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Apple unveils biggest update to Logic since the launch of Logic Pro X

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Re: Apple unveils biggest update to Logic since the launch of Logic Pro X

#21
post #2

I own Apple Logic and thus I'm grateful for the continuous updates. On the other hand, I'm mystified why Apple continues its investment in this audio program. Yes, when Steve Jobs bought Logic from Emagic in 2002, it made strategic sense to fortify Apple's "software portfolio" to make Mac hardware more attractive. But that was before the surprising massive success of iPhones in 2007. Now, it seems like sales of Logic…

The Windows port was discontinued the same day Emagic was sold to Apple.

I always assumed that the goal was to strengthen the Apple brand and signal that it's a more suitable system for creative work.

Re: Apple unveils biggest update to Logic since the launch of Logic Pro X

#22
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Becoming a rock star is a thing Not really in 2020.

It's the perception. It might not be "rock" star anymore, but genericised "music superstar", yes. Like many other things involved in this decision, it's the perception that matters, not facts.

> It might not be "rock" star anymore

That's the point, the "rock" stars aren't making any money in the industry like other pop acts anymore - they're mostly doing their own thing on Patreon and streaming on Twitch.

Re: Apple unveils biggest update to Logic since the launch of Logic Pro X

#23
post #2

I own Apple Logic and thus I'm grateful for the continuous updates. On the other hand, I'm mystified why Apple continues its investment in this audio program. Yes, when Steve Jobs bought Logic from Emagic in 2002, it made strategic sense to fortify Apple's "software portfolio" to make Mac hardware more attractive. But that was before the surprising massive success of iPhones in 2007. Now, it seems like sales of Logic…

For decades creatives and even non-creatives were able to be convinced that "Macs were better for audio, video, photography" without any analysis of benchmarks, hardware differences, performance. This thought pattern transcended the PowerPC processor, to the off-the-shelf Intel processors that the competitors used, to the ARM processors the mobile devices used. Apple continuing that perception with at least software…

In my experience, musicians and other creative types care first and formost about getting results. So that means they need a toolchain that is flexible and rich enough to yield great results. Performance is a factor there, inasmuch as it constrains results.

The toolchain part is pretty broad: this includes OS services (audio routing!), outboard hardware, DAWs and video editors, and third party plugins.

When comparing macOS vs. Windows for audio, macOS wins for most people on those axes. Apple wins on OS services (audio routing is super annoying on windows) and on outboard hardware (USB3 works okay, but Thunderbolt is better, and it's a pain to get configured on a Windows machine). DAWs is mostly a wash with the exception of Logic, and third party plugins is a total wash.

Even given that, Logic plays a strategic role in that ecosystem for Apple. As the more expensive option, Apple always runs the risk of being the secondary platform for application authors. Without Logic, other DAW vendors could be free to neglect their offerings on Mac. That ecosystem is healthy right now, but Logic is a key hedge.

Oh, and lock-in is a big thing, too. Logic users may be a minority, but they're firmly locked into the Mac in a way that Reaper users aren't.

Video is different. Many video creatives have made the switch to windows. There were two key reasons they have jumped:

1. Hardware. The Mac Pro was neglected for years, and third party graphics card support has always been better on Windows. Performance isn't paramount, but it does matter.

2. Final Cut Pro X. This completely changed the editing model from under a lot of pros, requiring them to completely rethink their workflows. Since this happened at the same time that hardware support was really bad, a lot of pros thought, "Well, if I'm going to have to rethink my workflow anyway..." It loosened lock-in at a time when the other parts of the platform were pretty weak.

Re: Apple unveils biggest update to Logic since the launch of Logic Pro X

#24
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be more specific, and in response to your reply: Together with Final Cut Pro, Apple wants to have Mac-only exclusive software that is aimed specifically at cool creative professionals to build up the image that trendy creatives use Macs (and you therefore have no choice but to use a Mac, otherwise you won't have the software you need). Aperture couldn't really compete with Adobe's whole workflow (since Apple didn'…

>But yeah, AVID Pro Tools works on Windows so it doesn't do anything for Apple. Before Apple bought it, Emagic's Logic ran on both Windows and Mac. After Apple acquired Logic, they immediately discontinued the Windows version. Can't Apple hypothetically run the same playbook and discontinue Pro Tools for Windows?

Not only that - the next version of Logic was due imminently, with the engineering work done.

It was at that moment that I grew a strong dislike of Apple, having been a real cheerleader for most of the Macintosh's existence.

