Apple's Logic Pro X for Mac and GarageBand for iOS Receive Major Updates

[lowkey]

Damn, adding Alchemy for GarageBand is a great move! I don't think there's a free DAW out there that touches GarageBand's features.

Plus Logic Pro X is by far and away the best DAW in my opinion. But even if you disagree with that: no iLok, much cheaper compared to Pro Tools/Cubase, and you're not having to buy a brand-new version every time Apple update their OS. There's enough incentive to give it a reasonable test drive, surely!

I tested out Logic and Cubase recently. I wanted to like Logic better because it's cheaper. But it's audio editing capabilities are not up to Cubase's. Particularly Cubase's ability to create parts that contain multiple edits inside that can then be moved around much easier than Logic.

I preferred the way Logic has been designed to run on one screen though.

 

[Burger Thing]

I don't. Aperture was way behind Lightroom almost from the beginning. Adobe as a company is dedicated pretty much to image processing, with of course some tangents and exceptions.

I saw the handwriting on the wall way back in LR 1.3, and with LR 2.0 and local adjustments in 2008 the future was sealed. There was no way Apple could compete and offer improvements at the quick rate Lightroom was improving. A round of substantial price reductions sealed the deal.

Glad I made the right bet and went with Adobe back then.

I disagree. I think Lightroom was way overrated from the beginning. The DAM features of Aperture to this day without updates wipes the floor with LR. LR is clunky, slow, laggy and the Raw conversion average at best with a UI from the last century to match. Other features like Web services and printed books are so outdated and laughable, that they should be removed. The sad part is, that for most there is no real alternative.

I have made the switch to LR a while ago as well, as Aperture was EOLed. If Apple would get their act together and start putting their resources into place to develop am updated version of Aperture, I would switch back in a heartbeat.

Capture One is overpriced, On1 lacking DAM features, etc. Adobe knows this and hardly ever updates LR.

Sorry, but I find statements like Aperture was behind from a bit too opinionated.

 

[Ploki]

I tested out Logic and Cubase recently. I wanted to like Logic better because it's cheaper. But it's audio editing capabilities are not up to Cubase's. Particularly Cubase's ability to create parts that contain multiple edits inside that can then be moved around much easier than Logic.

I preferred the way Logic has been designed to run on one screen though.

Are you kidding? I edit in cubase professionaly (I make money from it) and editing compared to logic is abysmal.
There is absolutely NO decent way to edit multitrack, comping is way clumsier then in logic. Actually, what you describes as cubases "multiple edits inside a part" is logics "Comp take folder", and it works miles better for both "multiple part edits" and for multitrack comping (Which is a drag in cubase, as you have to reveal/close lanes all the time).

If you didn't know, you can turn take folders "comp mode" to "edit mode" and move stuff inside around freely.

it also has no decent phase-locked quantise, or a warping algorithm with no stretching (Like Logic's Flex-Time SLICING)

When I have to deliever WAVs and not Cubase project I exclusively edit in logic.
not to mention eLicenser is **** and bogs down the whole system when it needs to make a license call, I'm already on my second licenser and I barely use this junk.

And the interface has basically been the same since SX 3... Not to mention its still not retina ready

 

[musika]

I fell for the plug and gave it a few spins - nice tunes!

I couldn't help myself. Thank you for taking the time to listen!

 

[Glassed Silver]

Damn, adding Alchemy for GarageBand is a great move! I don't think there's a free DAW out there that touches GarageBand's features.

Plus Logic Pro X is by far and away the best DAW in my opinion. But even if you disagree with that: no iLok, much cheaper compared to Pro Tools/Cubase, and you're not having to buy a brand-new version every time Apple update their OS. There's enough incentive to give it a reasonable test drive, surely!

As a former Aperture user I can only warn you and tell everyone to get comfortable to jump ship if necessary.

I hope Apple does NOT drop another pro app, but last time they merged features that much between an iLife and Pro Apps set of applications it did not end well for either app, certainly not for the pro app at least!

