Logic Pro X is Chris Vandeviver’s Software Product Of 2020, he explains why.
Ever since the introduction of Logic Pro X back in 2013, Logic Pro has seen nothing short of a miraculous rebirth for its users. And given the results of this year’s major 10.5 update, I can’t think of any other software I would select over Logic Pro as my software product of the year.
For almost 8 years now, I and other users have enjoyed consistent free updates that appear in the Apple App Store without so much as a threat of payment. No big marketing campaigns hyping users up for the “big event”. And yet every major update has consistently delivered massive innovations to Logic Pro. Making it far easier, more liberating, and most important - more fun to create and work.
It’s easy to overlook Logic Pro’s journey when one hasn’t lived through it. Witnessing the tired, Star Trek: The Next Generation vibe of Logic Pro 9 shift to the abrupt modernity of X. Finally being able to select multiple tracks at once while holding Shift or Command. The head-scratching introduction of virtual Drummers (which ended up being one of Logic’s best innovations). Or hearing the quiet murmurs of Apple’s acquisition of Camel Audio and Redmatica, which surfaced years later as free additions in the form of Alchemy, PhatFX, StepFX (previously CamelPhat and CamelSpace), and AutoSampler. Or the more recent 10.5 update, which fully embraces producer and beat-making workflows with Live Loops, Step Sequencer, and various drag-and-drop samplers.
Logic Pro is best known for its songwriting and producing toolkits. As there’s no question Logic comes stacked with a wealth of software instruments, tens of thousands of Apple Loops, Audio, and MIDI effects. But Logic Pro has also dramatically improved the engineer’s toolkit as well. I know this because I spend most of my time mixing in Logic Pro. Track Stacks was the #1 most meaningful innovation to my workflow. Which introduced collapsable and expandable folders for submixing and organizing groups of tracks. VCA Faders brought further group control. Dual Mono allows every single plugin (Logic or otherwise) to process left and right signals, or mid and side signals independently. Sends on Faders and Independent Pan dramatically enhanced routing to Auxiliary Channels. Smart Tempo automagically creates custom tempo maps from existing or recorded audio and MIDI with a single click. Track Alternatives adds playlist style comping to Logic’s already wonderful Quick Swipe Comping system. And the more recent Dynamic Plugin Loading removes the agony of loading templates laden with CPU-crushing instruments and plugins that aren’t yet in use.
Is Logic Pro perfect? Of course not. And I wouldn’t suggest it is. Like any piece of software, there’s plenty of room for it to grow. And many users have wishlist items and bug fixes they’ve been waiting years to see come true. But in 2020 at the paltry sum of $199 USD, Logic Pro is a literal steal. The list of improvements and advancements is too long to list out. Believe me, I’ve tried several times while writing this article!