Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

Spent a good portion of the day yesterday working on a new demo using nothing but LPX. Will post more detailed observations later (both the Good and the Bad) but my initial grades are:
Initial setup, B-
General navigation, A
Editing waveforms, B
Work flow, A-
Mix down ease, A
Mix down options, A+
Amp/cab simulations, B-/C+
Editing amp/cab simulations, C
Editing tempo/time signatures, A+
Adding text notes, A+
Logic Drummer, A+

Bottom line: LPX is VERY 'Mac'. Very intuitive and ergonomic as long as you are not trying to change the actual parameters of what Logic is giving you. If you like to get under the hood and really tweak settings, either you will need outside plugins or have to suffer through plugins that are ALMOST what you are looking for. Logic Drummer is an incredible songwriting tool that I can see growing into something really amazing.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

^
A pretty fair assessment.

I find that the Logic software instruments are a little too generic and - dare I say this? - American. Everything works. Filters squelch but they never achieve the characteristic sounds of Moog, ARP, Oberheim, Roland or old Yamaha instruments. This only seems to come via third party soft synths such as KORG Legacy, Spectrasonics Omnisphere and the Rob Papen stuff. ("Punch" does!)

The amp/cab simulations are kinda cheesy. I find them fine for laying down tracks. It is always possible to disable the Amp Designer model, re-amp the raw guitar signal and re-record the result to another track.

Normal amplification via the Logic Pedalboard effects can prove very interesting too.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

I see two ways of dealing with this.
1) Re-learn the necessary actions to be able to work exactly the same way that you did before.
2) Go on a semi-random voyage of discovery. Prod "buttons". See what happens. If what you discover adds constructively to your project, keep it.

My approach has been a combination of the two. The former can be a drag but it has to be gone through. The latter appeals to my Eno/Oblique Strategies approach. Some projects have a clear and intent and direction from the very beginning. Others just kinda accrete over weeks.

I think I am pretty good about looking at software changes and discovering where things went. However, most of the time with mass market software (or websites) I find that stuff is gone-gone because the company decided to go after more users, which means widening the appeal to more casual users, and then they do some variant of "cleaning up the UI" or "remove confusing features".

I also very rarely find that when new versions drop compatibility with old plugins that I agree with the reasoning from a technical standpoint, unless it is extreme cases like going 64 bits and then refusing to load 32 bit DLLs which would require huge efforts.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

Update: I tracked the guide guitars to the click and when I added Logic Drummer, I do not like the feel. The problem is that where LD humanizes and pushes/pulls the beat is not always where I would like it. So I am going to tweak LD some more and when I am happy with the drums I will re track the guide guitars to follow the new time keeper.

Admittedly, it's all very slight, but it feels unnatural to me and pretty much exactly what it is -- like both parts were recorded in a vacuum.

In the future I think It would be better to build each part together (which I may still do), get the drums right, and then track the guide tracks based on the completed groove.

I will file this under Live And Learn.

 

[AmirH]

Re: Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

If you are beginning a recording project in approximately six weeks' time, stick with the DAW that you already know. (At least for the live audio recording phase). You could always upgrade later and edit in the new environment.

Needless to say, not all features of Logic Pro 9 have been carried over to X. I cannot immediately think of anything that it would be impossible to work around. (Guitar amp models have changed. Some of the old interface controls and graphics went west.)

After a few months of Logic Pro X, I have now reached the state where reverting to 9 in my old laptop causes confusion and reduces what Apple likes to call "throughput".

That's sound advice -- I think I will wait until I close the book on this current set of projects. Thanks

 

[AmirH]

Re: Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

Update: I tracked the guide guitars to the click and when I added Logic Drummer, I do not like the feel. The problem is that where LD humanizes and pushes/pulls the beat is not always where I would like it. So I am going to tweak LD some more and when I am happy with the drums I will re track the guide guitars to follow the new time keeper.

Admittedly, it's all very slight, but it feels unnatural to me and pretty much exactly what it is -- like both parts were recorded in a vacuum.

In the future I think It would be better to build each part together (which I may still do), get the drums right, and then track the guide tracks based on the completed groove.

I will file this under Live And Learn.

That's good to know -- it did seem almost too good to be true. I'm sure like with anything else you'll start to get good results after you've worked with it for a long while.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

The LPX journey continues!

Auto region looping = genius!

 

[aleclee]

Re: Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

This DAW is all about work flow.

That was my observation as well. LPX was the first DAW I used that really made sense about how I went from point A to point B. The workflows around using loops and comping takes are wonderfully straightforward.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

I love LPX. I recorded my EP in LP9 and upgraded afterwards. The drummer feature is great for putting a demo together and capturing the overall feel I want a song to have when I take it to my drummer & bass player, but I doubt that I'd use it for a final release.

Here's a demo track I recently put together using Logic's built-in amps & drummer.

EDIT: the guitars are using built-in amps, but the bass is Eleven Rack. I haven't got around to re-tracking guitars with the 11R yet.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

Downloaded the .7 update for LPX after work today and then had another go with the song template.

I kept the time signature and tempo makers but deleted the rest of the tracks so I could start from scratch.