Again, I hope they keep the rest around and quite honestly I hope some lucky day Aperture gets reincarnated, it's so great I have yet to find a worthy replacement.

Aperture is THE reason why I'm happy when they leave things as they are. I'll take a stagnating product over an axed and "replaced" one any day, both paths are infuriating, but that's the sort of user experience that you have to chose from these days it seems.

Which option upsets you the least?

Man I miss the days of picking the most awesome products instead.

Glassed Silver:ios

Edit: Actually I still am an Aperture user, I don't know why I said former there.
Regardless, I learnt my lesson not to invest myself too much in this company anymore.
It sucks that I learnt it through photos, my biggest digital asset, but oh well.
I'll run this sucker until Apple drag me by the feet to ditch it.
Some numbercruncher probably advised to stop development, but with a company like Apple I believe it turned away more users in the long run than it was worth.
Maybe not though, good luck Apple.

 

[ConnYoungy]

Not a fan of the new Logic interface, it doesn't feel finished, but the touchbar piano is JOKES

 

[ginkobiloba]

Very nice and useful update !! As a long time Logic user, i'm almost (happily) shocked to see it still constantly evolving and being taken seriously. I've been quite disappointed by a lot of recent moves from Apple, but Logic ( and its team) seem to be preserved from all the turmoil.
I can't wait to install and test the new update.

 

[calaverasgrande]

gosh. Need a bit of Love in your life?

Using editor for this software is completely alright. Sound editor is the professional responsible for part of the sound design in a film.

I'm a video editor. So there you go...

Hey thanks for the armchair psychoanalysis!

Would it be appropriate to call Premiere a video effect program?

The point is that the person who wrote the article seems to have no idea what they are talking about. Sound editing is one of the hundreds of things you can do in Logic, and not it's forte by a long shot. Not sure you are aware, but Logic has been around a very long time. And was it's own thing before Apple bought it. Logic is a multitrack DAW and sequencing program.
Adobe Audition is an audio editing program for stereo material.

It is not as if Apple has a lot of software products to keep track of. There are basically the free apps like Garageband. Then the paid ones, which are down to what? Just Final Cut, Logic and Filemaker Pro now?

 

[F1Mac]

There is a perpetual license, which doesn't require for you to subscribe to anything.

Yeah but I guess you already know that if you want to keep your perpetual license current, you have to be on the upgrade/support plan, if you're on PTHD that's $399 a year... if you don't renew you're screwed and have to pay full price again.

I bought LPX only recently, but since it came out in 2013 to replace LP9, every subsequent update has been free unless I'm mistaken. With Avid, you would have had to pay $400 (for Pro Tools vanilla) and a sweet $1600 for your HD license ($400/year) to get your hands on today's update and stay "current". Logic users paid $200 4 years ago and that's it. It's not that I'm against paying the required amount for my DAW(s) - but Pro Tools in its current state is way too expensive and the last updates have been laughable, consisting mostly of unlocking HD features for the Vanilla version (oh, yeah, track freeze a couple months ago, lol). By comparison, Logic should cost much more than it does.

Pro Tools is great. Avid is a joke.

 

[triton100]

I tested out Logic and Cubase recently. I wanted to like Logic better because it's cheaper. But it's audio editing capabilities are not up to Cubase's. Particularly Cubase's ability to create parts that contain multiple edits inside that can then be moved around much easier than Logic.

I preferred the way Logic has been designed to run on one screen though.

Cubase pro has been updated. It practically looks like logic now in one screen. Super clean

 

[6836838]

Logic is not editing software. It is a package of tools which includes MIDI sequencing, multitrack digital audio recording. Effects, software instruments and other components used by musicians and producers to create entire songs. It's akin Pro Tools or Cubase. I think you are confusing this with Final Cut.
Maybe get someone who knows what the heck they are talking about to write your articles?
Apple does not have that many software products in it's portfolio!

