Making the Switch - What's in your Logic?

I am seriously considering switching all my audio production and recording over to Logic Studio 8. Given recent frustrations with the whole iLok prison and limitations and costs of the Digi upgrade trap (I do like ProTools, really), I am interested to know how Logic users have their systems configured. Most notably, hardware interfaces and CPU specs. I am leaning toward Logic with an Apogee AD16 and an Apogee Ensemble which would give me 24 in and 8 out, 40 virtual instruments, and about 80 plugins WITH NO DONGLES or iLoks. for about $5500. About the price of a HD1 Accel card and ProTools software (no interface) Another $600 for a PCI express card would allow it all to run on a MacBook Pro and keep me totally mobile :)

Any opinions on such a setup?

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Permalink Reply by Doug Roberts on June 24, 2008 at 11:12am

Well said.

Very soon I hope to have a complete MacBook Pro/Symphony Mobile system in my possession for demo/tryout purposes if anyone is interested.

dr

Permalink Reply by Tim Akers on July 18, 2008 at 11:06pm

For what it's worth, I have had wonderful success with MOTU interfaces....2408 Mk 1 AND 2, and an 828 Mk II. Rock solid. AND, Logic always happily sees whatever combination of interfaces I have hooked up and never complains. (I have a ProTools Digi 002 hooked up for the rare PT session) Just my 2 cents.

Permalink Reply by Nashvillerocker® on June 24, 2008 at 2:28pm

Very cool Thread and thanks to all the pro's on Logic replies. This has helped me 10X. I'm using Logic pro more for composing tool. I use a Mac Pro 8-core Tower with 6GB of memory and motu 8pre interface. I have be testing Logic Amp pro and it's not bad. I found that if I use Fat Comp and Channel Eq this really helps. Just dry not to happening for me.

I'm using the Loops and they are very cool for writing/composing. I love the Synth's in Logic and use them all the time. I use my 88 key Yamaha S90es keyboard as my controller. This keyboard has two touch pads under the weighted keys and find that I can get a lot of Dynamic expression.

I'm now testing the MainStage for live. So far it's very cool. I'm getting ready to hook up my Bradshaw RS10 controller and test how fast ea preset will change and bypassing plugins via using seperate midi channels. I'm using a Motu 8Pre for interface and using a Sm57 to mic my main cab and than out to the house PA or (2) 2X12 Gtr cabs as monitors.

Has anyone tested this yet? if so please share the results.
Thanks so much for the killer education! I just got logic for a few months now and still a grasshopper,
Chris "Nashvillerocker" DiMella

Permalink Reply by Doug Roberts on June 24, 2008 at 11:06pm

Chris... I know there are some folks using or in the process of considering using Mainstage for their live rigs, but none I know personally... and most of the guys I have heard about are keyboardist. I have talked to a number of guitarist who are interested and playing with it at home, but none who are actually gigging with it. Please let me know how it goes and contact me if you need any assistance. I am very anxious to find some people who are actually using Mainstage on gigs. In fact, I will probably start a separate thread on that subject.

dr

Permalink Reply by Nashvillerocker® on June 29, 2008 at 1:50pm

Thanks Doug for the reply. I'm getting ready to test the midi functions and see how fast the mainStage will switch using my Bradshaw RS10.

I'll keep you up dated,
Chris "nashvillerocker" DiMella

Permalink Reply by jb on July 20, 2008 at 11:43am

Just found this Group, and this Thread. I realize that my input here on this one won't really help Brett with his attempt to put together a Logic system on his MacBook, but I'll go ahead and toss out what my system consists of, just for the record, and since he asked.

Been using Logic since v4.5 or so. And as Aaron mentioned, I've kept up with all the little workarounds we've had to find from version to version in order to make it all work. Overall I love Logic and far prefer using it over ProTools, but then I'll admit that I've always had a basic distaste for the way Digi does things, both in their corporate attitude toward users and in their overblown view of their own importance to the world in general. But that's stuff for a different discussion...

