How Good Are Logic's Virtual Instruments? Options

[Scottspain]

I've been told by many that they are better than Pro Tools, but are they good compared to Reason and such?

[ckb]

I've been told by many that they are better than Pro Tools, but are they good compared to Reason and such?

I don't use Reason so I can't give that comparison. I can tell you that:

• the orchestral instruments are pretty good and set up well for articulation changes and such -- for example, changing a string voice from sustain to marcato to pizzicato is programmed out-of-the-box for the mod wheel, which I found quite handy (compared to key-switching) when cramming in some composing time with my laptop and Oxygen8 on my lunch break at work, since of course the Oxy8 is a little 25-key deal -- keyswitching isn't very handy on it.
• the orch sounds themselves just squeaked by for me on a recent TAXI submission -- the piece was forwarded but with a comment that the woodwinds were a bit synthy. At the very least, fantastic for sketching, then sub in preferred instruments later.
• the synth/dance/electronica instruments are a LOT of fun. Sculpture and the other synths are definitely worth exploring.
• Some of the guitar sounds are surprisingly good
• another surprisingly good sound is the harpsichord. The key release-sounds and all... pretty nice.
• when I said "guitar sounds" above, I was referring to complete, MIDI-playable guitar sounds. But the amp simulations for applying to a real guitar track have been impressive as well.

I've had Logic for almost a year and it paid for itself with with a single theater composing gig, using a combination of onboard and live instruments (this is an effective way to "stretch" the virtual instruments, always). So I'm pretty happy with them.

ck
ckb

[pjhk]

I've been told by many that they are better than Pro Tools, but are they good compared to Reason and such?

It's up to the choices and algorithms the developers have made.. I really like Reason for its integration and the beats/rex tools. Fast, intuitive, great fun, no complaints soundwise. However, the sound character of the synths rub me the wrong way often, high-quality interpolation etc on or off. A certain anemic smallness comes around, flat and anonymous. A way around, with Reason or any other source is to layer of course.

Logic's *synths* are a step up in my opinion, there's more colour and integrity in them to my ears. Sculpture is always fun and musically very responsive. Huge range of musically relevant sounds. The old ES1 has a few 'analog' sweet spots I use.. The ES2 is cool, the drum synth/sampler ultrabeat is fantastic, but they both suffer a bit from a cluttered interface. Be prepared for some precision-mousing around there. I like the EFM fm synth because it's simple and sounds c-l-e-a-n in a very good way. So thumbs up for the synths. (I also own a moog voyager, oberheim 2-voice, virus ti, reaktor etc)

Logic comes with a lot of good content, samples and (apple) loops. While the sample library for the exs-24 varies over the categories there are many nice, full sounds. If you'll be composing with something specific in mind as ckb does you'll have to work a bit more. Otherwise layer, substitute, shift things around and then build up a library as you go.

best of luck

[artofmixing]

I use logic pro 8 and have found the synths to be excellent for sound design - you can create some fantastic sounds in synths such as the ES2 by modulating various sections of this instrument. Ultrabeat is a rhythm sequencer which can be used to produce/create great sounding drums, although I also use this instrument for gating synth lines to produce creative rhythms so it is a very versatile step sequencer/drum synthesizer. The ESX24 sampler is excellent for creating, for instance, glitchy drum noises from original samples. A very professional package overall, which has been used in mainstream recording studios since the mid-nineties.

[ironhead]

I use logic pro 8 and have found the synths to be excellent for sound design - you can create some fantastic sounds in synths such as the ES2 by modulating various sections of this instrument. Ultrabeat is a rhythm sequencer which can be used to produce/create great sounding drums, although I also use this instrument for gating synth lines to produce creative rhythms so it is a very versatile step sequencer/drum synthesizer. The ESX24 sampler is excellent for creating, for instance, glitchy drum noises from original samples. A very professional package overall, which has been used in mainstream recording studios since the mid-nineties.

Logic is my main core audio and virtual synth engine i have to say i also use reason at times but with just logic alone you get more than a bargain deal it has some of the best virtual synths out there and you will also find great presets to start creating from the get go
if you want you can even add on your favorite plugin to expand on it
the only thing it may take a little time to understand tthe ins and out in logic programming but you can find lots of tutorial video out there (mac pro video is a good place ) once you master that you will be amaze .