It replaces the ageing Piano Roll and is a big leap forward for Logic Pro X users.
These can then be individually adjusted for timings all while having effects applied. The addition of a Step Sequencer makes light work of creating drum, bass and melodic patterns as you simply select the cells on a grid to turn beats and notes on or off.
Smart Tempo is a particularly useful tool, as it adjusts midi instruments to fit around the varying tempo of a live recording, plus the new Sampler allows you to import recordings and have Logic automatically break them down into constituent parts that are then mapped to MIDI keyboards. Then there's Flex Pitch, which is a sort of auto-tune that allows you to correct any errant vocalists or wandering guitar solos, and Flex Time which can resolve any timing issues in the playing. The editing features are complex and powerful, giving you control over MIDI patterns, various aspects of the audio tracks, plus you can automate changes on the fly. You can record up to 1,000 tracks in total for each composition, with the ability to lay down multiple ones at the same time, plus several effects can be applied and manipulated while the track is playing. Some of these make it worth the purchase alone, with the newly added Live Loops, Sampler, Step Sequencer, and Drum Synth all bolstering what was already an impressively offering.
Logic Pro X is a fully fledged, professional-level software studio that comes complete with quality virtual instruments, a huge library of loops, synthesisers, and audio tools. Read more: GarageBand for iPad & iPhone reviewįeatures: If GarageBand isn't quite powerful enough for your needs then upgrading to this premier music suite should be top of your list. Supported third-party hardware: Core-Audio devices and MIDI controllers. Supported third-party plugins: Audio Units. Supported formats: AIFF, CAF, WAV, AAC (except protected AAC files), Apple Lossless, MIDI and MP3.
It does lack some useful editing capabilities such as cross-fades, and podcasters are unhappy with the reduction in features that have marked the past few years, but there's plenty here to help you create great-sounding songs. Instruments have reassuring graphical representations, and the menus are arranged in a way that you never feel overwhelmed.
The included Amp simulators make recording guitars (both six-string and bass) very easy, while the wealth of loops and sound effects add a professional edge to compositions.Įase of use: GarageBand's elegant layout and lack of too many control options makes it an ideal place for those new to working in a digital environment. Recent versions have brought GarageBand into line with Logic Pro X in terms of style, while also bringing across impressive features such as Drummer, which intuitively plays along with your compositions, alleviating the need for hours of careful MIDI programming. GarageBand has for years been a simple, accessible yet very capable way of getting your songs recorded without needing to know too much about the mechanisms involved. Features: Before discounting GarageBand to move on to another software package it's worth taking a deeper look at what this free app can really do.