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Apple Introduces Logic Pro 6 and Logic Express 76

Posted by pudge from the mo-music-mo-music dept.
dark_lotus writes "Apple introduces Logic Pro 6 and Logic Express. This brings Apple's audio offerings (GarageBand, Logic Express, and Logic Pro) to a similar setup with its three levels of video editors (iMovie, Final Cut Express, and Final Cut Pro). Logic Pro boasts new innovative software instruments, including Sculpture, a new component-modeling based synthesizer, and UltraBeat, a deep and rich percussion synthesizer that provides multiple synthesis techniques for generating every type of electronic or acoustic drum sound imaginable. You can read the press releases for the Preview of Logic and the announcement of Logic Pro and Logic Express. Logic Pro is priced at US$999, while Logic Express is priced at US$299. Today is also the launch of iLife '04 which comes with GarageBand, the new iLife app for music creation."
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Apple Introduces Logic Pro 6 and Logic Express More

Apple Introduces Logic Pro 6 and Logic Express

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  • Death of Silver (Score:5, Insightful)

    by lxt ( 724570 ) on Friday January 16, 2004 @12:53PM (#7999798) Journal
    I would have preferred to see Apple keep the Silver, Gold and Platinum pricing system for Logic - Gold was around $499 when I bought it, a decent compromise, especially when I didn't need the extra features (eg, 5.1 capability) that Platinum editions provided. However, this means I either spend $999 (which I can't really afford), or $299 for something that won't have the features I need.

    • How about spending $199 (Score:5, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 16, 2004 @05:38PM (#8003133)
      OSXAudio.com (check the forums) has many reports that current Plat and Gold customers will be able to upgrade for $199. And that includes EVERYTHING. Older version will have a higher upgrade price to get current. Seems like a very good deal, especially for Gold owners.

  • Comment removed (Score:5, Informative)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Friday January 16, 2004 @12:58PM (#7999855)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion
  • I heard that eMagic/Apple previewed for a couple of people the next generation of Logic aka Logic 7. Sounds interesting indeed, but I can't find any information on what the presentation might have had. Anybody got any luck?

  • Buying iLife '04 on Sunday (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Selecter ( 677480 ) on Friday January 16, 2004 @01:05PM (#7999934)
    ...mainly to get GarageBand. I'm a bass player and I want to use it for practice when a "real" band is not available. If that goes well, I will probably upgrade to Logic Express the same way I am upgrading to Final Cut Express 2. How do the hard core Logic users feel about Apple controlling Logic so far? Do you welcome your Apple overlords? ;)

    • Re:Buying iLife '04 on Sunday (Score:5, Interesting)

      by bennomatic ( 691188 ) on Friday January 16, 2004 @02:19PM (#8000815) Homepage
      I very much welcome our new Apple Audio Overlords. I think it's great that they are branching out into more of the specialized niches which appreciate the kind of quality engineering that Apple provides.

      For a long time it was just desktop publishing. Then DTP and graphics/photo editing. Then video. Audio just makes sense!

      This is as opposed to the Redmond overlords, who seem to be branching into everything that makes any money, from phones to PDAs to video games... What's their business plan again?

      • It was pointed out to me that the only major media creation niche that Apple doesn't own the de facto software for is 3d Animation. With Steve Jobs owning Pixar, it would be interesting to see where they went if Apple ever purchased a Animation software suite... Ofcourse, Alias|Wavefront's Maia is the existing champion my a long way, and since I doubt they are up for sale(how cool would THAT be?) I suppose Apple wouldn't buy the second place app.
        • Ofcourse, Alias|Wavefront's Maia is the existing champion my a long way, and since I doubt they are up for sale(how cool would THAT be?)

          No, that would suck.. the day Apple buys Maya would be the same day they announce that they're cancelling their Linux version.
        • I am always wondering why Jobs does not make Pixar's Renderman available. I believe all Pixar's animations (Finding Nemo, etc.) are made using Renderman. That would make it even better than Maya, no?

