Native Instruments Guitar Rig 3 - Kontrol Version Review

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(More customer reviews)There's not much I can say that isn't already covered by professional testimonials, video reviews, and product demos.
In short, Guitar Rig 3 is an extremely versatile, powerful effects system. The hardware is extremely solid-- I've carried this thing around to live gigs, stuffed it in a backpack as carry-on for a plane ride, even spilled a little bit of beer on it (not recommended). The worst I've done is dinged it with a falling mic stand. It put a small scratch on it (similar to scratching the paint on a car door), but that's about it.
There's definitely a slight learning curve for the software itself, but you can download the demo from their website to see if it's too much for you to handle. All the help and tooltips are plenty to keep you moving along-- and spending more time playing music and less time twiddling knobs. However, the cool part is that if you like twiddling knobs and settings, you can spend countless hours dialing in all kinds of vintage, modern, or never-heard-before sounds. My friend, (a lead guitarist who owns an analog guitar pedal company), despite being a bit of a sound purist, was really impressed with the sheer number of tones I can emulate. Sometimes, the sounds have a tendency to be a little bit 'digital' sounding if you don't adjust them properly, but the software upgrade to Guitar Rig 4 supposedly improves some of this. (I haven't tried it yet myself). My solution was to add an analog pedal (Philosopher's Tone) to the front of my effects chain.
I use an Intel-based Macbook Pro and a Peavy KB3 amplifier.
PRO TIP: a keyboard amp is the way to go since they have a higher frequency range that allows you to get the full range of tones out of the software. If you go with a specific guitar amp, you may severely limit the variety of tones the software can produce. The software itself effectively mimics all kinds of vintage amps--more than most people could ever afford to own. This may seem unintuitive, but if you spend a little time on the Guitar Rig forums, you'll find this out from others' experience too.

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Apple Logic Studio Review

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(More customer reviews)So you want a whole music studio for under $500? What are you, some kind of crazy Mac user?
Apple's generous price drop for this version of what many consider to be the ultimate music tool (and I'm one of those) has removed any excuse one may have for putting off this purchase any longer. Meaning they cut the price in half and added twice the features of the original: Not only do you get a leaner, meaner and much easier to use version of Logic Pro, but they've thrown in updated versions of Soundtrack Pro and Compressor (previously only available with Final Cut), a live performance module called MainStage, all five Garageband Jam Pack titles, WaveBurner 1.5 for CD mastering, new effects such as Delay Designer .... all you need supply is lots of time and about 45 gigs of hard drive space.
As a happy user of Logic since version 6, I found the upgrade (available for just under $200) easy to grow into, especially being used to Apple's other pro apps, and really appreciated the addition of Soundtrack Pro 2, whose predecessor I'd used more for track mastering. The newer interface for Logic is more self contained now, with sliding panels replacing all those open windows you used to have to deal with ... although that is still an option if you're a person who thrives on complexity. Now you can look at both the Arrange Window and Matrix Edit (now called "Piano Roll", how quaint) in the same window, just roll it in and out as needed. Same with Audio Mixer, Score View, Hyper Edit, etc. In keeping with this more streamlined method, some of the tools are more hidden away which, along with other changes, I'm quickly getting used to. Another rollaway panel gives you access to instrument settings (and other audio resources) by way of a Soundtrack-like browser -- don't like that piano sound and don't feel like scrolling through all of them? Just pick one off the list, and it's there!
Another nice feature you'll see right away is some handy standard templates: Now, instead of trying to figure out how many blank tracks, and what kind, you may need for a certain project, just click one of the template buttons and you're on your way. You can easily customize them if you're a seasoned user. The one that has this user the most excited is the orchestral template ..... a whole symphony orchestra, ordered the same as it would be in a classical score, with instruments already loaded and regions just waiting for note entry. Now that's power. You can transcribe classical works using Logic's score editor, which by the way will also print out scores should you ever hire live musicians for your compositions.
One thing that will make Logic veterans happy is, now you don't need the USB XS-Key to be plugged in to run the software. Upgraders only need it to install, then just unplug it and drop it in the box. New users won't even have to deal with it. They don't know what they've missed, and they're better off.
In summary, Logic is the solution for the Mac-based musician, as far as composing, arranging, recording, looping, producing, scoring, sound designing, whatever-ing in an audio capacity. No messy cables and reels of tape all over the place like in the old days, just launch and bring musical dreams to life. I can't emphasize enough what a good deal this is (without sounding like a salesman), and once you get over a slight learning curve you realize the possibilities are virtually boundless for what you'll come up with. Just be aware: this ain't no Garageband. Logic is for the serious musician or music producer for whom music matters above most other things. This is what obsessed people do with their time. If this sounds like you, well, you owe it to yourself to make the most logical investment.

