Logic and general state of Mac OS and iOS integration

[Etienne1973]

I may have to purchase it and give it a real tryout instead of just tinkering with it like I have previously.

Official 90 days Logic Pro X Free Trail

[chagzuki]

Is there no wavetable synth? It looks like Alchemy can do all sorts of stuff, but not wavetables?

[Etienne1973]

Is there no wavetable synth? It looks like Alchemy can do all sorts of stuff, but not wavetables

Retro Synth Table

You can create custom wavetables from audio files.

[pdxindy]

Is there no wavetable synth? It looks like Alchemy can do all sorts of stuff, but not wavetables

You can create custom wavetables from audio files.

Yeah, but the wavetable functionality in Retro Synth is rudimentary and has minimal modulation.

[MissOptimyst]

I love Logic, the ease of use, how well my hardware just plugs and plays in ready to go. I have an iPhone so I write lyrics on notes and they pop up on my computer. Works well for me.

Currently can’t imagine making music without a Mac, iPhone and Logic, but I’ve fell in love with my current workflow and all of the cross integration.

[EdgarRothermich]

... and there's that guy (Edgar Rothermich) who can write a book every time Logic have major update, because they add so much non obvious (that aren't explained in huge release notes) stuff there, it's mind boggling.

Yes, that would be me .
It really is amazing about the number of new features and improvements Logic is coming out in their updates, despite the doomsday sayer over recent years that Logic is dead when there is no new update in a month or their favorite feature is not (yet) implemented.
All that new stuff for $0 for over 7 years. No update cost, nothing. And the argument that you have to pay for the expensive Mac-dongle. This is just so silly that I don't even want to comment on that.

One of the complaints I always have, that has been mentioned here, is that so many features/functionality are hidden or not that obvious. But that creates a market segment for me to step in and reveal and explain all that. And yes, there is a lot to explain. Just the books for the 10.4 and 10.5 updates are over 200 pages each.

If you are not familiar with my Graphically Enhanced Manuals (GEM) series, check them out.
http://dingdingmusic.com/-gem-/graphica ... nuals.html

[kovacs]

Nice Edgar! Something funky with your quote above, I didn't write that (Passing Bye did).

[EdgarRothermich]

Nice Edgar! Something funky with your quote above, I didn't write that (Passing Bye did).

Yes, the end tag was positioned wrong ... and it's fixed. Thanks for pointing it out.
And now you have been quoted and it is from you

[Virgil]

Is Logic Pro X linked to a serial, apple id, or machine?
I have a macbook pro and iphone but don't love using an apple id.
Thanks.

[EdgarRothermich]

Unless I am doing something wrong in Logic you have to make a software instrument track first and then assign an instrument to it.

You are right, you are doing something wrong.

When you create a new Instrument Track in the New Tracks Dialog, you can select the plugin right there in the BIG Instrument Menu.
You can even set it to default and whenever you create a new Track in the Tracks Area, you use a single Key Command (opt+cmd+I) and the new Instrument Track with that default Instrument Plugin is created.
And if you have created a Default Patch in the Library Browser, that Instrument will load that Default Instrument Plugin with that Default Patch.

[dellboy]

You are right, you are doing something wrong.

When you create a new Instrument Track in the New Tracks Dialog, you can select the plugin right there in the BIG Instrument Menu.
You can even set it to default and whenever you create a new Track in the Tracks Area, you use a single Key Command (opt+cmd+I) and the new Instrument Track with that default Instrument Plugin is created.
And if you have created a Default Patch in the Library Browser, that Instrument will load that Default Instrument Plugin with that Default Patch.

Okay, I see it now, in the menu at the top. Not very intuitive though is it.

When I try out a new DAW I deliberately avoid using the Help guide and prefer to wing it so as to see how intuitive it is, and having to look in the menu at the top is something I do not associate with modern DAWs.

Rather than using the top menu I have gotten use to closing the confusing library tab and using mouse right click to selct an instrument in the little up down arrow box.

