TopTenREVIEWS

By David Aamodt

For years, few of the most popular audio production software programs were available for the Mac. Users either had to run a parallel platform, which often delivers shaky results at best, or run one of the handful of programs that had been designed for the platform. That all changed in 2002, the year Apple acquired Emagic. Logic Pro was the first to be released, but, two years later, Apple released an economical, compact version named Apple Logic Express.

Apple Logic Express is often referred to as the middle-point between Apple Garage Band and Apple Logic Pro. While it is true that their program tools, features and potential functionality move up with the price tag, Apple Logic Express still holds stands out on its own, and is ideal for music production taking place on a Macbook Pro or Macbook Air. The standard Macbook does okay for itself, but is known to suffer from latency errors and even program crashes. In other words: these Logic Express requires a fair amount of CPU, often which is more than the standard Macbook can muster.

Other than being designed especially for the Mac, the Logic Express has more features, tools, functionalities, and offers improved performances and more-polished finished results. That said, what really sets Apple Logic Express apart from other audio production software programs is its emphasis on standard musical insrtruments, with entire suites dedicated to enhancing and modifying guitar, bass, drums and keys. Logic Express also doubles as a writing studio, expressing in musical notation or guitar tablature the track at hand, giving those with a background in music theory an additional avenue for precision and performance.

Apple Logic Express is also designed for use with Apogee, Euphonix and other 3rd party hardware manufacturers, which, with a full-featured MIDI sequencer and musical instruments, can be customized to suit your personal workflow needs or the needs of the project at hand.

Who Uses It?

The Killers
Lilly Allen
DJ Switch

Each artist is featured in some length on Apple's Logic Express site, with detailed descriptions of what features and tools are being used by the artists and producers. While most experienced producers can engineer effects successfully using a number of audio production software programs, the highlighted tracks and their described production do serve to give some indication of what is possible through even simple, easy to execute tools and features.

Strengths

Built to be compatible with Apogee, Euphonix and other 3rd party hardware manufacturers.
Intuitive track layering, mixing and overdubbing
Guitar effects and amp design suite with optional tablature expression.
Drum replacer
Splice-free "Flex Tool"

Weaknesses

MAC-only
Production & Editing Tools/Features

Apple Logic Express Screenshots

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Audio Production Features:

Apple Logic Express provides just about everything you'd ever want and need to produce music from start to finish. Even for holes or shortcomings, the program remains fairly compatible with other programs' applications, such as REASON, as well as a customizable MIDI interface for enhanced input capability and facile sample and patch programming.

One feature that deserves applause is Apple Logic Express' "Flex Time" tool, which allows producers to move individual beats and sequences in waveform without having to splice, edit and re-arrange entire compositions. And, with real-time expression, there is no waiting to judge the effect of a Flex Time-edited track.

Apple Express Logic even lets producers take a good idea and use it elsewhere. "Groove templates," which serve as basic structures to be built upon, are auto quantized, freeing up producers from the tedious task of aligning notes and beats to its musical grid. Moreover, with import-friendly, project-sharing functionality, producers can test, try out or outright incorporate takes and tracks from other projects into a new composition. This can be quite an asset, even if differences between projects are only slight.

Input Options & Features:

While it may have been true years ago, Apple no longer has the compatibility issues it was previously criticized for. In fact, Apple Logic Express seems to prove this more than ever. From built-in compatibility with popular software production hardware manufacturers like Apogee and Euphonix, to customizable MIDI set-ups, to hardware drum sequencers and synthesizers--Apple Logic Express makes it possible to produce and record without having to supplement desired hardware or instruments. Best of all, Apple Logic Express comes with an "auto-learn" tool to assist in assigning controls, mapping inputs and making use of external controls.

As for file format support, Apple Logic Express, again, does well for itself. XML, OMF and AAF file interchange protocols (for stem files) are all supported. So, too, are standard audio file formats like WAV, AIF, MP3, SDII and CAF.

Output Options & Features:

Apple Logic Express can save finished and unfinished projects to a variety of file formats at various compression levels. For instance, recording to a CAF file format can yield track recording lengths upwards of 6 hours. Not bad, for an audio production software program, right?

Ease of Use:

Apple always receives accolades for its intuitive, easy to use hardware and software. Apple Logic Express is no different. Built-in tools like "auto-learn" substantially reduce the learning curve, while the program itself, its clean, customizable interface and personalized workflow can be as simple or complex as needed and give enough room for novice and journeyman producers alike to learn and grow.

Help/Support:

In addition to built-in learning modules and help functions, Apple hosts a FAQ section, a user forum and offers telephone and email information for a more-direct inquiry. Software updates are also available. As are upgrades; sometimes at a discount, even. Equally helpful: Apple gives informative information about 3rd party plugins and external hardware, helping producers take the guess work out of what works and what doesn't.

Summary:

For home-recordists and musicians using non-synthesizer or digitally-based instruments--who happen to use Mac--Apple Logic Express is an ideal fit. Its "Flex Tool" makes quick work of splicing and editing takes and tracks together, while its "groove templates" and "auto-learn" tools and features make it possible to expand on ideas while gaining a handle on the program itself. For its price and its feature list, few programs--Mac or PC--have as much going on as Apple Logic Express. For those looking for more electronica-oriented production, however, audio production software programs like Ableton Live, Reason and KORE would likely be a better fit.