What Is Logic Missing?, Compared to Protools HD Options

[opiepac]

I'm about to start using Logic 7 once I get my PowerMac. I'm wanting to use Logic mainly from the standpoint of audio recording (line in guitars, mic'd vocals and instruments). I'm not that interested in MIDI, virtual synths, loops, etc, but I may play around with them for something more than a click track before I record drums, and who knows, maybe I'll start to like some of that stuff.

I don't want to start any rumor/speculations on this forum, there's enough of that at Applenova, Macrumors, Logic Pro Forums, etc. But there is currently speculation of updates to Apple's audio software. Possibly a version update of Logic, possibly new or rebranded apps, ... whatever. Maybe they'll just make Logic work better with Tiger. I've heard some say that maybe Logic will focus on MIDI/synth/loop stuff and there will be a new program focused on Audio recording similar to Protools. Lots of speculation, but mostly fluff right now.

What I've heard is some people complaining about what Logic lacks in comparison to Protools. I am referring to the HD version only. It seems Protools is more focused on the audio recording side, similar to old studios, but also has hardware specifically made to reduce the load on the computer. That's about all I know of protools, other than having seen it used in a studio once.

Now for the real question:

Can anyone tell me what advantages Protools has in the audio recording realm over Logic (and vice versa). I'm not considering Protools, I just want to know what Logic lacks ... what features might be included in a later version, that kind of stuff. I'd like to know how Apple, maybe through user requests, could make Logic better.

I've also heard some claim the Logic codebase is old, and needs to be rewritten from the ground up. Any opinions on this?

Evan

(I'm not trying to start speculation or flamewars with this, just discussion)

[zoundman]

Quote: Can anyone tell me what advantages Protools has in the audio recording realm over Logic (and vice versa).

Well , I use both (Protools mostly at work (studio) and Logic at home for writing / recording.). The main difference is in the audio editing department.
In Protools you can edit to sample resolution in the arrange window, meaning you can "nudge" , zoom to the sample value, making it fast and easy to see and fix slightly out of phase tracks (like aligning drum tracks to get more punch and avoiding flams etc.)
In Logic you have to go into the sample editor to do it. To me it takes more time.
On the other hand, Logic has a great sounding bundle of plugings. Very useful plugins with character like the compressor, the channel Eq and many others. I like many of them better than other 3rd party plugins.
Once you try the EXS24 sampler, and the many other synths... you'll get hooked.
I've tried soft samplers in the past, but when I used the EXS 24 I was blown away by how tight, fast and great sounding it was. Logic reminds me of the hardware sequencer days.
Even though computers have alot more power, for some reason the midi seems "soft".
I've heard people say the contrary, but I manage to squeeze alot more tracks, samplers, FX, etc out of Logic than Protools. (like on my Powerbook 867 12" with MBox)
a few tracks of audio, a few synths, some plugins.....and . . . @%!$#... it starts to peak the CPU. In Logic it seems more efficient and I can go alot further. And not to mention latency when I use Reason 2.5 with Protools. Of course if you have an HD accel system with a dual 2.5 G5 you're not going to have these problems. The problem.. I can't afford the HD at home..
If I were to do audio editing ,cleaning , consolidating etc. all day.. I'd use ProTools
For writing, getting creative and experimenting, Logic is hard to beat..

[abcdaniel]

The advantages I see in ProTools are in the interface. I find ProTools much, much faster to work with: It is a smaller step between idea and realisation than in any other DAW/sequencer I´ve tried. Especially if you are a newbie; Logic has got a pretty steep learning curve.

I work with cut-and-paste audio, mixed with midi, and I find the tempohandling, which I use a lot for some pseudo organic qualities, to be awesome in ProTools. I always get that exact skewed loop value I´m looking for. I find midi to be slightly crappy. But valueing that all depends on how your creative process works. And the creative process is what is really important, that should be your number one consideration, imho.

I would urge you to take a week or so to try out free or trial versions (or even cracks, if trial versions don´t exist, but that is clearly horribly ill3gal) of the different softwares you are considering. Whatever you feel more comfartable with/ feel you can develop in, choose it. That´s what I did.

I chose ProTools. Except for silly cpu peaks, I never find ProTools standing in the way of my creativity. And it is fast to work with. Cpu peaks are serious enough, though, and it makes me pissed off at times.

Good luck! I hope you find what you need to make great music!

[tobyknowles]

I'm saving up for a sequencer and it's a toss-up for me between Logic and Pro-Tools. I've seen people use both, and Pro-Tools does seem to be a very fast-responding program. However, the one rumour that everyone seems to bandy around is that Pro-Tools is no good with Midi. I do use Midi a lot, particularly for working to picture (at the moment I'm on Digital Performer - yuck!) Is this just a myth? And is Logic worth the much higher price?

Toby.

[abcdaniel]

For video and synching, I have no idea how either Logic or ProTools works. Isn´t Nuendo the greatest for mixed media sequencing? Just to complicate matters But why are people never mentioning Steinberg Cubase or Nuendo anymore? They are pretty competent too!

There is a 30 day trial version of Logic on http://www.macmusic.org/news/view.php/lang/EN/id/2972/
Take it for a test drive and see if it is your cup of tea.

I think midi has become a lot better in ProTools with 6.7 release, but I don´t run that version, so i have no practical experience from it.

[swilder]

But why are people never mentioning Steinberg Cubase or Nuendo anymore? They are pretty competent too!

The main reason people don't get excited about Cubase or Nuendo is because they are written for PC and then ported to Mac. And in both cases the experience is slow and laborious on the mac compared to its pc equal.

[Barb]

I use ProTools to record and sample edit then Logic for eq, reverb etc. It used to be that the record mode for audio was bad in Logic. It's gotten better but I already have the ProTools interface, MBox & 002. My understanding is that Logic Pro 7 is better to record into. I also use a lot of MIDI and ProTools is not so good for that as Logic.

If you have a limited budget, can only go for one item and you don't deal with a lot of MIDI, get the ProTools MBox (2 channel) or 002 (8 channel). The digital converters in the digidesign hardware is very good. If you get the Logic you'll need an interface for your computer so look for one with good converters. Good luck.

[MacAudioGuy]

With Cubase and Nuendo you are getting alot more for your mony than the Logic line IMO. Cubase is a more mature program than Logic. VST is more widely adopted than Audio Units. In Europe Steinberg is more prevalent in studios. And Cubase has a more intuitive interface.
Forget Poor Tools. It is a overpriced dinosaur program. Avid and their sister company Digidesign (maker of Pro-Tools) are evil IMHO. They use predatory marketing, closed proprietary software, plug-ins and hardware, and sell inferior products for exorbent prices.
But don't get me wrong, I use both Cubase and Logic on a daily basis and even occassionly have to use Poor Tools.
If I could afford Nuendo, it would be my weapon of choice over Logic Pro.
For budget Sync to Video work you can't beat Hyper Engine AV, Which is free and has sub-frame accuracy.
My $.02

[gdoubleyou]

A better question would have been, what is PTLE missing when compared to Logic.

#1 track count, PTLE is limited to 32 audio tracks, Logic Express supports up to 255 stereo tracks.

#2 midi editors, PTLE lacks the notation, and matrix editors contained in Logic. they both have piano-roll style and event editors.

#3 choice of audio hardware, I use a MOTU 828 in my home studio, for remote recording I use an A26 USB interface.

Logic is more of a composition system, PT is more of a recording app known for easy audio editing.

Sold my SX license because it was cpu hungry, couldn't get half the instances of virtual instruments that I could in Logic and DP4.