Logic PC:: Again

[TotcProductions]

I've come to the conclusion that as of yet i can't replace logic, and i'll be using a workaround for ZV. The most likely replacing candidate is Samplitude if they get their act together. However much i do hate Steinberg (except for WL5 ) i'll give them one thing : They didn't dump either side of their clientele - Sonar not so much as it was always more PC oriented but Logic was the ULTIMATE equally functional cross-platform host and they wrecked it. Sigh sigh, and all that. Boo hoo. Logic 5.5.1 is still a capable host though and i hope that in a year or so i will have more choices.

I think you can blame Apple for that. although, i guess it did completely abandon the PC platform before apple took over, so maybe not.

peace!

[kpop]

Been in the same boat. Looked for a few years for an alternative for Logic PC, but just could not. So I did what a never thought I would do; got me a mac (a mac mini w. 1 gb legacy RAM). Switchgraded already a year ago to 6.4. and after reading a few horror stories on L7, sticked to that. Did not want to abandon my fav PC plugs so I noded with MIDIoverLAN to my old PC lappie (Tracktion as a host). Got also a Yamaha O1X, which is a marvellous piece of hardware (on the mac).

The result: great! I am still amazed how easy the mac was set up, everything worked (almost) out of the box. The mini mac is very adequate for my needs, is almost completely silent, and I can use all the old PC plugs in L6 like they were on the mac (no latency issues). Very happy with this setup, not a single crash s far. So if you wanna stick with Logic, get a cheap mac and just continue to work like you want to.

kpop

[aMUSEd]

What exactly are your problems with Korg Legacy and ZV? I dont own either of these but have tried the demo of ZV and it worked fine in Logic 5.51 (using the following method). Thing is these days I never ever put any VST's directly in Logic's VST folder anyway - I just have a copy of Energy XT (and XTe) in it (using the Logic skin) and load all my plugins through that (having pointed eXT to my central shared VST folder). I can't think of any plugin that hasn't worked for me in Logic using this approach.

I wonder if Chainer would work in a similar fashion to EnergyXT for hosting problem VSTs within Logic?

Yes Chainer does and if anythng it's slighty more stable but I prefer to use eXT as it's modularity makes it feel like an extension of Logic's environment and it's more flexible.

[birrbits]

Have you tried Fruity Loops Studio? Logic 7 looks similar

I second this, I sold Logic 5, bought FL Studio and haven't looked back. Maybe all the bells and whistles aren't there (yet), but I wont ever have to pay from them when they arrive & workflow is 10x easier....just a thought. If you haven't tried it, you owe it to yourself to give the demo a spin.

[OMU]

Have you tried Fruity Loops Studio? Logic 7 looks similar

[birrbits]

Have you tried Fruity Loops Studio? Logic 7 looks similar

I am sure UltraJv was making a funny here, but I am being serious. If this guy has tried Sonar & Cubase, sheesh, to not give FL a shot is silly.

Also, show me a vst composition I can't do in FL....
love to see one.

[Resonance]

I wonder if Chainer would work in a similar fashion to EnergyXT for hosting problem VSTs within Logic?

Yes Chainer does and if anythng it's slighty more stable but I prefer to use eXT as it's modularity makes it feel like an extension of Logic's environment and it's more flexible.

Thanks for the tip aMUSED!

[TVD]

This is somewhat realated to the logic PC:: fight or swith thread but my problem has a twist : I have tried replacing Logic with a multitude of hosts, mainly due to it's inability of working with a couple of excellent soft synths (Korg Legacy Cell and White Noise Zero Vector) but with no success as my work is mainly MIDI based. Also would like to use rewire, but is utter s*** [bigrantmodeon]

Sonar 4 : I find the MIDI laughable compared to Logic, no so much feature wise, but workflow wise. Also hate the DXi trouble.

SX2 : Cluttered, Cluttered, Cluttered and did i mention Cluttered ? Also an unintuitive mixer, and again MIDI editing is bad.

Both above mentioned keep vstis running even when inactive so are CPU killers.

Podium : This is looking quite promising, and has an innovative way of thinking but is, maybe , a bit too "innovative" in some departments, while in the automation you can't see where you're drawing over. No key bindings and other typical pro products stuff. Has a lot o potential though.

Tracktion : This is a joke midi wise and i don't like it's UI (not the colours of course - the workflow)

Sampltitude : This is getting quite good, and has a multitude of things i like in Logic, e.g. one tool - many uses, which i really miss in other hosts, a bit lacking on features for MIDI but excellent Audio, mixer and workflow. I can't get a level meter readout of the VSTi output though and the editor is a bit slow when loading unloading, using.

In the end i reached the conclusion that the only thing that would do, was a MAC and Logic 7, but then i realised that most of my lovely plugs do not exist on MAC . Taking the sculptor metaphor I have to choose to compromise between my chisel and my Materials.

Can anyone suggest another chisel or am i stuck ?
I don't like the chainer/ext workaround.
[/bigrantmodeoff]

Suggestions:

Stay with Logic PC. You understand THAT program way better than a lot of PC users like myself.

