Purchased Logic 8 today

[robbiedo]

I will try to give a basic review tonight.

I have a base install on my laptop, and I am installing on my Mac Pro at the moment. It is a huge install. Nearly 50GB complete. The physical box is a very nice hardback book style enclosure, and still comes with a plethora of manuals.

If you have specific questions let me know, so I can look for the answers while I go through this. It does not look like there are a ton of new features, and I think there will be complaints why all the development time, the price cut,, and the lack of a huge new feature list.

If you think about it, it is better for all of us that Apple fixed all the under the hood issues, and interface updates, and build for the future without having everything break. As time goes by, I suspect new features will be added just like the incremental updates for 7. Apogee has really taken a big risk with Apple, and i think they are satisfied with the road map. Just look at the Ensemble, Duet, and the Symphony system. The future looks good for the Logic Platform. Digi killer probably not, but very competitive.

I am very happy from what I see so far on my laptop with nothing breaking from 7.

[robbiedo]

First nice feature. If you have an MCU with extenders, the order depended on order of detection. Now, it doesn't matter. You move the units around just like multiple displays to determine the order they work in. Very cool. Albert should be happy!

[robbiedo]

I installed this on both my Mac Pro and MacBook. For all of you who are worried about the huge size of the full install: Don't be. There are 8 disks total, but only one disk is really necessary to get you to working, All the rest is really fluff

3 disks are the previous Jam Packs. I do not know whether there is new material on these. I don't really use them as I come from a traditional composition background before computers.

(University of the Pacific, Conservatory of Music 1986 Majoring in: Get off my lawn, you hoodies!).

Three disks called "Audio Content" appears to be 20GB of sound effects for Soundtrack Pro, a program geared towards creating professional surround sound soundtracks. Very interesting, but not vital for many Logic Users.

One disk is just demos, and I don't need to listen to them just to prove that there are people better than me at using Logic at a professional level.

Basically, to get you working is really 1 DVD install. So, for all you disk constrained notebook users, it is not that big of deal. You can install the extra content on an external disk or network share.

You cannot have two versions of Logic 8 running concurrently on the same network subnet with the same serial number. Note the word subnet.

The new interface is a blessing. I am very happy with many elements of the new work flow. I haven't run into any significant issues, yet. However, you should back up your Logic 7 resources, such as sample instruments, and Garageband resources. I ran into a lost EXS24 instrument that I had to recover for my backup files. You mileage may vary, but you are warned here.

The new sample level editing is very well implemented, and is a long overdue feature.

If you ask me, the new audio engine sounds better, incrementally so.

This is not a major upgrade in the sense of tons of new features, instruments, and plugins. However, it is a worthy refinement of Logic, and a solid basis on which Apple can continue to build the platform, and that really describes Logic 8. It is a new power train on which the future of Logic will be built.

Personally, I am glad there is not an arm's length of new features. Look at the teething period, and problems of Cubase 4. I suspect Apple has a list of new features to be implemented as upgrades are rolled out. It does not look like I am going to be debugging for weeks just to get productive, and that is possibly the big overlooked accomplishment with this new version.

For upgraders, this is a no brainer at $200. For newbies, Logic is an incredibly full featured product for only $500.

So how much is my old version with dongle worth on the resale market?

[robbiedo]

I am starting to run into some small glitches. Notes coming out of nowheres while playing a piano on EXS24.

My faders on the MCU moving back to a previous position after I move them.

Stuttering when I start a previously recorded song.

Of course, I have only begin to delve into this, and I really haven't tweaked any setting. Just getting a feel for things.

[jsepeta]

3 disks are the previous Jam Packs.

apple says the content has been updated to be more useful within logic. not sure if this means surround-capable but that could be part of it. I had noticed some weirdness with how apple had originally installed the JamPack content to 2 or 3 different locations. hopefully this fixes that bug.

Three disks called "Audio Content" appears to be 20GB of sound effects for Soundtrack Pro, a new program geared towards creating professional surround sound soundtracks

SoundTrack Pro has been around for awhile, the successor to SoundTrack which was the precursor to GarageBand. While not of use to many musicians who want to record themselves playing, it has much of the functionality of Acid for dealing with looped audio and changing pitch/speed without screwing up the music. And it's a better fit for people who want to score movies created in iMovie or Final Cut Pro / Express. 20gb is an awful lot of sound effects. Jiminy Criket!

you should back up your Logic 7 resources, such as sample instruments, and Garageband resources.