It's called a DAW. You could have saved on the verbosity

 

[DeepIn2U]

Happy that at least Logic and FCPX aren't going down with Aperture.

Logic was a HUGE investment for Apple (Team, Product, and code) from Emagic, as well as FCPX. There is just too much of a HUGE market for these products and the industries.

Apple was VERY intelligent and forethinking regarding these products, one of which spawned two sister products (iLife's GarageBand with John Mayer introduction, and iOS GarageBand thereafter).

The key with Logic:
Existing market,
Apple focused with top producers and DJ's in various genres and with audio engineers responsible for top end concerts! Most likely Apple also worked with record labels - notice iTunes launch timing along with EMagic Logic upgrade to 64-bit native during OS X Panthers launch?
GarageBand ... Jobs must've had numbers related to how many developers showed up to previous WWDC's along with expected WWDC during it's planned launch and had a very talented guitarist play live [Rock'N'Roll born in the USA and is STILL the top played and sought after instrument by North American's over half a century now if not more or globally.

The Key with FCP/FCPX:
Great competition, great launch features.
Jobs on the Disney Board, and investment backer and board of Pixar Films
^ great clout to tout and show off performance (Mac's and the software) against Adobe Premier and other competing software. Logic Soundstage to work on soundtracks and import into FCP.

Lacking in Aperture:
There is no "top dog(s)" of photography recognized globally as house hold names.
Music touches everyone's life, Photography not so much - I loathed and mostly still do loath taking pictures / selfies because I've always been so traditionally non-photogenic nor good at it.
Debut of cellphones [Dawn: Ericsson/SonyEricsson T68m/T68i respectively with accessory], then exponentially rapidly advancing smartphone camera's [Nokia N92/N82 featuring Carl Zeiss lens] showing competitive quality and end user manual controls vs say a $650 Cannon A82 camera back in 2003.
Pretty much everyone 5 years ago was a 'pro' photographer with iPhone - Apple showed a deafening statistic showing Flikr had more pictures uploaded from an iPhone than ANY other camera period! THAT was the clincher.
How to you sell a professional camera application on the desktop that the majority of users DON't use or own the only computer to run it?!! Huh?! Yeah it was a bad move.

* Apple should've
a) made Aperture cross platform like iTunes upon initial launch\
b) offered a discount to iPhone owners via serial number or proof of purchase code on the cheap to get software mac/pc.
^ it was it's own self defeat as most iPhone or competing smartphone user used iPhoto or an iOS app to modify pictures and upload.
Maybe we'll still see major improvements in iOS native camera settings or from 3rd party for desktop.

If only this were about a great Aperture update. Sniff, I still miss that app every day.

Now now, there there. it's ok ... maybe over to another software ... here is a tissue and some cookies and milk. Sorry the booboo is painful ... but Apple just didn't get enough sales to warrant the softwares further development.

Does anyone else find it odd that Apple got rid of their pro photo program (Aperture) but continues to develop their pro audio and video tools?

I dunno... I just think photography is important to more people than pro audio.

Or is "Photos" finally a good enough Aperture replacement?

Read above.
Ask ANYONE the following:
Their favorite Song,
Their favorite Songs,
Their favorite Genre,
Their favorite paiting,
their favorite picture,
Do they have said song(s), genre's on their phone?
Do they have their favorite picture/painting/sculpture on their phone?
Have they edited such picture(s) on their phone vs computer?
Have they edited such picture(s) online service or (camera specialty store service: paid)
- what computer software was used?
-
Then finally to the latter two questions HOW did they source those items: from their phone or store?