          • Re:Buying iLife '04 on Sunday (Score:4, Informative)

            by g_lightyear ( 695241 ) on Saturday January 17, 2004 @09:07AM (#8006823) Homepage
            Pixar was feeling around a while back to see whether or not there was interest in getting RenderMan back to the Mac. (Once upon a time, yes, it was on the mac. :)

            But it wouldn't be 'better' than Maya - Maya's strength isn't in its renderer, it's in the modeller. The renderer's not bad, but it can generate RIB format data, and is a world-class modeller if you're using it to create scenes to be rendered in RenderMan-compliant renderers.

            More of a Mental Ray vs RenderMan thing, really. There's competition there. But the procedural nature of RenderMan's textures and the world - along with being what makes it so difficult to master - is what makes it beautiful and unique. RenderMan's shader language is bizarre and wonderful, both in terms of scope and capability. All of this new 'procedural texture' stuff in current-generation 3D hardware owes an awful lot to RenderMan's shader language.
    • I haven't seen FCE2 yet, but since FCE1 was based on FCP3 and the new Express is based on the current FCP4, I imagine the upgrade will be significant.

      FCP4 was an awesome upgrade (albeit with a couple of bugs here and there that have been mostly ironed out).

      The inclusion of Compressor alone made it worth the upgrade for us - we don't need Cleaner anymore.

      I don't think FCE2 comes with Compresssor though.

  • Replace my stereo/DVD/CD? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by stefanlasiewski ( 63134 ) * <slashdot AT stefanco DOT com> on Friday January 16, 2004 @01:20PM (#8000113) Homepage Journal
    With all these multimedia apps, it would be great to have one of these iLife enabled Macs next to my TV.

    If I could hook it up to the TV and the stereo, I'd have streaming audio, a CD player, DVD player... thought I saw a radio receiver card somewhere. I could replace many apps with a single device.

    But the footprint of the Macs are too big for this sort of application. Wonder if they're going to work on that next...
    • Well, an Xserve [apple.com] doesn't take that much space. Anyone ever attempt to install a rack-mount computer into an entertainment center?
      • Yeah, an Xserve would be just the thing. He could throw it in the rack with all his other stuff and be the boss. Most of yer hardcore audio guys already have a standard 19' EID rack with all of their stuff in it already, if not several.

        Cleared for takeoff, dude. Go for it.

      • Nah -- an Xserve is waaaaay too deep for normal applications -- close to 30".

        I looked into adding one to my portable rig and even though I have a box with a bigass mixer in it, it was nowhere near deep enough. Most pro audio equipment is no more than 12" deep, they just don't mix well...

        Most home audio stuff isn't even 20" deep. So I guess you could add an Xserve but either you'd need some crazy-deep shelf space or be happy with one unit sticking like 10" out the back of your rack/shelf...

        • Re:Xserve (Score:3, Informative)

          by Anonymous Coward
          Dimensions:
          1.73 inches (4.4 cm) high by 17.6 inches (44.7 cm) wide by 28 inches (71.1 cm) deep

          Weight:
          33 pounds (15.1 kg); 37 pounds (16.6 kg) with three Apple Drive Modules

          That is pretty deep by home appliance comparison.
      • Well, an Xserve doesn't take that much space. Anyone ever attempt to install a rack-mount computer into an entertainment center?

        An Xserve is so loud, you wouldn't be able to hear your TV. Probably not a very good living room machine.
      • Well, an Xserve [apple.com] doesn't take that much space. Anyone ever attempt to install a rack-mount computer into an entertainment center?

        As I'm sure others will point out, there's two big problems off the bat: the Xserve has a big ass, and it sounds like a Chinook helicopter when in operation.

