Studio in a box

Making the jump to light speed with Logic Studio Pro 9

So, I finally did it. I upgraded from Logic Express 7 to Logic Studio Pro 9. My hesitation had always been financial, but I have to admit that even within my limited means, I didn’t make the $299 upgrade a priority. What a mistake that was!

The full version of Logic has always been more powerful than the Express version, but the differences between versions 7 and 9 are simply phenomenal. Flextime does for tempo what pitch control did for vocals. You can physically stretch or compress sections of music to correct for passages that are slightly faster or slower. The audio quantize function allows live recordings to be altered as if they were MIDI. Tempo and meter are now completely malleable.

The flip side of freedom is control, and I can now lock multiple drum tracks into phase, as well. So when I edit the snare, for example, it remains synchronous with the other drum tracks rather than wandering off into a rhythmic fantasy land all its own. In a similar way, Varispeed lets me try different tempos with my whole project. And, crucially, Apple has added the ability to conform the tempo of imported files to an existing track, much like they had already done with melodic keys.

I have only begun to experience the potential of this amazing new software, but as you can probably tell, I am already very excited. The powerful production tools and new amp modeling capabilities open up entire new sonic vistas that I can’t wait to explore. From writing the original song to final mixdown, Logic Pro 9 packs an incredible amount of power in a very affordable punch.

But the beauty of Apple Studio does not end there.

The software package also includes MainStage 2, SoundTrack Pro 3 and a suite of production utilities to speed final mixdown. MainStage 2 looks like a completely compelling tool, allowing the solo performer to sound like a symphony onstage. Designed for interactive live performance, the knobs, switches and faders are presented in a 3-D tableau designed to be visible from a distance. SoundTrack Pro 3, meanwhile, is designed for seamless interaction with FinalCut Studio, the Apple film production software.

What I loved most during my first crack at the software, however, were the things that hadn’t changed. Some controllers had moved to new places (much more intuitive and easier to use places) but the controls themselves were exactly the same. Within minutes, I was up and running and recording our band rehearsal. When I went to do a preliminary edit, all the effects and sends and outputs were right where I expected them to be. The transition between using Logic Express 7 and Logic Studio Pro 9 was seamless; the end results created by each versions, however, have almost nothing in common. My little home-away-from-home studio just became one of the big boys.