Let's increase the wager for 100-5000 people, let's make a thread here
I'll bet EVERYONE you ask the top 3 questions will have an immediate answer in 10-15 seconds!
I'll bet EVERYONE you ask about the painting & picture question, painting will be delayed or will not have a succint answer it'll be an unknown. I'll even assume that with the picture the source for their favorite(s) pictures was done on their smartphone over the last 6yrs, and a camera longer than that.
I'll bet you those that edited their pictures have less than HALF the answer than those of song(s)/genre answered results.
I'll bet you those with pictures, over 65% edited them online or on their phones or both, maybe 10% store paid service (brick and mortar).

IF this was a conversation about how many people play or own an instrument vs those with a camera (including their phone/smartphone) I'd NEVER even think of challenging you.

Music touches EVERYONE's life ... even before they can comprehend conversation, see anything beyond vague light or properly define sounds/voices of their parents. IN the womb your heatbeat is the very first rhythm and it transcends it your life. The artistic value - which I incredibly respect as a fine talent - unfortunately is not so ingrained into everyone since, at, or before birth.

I look forward to your reply though ... could be a VERY interesting converstion which I could be enlightened.

Cheers.

 

[triton100]

Are you kidding? I edit in cubase professionaly (I make money from it) and editing compared to logic is abysmal.
There is absolutely NO decent way to edit multitrack, comping is way clumsier then in logic. Actually, what you describes as cubases "multiple edits inside a part" is logics "Comp take folder", and it works miles better for both "multiple part edits" and for multitrack comping (Which is a drag in cubase, as you have to reveal/close lanes all the time).

If you didn't know, you can turn take folders "comp mode" to "edit mode" and move stuff inside around freely.

it also has no decent phase-locked quantise, or a warping algorithm with no stretching (Like Logic's Flex-Time SLICING)

When I have to deliever WAVs and not Cubase project I exclusively edit in logic.
not to mention eLicenser is **** and bogs down the whole system when it needs to make a license call, I'm already on my second licenser and I barely use this junk.

And the interface has basically been the same since SX 3... Not to mention its still not retina ready

What do you think of Cubase pro 9?

 

[6836838]

Yeah but I guess you already know that if you want to keep your perpetual license current, you have to be on the upgrade/support plan, if you're on PTHD that's $399 a year... if you don't renew you're screwed and have to pay full price again.

I bought LPX only recently, but since it came out in 2013 to replace LP9, every subsequent update has been free unless I'm mistaken. With Avid, you would have had to pay $400 (for Pro Tools vanilla) and a sweet $1600 for your HD license ($400/year) to get your hands on today's update and stay "current". Logic users paid $200 4 years ago and that's it.

Pro Tools is great. Avid is a joke.

Frankly, Logic is a bargain at its current price (and I paid ~£400 for LP9 only a year before LPX was released- so my total outlay is around 3x the current price, which kinda sucks). I can't see XI coming anytime soon, so happy days. The option to start a project in Garageband on iOS is also a major boon (granted, there is Cubase for iPad). It's a great way of starting a project, or coming up with ideas on the go. When you're ready to get serious, then import to LPX and off you go... I'm not a serious music producer by any measure, but I'm more than happy with Logic.

I know the Electro guys love Ableton Live products, that that's another story... For traditional Sequencing/MIDI/Synths/Sampling/Mixing/Production, Logic is great. I'm sure the pros will be able to give more insight than me though.

Anyone in the UK thinking of purchasing LPX should do so VERY SOON, as there is a 25% price hike on Apple Store this week (as reported on MR this week). I've been revisiting my iOS Wishlist this week. Not looking forward to my CC statement this month!
[doublepost=1484782842][/doublepost]

Logic was a HUGE investment for Apple (Team, Product, and code) from Emagic, as well as FCPX. There is just too much of a HUGE market for these products and the industries.

Apple was VERY intelligent and forethinking regarding these products, one of which spawned two sister products (iLife's GarageBand with John Mayer introduction, and iOS GarageBand thereafter).