Re: Apple unveils biggest update to Logic since the launch of Logic Pro X

#26
post #2

I own Apple Logic and thus I'm grateful for the continuous updates. On the other hand, I'm mystified why Apple continues its investment in this audio program. Yes, when Steve Jobs bought Logic from Emagic in 2002, it made strategic sense to fortify Apple's "software portfolio" to make Mac hardware more attractive. But that was before the surprising massive success of iPhones in 2007. Now, it seems like sales of Logic…

I'd think it must be to sell laptops, not to sell Logic.

Now, do they need to do this to sell laptops, does it actually sell significant laptops, are there more people that buy a Mac laptop for Logic than who bought or would have a Mac laptop for Aperture? I dunno. It's also possible they miscalculated with Aperture. Or may be miscalculating now with Logic. Apple can make mistakes or behave irrationally too.

But it's gotta be to sell laptops. (Which is consistent with not charging for the upgrade; it's not about revenue from the software at all). And there are definitely at least some people buying a Mac laptop for Logic. (In a world with decreasing laptop sales in general, as many move phone/tablet only).

Now, with what you say about iPhones... I keep worrying that Apple will decide they don't really care about selling laptops after all someday...

Re: Apple unveils biggest update to Logic since the launch of Logic Pro X

#27
post #2

I own Apple Logic and thus I'm grateful for the continuous updates. On the other hand, I'm mystified why Apple continues its investment in this audio program. Yes, when Steve Jobs bought Logic from Emagic in 2002, it made strategic sense to fortify Apple's "software portfolio" to make Mac hardware more attractive. But that was before the surprising massive success of iPhones in 2007. Now, it seems like sales of Logic…

Came here to ask the same question and so far none of the answer seems convincing to me. It would have made a little more sense if they had released this update as Logic Pro 11 and charges some upgrade fees. Instead it is free. To put it into perspective, Logic Pro X user has been getting free update for nearly 7 years running!

I think one possible reason / theory is that the resource allocated to Logic is so small ( by today's Apple standard ) none of the management bother about it, and it is not running in direct competition to any of their own Apps ( Aperture with Photos ) or their close allies's ( Adobe ). So the name Logic dont even pops up into management radar and the team decide to keep working on it.

And compared to Final Cut Pro or Aperture against its competitors, I think Logic is doing very well for musicians in many professional market. ( And they are the ones willing to buy Mac Pro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNrG2mwt4Uo. And in the later video, turns out literally most of his audio kits are ridiculously expensive. And Mac Pro isn't even considered expensive at all. )

Re: Apple unveils biggest update to Logic since the launch of Logic Pro X

#28
post #5

I am incredibly excited to see (from the release notes[0]) that they've finally added support for Novation Launchpad controllers. As much as I love Logic as my main DAW, a lack of Launchpad / Launchkey support meant I often had to lean on Ableton to do live "jams". Not sure how well Live Loops will stack up against the tried-and-tested Ableton Live, but it's a big step in the right direction. [0] - https://support.ap…

My novation lauchkey 49 works perfectly with logic 10.2 (control surfaces->setup->new->mackie design HUI and then select the input/output port to your lauchkey)

Sorry should've clarified. You're right that it works as a keyboard controller (w/ sliders and knobs) but I never found a way to make the pads useful (at least not in the way they so seamlessly integrate with Ableton). To be honest though, I always felt that mapping assignments to the Launchkey in Logic was quite clunky UX, hopefully this has improved a bit in this update.

Re: Apple unveils biggest update to Logic since the launch of Logic Pro X

#29
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'm sure I don't need to explain this to a Logic owner but audio engineering and production was strictly a Mac-only affair in the past and that has rapidly changed over the past decade. Strictly? Not at all. The crown was lost a lot earlier - around the time that digidesign started offering non-hardware versions, and for the same reasons.

Sure, probably a bit earlier but the vast majority of [i]real professionals[/i] were stuck with Macs. Pro Tools M-Powered for example had to have been a minuscule portion of overall Pro Tools market and people still used that on Macs. Not having a real desktop solution for a long period of time was the last nail for a good portion of users.

It wasn't people following Protools: it was Protools chasing the chasing markets that had already started to leave.

Re: Apple unveils biggest update to Logic since the launch of Logic Pro X

#30
post #2

I own Apple Logic and thus I'm grateful for the continuous updates. On the other hand, I'm mystified why Apple continues its investment in this audio program. Yes, when Steve Jobs bought Logic from Emagic in 2002, it made strategic sense to fortify Apple's "software portfolio" to make Mac hardware more attractive. But that was before the surprising massive success of iPhones in 2007. Now, it seems like sales of Logic…

When Apple vs. PC wars first started, PC won because of software. It’s a lesson Steve learned which is probably still guides their thinking. This is why there is numbers, keynotes, Pages, etc.

Apple still wants to empower the creative community with Finalcut Logic. To ensure if you’re a creator there is a software to support you on the Mac platform.

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