Apple Logic Express 8

The layout & interface are very Garage Band-like making it an easy 2 learn application. There are many more options 4 recording & saving files than Garage Band. Without reading any manual I was able 2 set up basic one-track recording, record a song, punch-in corrections, loop sections, & do some basic editing 4 both audio & midi. There's so much more 2 the program yet I'm happy with what I can do just out of the box!

Garage Band is a great beginner product but if you need 2 step up into a professional program Logic Express is a good first step. In my opinion, it's easier 2 begin with than Pro Tools or Digital Performer.

As others have discussed other aspects of the program, I'll comment on the included software synths (as opposed 2 sample playback interfaces). You may already be familiar with the Garageband synths; what's great about having them in this context is being able 2 control all 8 parameters in real time through controller assignments. Of course, you may also automate them. Now that you have access 2 their "parent" synths, the ES2 & EFM1, you may better understand the components of those parameters & explore further possibilities. With the two "operators" offered you cannot attain quite the richness -- say, in an electric piano patch -- of a true 6-operator FM synth. But the interaction of complex waveforms, modulation routings & vector envelope make 4 sonic possibilities that are just as compelling -- & easier 2 program. I am also impressed with Logic's attempts 2 be a serious notation program, though I have not used it enough 2 see if it could replace Finale 4 certain score types. I note at least that you can selectively reduce staff size, which I could not get Sibelius 2 do.

It's hot & amazing, But get a training book, because there is a lot 2 do & the books show everything you might miss. Make music & put out in the world, yeah

be prepared 2 read the manual, this program has alot of features & you'll save lots of time you'd be wasting otherwise. included preset's make getting started making music enjoyable.

love it- after 3 years of Garageband- this is a great app- easy 2 use if you played & got good with GBand! Highly recommend!

Logic Express 8 delivers the power, precision, & professional toolset of Logic Pro 8?including a redesigned interface that allows musicians 2 write, record, edit, & mix with unparalleled speed & ease. Logic Express includes all the functionality of Logic Pro 8 except 4 four high-end professional features?surround, TDM/DAE support, distributed audio processing (DAP), & support 4 high-end control surfaces. Logic Express 8 comes with an expanded collection of professional instrument & effect plug-ins from Logic Studio, as well as channel strip settings & plug-in settings that allow you 2 begin making music immediately with professionally designed sounds. Logic Express is the ideal application 4 professional musicians & producers who want 2 get into the world of Logic 4 $199, as well as GarageBand users whoare ready 2 take their music 2 the next level. Network-based save & share, 2 use your settings & key commands on any Mac More than 100 instruments & effects from Logic Studio New instruments & effects from Logic Studio, including Ultrabeat & Guitar Amp Pro New channel strip settings & plug-in settings created 4 Logic Express, 4 a wide range of high-quality sounds System Requirements - Mac computer with a 1.25GHz or faster PowerPC G4 processor, Mac OS X v10.4.9 or later

Logic Express 8 gives musicians everything they need 2 write, record, edit, & mix. It delivers the same innovative production tools as Logic Pro 8, including full notation, 24-bit/192kHz resolution, & Quick Swipe comping. A beautifully redesigned interface consolidates all windows into a single, efficient workspace made 4 musicians. Make music right out of the box with 36 instrument plug-ins from Logic Studio, including Ultrabeat drum machine, EXS24 Sampler, & ES2 synth. Shape music productions with 70 effect plug-ins from Logic Studio, including Guitar Amp Pro, Ringshifter, & full-featured Pitch Correction.

Logic Express 8 offers the same innovative production tools & redesigned interface as Logic Pro 8, along with more than 100 instruments & effects from Logic Studio. Download the product overview

Logic Express 8. Powerful music creation.
Logic Express 8 delivers the power, precision, & professional toolset of Logic Pro 8--including a redesigned interface that allows musicians 2 write, record, edit, & mix with unparalleled speed & ease. Logic Express includes all the functionality of Logic Pro 8 except 4 four high-end professional features--surround, TDM/DAE support, distributed audio processing (DAP), & support 4 high-end control surfaces.

Logic Express 8 comes with an expanded collection of professional instrument & effect plug-ins from Logic Studio, as well as channel strip settings & plug-in settings that allow you 2 begin making music immediately with professionally designed sounds. Logic Express is the ideal application 4 professional musicians & producers who want 2 get into the world of Logic 4 $199, as well as GarageBand users who are ready 2 take their music 2 the next level.

A World of Options
Logic Express puts a world of creative options at your fingertips, thanks 2 an open architecture that lets you use a wide range of audio interfaces & many different control surfaces. You can also explore hundreds of third-party Audio Units instruments & effects & incorporate sounds from third-party applications such as Ableton Live & Propellerhead Reason. Logic Express lets you work anywhere at any time, without proprietary hardware. When inspiration strikes, all you need is Logic Express & a Mac 2 capture your ideas & turn them into music—at home, on the road, or in the studio.