The key with Logic:
Existing market,
Apple focused with top producers and DJ's in various genres and with audio engineers responsible for top end concerts! Most likely Apple also worked with record labels - notice iTunes launch timing along with EMagic Logic upgrade to 64-bit native during OS X Panthers launch?
GarageBand ... Jobs must've had numbers related to how many developers showed up to previous WWDC's along with expected WWDC during it's planned launch and had a very talented guitarist play live [Rock'N'Roll born in the USA and is STILL the top played and sought after instrument by North American's over half a century now if not more or globally.

The Key with FCP/FCPX:
Great competition, great launch features.
Jobs on the Disney Board, and investment backer and board of Pixar Films
^ great clout to tout and show off performance (Mac's and the software) against Adobe Premier and other competing software. Logic Soundstage to work on soundtracks and import into FCP.

Lacking in Aperture:
There is no "top dog(s)" of photography recognized globally as house hold names.
Music touches everyone's life, Photography not so much - I loathed and mostly still do loath taking pictures / selfies because I've always been so traditionally non-photogenic nor good at it.
Debut of cellphones [Dawn: Ericsson/SonyEricsson T68m/T68i respectively with accessory], then exponentially rapidly advancing smartphone camera's [Nokia N92/N82 featuring Carl Zeiss lens] showing competitive quality and end user manual controls vs say a $650 Cannon A82 camera back in 2003.
Pretty much everyone 5 years ago was a 'pro' photographer with iPhone - Apple showed a deafening statistic showing Flikr had more pictures uploaded from an iPhone than ANY other camera period! THAT was the clincher.
How to you sell a professional camera application on the desktop that the majority of users DON't use or own the only computer to run it?!! Huh?! Yeah it was a bad move.

* Apple should've
a) made Aperture cross platform like iTunes upon initial launch\
b) offered a discount to iPhone owners via serial number or proof of purchase code on the cheap to get software mac/pc.
^ it was it's own self defeat as most iPhone or competing smartphone user used iPhoto or an iOS app to modify pictures and upload.
Maybe we'll still see major improvements in iOS native camera settings or from 3rd party for desktop.



Now now, there there. it's ok ... maybe over to another software ... here is a tissue and some cookies and milk. Sorry the booboo is painful ... but Apple just didn't get enough sales to warrant the softwares further development.



Read above.
Ask ANYONE the following:
Their favorite Song,
Their favorite Songs,
Their favorite Genre,
Their favorite paiting,
their favorite picture,
Do they have said song(s), genre's on their phone?
Do they have their favorite picture/painting/sculpture on their phone?
Have they edited such picture(s) on their phone vs computer?
Have they edited such picture(s) online service or (camera specialty store service: paid)
- what computer software was used?
-
Then finally to the latter two questions HOW did they source those items: from their phone or store?

Let's increase the wager for 100-5000 people, let's make a thread here
I'll bet EVERYONE you ask the top 3 questions will have an immediate answer in 10-15 seconds!
I'll bet EVERYONE you ask about the painting & picture question, painting will be delayed or will not have a succint answer it'll be an unknown. I'll even assume that with the picture the source for their favorite(s) pictures was done on their smartphone over the last 6yrs, and a camera longer than that.
I'll bet you those that edited their pictures have less than HALF the answer than those of song(s)/genre answered results.
I'll bet you those with pictures, over 65% edited them online or on their phones or both, maybe 10% store paid service (brick and mortar).

IF this was a conversation about how many people play or own an instrument vs those with a camera (including their phone/smartphone) I'd NEVER even think of challenging you.

Music touches EVERYONE's life ... even before they can comprehend conversation, see anything beyond vague light or properly define sounds/voices of their parents. IN the womb your heatbeat is the very first rhythm and it transcends it your life. The artistic value - which I incredibly respect as a fine talent - unfortunately is not so ingrained into everyone since, at, or before birth.

I look forward to your reply though ... could be a VERY interesting converstion which I could be enlightened.

Cheers.

Nice summary!