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Logic Studio, Apple's comprehensive suite of professional music and audio tools, provides musicians with everything they need to create in the studio, on the stage, and for the screen. Logic Studio includes Logic Pro 8, Apple's legendary professional music production application featuring a new, intuitive interface; MainStage, an innovative new application for music performance; and Soundtrack Pro 2 for audio post-production and sound design. It also includes Studio Instruments and Studio Effects, with 40 acclaimed instruments and 80 professional effect plug-ins; an expanded Studio Sound Library; and new production utilities--all in a single box at an incredible price.

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Logic Studio Upgrade From Logic Express Review

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(More customer reviews)I had Logic Express 8, so not only would this be an upgrade, but an update as well. According to the website, this upgrade package would even work from older versions of Logic Express. Given that buying an older version of Express and upgrading can be cheaper than buying Logic Studio directly, I thought this must be too good to be true. I called Apple, and the person I spoke to wasn't sure it would work, either.
Well, I just got my copy yesterday, and I can vouch that it works perfectly, at least for upgrading/updating Logic Express 8. When you consider the overwhelming array of instruments and software that you get with Logic Studio (9 DVDs worth!) this makes it just about the best deal in software I've ever seen, even at this three figure price. It's like having a recording studio and the worlds biggest hardware rack right in your laptop.
If you've been playing around with Logic Express, and are thinking about getting Logic Studio, I can assure it's worth it, especially through this upgrade path. If you're new to Logic, I recommend getting a used copy of Logic 8, and then if it turns out you'd like to get the full version, you'll be able to get Logic Studio 9 for probably less than buying it outright.

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With over 200 new features and enhancements, the new Logic Studio delivers everything musicians need to write, record, produce, and perform on a Mac. The center of Logic Studio is Logic Pro 9, which makes it easier than ever to create your own compositions. Produce and play nearly any sound imaginable with a huge collection of effects, instruments, and loops, including the new Amp Designer and Pedalboard plug-ins. Use MainStage 2 to perform live with the instruments, amps, effects, and sounds you used to make your tracks. Logic Studio also comes with applications and utilities that expand your creative options into audio post-production and mastering, including Soundtrack Pro 3, WaveBurner 1.6, and more.

Upgrade Version
Upgrade from Logic Express.

Logic Studio. A studio on your Mac as big as your ambitions.

Top Features New Pedalboard with an assortment of 30 virtual stompbox pedals inspired by the classics.

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Logic Express 9 Retail Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a hobbyist, not a pro, so keep that in mind as you read this; however, I have over the years used the old Logic when it was made by eMagic, Cubase, and landed on MOTU Digital Performer for a few years. I took a wrong turn and ended up playing with Reason and Live for a while, and then quit altogether. After a few years, I recently picked up Native Instruments Komplete 6, and never having found an ideal DAW, decided to dip my toe in the water with the new version of Logic Express. Having used many packages, I can tell you this is a robust package that strikes a nice balance between ease of use for a musician and powerful features for a producer. The Express version is not defanged, and can happily handle tons of tracks, Audio Units plug-ins (no VSTs), and without reading the manual I could record MIDI tracks, use software instruments, and record audio the same day I installed it. There are some really nice features and if you need the pro version you simply pay the difference for the upgrade, making this pretty exceptional value. I'm still fine with Express, but knowing the upgrade is easily available at no penalty is a nice policy. This is an intuitive and thoughtfully designed piece of software that has definitely reduced barriers for me at least in terms of getting the ideas that are in my head down and playing with them until they sound great.