My current system is comprised of:
- Logic 7.2.3
- an old Dual 1Gig MDD (PPC) machine with 1GB of RAM
- OS 10.4.8
- MOTU PCI-424 with MOTU 1296 and MOTU 2408MkII
- MOTU MTP-AV MIDI interface
- Dedicated internal RAID Audio volume for all project files
- LogicControl
- UAD-1
- Loads of third-party plug-ins

I use Logic mainly as a mixing platform, with very little MIDI or VI stuff going on. As long as I do projects @ 44.1K, I can usually run between 40-60 tracks with lots of plug-ins (of course, making heavy use of the Freeze function). If I attempt to work at 88.2K or 96K on this system (even 48K is not as efficient as 44.1K), I get serious slow-downs, but I understand that has all been changed in newer Intel machines and in more modern OS versions.

I also have ProToolsLE, on an M-box, which I only use to open client projects in order to consolidate audio files which I pull into Logic and mix there.

For what it's worth, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Basically, because I can't afford to upgrade, I've slowly become a charter member of the LegacySystems-R-Us group. But it all still works..

Permalink Reply by Tim Akers on July 20, 2008 at 4:59pm

Hey man....I think "if it works, stick with it" is the way to go. Sometimes, upgrades can be SUCH a pain!

Permalink Reply by Marcelo Pennell on October 30, 2008 at 7:17pm

I also just found this group and thread. I don't have much to add to the mobile debate since I work from a tower. I will say that Logic can be a very powerful tool. I have been on Logic since 3.x. Like JB, I use Logic primarily for mixing and also for recording audio. I do not use much in the way of MIDI or virtual instruments.

I run a dual 2 gHz G5 with 3 gig of RAM, a UAD card, a TC PowerCore card, and MOTU PCI audio. I tend to run a large buffer (no latency issues in mixing) which allows me to mix 60+ tracks without having to worry about sub-mixing or freezing even on an aging machine.

Permalink Reply by Eric Elwell on July 23, 2008 at 8:46am

Brett,

Since you and I were together at the Mix Nashville event when we first discussed our frustration with the ProTools dilemma, and if there really was an alternative, especially for mobile recording. I've enjoyed the lively discussion of this thread, and completely differ to my friends Jim Daneker, who have forgotten more than I'll ever know on this topic. However, I thought I'd throw a possible low cost solution into the mix that no one has brought up yet. I'd be eager to hear everyone's thoughts (good and bad) about this...

PreSonus makes some very nice interfaces these days, and while I wouldn't put them in the Apogee category, they might be a capable competitor to the MOTU products. I stumbled on an innovative new product, their FireStudio Lightpipe (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FireStuLP), that converts 32 channels of ADAT lightpipe to Firewire. If you were to combine this unit with four of their Digimax D8 8-channel mic pre's (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DigiMaxD8/), you'd have a very effective and compact 32 input system for remote recording in 5 rack spaces. Based on Sweetwater's online pricing (as an example, choose your preferred vendor), the whole package is about $2200. See the attached application diagram from the PreSonus site for a clear picture of how this could work.

Anyone? Thoughts??

e2

Attachments:

FireStudio LightPipe Mobile Rig.pdf, 2.3 MB

Permalink Reply by Bret Teegarden on July 23, 2008 at 9:27am

Even if you had a couple of MOTU interfaces already, this woud be a good way to get 32 channels into Logic.

Permalink Reply by Doug Roberts on September 19, 2008 at 7:35am

I agree. PreSonus is making some great stuff for the price. And of course latency isn't really an issue when doing live recording.

Permalink Reply by Myrus Jones on January 10, 2009 at 11:58pm

Apogee 16X is great, but if you are looking for 24 I/O, I would possibly consider SSL's Alpha Link. 24 in and outs. all for $3000. The converters are great, and support 32 bit floating point (Just like Logic). Makes for a great pair. I did some mixing on a c200 with these converters and it blew me away how hard that they can be pushed (not that I would recommend practicing this while mixing or tracking). The set up was clocked with the Antelope Isochrone. anywhoo...I definitely recommend considering Logic. I am a former PT guru...and after 6 months of bouncing back and forth between DAW's, it just wasn't even a question. It really isn't fair...Logic has integration with Mac OSX that only apple can develop.