Work in Progress

Really really liking Logic Pro X. It feels like Apple learned from the screams you can still hear from veteran users of Final Cut Pro after upgrading to Final Cut Pro X. They kept the good stuff in Logic and added some really amazing tools along with a long overdue interface refresh and a sweet app that lets iPad owners remotely control Logic.

This track is my first crack at bouncing out of Logic without really mixing or mastering. We are not going to talk about how late I was up installing and tweaking. Notable additions that I played with right off the bat are: Drummer, a new arpeggiator (LOOOOOOOONG overdue) and track stacks. Track stacks are a really great implementation of multitrack grouping of an instrument with several subtracks. You have always been able to group tracks on the mixer, but track stacks let you work at a macro and then micro level, e.g., you can open a track stack and add a compressor to just the kick drum or just the snare. So when you add a Drummer track, Logic will create a stack that isolates the drums for fine-grained mixing and tweaking. Not to mention that adding a drummer track gives you an insane and yet organic way to get to a natural-feeling drum track, complete with fills and crashes in the right spots. It won’t replace a real drummer, but for composing and getting a feel going, it’s a lot better than a plain drum loop.

Apple also beefed up the organ simulations with more control, yet a simpler interface from Logic Pro 9. The module gives you a better idea about microphone placement as well as more visible controls for obvious things like where to assign the rotor speed for the virtual Leslie cabinet. Which probably means I need to stop writing now.

One of the best upgrades Apple has ever done and I’m still not even 10% into the new version. I wish they would have done this with Final Cut Pro X.

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I’m still emerging from a grief haze. Might have to start with the daily affirmations again.