How much better is Pro Tools vs. Logic X?

[alexmshore]

PT certainly has some great features however the only reason it is referred to as the 'pro' standard is because many of the mega studios and production houses etc have always used it and are in a way almost expected too.

Interesting article on Avid (the maker of Pro Tools) being delisted from the Nasdaq.

http://createdigitalmusic.com/2014/02/avid-maker-pro-tools-now-losing-money-faster-delisted-nasdaq/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+createdigitalmusic+%28createdigitalmusic.com%29

 

[F1Mac]

ProTools is not just a de facto standard "because every studio uses it" - they have perfected a workflow over the years that is really hard to beat. Is it perfect? Of course not. But it gets the job done so much faster than the others it's not even funny. I'm a film music composer/arranger, I have used Digital Performer for years and really love it, it has unique features and is, imo, still the most advanced for MIDI editing. Yet, it is still a very, very "heavy" application (an interface that always seem, and feel, more and more sluggish as you add tracks, instruments, etc), that has proved to be not very stable in certain critical situations (AAF/OMF import/export to name one), at least in my case. I would love to do all my work in DP but it's just not reliable enough. ProTools otoh (I'm currently using 10.3.8, will upgrade to 11 very soon), has always been rock-solid. I'm not biased towards ProTools, but it gets my work done very efficiently; and at the end of the day, that's all I'm asking.

 

[pravacreative]

Honestly, neither is better or worse. They're just different.

If you're using FCPX, then Logic integrates a bit more fluidly. Both applications can use many of the same plugins.

If you're just using it for personal projects, then Logic will be more cost effective and will work fine for you. Pro studios are kind of expected to use Pro Tools--though it's advantages over other applications are arguable.

 

[jesserolandallan]

Personally, I am making the transition to Reaper. Completely customizable (custom menus, custom interfaces, custom batch commands like Slate batch commander etc..) It is always being updated with new features. You can have your very own custom workflow that fits your needs. It is tiny in size and uses the least CPU out of PT and Logic. If you are planning on using NI plugins or just a lot of plugins in general then don't go with PT. It handles CPU very poorly. Logic is currently my go-to DAW. I never have a CPU crash. I wasn't crazy about LX at first but I decided to not join the ignorant hate bandwagon and got familiar with the changes. If anything, there is more flexibility now. The interface is definitely easier on the eyes too.

 

[Luba]

Thanks, I'm glad you guys are still responding to this thread!

 

[kerochan]

If you're looking for an intro DAW to learn and play with, I'd suggest GarageBand. It's a pretty powerful DAW in it's own right w/o the steep learning curve of Logic.

I took a look at garage band, totally lost with it, studying pro Tools 8 now, very easy, but would like to get Logic Pro x to learn

 

[Cayden]

I started off with GarageBand and once I realized I needed more leeway in mixing, I moved to Logic Pro X and I love it. I don't really use midi, or even compose in Logic, but I still like it the most. I'd say the main advantages are the ability to really have complete control of the sound of the mix with the numerous plugins available. We track everything straight in through a multitrack interface with no eq, gain, compression, etc. and do all the editing in post. This is the workflow that works best for me, and I'd recommend Logic to anyone that wants to try it out

 

[DPUser]

Look at my username and guess what I use. Super solid for me in MIDI and audio.

 

[nateo200]

Wayyyyy to many people use Pro Tools because its for da kewl kidz....seriously I know half a dozen kids who have Pro Tools and its like a status symbol mean while I know professionals who swear by Logic Pro and are still mixing on a 2008 MacBook Pro with like Logic 7 or some old version. Pro Tools and company sure knows how to bleed its customers, I mean you pay $xxxxx for the software then you need an iLok that's glitchy oh but wait with this upgrade you can add features that should have already been included...I just don't like that business model, I get it, I just don't like it. Man freaking iLok's lol, as if I don't have enough crap plugged in when I edit!

 

[skiltrip]

Pro Tools was the only way to go in the early 2000s. It really was an amazing tool for recording live/real instruments.

Now all the major DAWs have caught up with each other in features and capability. Pro Tools these days, I don't bother with it. It's a money sink. I stopped at version 10. I had to keep it updated to run on my updated computer OS. I have a ton of archived sessions in PT so NOT having a copy of Pro Tools isn't an option.

All that out of the way, Logic X is fun, and an absolute bargain at $199.
My favorite DAW these days though is Presonus Studio One. Those cats are innovating like crazy down there in Baton Rouge, LA. They have a free fully functional version called Studio One Prime. Check it out. Oh, and it's for both Mac and PC.

 

[txa1265]

Look at my username and guess what I use. Super solid for me in MIDI and audio.

haha ..

