Apple's Logic Pro X team have been really busy on this latest update to their DAW, and the changes should make every user's life easier.
New Compressor
Logic's compressor has been a trusty companion for years but it's now looking rather long in the tooth. Enter, the new Compressor plug-in with a new scalable GUI that changes its appearance depending on which compressor model you're using. Also factor in that a Classic VCA mode has been added, and a histogram meter and and this is an update every user will be to receive.
Drummers, Drum Machine Designer and Mellotron
For beatmakers, there are 10 new Drummer profiles, each specialising in a different genre of music including Tech House, Trap and Dubstep. Then Drum Machine Designer takes the idea of the Drum Kit Designer added in the first release of Logic Pro X and lets you switch different elements in and out, like you can in an instrument like NI Battery, for instance.
If you're looking for some real vintage feel, then the other instrument that's really going to get the creative juices flowing is Mellotron. It adds 10 different vintage instruments based on the classic tape-based keyboard.
Drum machine-style editing and the Piano Roll
To further engage beat-making producers, new tools have been added for Note Repeat, Spot Erase, and ways of easily changing rate, note length, and velocity on the fly.
The Piano roll editor has become a lot friendlier too, with the long-requested Brush tool added so Logic users can now paint in repeated notes in the same way as other DAW users have been able to for years! Also, as in beat-orientated DAWs like Ableton, it's now possible to collapse the piano roll so you only see the drum voices that you're using.
Automation
If you're one of those producers who is constantly cutting parts around in an arrangement then Region-based automation will be a godsend. Automation changes are now embedded within any region.
Also, if you want to make changes on top of existing automation, new Trim and Relative modes will help you do that.
Retro Synth updates
Retro Synth — introduced with the first version of Logic Pro X — has gained some new functionality too. It's now possible to import any audio file to create custom wavetables.
The Mixer
Logic Pro 10.1 adds VCA faders to the its bulging list of feature updates, as well as the ability to view Track Stacks in the mixer.
Customisable plug-in menus
Every click costs you time, and if you're in the middle of your creative flow, anything that speeds you up is a blessing. Logic's new plug-in menu system lets you arrange all of your third-party plug-ins in any way you want. Your own plug-ins are no longer treated like second-class citizens and can now be put alongside Logic's own processors. Want to have Altiverb in the same list as Space Designer? Not a problem.
Logic Remote updates
If you own an iPad, Logic Remote has probably helped you out at some point already, but its features had always seemed limited. With a raft of new updates, you should now be able to bring it into the heart of your studio.
