Should I Buy Logic? Options

[centipedex]

Hi. I recently switched from a PC to a G4 iMac and I wanted to know a little bit more about Logic for OS X. I used to use Cakewalk on my PC and it was good for my midi sequencing and simple recording, but I never really liked it as much as some of the mac software I had used in college such as Cubase or especially Opcode Vision. The big thing I am looking for is a good step recording feature because I am not a very skilled keyboard player (I prefer to take my time and program the notes in one at a time). I am thinking of buying the Logic Big Box and probably the EMI 6|2 or the M-Audio Audiosport Quattro. I wish there was a demo version of Logic I could try but I can't find anything like that. Should I just go out and buy Logic? What do you people think of Logic?

[ryosode]

If you will be content with somewhat restricted feature set of Logic Audio [Silver edition], I think Logic Big Box with EMI 6|2 is a fairly wise choice. emagic just released Logic 5.5 product line, which includes OS X builds of Logic Audio Silver and Gold editions, so Logic Big Box owners can finally use OS X version of Logic.

I would actually buy a Tascam US-428 instead of EMI because I get the control surface as well as Audio and MIDI I/O, but I heard some compatibility issues with OS X driver for US428 and Logic, so it may not be a wise choice for you.

As for Cakewalk/Cubase/Vision, Cubase is the only one available for OS X platform and it is no competition against Logic... at least in my opinion.

[holli]

check these forums for Quatrro compatibility -it's not listed by emagic as a supported device (it may work but it's not guarunteed). Logic is a serious piece of kit and it rules -see if you can find someone to start you off with an environment and some keys commands. That way you can get straight in and see how it all goes together xxx

[centipedex]

Thanks for the info. So ryosode, why do you like logic better than cubase? Does it have a good step recording feature for midi (vision had the best I had used)? Is it too complicated for someone that just wants to do some songwriting and basic recording (I usually am able to pick up software rather quickly)?

[xingu]

To add my $.02:

I also have an iMac G4 and am using a Tascam US-428. I just ordered the Logic Big Box today, so let me take you through some reasoning...

Like ryosode said, you get the Audio & MIDI I/O as well as the control surface with the 428. True, audio with the 428 (and other USB interfaces) has been shaky under Jaguar (I'm still running 10.1.5) but according to the Tascam forums, a new driver set to be released any day now solves most of the problems people have been having.

Up until a few days ago, I was seriously considering Cubase SL - mostly because of the 50% upgrade discount based on the crappy OEM version of Cubasis that comes bundled with the 428. But, there's alot of unhappy Mac Cubase SX users on the Steinberg forums, so take that for what you will.

I didn't realize the Big Box was still available - I found it for $200 and couldn't pass it up - (Cubase SL would have run $250 even with the discount). I'm just doing some relatively simple home recording, so whatever limitations there are in this version of Logic, I'm sure I'll be plenty happy. Heck, I was doing ok using the bundled version of Deck LE in OS9 except for the track count! I located a guy in the Tascam forums that has Logic environments working for the 428 under OSX - his only complaint was shaky audio, which will hopefully be worked out in time.

Now, I don't know either of the programs except for what I've read on this forum and elsewhere, so I can't really comment on the step sequencing capabilities - but it seems to make sense to go with Logic since Apple bought emagic. Steinberg doesn't seem to have the best reputation for customer support, particularly for Mac users, so my decision was pretty easy.

If I can just scrape up the extra dough for Jaguar and a firewire drive, I'll be in business