Yeah, I have been using (Digital) Performer since 1986, and though I have tried other stuff, I always come back to DP.

 

[Jonthebass]

I use Cubasis/Cubase Elements myself. At $99, it's not a bad starting point.

I started out with Pro Tools and getting into Logic was like a smack in the face. Absolutely clueless with it. Hence I ended up going the Cubase route.

I looked for alternatives mostly because of the dongles and interface requirements of PT. For a laptop with only two USB slots, side by side, it wasn't going to cut it.

Your better DAW is always going to be the one that doesn't require hardware. Pro Tools has a mixer in the interface itself, and that's what I always used in the classroom. I don't get why I had to have a 5 pound version of it hanging from the computer too.

No hardware, the ability to use plugins, DAW UI standards, and the handling of audio correctly. Those are the only things a DAW needs to have. Forget about industry standard, you're a musician, not a studio. Your microphones matter the most as they can make or break you.

You'd be surprised at how many bands do demos in GarageBand.

[doublepost=1476819623][/doublepost]Thats interesting. I find Logic and PT very similar. I use both. I cant even open Cubase let alone use it. As they say, all DAWs donthe same job..... just differently..
[doublepost=1476819738][/doublepost]

Pro Tools was the only way to go in the early 2000s. It really was an amazing tool for recording live/real instruments.

Now all the major DAWs have caught up with each other in features and capability. Pro Tools these days, I don't bother with it. It's a money sink. I stopped at version 10. I had to keep it updated to run on my updated computer OS. I have a ton of archived sessions in PT so NOT having a copy of Pro Tools isn't an option.

All that out of the way, Logic X is fun, and an absolute bargain at $199.
My favorite DAW these days though is Presonus Studio One. Those cats are innovating like crazy down there in Baton Rouge, LA. They have a free fully functional version called Studio One Prime. Check it out. Oh, and it's for both Mac and PC.

I agree.
Inuse logic mailnly but I love Studio One 3. Just find it hard to get my head around it sometimes.

 

[djippy]

I still use Logic 9 and it does the job for my needs. When it doesn't work after an OS update, I'll decide which platform I will continue to work on. Probably Logic X, cause it offers a lot for the money and it looks more polish than Reaper. Since I don't do that as a living and I am a broke ass musician, I will not go for any other platform, I don't have 500 USD to put on a recording software at the moment. (reaper is only 60$ if you don't do that for a living, have a good community and is supposed to be super stable too.)

I only do ''acoustic'' recording, so pro-tools would probably be ''better'' for me, but I never worked with it. I need multi-track inputs recording since I record live band, so the free version is not for me.

I think there are lots of good daw on the market, any of the available choice that is popular is probably good enough. For the value, I think Logic X is hard to beat.

Pro tools is not as expensive as it used to be at 600$ and supports now any third party interface so no need to have their expensive hardware to run the rig...

If at some point I do money recording/mixing stuff, I'll probably grab a pro tools licence, but not for now.

 

[JoelTheSuperior]

Right now the only reason in my honest opinion to use Pro tools is if you need to collaborate with someone else / a studio that does, or if you're using some really fancy high end hardware with it.

A common argument that's given is that Pro Tools is superior for editing, and whilst that was true a few years ago, as of Logic Pro X I'd argue that simply isn't true anymore.

A lot of people will cite the smart tool that Pro Tools has, and many people don't seem to be aware that Logic has something just like it - you just need to enable it. Go to Logic Pro X -> Preferences -> General -> Editing. Then under "Pointer Tool in Tracks Provides" the click zones that you want.

As has been pointed out before though, Logic Pro X has some excellent built in effects and instruments, and I'd argue they're better than a lot of very expensive ones out there.

 

[O.N.Y.X]

As long as Pro Tools requires a physical iLok dongle I'm not getting anywhere near this DAW. Apple has quickly dropped the XS key for Logic because they know what a huge PITA it can be when something happens to this thing. With Pro Tools and iLok it's even worse because iLok is made by a different company- Pro audio forums are full of reports about problems with iLok like lost or malfunctioning dongles, lost licenses, incompatibilities, bad customer support and plenty of frustrated users.

I've been using Emagic/Apple products since the days of Notator SL. For $199 Logic is a steal. The included Alchemy synths alone is worth $199. For musicians and composers it still has the most powerful MIDI engine hands down. And: Apple keeps adding functionality while NOT charging for .x updates (and there have been quite a few since 2013).

Clear win for Logic.

 

[Luba]

For musicians and composers it still has the most powerful MIDI engine hands down.

So would you say Pro Tools is better for audio recording and mastering than Logic? But that Logic is geared more for making music?

