When the first Intel - power Macs started arrive on the scene in January , Mac users could encounter plenty of consumer coating that ran natively on Intel ’s Core Duo processors . Intel - native pro apps were much harder to come by . And while many of those programme run just fine using the Rosetta emulation technology , the non - native rendering did n’t enjoy the carrying out gains advertised by Apple .
The situation has better dramatically since January , with more companies expel Universal versions of their software to persist natively on both PowerPC and Intel - establish machines . Apple has led the charge , adding ecumenical compatibility to pro apps such as Aperture , Final Cut Studio , and Logic .
That last covering is of particular sake to musicians , who ’ve been anticipating major operation boost since Apple unveiled plans to interchange to Intel - based processor . While Logic ran on a PowerBook G4 , the performance was nothing to spell home about ; player on the road desired a laptop with enough power to more close approximate the experience of running Logic on a high - end desktop .
All systems were running Mac OS X 10.4.5 with 1GB RAM. We attempted to play two very large project files (one that we created and one that ships with the application as a demo file) on each system and reported either a Yes or No depending on the outcome. Next, we recorded the amount of time each system took to bounce all tracks in each project file to 44.1Khz, 16-bit audio, interleaved stereo AIFF PCM files, adding POW-r dithering (algorithm #1). —Macworld Lab testing by James Galbraith and Peter Kirn
The arrival ofLogic Pro 7.2should be welcome news for those mobile musician . Our trial run of the first Universal adaptation of Apple ’s music creation and audio production software feel a major carrying into action amplification when feed the diligence on a Core Duo - ground Mac . More important , running Logic 7.2 on a MacBook Pro delivers a surprisingly similar experience to using the app on a Power Mac G5 , intend on - the - go musician may have the computer hardware - software jazz group that meet their public presentation demands .
Native need
Just the addition of Universal compatibility is good news for Logic user ; early versions of the program would n’t run on an Intel - based Mac . If you endeavor to die hard a multi - track audio project under Rosetta , you ’ll find degenerate processor performance that can result in garbled sound recording on larger project .
Then again , running high - end audio programs on G4 - power laptop can be limiting compared to desktops . A PowerBook G4 can perform most introductory music and audio undertaking , but it often struggle to keep up with more ambitious task . drug user can suspend course to conserve resources on these machines , but that adds inconvenient additional steps to a work flow and limits live performance pick . So would - be upgraders would be very interested to see how Logic 7.2 performs natively on a MacBook Pro .
The question , then , is how exactly to measure real - time medicine and audio performance . You could number the routine of tracks you could simultaneously fiddle or record , but that ’s primarily a function of hard disk performance , not processor f number ; what ’s more , many laptop users record to fast outside FireWire or USB 2.0 punishing ride rather than the dumb inner driveway . A good index is what most users deal about : computationally - intensive project like running outcome and virtual pawn — especially since some of Logic ’s plug - indium are esurient in their appetite for CPU cycles .
Apple ’s internal testsrely on a project that stack instrument and event plug - Hoosier State , to determine the maximum number of plug - ins that can run at the same time . ( Ironically , the company used a similar examination to prove the advantages of the Power Mac G5 over the Intel platform at the G5 ’s unveiling in 2003 . )
Using this amount , a MacBook Pro hunt down Logic 7.2 starts to present the 2 - to-4X hurrying improvement over the old PowerBook G4 Apple had bluster . In Apple ’s tests , a 2.16GHz MacBook Pro move Logic 7.2 processes 135 PlatinumVerb reverb plug - ins , 4.5 meter as many as a 1.67GHz PowerBook G4 . The MacBook processes twice as many Sculpture physical - model package instruments as the PowerBook .
Adding multiple central processor - hungry jade - in like Logic Pro 7.2 ’s Space Designer reverb can easily tax a G4 - base estimator , but the MacBook Pro was able to handle them easily — even when using more than one would in a distinctive project .
Using so many plug - In at once tends to exaggerate the performance of sure computations . Nevertheless , these kind of numbers were consistent with our hands - on , real - world examination of plug - ins .
Macworld Lab results
In a genuine - domain task , you ’re highly unconvincing to use 135 reverbs at once , but you might desire to use a number of CPU - hungry hoopla - ins . To test Logic ’s public presentation on the MacBook Pro , I used an existent multi - track sound - intent task that needs to commingle multiple example of Logic ’s most punish jade - in , theSpace Designer convolution reverb .
I found that there was little I could do to overtax the MacBook Pro . This project wield to play in genuine - time even after adding 13 Space Designers with long reverb bottom , plus three Pitch Shifter II instances and one Ring Shifter . This represent the upper limit of the MacBook ’s performance ; you ’ll see in our test results that even a marginally - dull dual - marrow Mac miniskirt was ineffectual to dally the same file cabinet . But the MacBook Pro perform fast enough to fulfil the motive of most fluid user , and it subjectively feel like a fast background .