• This time I took a totally different tack. It was painstaking, but I feel the end results are MUCH better.
• For each section, I brought in a new loop, trimmed it to the appropriate length, and then tweaked it until it worked. Then I tracked the guitars and bass.
• Another thing I did different (as I will be using the guide tracks for reamping tests as well) was put my Philosopher's Tone in front of the interface. This made a HUGE difference in how the amp models behaved and sounded, especially the bass guitar tracks! The Philospher's Tone adds just the right amount of colouration to the signal that gives it an immediacy and 'live-ness' that was missing when going straight into the interface.

Another improvement to the amp sims was not only removing Logic's compressor from the channel strips, but also by matching each track so that I had the same level (-12dbU) with both the amp sims on and off. This was a simple matter of lowering the output of the amp sim's master volume(s). As-is, the amp sim's are WAY too loud and you clip almost immediately.

I still have to track the back half of the song, but so far the results are quite good indeed.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

I love LPX. I recorded my EP in LP9 and upgraded afterwards. The drummer feature is great for putting a demo together and capturing the overall feel I want a song to have when I take it to my drummer & bass player, but I doubt that I'd use it for a final release.

Here's a demo track I recently put together using Logic's built-in amps & drummer.

EDIT: the guitars are using built-in amps, but the bass is Eleven Rack. I haven't got around to re-tracking guitars with the 11R yet.

Sounds great; I'm sure it will sound even better w your amp rig.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

For me, one of the joys of Logic Pro X is that it is possible to take a different approach on each and every project.

One time, it can be traditional, structured songwriting. The next time, the rhythmic component can be constructed entirely of percussive or arpeggiated loops.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

Okay, first song is templated. Aside from using the DI guitar tracks for preproduction reamp testing, it's done.

Logic drummer is very impressive, indeed. Far less impressive are the amp sims and soft synths. Coming from Cubase's Halion synth engine, Logic's is a bit of a joke. Compared to my JV1080, Dave Smith, and E-Mu synths, it's a TOTAL joke.

But -- I got the job done so now I can send the template off to the drummer!

Still have a ways to go w LPX. I need to figure out how to open up Satellite to access my Samplebase samples, insert markers for easier indexing, and a few other things. I have been looking to see if there is a gain control for the input gain on LPX's mixer, but have yet to find it.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

Coming from Cubase's Halion synth engine, Logic's is a bit of a joke. Compared to my JV1080, Dave Smith, and E-Mu synths, it's a TOTAL joke.

As a long-time fan of Roland synthesizers, it is a great disappointment to me that the corporation has declined to produce a decent software plug-in sound generator. (The VariOS does not really count.) KORG managed with their Legacy series. E-Mu saw fit to make the Proteus 2000 library available - albeit in IBM-compatible format only. (Boo, hiss!)

Something that I would love to be able to do is apply the control capabilities of Spectrasonics Stylus RMX to Logic Drummer. The Push/Drag and Randomising features would add realistic variations into the algorithms that generate the drum parts.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

I totally agree re Roland making a soft synth. It baffles me as I am sure it would be a HUGE seller.

FF, question for you -- what plugin are you using to skin the Korg VST to work in LPX? I was going to purchase it when I saw its VST only. I also have to re skin Satellite Free as that's only a 32 bit AU plugin.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

FF, what plugin are you using to skin the Korg VST to work in LPX? I was going to purchase it when I saw its VST only. I also have to re skin Satellite Free as that's only a 32 bit AU plugin.

Nothing. I bought the KORG Legacy Collection six instrument bundle. http://www.korg.com/us/products/software/korg_legacy_collection/ It loaded each "device" in the conventional Mac manner. The installation automatically chose the correct format and destination. I just had to agree to its choices with a mouse click on a Continue "button".

The current editions of the KORG Legacy collection appear to be 64-bit by default. The system requirements for earlier editions mean that, in OSX Mavericks, they are simply not supported. My 2005 M1/WS1 software is only supported in WinXP and old PowerPC chip Macs. (Yes, I tried installing it. No, the OS would not have any of it.)

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

Thanks!

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

Started working on the second song template this weekend. Unfortunately, Logic Drummer is having real issues keeping up with all of the time signature changes, especially 9/4.

Not a major concern as I will be removing the MIDI drums when the live drums are complete, but still a bit disappointing. I am sure it would be less of an issue if I were doing more stuff in a common time.

Logic Drummer is GOOD but not flawless ... Wonder if EZDrummer would be better for what I am doing.

I could alter the drums in MIDI I suppose, but that would be a waste of time as they are not staying in any event.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

One other quibble w LPX.

You cannot set the volume of the click track and it always resets to +2dB even after you set it lower. +2 is screaming loud and about 22dB louder than I will ever need it. Every time I reopen a project I have to remember to lower the click or it takes my head off!

I am tracking quite hot, averaging -12dBU on the meters ... But +2 is crazy loud regardless, even if I were pegging the meters.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Anyone here using Logic Pro X?

Logic Drummer is having real issues keeping up with all of the time signature changes, especially 9/4.

The default action for a freshly created instance of Logic Drummer is to insert two eight bar patterns in 4/4, matched to the initial tempo of the Project.

Changing to 9/8 or 7/8 involves using the Pointer tool to drag the end of the Drummer pattern to the appropriate tick count position. Typically, the system extends the note count by repeating the first beat of the Pattern in question. Doing this to extend 4/4 to 9/4 is probably going to generate repeats of the basic motifs. You will probably wish to edit this. Alternatively, enter 9/4 as one bar of 4/4 and one of 5/4.