Product Reviews

With the arrival of version 3.5, Emagic's Logic Audio software for sequencing MIDI and audio now comes in three metal hues: Silver, Gold and Platinum. The flagship Platinum version incorporates all the optional extras that were once separate from previous incarnations. This means a variety of popular audio interface cards are supported out of the box. Furthermore, Logic Audio Platinum can utilise different installed audio hardware simultaneously so more audio tracks can be replayed by sharing the processing burden among them, including Apple's Sound Manager.

Like its sequencing peers, MIDI on Logic Audio Platinum exists side by side with the audio tracks, and basic editing procedures for both are much the same as in the Arrange window. However, in keeping with all recent updates to audio-MIDI sequencers, the enhancements concentrate on audio processing capabilities, which have grown considerably thanks to the G3 processor.

Logic Audio has always had a competitive range of non-realtime (preview then process) audio tools, and in version 3.0, Emagic embarked on its own realtime effects as an answer to those found in Steinberg's Cubase VST and MOTU's Digital Performer. Bowing to common sense, as well as developer and user pressure, Emagic has adopted Steinberg's VST (Virtual Studio Technology) effects architecture, which throws the Logic Audio 3.5 series open to literally hundreds of realtime effects. Realtime effects are not available on the 68K version, however.

Using a G3 with Logic Audio Platinum was a breeze. Like many installations, the CD comes with an updater floppy disk, and the application quits if you don't use it. This is a complete pain if the floppy is corrupted. Emagic uses dongle protection for the Logic Audio series, the future of which remains to be seen in the light of USB. The installation wiped out all the full-size Cubase VST song icons that were present, leaving only the titles. This is a curious conflict which occurs on older Logic Audio versions as well.

We also tested Logic Audio Platinum on a 200MHz 603 Mac (with Level 2 cache) installed with Korg's popular 1212 I/O. While the Sound Manager performance appeared satisfactory, the Korg 1212 I/O card stuttered throughout. Avoiding the VST plug-ins (none of which are provided in Logic Audio Platinum) improved performance, but for once it appeared that, side-by-side, Steinberg's Cubase VST was less demanding on the processor than Logic Audio.

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Logic Audio Preferences menu has several sub-menus, among which are audio, MIDI and printing configurations. OMS, devised by Opcode, is a MIDI interfacing/ routing option which can simplify the establishment of MIDI instruments available for use in Logic Audio. The alternative is to investigate the Environment window and create your own MIDI configuration. Logic Audio uses an object-oriented approach for both audio and MIDI which, although extremely flexible, can be overwhelming to new users.

Thankfully, the audio environment aspect of Logic Audio Platinum can be viewed as a table showing the various processing and routing stages that the playback audio tracks can enter. Changes can be made here or within the audio environment. Here, Emagic presents a clear alternative to the studio environment window, so it should perhaps consider introducing a MIDI version as well.

One enhancement in this area that really does make a difference is the Track Mixer. This window adapts to show all the tracks in use, both audio and MIDI, and also provides graphical mixers for each track, enabling playback aspects of the song to be accessed instantly, with automation options.

The G3 was installed with a Sonorus StudI/O PCI audio interface card (Reviews, Vol 14 No 12, p31), which enables 24-bit high-resolution audio recording. However, Logic Audio can't access this hardware. The product has been capable of supporting 24-bit audio for some time now via high-end Digidesign hardware. Without this, it can't deal with 24-bit audio files. It was down to the options in QuickTime MoviePlayer to convert existing 24-bit audio files to 16-bit so Logic Audio Platinum could use them.

Another aspect which affects Sound Manager use on Logic Audio is the sampling rate. You can't replay 48kHz files, but you can import them. Logic Audio has a sample rate convertor which enables conversion from 48kHz to 44.1kHz. A quantisation convertor for 20-bit or 24-bit files to 16-bit would be a useful addition. Interestingly, the DeQualificater - a new Logic Audio plug-in which, like AMT (active MIDI transmission, a MIDI timing enhancement), gets no explanation in the manual - actually performs a similar function. It alters bit rate and other parameters to create lo-fi sounds, which are becoming increasingly popular despite the clarity that digital audio offers. The DeQualificater certainly transforms gloss into grunge, but may not be to everyone's taste.

Logic Audio Platinum 3.5 is about as sophisticated as you can get for integrated MIDI and audio processing. Its current focus on realtime audio processing not only brings the VST family of plug-ins to the user but also includes realtime audio cross-fades and the ability to mix down audio for burning onto CD. The attention to detail is extensive - the manual is two inches thick - with a feast of features that suggest even power users will have to indulge in a little light reading. Those with less demanding needs would be wise to look at MicroLogic AV or the Silver and Gold versions instead.