Logic Pro 11.2(.2)

[pdxindy]

As to Logic, Apple has rested on their laurels for far too long.

I disagree that they have rested on their laurels. They have done some stuff really well, and some stuff they haven't.

I love the Logic Step Sequencer, which they introduced like 5 years ago and have subsequently improved multiple times. For me, it is the best step sequencer available in a DAW, including any 3rd party plugins.

[syntonica]

A stopped clock is right twice a day.

It needs a major overhaul.

[dasen]

Have you seen the fresh interview with John Danty and Will Hui from Apple’s Apps Product Marketing team? They discuss Logic Pro feature development, subscriptions, AI, and how Apple works with creators.

[Papuzzo]

I have nothing invested in Logic except a little bit of time so far, so I can be objective. Logic is a great DAW and is an incredible value. Reaper is my mainstay, and costs only €70 which is a very big bang for the buck in DAW land. I have to say Logic at €230 is the hands down biggest bang just because of the library and plugins. Sure the library and the plugins aren't at the same level as the best VST plugins, but the FabFilter bundle costs €900. And I like the Logic compressor better than the C-2. As is usual with this forum, people just like to bitch and moan even though they never had it so good. For a company like Apple, who's main goal is to sell expensive iPhones, they have done a very good job with Logic since they bought it. Maybe the upgrade to 12 isn't overwhelming, but I don't see anything that would stop anyone from making great music.

As an aside, it seems like the Internet has become one big bitch session over the last 10 years. There are much better ways to pass the time, like make music.

[Spitfire31]

Papuzzo: "I don't see anything that would stop anyone from making great music."

/JHS

[aMUSEd]

Sure the library and the plugins aren't at the same level as the best VST plugins...

Many of them are actually, Alchemy is still one of the top synths out there and nothing really close to it, the new Quantex reverb is literally the same algos as the hardware and while there are some physical modelling synths that are on a par with Sculpture in terms of power, I don't think any can completely replace it.

I just wish they would finish the job of updating the GUIs to HDPi - even Alchemy still gets fuzzy if I go above 100% and I would use the ES2 a lot more if it wasn't so tiny and poorly laid out, it still sounds great

Also for me the biggest issue I have with Logic is their controller support is just awful.

[Papuzzo]

Papuzzo: "I don't see anything that would stop anyone from making great music."

/JHS

I've been a musician for over 50 years. I started playing piano, synths and guitar long before synthesizers had sequencers. I had no choice but to collaborate with other musicians, especially drummers and bassists to make music. And we all know how frustrating drummers and bassists are. Recording music meant going into a studio and paying hundreds per song just for demo quality. Then came the Fostex 4 track recorder and workstation synths like the M1 that had a sequencer with, I think, a whopping 8 tracks. It was a PITA to use on board sequencing, but at least the M1 showed up to practice. Now at 60 I marvel at just how easy it is to make music even with software like Garageband. Today musicians have AI generated tracks and ready to go audio loops and are bitching more than we bitched in the 70's about how much the technology sucks. Come on.....

[Papuzzo]

Sure the library and the plugins aren't at the same level as the best VST plugins...

Many of them are actually, Alchemy is still one of the top synths out there and nothing really close to it, the new Quantex reverb is literally the same algos as the hardware and while there are some physical modelling synths that are on a par with Sculpture in terms of power, I don't think any can completely replace it.

I just wish they would finish the job of updating the GUIs to HDPi - even Alchemy still gets fuzzy if I go above 100% and I would use the ES2 a lot more if it wasn't so tiny and poorly laid out, it still sounds great

Also for me the biggest issue I have with Logic is their controller support is just awful.

Can I ask what is wrong with controller support? I use Novation 61 and 88 key Launchkey controllers, and I still have an old Novation Impulse 61. All three were easy to set up. I tried a subscription to Studio One 6 a couple of years ago and controller support was a disaster to set up. Logic seems better than Studio One. It also seems better than Reaper for controllers.

[aMUSEd]

I’m thinking more in terms of controlling instruments and effects - DAW control is ok although it seems to be flaky at times, but trying to map smart controls to controller knobs is extremely hit and miss - I find it just maps some but forgets others and the worst thing is there is no way to actually save your mappings like there is in Bitwig (which has the best controller support)

[Starbright]

Acording to this short, they're working on ARA support!!!

[Sascha Franck]

Have you seen the fresh interview with John Danty and Will Hui from Apple’s Apps Product Marketing team? They discuss Logic Pro feature development, subscriptions, AI, and how Apple works with creators.

It's a video that is as good as no video. I mean, what else would you expect them to say? I could as well have answered for them.
"Yeah, we're an engaged team of music/film/content making enthusiasts and take user wishes very seriously!"

[stanft]

It's a video that is as good as no video. I mean, what else would you expect them to say? I could as well have answered for them.
"Yeah, we're an engaged team of music/film/content making enthusiasts and take user wishes very seriously!"

You forgot „Great question! …“

[Sascha Franck]

You forgot „Great question! …“

Hrrhrr!

[Sascha Franck]

I’m thinking more in terms of controlling instruments and effects - DAW control is ok although it seems to be flaky at times, but trying to map smart controls to controller knobs is extremely hit and miss - I find it just maps some but forgets others and the worst thing is there is no way to actually save your mappings like there is in Bitwig (which has the best controller support)

I think this is where most systems (not familiar with Bitwig) fall extremely short.
There's all those motorized faderboxes around, allowing you to mix things easier, but once it comes to creative things, there's no really great alround solutions. They're either more or less tied to their own controller ecosystem (Komplete Kontrol, Arturia, Novation) or need quite some configuration.

What I'd really like to see would be an expandable system of control interfaces (let's say you could start with 8 and stack more rows of 8 each to it), the controls being endless, color coded and with scribble strips next to them. The main unit could also feature a display delivering more information (channel name, preset name, etc).
Setting up these things would have to be absolutely trivial as to not only be interesting for the nerds among us. Ideally, there'd be a visual representation of the controller straight inside the DAW and you would simply drag parameter to controls (or vice versa). Multiple assignments should be possibly and you should be able to modify them mod matrix style in whatever kinda advanced mode.
These settings should be automatically saved per track and/or per preset and also allow you to assign multiple parameters of multiple things (such as parameters on multiple tracks) in a kinda "advanced" assignment class.

The most crucial thing IMO would be ease of use. Ideally, such a thing would work cross-DAW, too.

The Smart Controls in Logic aren't a bad start, but you still need to fool around with too many menus and what not. Adding hardware controllers isn't fun, either.

[carambo]

The biggest question is why did they call this release Logic Pro 12 ?? Why not 11.5..