Apple Launches Logic Pro X with Virtual Drummer and Flex Pitch

[milo]

I'm not hung up on how it looks, spare me.

When your complaint is about "Gavin, Nikki, Jesse & Rose" it sure comes off that way.

Plus dealing with deadlines makes people wanna use computers to fasten their workflow.

Exactly. I know guys whose work includes things like scoring an hour Discovery Channel in a day or two. They aren't lacking in skill by any stretch of the imagination, there just isn't time to do every little detail by hand.

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

Just because tools are made easier doesn't mean they become useless or less pro.

It's like I said earlier about microprocessor technology in cameras making it easier to take good photos. It does make "old school" pros feel a bit irritating that anyone can now take a good photo without just being "lucky". It doesnt' take away all the skill. For example, night photos typically need a tripod and that isn't automatic, etc. and there are times you need full manual control to get a scene right, etc., but it does mean less talented people can appear to be more talented than they really are, overall. I suppose that's how many musicians feel about automated tools in things like Logic. I mean does a pro keyboard player buy a keyboard with a bunch of "auto-play" one-man-band features? Probably not. On the other hand, my Roland digital piano (furniture grade) has some of those features and I simply don't use them. They aren't hurting me being there. The grand piano weights ARE nice, though. It feels so much nicer than a cheap synth to use as a controller.

 

[Funkmasta]

I play drums.

Still use Drummer when I track certain stuff. Not everyone has a set and a bunch of microphones available at all times.


Drummer is awesome.

 

[MowingDevil]

I play drums.

Still use Drummer when I track certain stuff. Not everyone has a set and a bunch of microphones available at all times.


Drummer is awesome.

There is nothing wrong w/ virtual drums, especially like you said not everyone has a bunch of mics not to mention proper pre-amps and most importantly a proper room. That said, dedicated programs like Addictive Drums, BFD and Superior Drummer are already out there and most engineers or producers will already have them. Is Drummer going to compete w/ them? I doubt it, reminds me of the Apple Maps boondoggle in a minor way. I recognize its a little different in that it has a bit of an A.I. to generate drums on the spot which is fine. My point about the cheesy personas is that belongs in Garage Band.....and the latest release of GB the other day just makes my point. Drummer was intended for GB from the get-go and to sell add-ons in the App store. Face it, Logic is looking more and more like Garage Band Pro. It might not be too far off from literally being that based on Apple's history.

The more that happens the more it will push away professionals in the audio business. Is that a bad thing? Not to Apple, they clearly don't care as long as they move more iDevices and Apps. Thats their prerogative. I think there is a genuine valid market for GB....I would just like to see Logic push real creative boundaries and not become more of a skeuomorphic toy than it is.

I may be alone on this issue within this forum but I know for a fact the developers for Logic (ie Emagic) would agree with me. In fact, they've been at odds w/ Apple for years over this and have been resisting becoming a high end GB. A battle they have clearly lost, probably the exact reason why Apple recently fired a huge part of their pro audio team.

 

[milo]

reminds me of the Apple Maps boondoggle in a minor way.

That's a very odd comparison considering that Maps was incredibly buggy and inaccurate and I haven't seen a single complaint about technical problem with Drummer. It works great, some people just have a problem with the graphics. Frankly if a "pro" avoids useful tools over aesthetics, that's their problem, not Apple's.

why Apple recently fired a huge part of their pro audio team

Source? There was a claim about this a while back but it turned out to be false, it made it sound like developers left but instead it was all sales people.

 

[MowingDevil]

That's a very odd comparison considering that Maps was incredibly buggy and inaccurate and I haven't seen a single complaint about technical problem with Drummer. It works great, some people just have a problem with the graphics. Frankly if a "pro" avoids useful tools over aesthetics, that's their problem, not Apple's.

I should have clarified, my point wasn't focused on how buggy Maps was but rather Apple went and developed this inferior product when they had Google Maps running just fine. Ultimately it was a bit of a pissing match w/ Google and not a good move. I was thinking in terms of putting resources into developing Drummer when most people who would use it regularly probably already had a drum sample program. I would have rather they put their resources into pushing the product further in other areas and leave things like that to the specialists. Bringing it into Garage Band makes perfect sense and they did that.

In terms of the pro audio team, who knows, I've heard both sides of that story. If it was true it wasn't something Apple would want out there so they were quick to put out that fire. The story had traction as Logic took 4 years to update while Cubase & ProTools had been updated several times. It wasn't like the update to Logic blew minds, perhaps if this version had come out 2 years ago it might have.

 

[milo]

All audio apps spark the debate about whether added features are "pro" or not. And everyone would like development resources to go toward the top of their wish list. These days most audio apps include some instruments, arguably there are better options available yet including them doesn't keep those apps from being "pro". I already have a number of great drum libraries and collections of loops but Drummer provides some things the others don't so I'm glad to have it.

As for rumors, what matters is the truth, not what "has traction".

 

[Luap]

I've got no serious issues with Logic X currently. Yes, it may look a little simplified, and yes the drummers with names thing makes me cringe a bit. BUT. It all works well and sounds great. Plus all the 'pro' stuff that was there before is still there now (and then some). So it's no less pro than it was before, in my opinion.