Logic 9 Features at a glance

Dear Readers,

So, Apple has finally come out with the Logic 9 after all the wait.
But does it actually live up to the hype surrounding its release?
Consider this. Apple with all the money and Rnd in the world should have no problem in incorporating any feature set, plugins or new sounds in this release. Or do they? Well, lets find out.
Frankly the features of the logic 9 announced on the Apple website doesn’t quite cover what they have really upgraded. Looks like Apple has finally asked some serious professionals before putting in research work into this one.
On the surface , I can find broadly speaking 9 new Enhancements in this release: (what a coincidence!!)
Im rating these from 1 to 9 solely based on my preference
1.The Amp Designer: Now this one really rocks. Great presets . Abloutely fun to deal with as far as programming its parameters is concerned.
2.Flex Time: In a nutshell, to me this is the motst advanced and intuitive elastic audio algorithm available in any software! All my upgrade money worth only for this feature!
3.Bounce in Place: Finally its here !! absolutely priceless feature for a sound engineer and audio editor. Finally!! Better late then never
4.Pedal Board: This great fellow should have been somewhere on no2 in my list if only the sound quality was judged. But I put it on 4 solely cause of the shoddy graphics. Cmon apple we mean business . U guys can certainly do better here. Give us some Metal (even in the graphics please!!!)
5.Convert to Sampler Track : Much needed option since the ver 8. But finally here nevertheless
6.Drum replacer: Cool feature for music programmers .I aint from this species but still I checked it out.can do lots of stuff with this one
7.Notes : This I found quite helpful in all situations. Nice add on
8.Selective tracks Import: Well my take is apple really asked some intelligent people ( read Pro Tools engineers) before putting this feature down.
9.Space Designer warped Effects : This brilliant reverb unit has been my favourite ever since its introduction. The new impulses are welcome, but I feel these guys should have put some more , especially from the point of view of sound design ( like a reservoir or a dam or maybe inside of a submarine. Hey apple are u listening!!)

