Apple Logic Pro Review | technological radar

Apple Logic Pro Review | technological radar

Since Apple acquired it in 2002, Logic Pro (formerly Logic Pro X) has been its flagship audio production software, and easily one of the best audio editors around. And as if to prove it, the latest version includes a ton of new features.

Apple Logic Pro: prices and plans

Apple offers a 90-day free trial of Logic Pro, after which you can buy it for $199.99 / $174.99. Although this is a high initial outlay, it is a one-time cost and future upgrades are free.

The software requires Mac 11.9 or later and works on any Mac, whether it has an Intel or Apple M1 or M2 processor. So you don't need the best audio PC or a high-end laptop to start music production.

Apple Logic Pro: Tools and Features

Apple Logic Pro X audio editor screenshot

You can choose between "easy mode" and full mode in the advanced settings menu (Image credit: Apple)

This music creation software is Apple's complete professional digital audio workstation (DAW). It's a big step up from its stripped-down progeny Apple GarageBand for Mac and iOS, and its versatility and power have ensured Logic Pro's widespread professional use, while also garnering a huge following.

It is a very powerful application, but to make things easier and to help newcomers, you will find a button on the top right that allows you to choose to work in simplified or full-featured mode. The button takes you to the Advanced Settings tab where you can find a precision of the features that differ between the two modes. The best thing about this cool feature is that tracks recorded in full features mode will retain their features when played back in simplified mode.

Logic Pro offers nearly 2000 definable MIDI keys and commands, and to help you experiment and get creative, there's also a 200-step undo history, including undo for plug-in and mixer editing.

With so much power and so many options, you'll need to free up some space. Although the basic installation of the program only requires 6 GB, the installation of the entire sound library requires 72 GB.

You get nearly 6000 instrument and effect patches, plus 1200 sampled instruments and 14 Apple Loops—music samples that can be played within the Live Loops grid that Logic Pro shares with GarageBand for iOS.

Your high-quality recordings are at stake, so it's worth making a backup before upgrading. Navigate to your applications folder and find Logic Pro. Control click and select compress, create a new folder and put your current version in there just in case.

Furthermore, the audio editing software now comes with spatial audio, Ableton Live connectivity via Ableton Link, 32-bit floating support, new loops and packs, a new 'free time' tool, nested stacks and 35 boards. of pedals now available. as individual add-ons. All in all, this "light" update certainly has a small impact.

Apple Logic Pro: interface

Apple Logic Pro X audio editor screenshot

Vocal tracks 6-20 are now hidden and still editable on the 'sum track' (Image credit: Apple)

For a long time, users have been asking for more features. Apple listened and added this feature, making stacking even more useful.

There are two types of batteries. Folder stacks provide basic organizational functionality: they can be separated and leveled, but they have no measurements. Summing stacks, on the other hand, retain the ability to edit parameters on individual tracks in the stack, as well as edit them all at once where you can edit, add effects, etc., saving you a lot of time. Behind the scenes, Summing Stacks routes the output of the stacked tracks to an audio sub which is then routed to a bus, saving you the hassle of doing all that and also freeing up your work space.

This latest version of Logic Pro also adds nested stacks, of both types, essentially stacks within stacks. This new level of hierarchy in your DAW organization allows you to further subdivide group editing tasks.

Stacks are easy to use and can be rearranged by dragging the track headers or by dragging a track header if you want to remove it.

Apple Logic Pro: Simplified experience

This update also gives you the ability to save all 35 Pedal Board pedals as individual plug-ins. This means that you can record the output of the generated MIDI effects as part of the track instead of adding them during playback. You can choose to do this in a particular region and for any particular plugin you have applied.

If you're new to multitrack recording or just want to change the volume of your graded tracks, the new Gain tool is for you. It's in the left-click menu on the main track menu bar, and once selected, you can simply hover over any track and drag the appearing level bar up or down for instant effect.

All of these new streamlined features will help you organize your workspace, work smarter, and save processing power. They continue Apple's dedication to smart energy-saving strategies while maximizing its music-making resources. For example, you can freeze tracks, make them temporary, and disable access to your meters, saving you space.

Logic Pro is more ready than ever to do all the heavy lifting for you, so you can focus on other things, like connecting to Ableton Live.

Apple Logic Pro: Ableton Link Sync

Apple Logic Pro X audio editor screenshot

Ableton Link compatibility lets you sync DAWs with others (Image credit: Apple)

The latest Logic Pro update also supports the Ableton Link protocol, which will appeal to many users. Ableton Link syncs the beat, phase, and tempo of Ableton Link-enabled apps, whether on the same computer or on a shared network.

Ableton Link makes it easy to play with other networked musicians, and the source deck can be switched between them. All participants will be synced to the tempo of the source deck, making it easy to join at any time. When the source platform changes, it will keep pace with the participants. These options will override the Tempo track automation and Smart Temp settings in Logic Pro.

Status changes are shown in the black control bar at the top center of the DAW. With Ableton Link connected, a circular progress bar appears with the number of Jam participants in the middle.

Ableton Link in Logic Pro also supports start/stop sync, which means you can sync start and stop commands across all connected apps that have start/stop sync enabled.

Apple Logic Pro: spatial audio with Dolby Atmos integration

Apple Logic Pro X audio editor screenshot

Spatial Audio creates a more immersive experience (Image credit: Apple)

The new Logic Pro 10.7.5 update also introduces Spatial Audio, another superbly intuitive view that allows for even more dynamic editing. Your Spatial Audio mixes and Dolby Atmos files will also play natively in Apple Music, making it easy to output.

You'll find these delights in the Dolby Atmos tab of the mixing menu. Once Spatial Audio is enabled, you can go to the Track Inspector on the far left of the DAW and see the square pad that appears at the bottom. Click on it to open the Spatial Audio window.

Once there, you'll be able to move the instruments around with the cursor and hear how they change the location of the sounds on your compatible headphones. It's fun and easy to hear the differences and oddly satisfying to have a 3D spatial view of a purely audio signal, which can be manipulated for much more realistic and immersive listening.

The original binaural preset, introduced in version 10.7.3, has been updated with the option of a custom spatial audio profile. It's essentially the same Head Related Transfer Function (HRTF) algorithm as the original, but now tailored to your specific measurements. The algorithm can read photos taken on your phone and adapt the HRTF to the actual size of your head and the distance between your ears, greatly improving personal reading.

Apple Logic Pro: 32-bit floating

You can now import 32-bit floating point audio files directly into Logic Pro without conversion.

The introduction of this standard increases file sharing compatibility with other professional DAWS, which should be a good thing. Users will appreciate the additional free space when editing provided by 32-bit float "scientific notation", which is a huge increase in raw data.

It's always helpful to remember that any ambient sound present during any recording will still be there when you come to edit. Those who record in the field will know that it always pays to get the levels right when recording as a basic habit, rather than thinking it will just "fix the problem after the fact".

Apple Logic Pro: Board

Swipe to scroll horizontally Row 0 - Cell 0 Row 0 - Cell 1 Row 0 - Cell 2 Pricing and plans One-time purchase, all future updates free5 Tools and features Comes with tools and is available to everyone 5 Interface Improved interface for easy navigation 5 Simplified experience and new tools added 4.5 Ableton Link sync Easy to sync with Ableton Live4.5Dolby Atmos integrationExcellent way to manipulate audio in 3D spaces4.532-bit floatImproved 32-bit float compatibility4.5GlobalAn impressive quality digital audio workstation professional with great new updates4.5

I should buy?

Apple Logic Pro X audio editor screenshot

(Image credit: Apple)

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