I think also Apple must have come up with an agreement with Adobe. Lightroom was always ahead of Aperture for the pros. Apple realised it was probably more cost effective to simply take a cut of all Abobe iOS products on the Apple Store. They don't require a large development team and simply sit back and take a decent cut on their Apple Store applications. I think the same think is happening with Microsoft and Office. It's almost impossible for Apple to keep up (at least with Excel and Word), so I don't see Pages/Numbers really advancing too much. Keynote may be an exception though.

 

[DeepIn2U]

[doublepost=1484782842][/doublepost]
Nice summary!

I think also Apple must have come up with an agreement with Adobe. Lightroom was always ahead of Aperture for the pros. Apple realised it was probably more cost effective to simply take a cut of all Abobe iOS products on the Apple Store. They don't require a large development team and simply sit back and take a decent cut on their Apple Store applications. I think the same think is happening with Microsoft and Office. It's almost impossible for Apple to keep up (at least with Excel and Word), so I don't see Pages/Numbers really advancing too much. Keynote may be an exception though.

I hadn't considered the Adobe juggernaught to be honest and I can definitely see that happening there. If I recall a keynote with Jobs talking about Adobe and offering a product that directly competed and when questioned he defended Adobe - unsure specifics though. If Adobe left the Mac platform (computers) then that would've REALLY hurt Apple and creative professionals on OSX and they'd follow suit, potentially affecting other business Apple had.

Personally I work in a MS shop land of computing (client shop using MS products), thus Ive never used Apple's office sutie of applications. But to be fair ... Mail on MacOS/iOS SUCKS it's horrible while the same for Outlook for iOS ... cannot sync contacts with Exchange (you can copy to native iOS contacts but not make changes within Outlook for iOS), and Mail you cannot minimize folders (same with Outlook). really dumb for business support, but alas.

 

[dannys1]

As usual, I agree with you 100%

Damn, adding Alchemy for GarageBand is a great move! I don't think there's a free DAW out there that touches GarageBand's features.

Plus Logic Pro X is by far and away the best DAW in my opinion. But even if you disagree with that: no iLok, much cheaper compared to Pro Tools/Cubase, and you're not having to buy a brand-new version every time Apple update their OS. There's enough incentive to give it a reasonable test drive, surely!

 

[AndyDiamond]

I couldn't help myself. Thank you for taking the time to listen!

yeah sounds good - nice mix/master too

 

[kildraik]

Extremely impressed. Loving it.

 

[AndyDiamond]

might not sound exciting but - YES!!!

• Expanded color palette offers 24 more colors to label your regions, tracks and notes.

 

[lowkey]

Are you kidding? I edit in cubase professionaly (I make money from it) and editing compared to logic is abysmal.
There is absolutely NO decent way to edit multitrack, comping is way clumsier then in logic. Actually, what you describes as cubases "multiple edits inside a part" is logics "Comp take folder", and it works miles better for both "multiple part edits" and for multitrack comping (Which is a drag in cubase, as you have to reveal/close lanes all the time).

If you didn't know, you can turn take folders "comp mode" to "edit mode" and move stuff inside around freely.

it also has no decent phase-locked quantise, or a warping algorithm with no stretching (Like Logic's Flex-Time SLICING)

When I have to deliever WAVs and not Cubase project I exclusively edit in logic.
not to mention eLicenser is **** and bogs down the whole system when it needs to make a license call, I'm already on my second licenser and I barely use this junk.

And the interface has basically been the same since SX 3... Not to mention its still not retina ready

Usually for editing audio, I convert an audio region to a part. Then go into the part and chop up, rearrange and edit the audio in order to make multiple versions of a drum loop for example. These parts can then be cut into smaller snippets and re-arranged together in the timeline view, glued back together and moved around as required.

I could not work out how to do that in Logic. I asked on forums and the general answer was that you can't. So are you saying its possible to cut a drum loop into individual hits, lay them out in separate lanes inside a part, then go into the part mute/re-arrage/copy/paste/reverse each snippet? Then go back to the arrangement view and cut/copy/paste move the entire contents of that part? That would be great. If so ill give Logic another go. What I want is to have all the audio edits inside parts, not in the arranger.