Great suggestion.

This is not a major upgrade in the sense of tons of new features, instruments, and plugins.

Indeed, it looks like they've just polished up the old version to make it look like an Apple-created application. Which is why I'm holding off to upgrade until I have a faster Mac. No features I *need* to have, but some nice improvements nonetheless.

So how much is my old version with dongle worth on the resale market?

I hope this is a joke because not only is that unethical, it's also likely in violation of your EULA agreement for version 8.

[bryla]

What does the software agreement say for version 8?

It's legal to sell your L7 with dongle

[robbiedo]

I hope this is a joke because not only is that unethical, it's also likely in violation of your EULA agreement for version 8.

It was meant to be a joke, but why is it unethical? I paid for the full version not the upgrade. I have the academic version of Logic 7 Pro, and was not eligible for the upgrade price. My point, though is that the dongle versions are now basically worthless.

[bryla]

hey!

learn to quote!! I never wrote that

[robbiedo]

hey!

learn to quote!! I never wrote that

Sorry, fixed that.

If you have a Mackie Control Universal, I want to point out that I am having significant compatibility issues that I did not have with Logic 7. Zoom button is not functional, cursor for track selection moves three tracks per press instead of one. Odd movements of the faders when adjusting tracks. I haven't spent much time trying to remedy issue. Might be a bug.

On a good note, plug-in delay compensation appears to be much improved over Logic 7, especially for the UAD-1e. Even while using the UAD-1e with software monitoring, PDC works very well. Kudos Apple!

I don't know if it is just me, but the Apple compressor seems significantly improved.

Still having an issue where songs stutter for a couple of beats when I press play. That is just not acceptable.

I may do a clean install if I continue to have small niggling issues, and see if that helps. I am certain there are significant bugs which I have not encountered, yet.

For those of you using Logic Pro 7 in full production, I would wait until at least the first service release. It looks like there are going to be some teething pains. How widespread, and to what extent, I am not sure, but I am definitely having issues that I was not having with Logic 7 Pro.

[tgfoo]

If you have a copy of Logic 7 with a dongle and you got the Logic 8 upgrade, why would you sell Logic 7, don't you need the dongle inorder to install/reinstall it? Unless you bought the 500 dollar version, then sell away.

[rotaryunison]

Just bought Logic Studio. Installing now. Has anyone experienced problems with songs from LP7 importing? Just curious. Can't wait to get going with this version!

[robbiedo]

The only problem I experienced was a missing instrument from Garageband resources just disappeared when I upgraded. I had to recover the instrument from a backup; otherwise importing songs was not an issue.

[rotaryunison]

You did an upgrade install, right? Did you manually uninstall LP7? Can you still open and work with it?

[robbiedo]

Well, if you upgrade to Logic 8, it does not uninstall Logic 7 Pro. You can still use Logic 7 Pro, if there is a need. It is still in your application folder, but renamed Logic Pro 7.app

You still need the dongle to open Logic 7 Pro.

[Tweak]

>I don't know if it is just me, but the Apple compressor seems significantly improved.


Definitely improved. Looks like they added several software models of compressor types. Much more control and it sounds more like hardware.

[_controlfreak]

Are the 39GB of extra sounds usable (i.e. are they suffering from stock sound syndrome)? Is the UI snappy and responsive? Even on a 2.4Ghz Core 2, Apple's iLife applications seem sluggish (I do realize they're sold at nearly 1/10th the price). Does anyone know what the base CPU/RAM overhead is on an Intel processor? "1.25Ghz" is the minimum processor speed requirement; does that mean on a 2.4Ghz Core 2 the basic overhead will be roughly 40% of my CPU?

I had some money set aside for that Edirol PCR-800, which I actually don't need anymore. Plus, each time I tested it, I liked it less and less and became more unsure as to whether or not I could make do with only 61 keys. DP, MachFive, and MX4 run triple the price of Logic, and Logic's new (and even old) plugins make DP's look like absolute (MOTU's MasterWorks EQ and their delay plugins are really the only ones that are usable anyway). Still, I'm wondering if this is really the area I need to invest in at this point in time - hopefully we'll find out as more reviews surface (and hopefully crossgrade news).

[Rick Levine]

Posting to watch. Okay, drool.

[Tweak]

Does anyone know what the base CPU/RAM overhead is on an Intel processor? "1.25Ghz" is the minimum processor speed requirement; does that mean on a 2.4Ghz Core 2 the basic overhead will be roughly 40% of my CPU?

