Any one use this?
Im planning on buying it because I cant afford the big brother (yet).

My situation is; Im a student, going to University in September to do Studio Recording and Performance Technology. I have bought a new mac last week, notebook mac os x 2.1 gig HD.

Anyway, Ive been using Cubase LE for my main software but that seems to not work, and garageband isnt my style for recording real instruments, I would probably just use it for theme tunes and other things which involve samples only.

Anyway, ive been reading reviews on the Express version, and im worried incase i spend all my money on it and not find it useful at all.

Any ideas?

Nathy xxx

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Nathan Stewart | Freelance Sound Engineer

Not sure what you are asking

Is Logic any good full stop

Or

Is the Express version significantly different from the full version?

Yes is the the answer to the first question.

As for the second question. I use Express and there's nothing "budget" about it at all. It's identical in operation, appearance and use to Studio it just has a few things left out. If you Google you'll find a comprehensive list but off the top of my head it lacks the convolution reverb plugin and a few software instruments. What Studio does get you however is loads of "content" (Apple loops and samples that you may or may not want anyway) and various support programs like Mainstage and Soundtrack Pro.

Both packages are great and both are great value for money. I believe there is an upgrade path from Express to Studio.

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Original artwork and unique devices inspired by vintage technology http://www.thisisobsolete.com

Sorry about being un clear, thats what i did not want to happen so sorry

What im wanting is a relaible piece of software which will keep me happy, considering im a student an all i think its great. I want it to help me achieve the best i can to my ability and everything in between. I want it to be perfect for my needs; (they are recording live instruments mainly) I also read somehwhere that it doesnt accepet external stuff, (cant remember exact words) so im unclear on wether it will accept my Alesis 8 track usb mixer and Reason software.

Nathy xx

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Nathan Stewart | Freelance Sound Engineer

there is an educational discount scheme, which, if you purchase thru your uni, will make Logic studio cheaper than buying a retail version of logic express.


there are basically 2 sets of educational discounts... those that are based on your say so as to being a student... directly from the apple store, worth not much, but some useful discount, and those where you buy through the uni/college , which get a greater discount..... so make some enquiries, you could end up with the full works, for less than the cost of the cut down one.



the express version, as i understand it, is also missing most of the additional content , like the loops and such like...

Cool, well if im able to do that then itd be very handy, but until then i would be software less and i cant do that :/

But if i get logic express, could i use the education discount for the upgrade like said above?

btw, its good to see a fellow welshman on here.

Nathy x

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Nathan Stewart | Freelance Sound Engineer

I bought a 2nd user v8 Express for my son, for Xmas.
It cost £50, original disks and box.

And very good it is too.
For £50 its incredible, I remember when this stuff was more like £500

( just after the dinosaurs and some mad new thing call a " wheel" - nope I dunno either !! )

Excellent thanks for that.

I was begining to think; Why did i bother if im not going to get any results.

Im just wanting it to be brilliant xD

Once i feel ready i will go onto the upgrade.
But ive read that it doesnt recognise hardware, and when it does it forgets it the next time you open it up, also, ive read that its very hard to understand, - the reviewer then said 'garageband is well better'.

So then again it probably was a very pointless review

xx

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Nathan Stewart | Freelance Sound Engineer

I have never heard of any hardware recognition issues, like everything Apple, you plug stuff in and it works ( if its class compliant ).

Describing GB as "well better" suggest that
A) the comparison software was utterly pants and
B) the reviewer's command of English is a bit limited.

Perhaps if the chap had said:-
" For the money is it possibly the most capable piece of music production software ever produced", I would think the more of your reviewer.

Express has the EXS24 "Player" - giving you access to any EXS library you can get your hands on. ( You just can't make new sounds )

This plug alone sells Logic.

The same thought crossed my mind about the reviewers lack of language skills.

Could you tell me what the plug ins are like etc, unless your son knows everything then its fine, thank you for your replies though.

Nathy x

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Nathan Stewart | Freelance Sound Engineer

The plugins differ in 2 ways.

1) Their capability
2) Their quantity

For example -
You get more basic versions, the EXS is typical in that, in the Logic Pro, you can create your own, in Express you only get a playback version. ( Which to be fair is all 90% of people ever use )

As already mentioned, you don't get the convolution reverb, but you do get a few more basic 'verbs - all of which are useful.

You get a reasonable selection of soft instruments, again not as many as the the Pro version but again, having the EXS24 player means you will never be stuck for a sound.

One other significant difference is the lack of content.
Pro comes on several DVDs and clearly has more library / content included in the package.

The usefulness is debatable as for example, the garageband loops may not be to your taste.
Any loop with instruments in it has limited appeal to anyone capable of playing a keyboard / guitar

That said, they can make good starting points for new ideas.
The drum loops definitely ARE worth having ( ! )

You don't get 5.1 mixing.

I have not seen any loss of editing functions and overall the user experience is virtually identical.

So all in all, its a good useful piece of software which will help me achieve my goals.

One question, what is 5.1 Mixing?

Nathy xx

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Nathan Stewart | Freelance Sound Engineer

surround mixing, for work with video & games usually.....

I'm using Logic Express 8 for exactly the uses you describe (live band recording, personally using a Presonus Firestudio and an ART DPS II), and it's great. I also got it secondhand for about thirty quid, and it's easily the best money I've ever spent on my recording setup.