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Record, edit, and mix your music on a Mac using the new Logic Express 9. Open your GarageBand files and get right to work, or start from scratch with a new composition. Logic Express 9 is a guitar player's dream, with Amp Designer and Pedalboard, two new plug-ins that re-create the sound of legendary amps and stompbox effect pedals. You can build your own amp model and try any combination of stompboxes. An improved set of music creation tools makes it even easier to capture and develop your musical inspirations. Use the new Flex Time tools to easily manipulate audio timing and tempo. And make music right out of the box with over 100 instrument and effect plug-ins from Logic Studio.

Logic Express 9. Record, edit, and mix music on your Mac.

Top Features
Perfect for capturing and developing your musical inspirations
Seamless compatibility with GarageBand files
Flex Time features that make editing audio timing and tempo easier than ever
More than 70 studio-quality effect plug-ins, including vintage and modern compressors, delays, reverbs, and more
New Amp Designer plug-in to help you re-create the sound of 25 legendary amps and 25 speaker cabinets
New Pedalboard plug-in with an assortment of 30 virtual stompbox pedals inspired by the classics
36 software instrument plug-ins, including the Ultrabeat drum synth and beatbox, ES2 synth, and EXS24 sampler

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Complete your music studio with a Mac Pro workstation and two 24-inch Apple LED Cinema Displays. Take a MacBook Pro with you and make your music anywhere.

AppleCare
Offering solutions for businesses of any size, AppleCare provides ongoing product coverage, including the AppleCare Protection Plan for Mac systems and Apple flat-panel displays. To augment your experience with Apple professional software, AppleCare Professional Video Support and AppleCare Professional Audio Support offer direct access to Apple's professional support staff. For more information, visit www.apple.com/support/products.

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Logic Studio Retail Review

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(More customer reviews)I use to use Logic Pro back in the day of Atari Falcon and STE1080. then i went to PC and used Logic 4.7. Though i never used the audio with it back then due to the instability of the product. It was easier to use a Mackie HDR 24/96 with midi clock to sync.
Before obtaining Logic Studio i was using Ableton Live versions 5,6,7 and now 8. The reason i bring this up is that i am now back to Logic Studio Pro on a MacPro 8 Core. The major reason for this change back to Logic was for 3 main reasons that blow away Ableton 8:
* Midi control for external and internal instruments
* Clean, Tight, Dynamic Headroom, clarity of sound. Audio Engine is far better then Ableton even at 44.1 (though i use 96k)
* for the price and what you get, this software is incredible!
The new features of Logic Studio 9 is the Flex and Guitar suite. Though i have not been impressed with the flex (perhaps because i am not sure how to use it correctly yet) the Guitar suite is AMAZING. I have owned a Line 6 pro and a Line 6 bass pro and this Guitar Suite is amazing if you run it under 96k.
The Logic Pedal board has a great slew of guitar stomp pedals that sound amazing and better then most other emulations i have heard. the distortions are warm and tube like, unlike more software emulations i have heard. it rips just right even with a guitar straight into the A/D and processed by Logic. They have a Tape Delay that emulates the Roland 201 tape echo or EHX Memory Man Deluxe and it sounds sweet and mixes very well.
The automation features are tight and crisp as well. Though it takes a bit more time to get setup on Logic for controller setup then Ableton, it is tight once you get it there.
User friendliness is not as good as Ableton but then you are getting a more PRO engine then Ableton has thus been able to deliver. In Ableton it seems the 'warp marker' technology seems to 'fuzzy' then audio in such a degree that the clarity is not tight. the dynamic headroom and stereo separation is not there. I was wondering if i was loosing my mind, but it is not the A/D Presonus firepod it was the engine of the Ableton 8. Once on Logic Studio 9, the clarity and tightness of the mix returned. This proving this engine is far superior to Ableton for a studio mix.
NOTE: if you can handle the disk space and processing power required to run 96k, do it. It will tighten your mixes amazingly.
Should you buy this? here is my suggestion:
If you run a Mac it is worth the cost. for what you get for such a pro engine and features and plug-ins this blows away the competition. At now version 9.0.2, the system on Snow Leopard is stable. very stable. It runs cleaner and crisp on snow leopard with the 64bit processing. It utilizes all the cores effectively as well. With the new imac @ 4 cores, it really could be a mini pro monster for recording.
If you own a PC, you can't use Logic, so you have to consider Sonar, Cubase, Ableton, ProTools.
I have not tried protools due to the cost of upgrades and truly to use it as tight as the industry standard, it takes a year for upgrades to happen after a new OS and the cost is outrageous compared to Logic.
I have not tried Sonar. I have used Cubase. the engine is clean though cumbersome to use.
Hope this is helpful.

