Apple releases Logic Express 9 with new instruments, effects

[AppleInsider]

On the heels of the debut of the new Logic Pro suite, Apple this week began shipping the new $199 Logic Express, featuring many of the new capabilities found in Logic Pro 9.

Logic Express is the mid-tier digital audio workstation offering from Apple. Compared to the full-featured Logic Pro, Logic Express has limited functionality. But it is closer to Logic Pro than Apple's low-end offering, GarageBand. Logic Express also allows users to easily upgrade from GarageBand. The new version requires Mac OS X 10.5.7 or later and will only work on an Intel processor.

"The new Logic Express adds an amazing collection of amps, speaker cabinets, and effects pedals that guitar players can use in traditional combinations to re-create legendary sounds or mix and match for something truly original," the official Web site states. "It also features new production tools that make it easier than ever for musicians to set up and record, edit timing and tempo, and create pro mixes."

Like the new Logic Pro 9, Logic Express 9 includes Flex time, which allows users to manipulate the timing and tempo of audio. Tempos can also be imported and exported, and automatically modified to fit the beat of another project.

Other new features of Logic Express 9, according to Apple, include:

Selective Track Import: Transfer setups and track content between projects by selecting the individual components you want to import on a track-by-track basis.

Drum Replacer: Replace or double less-than-perfect drum tracks with triggered samples in just a few clicks.

Convert to Sampler Track: In one step, turn an audio region into a sampler instrument with a MIDI track to trigger it, then modify and resequence the part.

Amp Designer: Build your dream rig by mixing and matching 25 amps, 25 speaker cabinets, and 3 mics you can position freely around the speaker cone.

Apogee GiO support: The new USB audio interface and control device lets you operate Pedalboard hands-free and works with Logic Pro 9 and MainStage 2 right out of the box.



Last month, Apple released the latest version of Logic Studio. The $499 version ($199 upgrade) features high-end capabilities not available in Logic Express, including the ability to record, edit, mix and encode projects in surround sound.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[minderbinder]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

...and will only work on an Intel processor.

Assuming that it's the same as Logic Pro, that's probably wrong. Apple says that it is intel only, but the entire Logic Studio package is universal binaries and installs and runs just fine on PPC. People have even installed it on G4, and it seems to run better on PPC than L8 did.

Similar situation with FCS although the installer won't work on PPC machines. You have to use pacifist to install the FCS apps, but they are all universal and run on PPC.

I wish this fact got more attention, the news and rumor sites all seem to have missed the boat on this one.

[Jensonb]

...Hey, Apple! Where's my damn Final Cut Express update?!

[John.B]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Apogee GiO support: The new USB audio interface and control device lets you operate Pedalboard hands-free and works with Logic Pro 9 and MainStage 2 right out of the box.

AFAIK, MainStage is Logic Pro only.

[Kenneth]

Originally Posted by minderbinder

Assuming that it's the same as Logic Pro, that's probably wrong. Apple says that it is intel only, but the entire Logic Studio package is universal binaries and installs and runs just fine on PPC. People have even installed it on G4, and it seems to run better on PPC than L8 did.

Similar situation with FCS although the installer won't work on PPC machines. You have to use pacifist to install the FCS apps, but they are all universal and run on PPC.

I wish this fact got more attention, the news and rumor sites all seem to have missed the boat on this one.

Sure you may get the apps to run, but Apple will not provide any technical support.

[minderbinder]

Originally Posted by Kenneth

Sure you may get the apps to run, but Apple will not provide any technical support.

Sure. But apple doesn't really provide support for the pro apps anyway so it's no big loss. And for people with PPC machines, it sure is useful to know that the apps run since it can make the difference between buying a software upgrade and spending thousands on a new box.

Anyway, saying the apps only run on intel is false and should be corrected.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by minderbinder

Sure. But apple doesn't really provide support for the pro apps anyway so it's no big loss. And for people with PPC machines, it sure is useful to know that the apps run since it can make the difference between buying a software upgrade and spending thousands on a new box.

Anyway, saying the apps only run on intel is false and should be corrected.

That is good to know. Gives me a little more incentive to buy the app, rather that continue to feel excluded and not buy it (since my hoped for new computer money has dried up and blown away along with the crumbling economy).

[ecking]

I'm surprised AI didn't report this a long time ago. I was released no later than a week after Logic Pro, I saw it in on the website way back when, but heard no news on it.