On my G5 1.8 dual, performance is good, not slow. CPU usage is about 30-80% on Logics CPU meter, which is reads above the OSX meter.

Logic is overall faster than GarageBand on my system, very similar to DP, and much faster than Cubase SX3 on my mac.

This is a great time to move from DP to Logic

[_controlfreak]

This is a great time to move from DP to Logic

Yyyeah.. I can just see Apple upping the price later; completely screwing people waiting around for crossgrades. I was also waiting to see the academic price (which is $450 supposedly), but it makes more sense to buy the full version to get upgrade discounts later on, if the academic price is indeed $450.

[jonniesparko]

Does anyone know what the base CPU/RAM overhead is on an Intel processor? "1.25Ghz" is the minimum processor speed requirement; does that mean on a 2.4Ghz Core 2 the basic overhead will be roughly 40% of my CPU?

On my G5 1.8 dual, performance is good, not slow. CPU usage is about 30-80% on Logics CPU meter, which is reads above the OSX meter.

Logic is overall faster than GarageBand on my system, very similar to DP, and much faster than Cubase SX3 on my mac.

This is a great time to move from DP to Logic

First off, many thanks for the site, Tweak. I'm on of the new guys in the back of the class with the eager eyes...



I have some experience using Acid Pro and Fruity Loops, and now I'm a Mac switcher, new to Logic Studio, upgraded by Apple for free from a recent purchase of Logic 7.
When I was using Acid and FL Studio, I ran both programs at required levels of processing power and ram, but I noticed some hiccups would come when tweaking the hell out of my sounds.

I like to throw effects on everything, and I like to create my own sounds by tweaking the internal synths.

I'm currently running on a Macbook Pro 2.33 GHZ with 2 GB of Ram, using a Native Instruments Audio 8 DJ Interface. I do not use any hardware besides that and my Axiom 25 MIDI control. I'm worried I might not have enough juice to make complete songs (tech-progressive-hip-hop/electronica) without the hiccups.

Right now I don't really deal much with external Audio, but I will in the future. I remember reading about being able to use two Macs together for extra power and I'd like to know what you or anyone else think of such a practice.

Again, I feel like I'm a newbie for the most part, even with my previous experience using other software apps for making music, any help is greatly appreciated.


The first time I made a song was on a Playstation 2 game, MTV's Music Generator!!!

[isntimportant]

I want to upgrade from LE 7 to Logic studio but i don't understand how that works, because i read that you need a dongle but when i bought LE i didn't come with any dongle only the serial, so far i understand it would install ontop of LE right or how?

[robbiedo]

The Apogee Ensemble is causing an issue with control surfaces in Logic 8. The control surface install dialog box is empty when the Apogee Ensemble is the selceted core audio device.

After rebooting the computer with the Ensemble off, and then starting Logic 8 the Control Surface install tool functioned properly.

This error has been documented by others on LogicProHelp.com and Gear Slutz.

Very unusual bug.

[Hepcat62]

I want to upgrade from LE 7 to Logic studio but i don't understand how that works, because i read that you need a dongle but when i bought LE i didn't come with any dongle only the serial, so far i understand it would install ontop of LE right or how?

There is a different upgrade package that you should purchase that is specific to upgrading from LE7. My local Apple store had it in stock too, which was nice. If you do an upgrade install over an existing LE7 install, then you're all set. If LE7 isn't already installed, then you'll need your LE7 serial number. Note that I haven't actually tried this second approach, so take that info with a grain of salt. That's my understanding per the documentation though.

Brian

[G-Dub]

I want to upgrade from LE 7 to Logic studio but i don't understand how that works, because i read that you need a dongle but when i bought LE i didn't come with any dongle only the serial, so far i understand it would install ontop of LE right or how?

Just have your Express authorization code handy, when installing.

[LBL]

Have installed Logic 8 on my G5 and its flawless. I actually like the Demo added this time around showing what can be done at a professional level with Logic. I am loving it. All my L7 songs I have opened to date open up even faster and it sound much tighter(or is it my ears?).
I use Tascam 3200 as my digital mixer and control surface in addition o Mou 2404 as he interface. So fare no prblems. My Plugs ins Waves Diamond, Waves SSL and UAD have all loded up in all new programms and loving the inproved software monitoring delay compensation.

So far all I can say is its been great.

Thanks,

Eric