If you think you need something extra, consider soft studios like Orion or FL Studio to use with or seperate from Logic PC.

[Bassballjg]

If the issue with continued use of Logic on PC is plug-in compatability for programs written after Logic's devlopment stopped, why not ReWire Acid or Project 5 or FL? They would add what they do plus hosting to Logic's fairly comprehensive MIDI and audio recording.

On the other hand, you could look at it as Super-Reason, a suite of instruments and effects with a sequencer but with audio recording, better MIDI editing and (some, mostly good) VST support, but the trade off being a closed system.

The point is, if you're getting your work done with it and you're haoppy and comfortable, stick with it. For new needs, add, don't replace.

[butter]

Have you tried Fruity Loops Studio? Logic 7 looks similar

I am sure UltraJv was making a funny here, but I am being serious. If this guy has tried Sonar & Cubase, sheesh, to not give FL a shot is silly.

Also, show me a vst composition I can't do in FL....
love to see one.

Some people just don't like Fruity's workflow. I'm one of those...

[Mr Sleep]

What exactly are your problems with Korg Legacy and ZV? I dont own either of these but have tried the demo of ZV and it worked fine in Logic 5.51 (using the following method). Thing is these days I never ever put any VST's directly in Logic's VST folder anyway - I just have a copy of Energy XT (and XTe) in it (using the Logic skin) and load all my plugins through that (having pointed eXT to my central shared VST folder). I can't think of any plugin that hasn't worked for me in Logic using this approach.

aMUSEd! Are you saying you can use EnergyXT in a way where you dont need to load up the EnergyXT shell to get to load the vsti plugin?

So once EnergyXT is installed in to Logic's vst directory and all plugs in to Energy, is this all that is requierd? Or am I going over my head?

I use EnergyXT with Logic to fix some buggy vsti's like Intakt but have no trouble using Legacy Collection on its own.

[superddman]

If you think workflow in logic was good, wait till you try Ableton Live.

People still have stereotypes about ableton live that it's mainly good for loops and live acts. This is so not true!!!

Version 4 became a full featured sequencer with (imo) great MIDI/VST features. When you take a look at it first time, it will seem very minimalistic. But underneath it, its so fast and powerful.

But did I mention the superb workflow? hehe
For example, when working in piano roll, you use one tool to do basically everything (drawing notes, erasing, moving, selecting, stretching, etc)
There are no 100s of floating windows like in SX. It's all stacked and hidable.
The main sequencer is great with easy movibility and the best automation envelopes in the market. If you thought automation enveloe in Logic were good, you will like these even more.

And yes, its great for looping and I don't mean just looping audio loops, same thing applies to MIDI parts. You create a 4 bar midi pattern and then you can just drag i to make copies of it, so beautiful!!!

Plus, you get a great and elegant sample browser with option to auto preview samples. Find a sample on your harddrive and just drag it into you sequencer. If its a loop it will beat match it with your tempo.

In addiiton, lets say you are on a road and would like to jam few idea. Ableton Live allows you to use your QWERT keyboard as a midi keyboard. Great for laptop use.

What else, hmm.

Oh ya, it comes with great plugs, drum sampler, normal sampler, and synth.

All of them good plugs. You can actually kind of replicate the PAttern Window in FL Studio using this drum sampler.

Overall its a great package.

The only things I would like added is a freeze function and a built in arpeggiator. Thats it hehe

[BONES]

Also, show me a vst composition I can't do in FL....

For most of us, it is more about the journey. FL Studio is like travelling from Sydney to Melbourne via Perth - fine if you've got nothing better to do but not exactly ideal if you have businees at the end of the trip.
You can get the job done in any host, workflow is the issue and FL Studio's workflow is somewhat convoluted, to say the least.

[Lunch Money]

Tracktion's UI is beautiful. I'm always amazed at people who would rather wade through menus and buttons. Regarding the MIDI, I wouldn't say it's a "joke" but it sure ain't Logic.

Greg

[Mr Sleep]

Been in the same boat. Looked for a few years for an alternative for Logic PC, but just could not. So I did what a never thought I would do; got me a mac (a mac mini w. 1 gb legacy RAM). Switchgraded already a year ago to 6.4. and after reading a few horror stories on L7, sticked to that. Did not want to abandon my fav PC plugs so I noded with MIDIoverLAN to my old PC lappie (Tracktion as a host). Got also a Yamaha O1X, which is a marvellous piece of hardware (on the mac).

The result: great! I am still amazed how easy the mac was set up, everything worked (almost) out of the box. The mini mac is very adequate for my needs, is almost completely silent, and I can use all the old PC plugs in L6 like they were on the mac (no latency issues). Very happy with this setup, not a single crash s far. So if you wanna stick with Logic, get a cheap mac and just continue to work like you want to.

kpop

kpop hi.
Could you please give us an example of how many, of which vst's/vsti's you can run on your Mini (1.25 ? 1.43)?
Whats an easily acheivable track count on its 4200rpm hdd?
Im considering going Mac for a Logic upgrade and will apreciate to know how your coping with only the Mini on its own.