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With over 200 new features and enhancements, the new Logic Studio delivers everything musicians need to write, record, produce, and perform on a Mac. The center of Logic Studio is Logic Pro 9, which makes it easier than ever to create your own compositions. Produce and play nearly any sound imaginable with a huge collection of effects, instruments, and loops, including the new Amp Designer and Pedalboard plug-ins. Use MainStage 2 to perform live with the instruments, amps, effects, and sounds you used to make your tracks. Logic Studio also comes with applications and utilities that expand your creative options into audio post-production and mastering, including Soundtrack Pro 3, WaveBurner 1.6, and more.

Logic Studio. A studio on your Mac as big as your ambitions.

Top Features New Pedalboard with an assortment of 30 virtual stompbox pedals inspired by the classics.

Click here for more information about Logic Studio Retail

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Logic Studio Upgrade From Logic Pro Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)There are now a number of DAW's available for Macs. Why choose Logic rather than one of the others such as Cubase, Ableton Live, Pro Tools, etc.? In a nutshell: Value. Apple provides a huge number of software instruments to drive with your MIDI keyboard, abundant (perhaps too-abundant) processing plugins, a gigantic number of samples to fire off in your loops, and of course MainStage for firing off your samples and MIDI instruments at performance time. And while workflow for some things is, frankly, lousy, that's just as true of its competitors. Every single one of them has tasks where you have to jump through way too many hoops to get common things done.
Why *NOT* to buy Logic: It only runs on Macs. Duh. If you intend to work with musicians who don't have Macs to e.g. swap tracks across the country, it gets tedious because you have to bounce your tracks to a common format (WAV) and then they have to import the bounce into their own DAW so that they can hear what they're adding a new track to. Not a bad problem for occasional things of this sort, but if you're regularly collaborating with a non-Mac guy, it gets really, really tedious and you should probably choose something other than Logic.

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With over 200 new features and enhancements, the new Logic Studio delivers everything musicians need to write, record, produce, and perform on a Mac. The center of Logic Studio is Logic Pro 9, which makes it easier than ever to create your own compositions. Produce and play nearly any sound imaginable with a huge collection of effects, instruments, and loops, including the new Amp Designer and Pedalboard plug-ins. Use MainStage 2 to perform live with the instruments, amps, effects, and sounds you used to make your tracks. Logic Studio also comes with applications and utilities that expand your creative options into audio post-production and mastering, including Soundtrack Pro 3, WaveBurner 1.6, and more.

Upgrade Version
Upgrade from an earlier version of Logic Studio or Logic Pro.

Logic Studio. A studio on your Mac as big as your ambitions.

Top Features New Pedalboard with an assortment of 30 virtual stompbox pedals inspired by the classics.

Click here for more information about Logic Studio Upgrade From Logic Pro

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