 

[O.N.Y.X]

So would you say Pro Tools is better for audio recording and mastering than Logic? But that Logic is geared more for making music?

Good questions. If the iLok requirement is no deal breaker for you, you should investigate further. I'm using Logic for every stage in the production but I've seen other people (mastering engineers and producers) who prefer Pro Tools. I'm pretty sure Pro Tools has its advantages and does certain jobs better than Logic but I never got to give it a try...
From what I've seen, Logic's MIDI engine is superior to Pro Tools' and quite a few people who use both DAWs prefer Logic when it comes to songwriting.

 

[Cayden]

So would you say Pro Tools is better for audio recording and mastering than Logic? But that Logic is geared more for making music?

I'm most cases I'd say yes, but that hasn't been true for me. My band uses little to no MIDI or software instruments, it's all live. I mix with Logic and I love it. Some of the built in plug ins are amazing and plug in support is great as well. Track automation is great too and automatic cross fades are really appreciated. If you've had experience in GarageBand, Logic is the perfect step after and really worth the money

 

[JoelTheSuperior]

So would you say Pro Tools is better for audio recording and mastering than Logic? But that Logic is geared more for making music?

A few years ago I definitely would've said that Pro Tools is superior for audio recording and mastering, but now I honestly don't think that's true anymore, unless you absolutely need compatibility with Pro Tools hardware, i.e. Avid's HDX setups.

Honestly Logic is a more than capable DAW and I'd go so far as to say it's miles ahead of the competition right now.

 

[Luba]

A few years ago I definitely would've said that Pro Tools is superior for audio recording and mastering, but now I honestly don't think that's true anymore, unless you absolutely need compatibility with Pro Tools hardware, i.e. Avid's HDX setups.

Honestly Logic is a more than capable DAW and I'd go so far as to say it's miles ahead of the competition right now.

Great to know. Thanks!

 

[F1Mac]

A few years ago I definitely would've said that Pro Tools is superior for audio recording and mastering, but now I honestly don't think that's true anymore, unless you absolutely need compatibility with Pro Tools hardware, i.e. Avid's HDX setups.

Honestly Logic is a more than capable DAW and I'd go so far as to say it's miles ahead of the competition right now.

With this post you are partly responsible for my decision to buy Logic.

Loving it so far.

Of course I have to stay with PTools but I hope Logic can become my main DAW soon...

 

[ChrisA]

I recently bought Logic X to learn and play around with a DAW. I am into photography (Aperture, and soon Pixelmator) and video (FCPx). I hear Pro Tools is the pro standard, but didn't want to spend over $1k, to find out I am not cut out to do audio. I assume Logic works better with FCPx? What the big features, what can Pro Tools do that Logic X can't? Thanks!

If you compare Logic and PT. I think you find Logic works better for the case where you are making music with MIDI, synths and Apple loops and PT seems more popular with those using microphones on live musicians. Logic is the easy choice if you are living in the Apple ecosystem because you can round trip FCPx audio through logic and Logic can open GarageBand projects directly.

Logic allows some pretty powerful and fast techniques. For example I wanted a vocal recording from an amateur singer. So I used MIDI to record my beginner level keyboard playing. I edited out mistakes then I asked Logic to transpose the notation to a range my vocalist could sing Then she sings using my crummy piano track in here headphones and is able t stay on key and in time. Later I add some dumb and lops under her voice. That is how no-budget amateurs work. In the professional world they wore hire studio musicians, Why would you want a professional tool if you are not doing what professionals do? You want whatever matches you work flow. But both work, It is pretty much the Nikon v. Cannon argument.

I always suggest people start with Garage band then only if they find something GB can't do upgrade to Logic. Logic an easy upgrade

 

[F1Mac]

deleted.

 

[CausticPuppy]

Given that Apple is pulling out of the pro market left and right, I think it's only a matter of time before Logic Pro X goes the way of Aperture-- unfortunately.

As a relatively recent convert to Logic (from Sonar on the Windows side), I'm still amazed at the amount of stuff they pack into the Logic package - the sample libraries and included synths are so good I haven't even felt the need to reinstall all my EastWest libraries since my last computer upgrade.

But, I still worry that Logic X is going to wither and die, like Aperture. There doesn't seem to be anything that can take its place of being powerful, accessible, and having so much included content for the price.

 

[F1Mac]

Given that Apple is pulling out of the pro market left and right, I think it's only a matter of time before Logic Pro X goes the way of Aperture-- unfortunately.

FCPX just got updated though, 10.3 has also a new UI ("suprisingly" flat ) so they still care I guess - I bet the next version of Logic will include the same cosmetic changes, among the other new features of course.