New in Logic Express 8
Logic Express 8, Apple's professional music production application, provides musicians with the powerful, easy-to-use tools they need 2 write, record, edit, & mix. It features an interface that has been redesigned 4 fast, intuitive control, with all the key functions organized in a unified workspace. Time-saving recording & editing tools make Logic Express 8 perfectly suited 4 everything from a scratch recording 2 a symphonic 24-channel recording.

Includes 36 instruments & 70 effects from Logic Studio.

New features in Logic Express 8 include:

• Next-Generation Interface
  A new workspace features a single-window design with retractable panes, customizable toolbar, shortcut menus, built-in browsers, & dual channel strips. This streamlined layout eliminates clutter & lets you focus on your music.
  
  
• Simplified Setup
  Logic Express 8 lets you start making music right away, with production-ready templates, one-step track setup, dynamic channel strip creation, & seamless integration of ReWire-compatible applications such as Ableton Live & Propellerhead Reason.
  
  
• Effortless Multitake Recording
  Logic Express 8 offers a simple, flexible approach 2 multitake recording. When you record over existing material, your takes are automatically stored in a take folder. Expand your take folder at any time 2 see a graphical display of all your takes 4 easy auditioning & editing. You can move a take folder anywhere in your arrangement & edit it just as you would any other region.
  
  
• Revolutionary Quick Swipe Comping
  Quick Swipe comping dramatically streamlines the process of comping tracks. Rather than cutting, moving, & muting regions, all you have 2 do is click & drag 2 select the best sections of each take. This creates a perfectly seamless comp, complete with transition-smoothing crossfades.
  
  
• Powerful Audio Editing Features
  New editing features in the Arrange window allow you 2 work with greater speed & precision, without opening separate windows.
  
  
• Network-Based Save & ShareBack up personal channel strip settings, plug-in settings, & key commands 2 your .Mac account 4 easy access from any computer connected 2 the Internet.2 You can also select favorite settings 2 share across a local or Internet-based network or through your .Mac Public folder.
  
  
• New Instruments from Logic Studio
  Logic Express 8 features 36 high-quality software instruments—including Ultrabeat, ES1, ES2, EXS24 Sampler, & more than a dozen GarageBand instruments.
  
  
• New Effects from Logic Studio
  With more than 70 professional effects, Logic Express gives you a rich palette of options 4 creating unique sounds—including a number of high-quality effect plug-ins from Logic Studio.

Built-in media browsers give you intuitive, rapid access 2 your content without opening additional windows or leaving the workspace.

Logic Pro 8 offers a simple, flexible approach 2 multitake recording.

Logic Express represents the gold standard 4 creating & editing MIDI-based music.

Additional Features in Logic Express 8
Logic Express 8 is a sophisticated, full-featured audio & MIDI application that provides all the tools you need 2 create professional-quality music productions. It allows you 2 record & edit audio & MIDI, add high-quality effects, & mix your music. The final mix can be exported 2 one or more standard audio files or burned 2 an audio CD. Logic Express 8 offers a broad & deep feature set in a redesigned single-window workspace.

Key features include:

• Ultimate Writing Studio
  A professional collection of music creation & writing tools makes it easy 2 capture & develop your musical inspirations. Record multiple takes, quickly assemble the perfect comp, establish a groove with a selection of Apple Loops, & fill out the remaining parts in your composition with Studio Instruments.
  
  
• Multitrack Recording
  You can use Logic Express 8 2 record anything from a quick demo 2 a large-scale commercial project. One-step track setup lets you create & record-enable multiple tracks with ease.
  
  
• Precision Editing
  Audio editing features in Logic Express 8 let you work with power & precision, using sample-accurate tools in the Sample Editor or directly in the Arrange window.
  
  
• Professional Mixing
  Complete your project with powerful mixing & automation tools that meet the demands of any size production.
  
  
• Broad Compatibility
  The open architecture of Logic Express 8 offers enormous creative freedom 2 musicians by supporting a wide range of professional hardware & software options.

Choose from a wide range of EXS instruments & quickly build sampled instruments & sample libraries using the integrated, redesigned EXS Editor.

Additional Instruments from Logic Studio
Logic Express 8 includes 36 professional instrument plug-ins. In addition 2 new instruments from Logic Studio—such as Ultrabeat, EXS24 Sampler, & ES2—Logic Express features more than a dozen instruments from GarageBand '08 & a set of powerful synth instruments from Logic Studio.