But guys this is not all . In fact we have literally just started. Well my article somewhere read “ Looks like Apple has finally asked some serious professionals…..”. These are the points which could justify my thinking.
Advanced users and serious pros. Please chk these enhancements out:
• Snap a word or beat on one track to a transient on another track
• Audio Quantize
• Bounce in Place
• Speed Fades (Turntable-style start and stop)
• Auto-conform tempo when importing audio
• Varispeed
• Editing within Take Folders
• Channel Strips now have a mono output option
• Track Notes in the Mixer
• Notes area in Media/Lists area (can display Project/Track notes)
• Control Surface bars in the Mixer
• Freeze tracks: source only (before plug-ins) or pre-fader (after plug-ins)
• Guitar Chord grids with hammer-on, pull-off, bends notation
• Score editor Resize tool (adjust note length with the mouse)
• Vertical Score guides: show exactly the relation of symbols, staves, and time positions
• All 6 Jam Packs (including newer "Voices" Jam Pack)
• New Gain parameter for Audio Regions
• Individual scaling of plug-in windows (100%, 125%, 150%, 175% or 200%) + ability do gradually resize (for most of Logic's own plug-ins)
• Set the number of backups directly from Logic
• Choose the default Stereo Output so it no longer automatically generates 1-2 every time you create a new track. Also with a mirroring option.
• Auto-Colorize Takes, will change the colors automatically of every sequential take while recording.
• Pointer Tool has preferences to also act as Fade (when over the top left or right corner of a region) or Marquee tool (when over the lower half of a region).
• Export/Import Markers to Audio File
• Quick Look picture of Logic Projects
• Play button has new modes: Play Marquee Selection/Cycle/From Selected Region/From Last Locate Position.
• Stop button has new modes: Jump Between Marquee/Last Locate Position/Cycle/Selected Region and Project Start if stopped.
• Cycle button has new modes: automatically set the Locators by Selection whenever a new Marquee/Region/Note selection is created
• Zoom to fit All Contents key command
• Toggle Zoom to Fit Selection or All Contents key command
• Region Parameter box as a floating area
• Nudge by 1 or 10ms
• Fades now work on Apple Loops
• Logic 9 is a Universal Binary release, although it is officially not supported on PPC
• Assign Core Audio Inputs and Outputs separately
• Enhanced Marquee Tool functionality (copy and paste Marquee selection)
• Enhanced Automatic naming of Channel Strip Objects - Patch names from software instruments are now (as an option) copied to the Mixer and Environment Channel Strips
• Undo now works fine with automation
• The ProKit Update has fixed the bit bug in WB 1.6
• Group solo
• Group hide in the Arrange area
• Adjust Tempo using Beat Detection
• Nudge Regions to Beat
• Create an Apple Loop by dragging a MIDI or Audio region onto Loops browser
• Forward/Rewind by Transient (moves the playhead to the next or previous transient)
• Slice at Transient Markers (in the Arrange area)
• User tweakable settings for several of the new (non-destructive) time stretch algorithms
• Ability to navigate from slice to slice in the Sample Editor, including a command to audition next/previous slice
• Key command to Hide Arrange window Toolbar
• Import Sync Settings, Metronome Settings, Record Settings, Tuning Settings, Audio Settings, MIDI Settings, Video Settings and Asset Settings
• Reorganized Shortcut menu (Control-click pop-up menu) with 5 most used commands, sub-folder organization
• Ability to turn on hardware studio recording light when Logic is in record mode
• Tab to rename next channel strip in Mixer
• New icons in Toolbar (Group clutch, Crop...)
• Option to include automation trail when moving or copying region with automation (for automation trails that go beyond the region end)
• Edit volume automation nodes with the finest resolution when Control - dragging
• Drag and drop .caf Apple Loops directly from the Loop Browser into Ultrabeat
• Channel strips - new fader resolution. From +6db to -6db the faders are notched in 0.1 increments. That is 0.0, -0.1, -0.2, -0.3 etc. From -6db and lower it's 0.5 increments and then the increment increases the further negative you go.
• The cycle thru windows key command works as expected with the System Performance (CPU/HD) floating window open. In LP8, the Cycle Window command would cycle to the CPU/HD floating window and then stop cycling.
• Better EQ thumbnail at the top of channel strips (more contrast)
• Better progress meter when loading a project: one progress bar for the whole loading time instead of each single item. The window extends to display loading audio files and the overall display info is more accurate.
• The new alert windows when approaching or crossing the VM barrier with a save option before crashing.
• Copy and Paste a Region now prompts a dialog asking whether or not to copy automation.
• Non-destructive Real-time Region Time Stretching in Arrange area
• Fades now have a vertical guide to see where they start/end over the waveform
• Pro Tools-compatible key command set
• Entering search criteria in Kontakt database now correctly takes priority over Logic key commands
• Kontakt sluggish GUI with large # of samples fixed
• Bounce 2nd Cycle Pass checkbox: The bounce process takes two repetitions of the cycle range into account, with the creation of the bounce file starting at the second repetition. This is useful if you want effect tails (from the first cycle pass) to be added to the start of the bounce file.
• New Modes for Preview Buttons in Sample editor (Control-click to access: Auto-select Channel Strip or Preview Channel Strip)
• Solo-tool can now scrub audio files
• Round-trip latency displayed in Audio Preferences under I/O Buffer setting
• EXS24 has a 5.1 output option

Wait !! there is still more!!!
Logic 9 plugins parameter order: what is this ? In case u may wonder ,you will find files inside each Plug-In settings folder named CSParameterOrder.plist.
It broadly describes the order to list each parameter for plugins. Maybe not totally documented right now, but interesting for future use with controllers and control surfaces to customize the view and order while editing parameters of software or effects with a controller. Haven’t worked much on this one but I wish this works with 3rd party Audio Units too. Will keep u posted.

Signing off with cheers,
Khussh

Logic Monsoon Workshop Video

July 2009, The beginning of a new chapter in my life. “LOGIC MONSOON WORKSHOPS” the brain child of Me & Michael Music.

4 days of action filled workshops, where participants ranging from different facets of music industry joined in to get their hands on Logic Pro 8. The Pro Audio faculty came forward whole-heartedly to support this endeavor of mine and fulfilled a small dream, which is just a beginning.

Enjoy the video clips, which gives a brief insight of what the workshops were all about, though the real thing had a completely different vibe.

My next dream is to go on a 7-day retreat with Logic Users from India and come back loaded with ideas through sharing and learning from each other.

Logically Yours,

Tauseef.

The Logician Family

This blog was an instant idea which struck my mind in the morning. I called a dear friend and colleague Dhruv. We both spent some time discussing the ideas.

And finally here we are with this blog.

Authors who want to write are more than welcome. We will try and focus on every aspect of Music & Post Production on this blog.

We have some amazing technicians, engineers, programmers & producers in India and this blog should be a space for fellow Logic Users to connect.

Lets connect sooon.... the bigger the family, the better the vibe.

Tauseef.