As has already been mentioned, it's missing some of the 'whizz-bang' reverb effects, but since I use reverb sparingly at most I've found the included PlatinumVerb to be fine. It's also short of some of the mastering plugins found in Studio if I remember rightly; to be honest until you've got a really good monitoring setup in a well-treated room you're best off either sending your recordings off to be professionally mastered (if they're for commercial release) or making do with a touch of compression and E.Q. across the output buss if the recordings are just for demo / MySpace etc.

And of course you'll be short of a lot of Apple Loops and suchlike with Express - but if you're doing work mainly with recorded audio you won't miss them!

As far as the upgrade path's concerned, I'm not 100% sure if you can get the educational discount on an upgrade - but to be honest I think it'd be a long time before you outgrow Express (I've been using it for a year and I feel like I've still only scratched the surface of what it can do!).

In short, if you can get Express for around the fifty quid mark, do so.

Oh I see, - I was a bit worried for a second incase it was the main mixer window that you can get on Cubase etc.

Cheers.

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Nathan Stewart | Freelance Sound Engineer

Brilliant, thanks for that. It will all be used for college and university assignments so i dont think mastering to to max will be needed really, i may just normalize it and do a last bit of eq to it.

I cant wait now xD

The cheapest ive seen it is amazon for £85 which is pretty good.

xx

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Nathan Stewart | Freelance Sound Engineer

Be aware that normalizing raises the noise floor too.
If you ever see a big leap in level when you normailse, you need to re-assess your recording levels, as they are far too low.

V useful thread Nathy


In the process of moving to mac ... just a G4 1.42GHz emac, have heard nice things about LE8 http://www.apple.com/logicexpress/#overview
and how its miles ahead of LE7.

Checking on macforums people have LE8 running on G4s just fine, heck some are using LP8 on a G4 533 !
I dont think LE8 uses 2 cpus (though it can use multicores on one cpu), so me getting a dual G4 MDD wouldnt help it.
I ony ever have max 4 softsynth instrument tracks running simultaneously, so LE8 is going to be just dandy i think on a G4 1.42GHz.


Max! s free sw sticky suddenly looks very tempting.

Cheers for normalizing tip.

Im glad you find this a useful post, I was hoping it would be for further LE users.

Thanks all.

Nathy xx

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Nathan Stewart | Freelance Sound Engineer

One thing the reviews mention is that it cant use external control surfaces .

- Indeed, I think I saw something similar if not that review and was worried, does this mean it cant use my mixer?

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Nathan Stewart | Freelance Sound Engineer

Quote Nathy:

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- Indeed, I think I saw something similar if not that review and was worried, does this mean it cant use my mixer?

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Control surfaces have nothing to do with your mixer. They're just dedicated sets of faders / knobs that talk to the software and allow you to use control it using them rather than a mouse all the time. I presume the review means LE8 can't talk to some of the more high-end fader boxes (like the Mackies?) using their special s/ware protocol. Should be a problem for you, and TBH any box that can send MIDI can be used to control the software.

the exp 24 in logic express 8 is the full version the same as in logic studio.

Quote steveman:

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Control surfaces have nothing to do with your mixer. They're just dedicated sets of faders / knobs that talk to the software and allow you to use control it using them rather than a mouse all the time. I presume the review means LE8 can't talk to some of the more high-end fader boxes (like the Mackies?) using their special s/ware protocol. Should be a problem for you, and TBH any box that can send MIDI can be used to control the software.

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Interesting, not come across that before - I'm looking at adding a Behringer BFC2000 control surface to my LE-based rig at the minute, but I assume that I'd still be able to configure it to control level, pan, mute, solo etc via MIDI?

Thanks for informing me of what a control surface is.
What about a Midi Controller? Will that be recognised?

xx

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Nathan Stewart | Freelance Sound Engineer

Seriously, you are questioning if a midi controller will be recognised ?
It sounds like you need to do some homework.

Logic is a midi sequencer.
It kind of DOES midi.

Yes I do need to do homework. But i just come on here and ask you.
Its easier.



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Nathan Stewart | Freelance Sound Engineer

Edited by Nathy (25/01/09 11:04 AM)

On the external control surface point: You can use them - I've got a Mackie HUI working with my Logic Express. There's a whole separate manual dedicated to the subject of control surface support.

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Drummer -> Photographer - Track Day Addict

I've been looking into getting LE8 for me G4 & using the the sliders knobs of me evolution mk449c on it.

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/Logic_Express_8_Control_Surfaces_Support. pdf

Quote Nathy:

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Yes I do need to do homework. But i just come on here and ask you.
Its easier.

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Being new to it all is one thing, being lazy is another.
As I understand it, this forum is not a class room.
From what I have seen, people's good will will only go so far.

Try searching the site for answers before posting.
There is even a newbies forum, which for you, for the moment, sounds like an ideal place to start.

Quote Nathy:

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What about a Midi Controller? Will that be recognised?

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I think someone is performing dialysis

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MBP 17", PC 100(Nubus Protools) Motu 896, X-Station, Logic9, Reason6, Korg legacy, ACE, Alchemy, Emax II, E-Synth, Evolver MEK, Waldorf Pulse and Blofeld, AS Telemark, AS Leipzig-S

I was joking around.
Yes I did not understand the term 'External mixer'.

I do now.

Apologies for coming across rude and lazy.

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Nathan Stewart | Freelance Sound Engineer