meshes like it should. The program doesn't use up too much memory, but it is a pro app, so it'll use more memory than certain other apps out there. Logic was my second DAW I learned, but it's been my main one for years and years now. OVERALL OPINION Logic Pro 8 has since been surpassed by Logic Pro 9. However, 8 is still a great DAW. I was contemplating if it was even worth it to switch to 9 for the longest time, but I eventually gave in. The biggest downside to Logic Pro 8 is that it's only 32-bit compatible. It'll work on a 64-bit OS and computer, but you'll only be able to run it in 32-bit mode, severely limiting the maximum potential of your computer.