Logic Express 9

[dhilipkumar]

Logic Express 9

Reviewing Logic Express 9 after the latest version of Logic Studio ( Macworld rated 4.5 out of 5 mice ) has been reviewed is an interesting proposition. After all, Logic Express is really a slightly stripped down version Logic Studio's core digital audio workstation (DAW) application, Logic Pro 9. And because it is, any review of Logic Express 9 risks a "me too" rehash of points culled from the Logic Studio review.

Like Logic Studio, Logic Express 9 offers some of Logic Studio's marquee features--the Flex Tool for easily warping audio phrases and individual notes, the Amp Designer and Pedalboard features, which simulate amps, speakers, microphones, and pedal effects; Varispeed, for slowing down an entire project without changing the project's pitch so that you can, for example, record a difficult solo; Drum Replacer for replacing real drum tracks with triggered samples; and a new feature for adding guitar chord grids to a score. These elements work just as they do in Logic Studio. They're musical and add tremendous value to an already capable DAW.

There just isn't a better DAW deal than Logic Express 9. At $199 it's $50 more than Steinberg's Cubase Essential 5, but it has far more features. Mark of the Unicorn's Digital Performer 7 is $395, introduces its own line of guitar amps and effects, and provides such professional features as Pro Tools and surround-sound mixing support that are found in Logic Studio but not Logic Express. Ableton's Live 8--a DAW that takes a different approach to recording and music creation than traditional DAWs such as Cubase, Digital Performer, and Logic--is $450. Wonderful though all of these DAWs are, if you don't need features intended for the pros, Logic Express 9 delivers huge bang for your buck.

computerworld