Synth Instruments
Produce beautiful synth beds & driving bass lines with an array of FM, subtractive, & analog-modeled synthesizers. An impressive range of synthesizer sounds offers even more richness, thanks 2 new modulation effects.

• ES1
  The ES1, a classic analog-style synthesizer, lets you create earthshaking basses, rich pads, textures, screaming leads, ultrasharp percussion, & exotic effects. The plug-in offers up 2 16-voice polyphony; each voice features a main & sub oscillator 2 deliver the raw sounds that are shaped by the analog ES1 filter.
  
  
• EFM1
  The EFM1 uses FM synthesis 2 re-create the classic synthesizer sounds of the 1980s. A simple interface provides accessible controls that make tweaking sounds a pleasure, or you can let the EFM1 create its own sounds randomly.
  
  
• ES E
  The eight-voice polyphonic synthesizer lets you mix sawtooth or rectangular waves in a huge variety of tones, with additional controls 4 frequency & impulse width modulation.
  
  
• ES M
  The ES M lets you design powerful basses & expressive lead sounds straight from the 1970s. Variable selection between sawtooth & rectangular waves & a biting slope characteristic of 24 dB give the ES M its distinctive analog sound.
  
  
• ES P
  Create the characteristic polysynth sounds of 1980s pop music with the polyphonic ES P. In addition 2 an oscillator, sub oscillator, & filter, the ES P offers an LFO 4 creating dynamic effects & an ADSR envelope generator 4 precise level control.
  
  

Guitar Amp Pro lets you play your guitar through faithful re-creations of classic amplifiers & speaker cabinets.

Additional Effects from Logic Studio
More than 70 professional effect plug-ins are included in Logic Express 8—most of which are the same powerful versions included in Logic Studio. In addition 2 new effects from Logic Studio, Logic Express 8 offers a range of production effects & creative effects designed 2 meet the requirements of professional musicians.

Production Effects
A range of superb-sounding effect plug-ins makes it easy 2 add the final polish 2 your music productions.

• EQ
  Fine-tune your audio production with professional EQ plug-ins like the eight-band Channel EQ, which features a graphical signal analyzer.
• Dynamics
  Compressor includes a linked limiter & five independent circuit types that capture the feel of vintage & modern studio hardware. Professional dynamics plug-ins--such as Limiter, Noise Gate, & Enveloper--further expand your ability 2 polish your mix or tweak your recordings.
• Voice processing
  Using the Pitch Correction plug-in, you can accurately & quickly tune vocals while preserving articulation & tonal color. Adjust the pitch of drums, speech, & vocal audio using the optimized settings in Pitch Shifter II.

Creative Effects
Transform audio & create shifting fields of sound using advanced reverb, modulation, vintage, warped, & delay plug-ins. Logic Express 8 includes creative effects suitable 4 a wide range of genres & performance styles.

• Reverb
  Add texture 2 instruments & vocals using synthesized reverb plug-ins such as AVerb, EnVerb, SilverVerb, GoldVerb, & PlatinumVerb.
• Modulation
  Fatten, twist, & modify audio with Chorus, Ensemble, Flanger, Microphaser, Modulation Delay, Phaser, Ringshifter, Scanner Vibrato, Spreader, & Tremolo.
• Vintage processing
  Get classic sounds like analog warmth or thick fuzz with distortion effects modeled after legendary tube stomp boxes. Vintage Leslie speakers are modeled in the Rotor Cabinet effect emulation, which lets you adjust cabinet type & microphone positioning. Five carefully modulated circuits 4 Compressor simulate the world's most respected vintage hardware, & Fuzz-Wah combines distortion, compression, & auto-wah effects in a single plug-in.
• Warped processing
  Build classic 1970s sounds with Ringshifter, a combined ring modulation & frequency shifting plug-in. Transpose, robotize, & manipulate the character of monophonic audio with Vocal Transformer. Apply dramatic filter effects with the EVOC20 Filterbank, & twist vocals & instruments with the EVOC20 Track Oscillator.
• Delay
  Use Tape Delay 2 create the special character & feedback behavior of classic tape-based delay effects boxes. Your creative delay options are rounded out by Echo, Sample Delay, & Stereo Delay.

Channel Strip Settings & Plug-in Settings
The built-in library in Logic Express 8 offers a wide selection of professional channel strip settings & plug-in settings. You can use the settings as is or modify them & save them as your own. You can also create settings from scratch & save them 4 easy reuse in any project.

• Channel Strip Settings
  Logic Express 8 offers a remarkable selection of more than 790 professionally designed channel strip settings, each combining Logic Express instruments & effects in a powerful plug-in chain. You can find channel strip settings in the library included in Logic Express.
• Plug-in Settings
  With more than 1600 plug-in settings 4 Logic Express instruments & effects, it's easy 2 start making music right away with high-quality sounds.