[cryophonik]

I was cross-platform for the longest time, primarily using Sonar (and Studio One, Ableton, ProTools, Cubase) on my own custom-built Windows machines, and doing all of my photo and video work on my MacBooks (plus some music on Logic). Then a little over a year ago, I realized that my Windows machine was in bad need of replacing, I found myself getting very annoyed at Windows issues every f'ing day (also on my workplace computers, my son's gaming PC, our Dell laptop, etc) and the solution was a no-brainer for me. I left Windows altogether and bought an iMac and I'm primarily using Logic. It was a great move and I find that I'm far more productive in this environment. The only thing that I really missed at first was using Sonar's step sequencer, but Apple came through earlier this year with an amazing step sequencer in a free update, so I haven't looked back. I absolutely LOVE having the seamless integration with my iPad.

If I have one complaint, it's the same one that is voiced my many people when it comes to software apps. When Apple decides to roll out new OS's, it can really upset your workflow. Case in point - I sold my Virus TI2 a few years ago, but recently decided that I want to buy another one, but the Total Integration software is not compatible with Catalina. Yes, it's up to Access to keep up compatibility, but pointing the finger doesn't solve any problems when someone's $3K synthesizer no longer works as advertised, not to mention that people keep buying them not realizing that it won't work with their shiny new Mac. That's really pissing off Mac/TI2 owners and it's keeping me from buying another one anytime soon (especially with Big Sur coming and possibly even longer delay until Access does something about it).

[EdgarRothermich]

You are right, you are doing something wrong.

When you create a new Instrument Track in the New Tracks Dialog, you can select the plugin right there in the BIG Instrument Menu.
You can even set it to default and whenever you create a new Track in the Tracks Area, you use a single Key Command (opt+cmd+I) and the new Instrument Track with that default Instrument Plugin is created.
And if you have created a Default Patch in the Library Browser, that Instrument will load that Default Instrument Plugin with that Default Patch.

Okay, I see it now, in the menu at the top. Not very intuitive though is it.

When I try out a new DAW I deliberately avoid using the Help guide and prefer to wing it so as to see how intuitive it is, and having to look in the menu at the top is something I do not associate with modern DAWs.

Rather than using the top menu I have gotten use to closing the confusing library tab and using mouse right click to selct an instrument in the little up down arrow box.

Your approach of testing a DAW to see how far you can go without a peak in the user manual is just that a "test". However, it doesn't give you any hint about how useful/powerful a DAW is at the end.

Here is a simplified example:
Let's say you have a DAW with only 5 features and you can figure them all out without a peek in the manual.
Now let's say you have a manual that has 50 features, and 3 of them you can find out without a manual. The other 47 features you discover when you look at the manual.

Although based on your criteria, you would prefer the first DAW because it is the most intuitive, I would prefer the second DAW anytime.

What I'm saying is, yes I also prefer intuitive apps, and Logic has a lot of areas that have some "deficiencies" in that area, however, if I have powerful, easy to use features available once I look them up, I would prefer that app any time.

One more thing:
DAWs nowadays have become extremely powerful and complex and some stuff you have to look up or learn, no matter how intuitive the implementation is. Unfortunately, it happens way too often that I see posts on various forums where users ask questions because they didn't invest their own time to learn a thing (look at the manual) and want others to it for them, or just want a quick recipe without to bother with the understanding/knowledge.

[kovacs]

Is Logic Pro X linked to a serial, apple id, or machine?
I have a macbook pro and iphone but don't love using an apple id.
Thanks.

Yeah, it’s linked to your Apple ID, like everything else in the Mac App Store.

[dellboy]

DAWs nowadays have become extremely powerful and complex and some stuff you have to look up or learn, no matter how intuitive the implementation is. Unfortunately, it happens way too often that I see posts on various forums where users ask questions because they didn't invest their own time to learn a thing (look at the manual) and want others to it for them, or just want a quick recipe without to bother with the understanding/knowledge.

I did initially consult the Help function which told me to create a track and open the Library and pick an instrument. The main one I wanted was Alchemy which was not there. I also wanted to try the sampler which also was not there, and finally retrosynth which was absent as well.

After spending an hour or two clicking on stuff I found them by accident hiding with the "legacy synths" even though I thought there were quite recent additions and not legacy.

Confusingly, if you click in the library under "Legacy"/ Logic they are not there either.