Logic Pro 7.2 Tests
Best result inbold . computer address system initalics . Bounce time lots in minute : Seconds
All systems were running Mac OS X 10.4.5 with 1 GB RAM . We seek to encounter two very large projection data file ( one that we created and one that ships with the covering as a demo file ) on each organization and cover either a Yes or No depending on the outcome . Next , we recorded the amount of prison term each system admit to bounce all tracks in each labor file to 44.1Khz , 16 - moment sound recording , interleaved stereoscopic photograph AIFF PCM filing cabinet , adding POW - r dithering ( algorithm # 1 ) . — Macworld Lab testing by James Galbraith and Peter Kirn
It ’s also narrate that a 2GHz MacBook Pro could play much of the demo content admit with Logic Pro that ’s tantalizingly labeled “ G5 only . ” The G5 Demo Song ( Full Track ) pulls all the stops in terms of Logic ’s built - in effects and virtual instrument on an all-embracing , multi - track song . While just a subset of tracks was more than the degraded PowerBook G4 could carry , the MacBook Pro played the entire song in tangible - time . ( The last two indorsement at long last overtaxed the audio arrangement . )
Render times are n’t as significant as tangible - time performance for euphony work , but they do supply an estimation of the computing machine ’s efficiency . They also demonstrate substantial improvements in performance . The MacBook Pro rendered the Space Designer test labor near four times as fast as the PowerBook G4 and depict the G5 demo file nearly 1.5 times as fast . In all our trial , it ’s light the more succinct Intel - base Macs wo n’t humble Apple ’s Power Mac G5s on carrying into action alone : While the MacBook Pro can fairly brag desktop - family performance , the Power Mac G5s are still faster . ( A dual-2.7GHz Power Mac G5 exhibited likewise impressive carrying out . )
But in daylight - to - day use of goods and services , the experience of using the MacBook is not very different from using a high - end Power Mac , a revolutionary departure from the G4 / G5 divide of the past tense . The Mac mini also perform commendable , and could also make a skilful music machine . Unlike the G4 - ground miniskirt , even the Mac mini Core Solo is also useable as a Logic Node ; you could connect it to other fast G5 or Intel Macs for distribute processing of Logic projects , add to the miniskirt ’s value .
Other features
While Universal compatibility highlights this system of logic update , PowerPC - based Mac users have reason enough to elevate as well . logical system 7.2 inherits several features from GarageBand 3 , including automatic ducking and speech sweetening for phonation - over and podcasts , aboriginal financial support for Apple ’s AAC compressed audio formatting , and the new doggerel verse and profound upshot from iLife ’ 06 . enhance control Earth’s surface sustenance and the power to switch between transmission channel striptease preferences via MIDI makes system of logic easier to control in the studio and onstage . ( The power to shift distribution channel strips means that you could , for instance , assign a different set of effect to a foot pedal to throw between guitar processors on - the - fly , or change from an electric piano with a phaser to an acoustic piano with reverb at the tactile sensation of a push on your music keyboard . )
Other improvements may voice arcane to audio newcomers , but they ’ll be greatly apprise by tenacious - time and professional users of the political platform . The 7.2 rising slope is a must - have spill if you rely upon ReWire to unite Logic with applications likePropellerhead ReasonorAbleton Live . The update supports Stereo ReWire object as well as mono ; ReWire inserts are label correctly . It ’s a major melioration from the confusing effectuation in previous versions . ( Note that whileAbleton Live now runs natively on Intel - based Macs , Logic Pro 7.2 does not yet support ReWire on Intel because its handout pre - dated availability of Intel - aboriginal ReWire resources fromReWire developer Propellerhead ; Apple gestate to release an update soon . )
in conclusion , Logic now admit livelihood for high - remnant computer hardware and software products . Logic Pro 7.2 has integrated sustenance forApogee’snew PCI limited and FireWire audio frequency user interface and for the high - timbre pitch and pacing shifting ofSerato Pitch ‘ n Time LE . The latter is a pleasure to use : I tested a beta version , and the dismissal offers dramatically improved pitch and tempo changes when compared to Logic ’s incorporate algorithms , while integrating seamlessly with Logic ’s intuitive Time and Pitch Machine user interface and the Arrange windowpane .
There ’s only one reason not to advance to Logic Pro 7.2 , but only if you habituate older Digidesign ironware and package . While Logic Pro 7.2 flesh out financial backing for Pro Tools 7.x , it discontinue backup for Pro Tools 6.9 and earlier . Like Pro Tools HD 7 , Logic no longer support Digidesign MIX systems .
The Bottom Line
examination numbers and have addition aside , what ultimately matters for medicine production is the line between being capable to do what you want on a projection , and have to compromise , particularly in live performance . Using a svelte Mac laptop or bargain - price Mac miniskirt is no longer the compromise it had been for running Logic Pro . That bode well for other high - end audio practical app secrete or due to be released for Intel - based Macs .
If you rely heavily on hype - Indiana , you ’ll need to hold off to make an Intel Mac your primary machine until more Universal come , as each stopple - in must also be optimized for the Intel C.P.U. to function . But if you ’ve been hold back for a truehearted automobile in a laptop computer , mini , or iMac form factor , the Intel “ mental capacity transplantation ” has pay off instantly .
[ Peter Kirn is a composer , medium artist , and the writer of the bookReal World Digital Audio(Peachpit Press , 2005 ) . He run theCreate Digital Music medicine tech blog . ]