I use Cubase on a retina screen, no problems. There is a warping algorithm... No problems with the dongle for over 15 years... but it would be great to not have to worry about leaving it at home when I need it or losing it.

 

[DogHouseDub]

Good news - do we dare hope for updated desktops?

the amazing part is that Logic is so efficient, you really don't need more power. Do you?

 

[dysamoria]

Are "Audio Unit extension apps" a new thing in iOS? I've heard of audiobus and inter-app audio, but never heard of an AU extension app until the iOS GarageBand update notes.

Audio Unit v3 is cross platform. iOS does indeed now have AU plugins.

I don't. Aperture was way behind Lightroom almost from the beginning. Adobe as a company is dedicated pretty much to image processing, with of course some tangents and exceptions.

I saw the handwriting on the wall way back in LR 1.3, and with LR 2.0 and local adjustments in 2008 the future was sealed. There was no way Apple could compete and offer improvements at the quick rate Lightroom was improving. A round of substantial price reductions sealed the deal.

Glad I made the right bet and went with Adobe back then.

But Adobe has that awful licensing subscription scheme...

the new logic interface looks lovely

It looks awful. Amateur garbage. Flat, low contrast, simplistic... Awful. Knock it off, Apple!! Bad taste GUI design is going to be Apple's new legacy.

I've literally just switched to Bitwig after growing too frustrated with the bloated Logic interface.. Some much UI lag on the Retina display I felt it was slowing me down... I put up £140 for a BW licence only yesterday, I wish I knew this was coming out I'd have waited to try out the improvements.. I'll grab it anyway I can always sell the BW licence though I don't expect it to be quite as fast..

I'd like to know what your experience with this new Logic is, if you test it. I've heard the GUI slowness complaint a lot with retina mode. I'm not on a retina machine or Logic X yet myself. Apple has failed to offer a complete desktop solution for high CPU usage (no, iMac isn't it).

 

[Casiotone]

that app doesn't look serious on the ipad, it looks like a toy or something, why not create something looking like from "Westworld" movie?

I guess that you concluded that the whole app "looks like a toy" just by looking at one screenshot in the article that shows just one interface pane?

GarageBand for iOS has a lot of depth, tons of features and many interface panes for various modules and functionality, probably more than any other iOS app produced by Apple.

These icons of monsters and robots in the audio recording effects pane is the only place in the whole app where you could argue that it can look like a toy.

And you know what? This latest update actually added a new more serious interface layout for this audio effects module in a tab called "Studio" which is selected by default and has a lot more presets and functionality, while the "toy like" interface has now been relegated to an optional and clearly labeled "Fun" tab that you deliberately have to press to see the toy icons.

 

[wheelhot]

Or is "Photos" finally a good enough Aperture replacement?

My guess is there isn't someone at Apple willing to lead a revolutionary Aperture replacement. Cause I'm pretty sure the guy who decided to rewrite FCP got lots of flak from everyone but in his defence, FCP9 code base is so old that the only way to implement much more efficient features into it is to rewrite.

And in some ways, I felt it's similar to Aperture cause people wanted more control (I call it PS-Lite) over the basic adjustments and probably some kind of feature that allows people to round-trip to 3rd party extensions without hard saving their photos (non-destructible 3rd party plugin edits), so probably all those change requires a lot of code rewrites and etc. etc.

 

[F1Mac]

the amazing part is that Logic is so efficient, you really don't need more power. Do you?

Logic itself probably doesn't need more power, and that's true for all DAWs. But when you're using lots of VIs (orchestral work in my case) or resource intensive synths/samplers, you need all the power you can get. And just because a 2013 Mac Pro will do just fine in that area, that doesn't mean that we shouldn't expect a little more than that in 2017.