        But other than that, cool idea! No, seriously. I could certainly use a 'media processor' kind of PC for all those things that people tend to hack old PCs into - MP3 jukeboxes, TiVO replacement, general storage

    • Why not an 12-inch iBook [apple.com]? Less than a foot wide and about nine inches deep.
    • How 'bout an iMac [apple.com]? I think the base is about a 9" circle, and you can swing the screen out of the way when you're not using it. The 15" LCD's no bigger than some stereo components I could name.

      The Xserve is a monster with huge hissing fans; you wouldn't want it near your entertainment center.

      D
    • Why don't you try El Gato's EyeHome [elgato.com]? It's small, and the interface looks pretty slick.
    • You would be best off getting an iBook with a damaged screen from eBay. This would have the small footprint you need, and also be quiet. As a remote control, you might want to try romeo [irowan.com] and a bluetooth phone (again, look for one on eBay).
  • Now no more, I went to an apple shop today, there are logic audio screenshots everywhere on the flyers. Same thing at the applestore iirc. Apple must have given them serious money for exclusivity...
    Which gives me one more reason to buy a powerbook. Aaaah it hurts, I want one noooow !
    You can make a paypal donation to help me have a normal life with all those shiny smiling self confidents peoples [apple.com] at http://IWantAPowerbookNowButDontHaveMoney.com.
    Still 3000 euros to donate, please hurry !

  • Soundtrack (Score:4, Informative)

    by arloguthrie ( 318071 ) on Friday January 16, 2004 @01:51PM (#8000459) Homepage
    It's also interesting to note that Apple lowered the price of Soundtrack [apple.com] to $199 (from $299). Though Soundtrack is marketed more as an accessory to Final Cut Pro, it still features all of the Apple Loop whatsits that work in GarageBand and have been wedged into the new Logic offerings. In this iLife/Express/Pro product matrix for audio and video, I wonder where this leaves Soundtrack.

  • Switching / Crossgrading (Score:5, Interesting)

    by skinfitz ( 564041 ) on Friday January 16, 2004 @02:32PM (#8000924) Journal
    Does anyone know if when Logic Pro is launched (March) if Apple will be offering discounted crossgrades from other products? I've looked around but can't find anything.

    I presently use Cubase VST/32 on the PC, but am about to switch my studio setup to a G5.

    I have money burning a hole in my bank account, however the G5's are rumoured to get a speed bump "on or after the 20th Jan" and so obviously I'm waiting a few days.

    Also NAMM [namm.com] is on in the US at the moment which basically means its a bad time to buy anything audio related as if manufacturers are going to launch new products, it's now.

    I was going to upgrade to CubaseSX2.0 as Steinberg are rather generously providing PC and Mac versions of their software at the moment on the same CD meaning that this is a great time to switch, however there is a long standing graphics bug (5 months and counting) with SX2.0 and Panther which I am not impressed with. Yes I can get around it by running Jaguar 10.2.8 on the G5, however it's going to come with Panther pre-installed.

    If Apple do offer a nicely priced crossgrade, I will be giving serious thought to switching to Logic Pro.

  • I've Got My iLife Copy (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Compulawyer ( 318018 ) on Friday January 16, 2004 @09:43PM (#8004734)
    I've been playing guitar longer than I haven't, but haven't delved into using my Mac with my guitar - until today. Yes, I was sucked into Steve Jobs's Reality Distortion Zone when I watched the Macworld keynote address and thought GarageBand looked too cool to not have. I'm glad I paid my $49 for it - GB rocks.

    I'm sure it is not sophisticated enough for most musicians who are used to editing/composing with computer assistance, but for me, GB is just right. The interface is clean and understandable and the samples are of very good quality. I'm even impressed with the quality of the software guitar amplifiers.

    Just when I thought I couldn't have any more fun with my PowerBook, GB proves me wrong. I like being wrong like this.


  • I have been waiting with great anticipation for GarageBand to arrive and after a night of playing with the program, I can say that it does not disappoint. It's 3:30 a.m. and I've just finished up my first two songs.

    Follow this link [michael-forman.com] to listen to the mp3 files and to download their GarageBand source.

    Michael [michael-forman.com].

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