Logic Pro 9 Prospective new Logic user with a few questions

[marko]

Greetings one and all!

Used DP for years. Made the switch to ProTools while working in a commercial facility and am getting ready to head out on my own and set up at home.

Thinking of going the Mac Pro/8 core route with Logic Pro 9, but before I pull the trigger I'd like to know a few things.

1. I do a lot of symphonic work and Hollywood Strings and EWQL Platinum Orchestra will be my mainstays. With 24G of RAM, and all samples streaming from Solid State Drives, should I expect any problems?

2. Is Logic 9 fully capable of utilizing all 8 cores? And if so, do I need to do anything settings/preferences wise to insure that the workload is being evenly distributed?

3. Since I am setting up in my home and not dealing with a giant I/O setup, I plan on using an Apogee Duet as my audio interface. Again, any known issues?


Thanks in advance for your time.

 

[georgelegeriii]

1) Don't bother with SSD drives, Apple doesn't really have any kind of major performance boost like a PC might, a good fast drive or a raid would do you better, $ for $.

That said, I don't know of a single composer who I work for or have done their studio setup use 1 computer (David Newman, David Baerwald, Mike Regan). It's 2 minimum, 1 for Logic/synths, etc, and a second for samples. Now, if you are planning on doing pretty simple work, maybe you might be able to get away with it, but I really doubt it.

2) Yes it can use all 8 cores, BUT the I/O channel uses only 1. What does that mean... if you use a CPU hog plug-in (Sculpture, u-he Ace) and play a big core, you could overload the CPU assigned for Input processing (my name here, I'm not sure what Apple calls it). So, the fastest CPU is the best in Logic Land.

3) The Duet is pretty good these days... make sure you are using good cables, and that you make sure the firmware is current.

Q: If you used DP why come to Logic land? the current DP is pretty dang good these days, and Protools is even ok when it comes to midi and "built in" instruments.

I use Logic because I believe that is the best music writing /creation platform out today, but I think PT is better in some ways for mixing, and DP has the whole chunk thing, etc. Just playing the devils advocate here ;0)

IF you do got for a 2 computer setup, Be ready to have some issues. VEPro is working pretty good these days, BUT EQW Play can be a real bugger to play well with others, and using both Play and Kontakt on a Mac at the same time, while loaded with large sound libraries at the same time, well, Im'm sitting here shaking my head and chuckling.

So, welcome to the mess that is Apple, Logic, and 3d party sample libraries.

 

[Markdvc]

Hi there, welcome to the LUG

1. I do a lot of symphonic work and Hollywood Strings and EWQL Platinum Orchestra will be my mainstays. With 24G of RAM, and all samples streaming from Solid State Drives, should I expect any problems?

Logic can now run in 64 bit Mode, making it capable of adressing up to 16 Exabytes of RAM as opposed to less than 4 GB in 32 bit Mode - a ceiling which more and more users have been bumping in to!

However, taking advantage of this ability to access (in theory at least) "unlimited" amounts of memory does require that any and all Plugins being used are also 64 bit. In the case of EWQL Platinum, I use this running in Kontakt 4, which is also 64 bit, so can load a massive amount of samples into a Logic project. Any other 32 bit Plugins can still be used in Logic projects, in which case they will be loaded in a "slave" program, the 32 bit Audio Unit Bridge. This runs externally, outside of Logic's addressed memory space, but fully automatically - it does not require being started seperately. Choosing any 32 bit AU in logic launches the Bridge. it is restricted to 4 GB RAM, this has to be shared by all plugins running in it.

Some power users of sample libraries actually prefer to go another route, they run an external Program such as plogue bidule or VSL VE pro, and keep templates up and running in these programs. This means, when loading different arrangements in Logic, the samples do not have to be reloaded each time. Having said that, load times have enormously improved in the current version of Kontakt, I note they have been reduced to around one fifth of what they were.

If you are dealing with very large amounts of sample material, you may want/need to consider using more than one machine. I understand that this is actually recommended by East/West. I also recall reading some very useful advice about this here. I think veteran LUGer George Leger III has written about this issue on the LUG.

EDIT - speak of the Devil, GL beat me to it

I have no experience with Hollywood strings, I understand that they sound excellent.

2. Is Logic 9 fully capable of utilizing all 8 cores? And if so, do I need to do anything settings/preferences wise to insure that the workload is being evenly distributed?

Yes it is, and in fact since the current release, Logic 9.1.3, there is a feature allowing the user to assign cores to Logic. If, for example, you were working with a setup as described above, farming material out to VE Pro, you might want to experiment with assigning fewer cores to logic. In fairness, partly because this is very new, and because individual users' needs are so different, it is difficult to make hard and fast recommendations other the suggestion that you be willing to spend some time trying different settings to find out what might work best for you.

3. Since I am setting up in my home and not dealing with a giant I/O setup, I plan on using an Apogee Duet as my audio interface. Again, any known issues.

Not that I am aware of, but I don't have an Apogee interface.

kind regards

Mark

 

[robgb]

1) Don't bother with SSD drives, Apple doesn't really have any kind of major performance boost like a PC might, a good fast drive or a raid would do you better, $ for $.

I'm surprised to hear this. It seems to me I remember computer guru Leo Laporte saying he put an SSD drive into his Mac and noticed a considerable difference in speed.

Why would there be a difference between a Mac and a PC in that regard?

 

[marko]

Thanks for the thoughtful and well-reasoned replies.

George, it would probably behoove me to discuss this in depth with you, provided of course, that you are willing.

 

[marko]

1)

Q: If you used DP why come to Logic land? the current DP is pretty dang good these days, and Protools is even ok when it comes to midi and "built in" instruments.

I use Logic because I believe that is the best music writing /creation platform out today, but I think PT is better in some ways for mixing, and DP has the whole chunk thing, etc. Just playing the devils advocate here ;0)

IF you do got for a 2 computer setup, Be ready to have some issues. VEPro is working pretty good these days, BUT EQW Play can be a real bugger to play well with others, and using both Play and Kontakt on a Mac at the same time, while loaded with large sound libraries at the same time, well, Im'm sitting here shaking my head and chuckling.

So, welcome to the mess that is Apple, Logic, and 3d party sample libraries.

My interest in Logic comes from the writing/creation standpoint as well. The way that Spectrasonics Stylus alone interfaces with Logic is very appealing. I like the instruments that come with it, and I particularly like the native guitar processing. I do a fair amount of work with a guitar player partner and that would be great to have.

That being said, I'm not sold on anything.

As far as 2 computers, this is new territory for me and very intriguing. It would appear that I could use a 2nd computer loaded with VEPro hosting Hollywood Strings, EWQL Platinum, and the rest of my EW stuff (StormDrum, Pianos, Goliath, RA) ALL of which (according to their website) use the new PLAY engine. So I'm thinking maybe no player conflicts?

I've yet to purchase all of that, I've been using EWQL Gold along with NI Komplete, Atmosphere, and few other minor items.

It would seem like the perfect setup would be:


MacPro 8 core, 24G of RAM , Logic, Omnisphere, Sylus, Trillium

PC as fast as I can get, 24G of RAM, VEPro, Hollywood Strings and the rest of the composers bundle, all using the PLAY engine, slaved to the Mac with Logic as the master.


Now, stop laughing and tell me why it won't work.

I can dream, can't I?