Assignment Cover Sheet

Lecturer: Bernadette Norton

Student Name: Peter Sheehan

Name of Unit: Sequencing 1

Assignment Name: Sequencing Software Appraisal

Submission/postal Date: 30 April 2016

Submission/Ext Date: 14 May 2016

Name: Peter Sheehan Student ID: 481 SEQ1 Assignment 2(b)

AUSTRALIAN GUILD OF MUSIC EDUCATION

ASSESSMENT 2b - ASSIGNMENT:

“SEQUENCING SOFTWARE APPRAISAL- PRO TOOLS v LOGIC PRO X”

SEQ1 Sequencing 1 Bachelor of Music B.Mus.

Lecturer-in-Charge: Bernadette Norton Mr. Peter Carl John Patrick Sheehan

AGME Student ID No.: 418 (Word Count: approximately 1,100 words)

12 May 2016

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Name: Peter Sheehan Student ID: 481 SEQ1 Assignment 2(b)

I hereby submit an appraisal of two sequencing software packages:

Pro Tools 11

Logic Pro X

These have been chosen for two reasons, firstly they are both highly acclaimed

recording software packages and secondly despite having used Ableton 9 a little

previously, I now own Logic Pro X from Apple and Pro Tools is the first choice of

the AGME. I will begin by looking at some criteria to use for comparison then

looking at several professional reviews of the two software packages.

CRITERIA FOR CHOOOSING SOFTWARE

Budget. This is always the most prominent thing in one’s calculations when

choosing and purchasing so you need to get it right. You need to think long

term and so using free software such as Apple’s Garage Band and Pro

Tools First is the best strategy.

Experience level. If you’re starting out, it is best to start with something that

you can easily understand and use in order to get your music-making skills

going. Using free software and going with getting an expert-level software

such as Logic Pro X or Pro Tools is the best option.

Performing live Some software are more optimal for live performance,

because they offer easy integration with MIDI controllers, VST instruments

and other live performance-specific features. Alberton Live and Pro Tools

are good for live performances.

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Name: Peter Sheehan Student ID: 481 SEQ1 Assignment 2(b)

Apple Logic Pro

Recommended level: Medium to expert

The Logic Pro X (10.2.2) is only priced around $320 AUS so is great value for what

it provides as features. It is the opinion of many that it gives Pro Tools a run for its

money. One drawback is that it only works with Mac. For beginners it will take

some time to learn. An easier interface for beginners is Apple’s simple Digital

Audio Workstation (DAW) Garageband which also comes free and has the

advantage of recognizing your recordings when you do upgrade.

It may a month or two to learn the basic ins and outs of it but once you do you will

then be able to put it to good use for years. Logic Pro has a community that is very

good for any questions that may arise.  It also comes with a sound library and loop

collection with good out-of-the-box effects and sounds for your controllers/pads.

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Name: Peter Sheehan Student ID: 481 SEQ1 Assignment 2(b)

Reviewer Sean from ‘The Wire Real’ says:

“This is an amazing digital audio workstation. What stands out with Logic Pro is

the interface — very advanced to help with the music making process by including

track consolidation, instrument layering, an intuitive mixer for plug-in control, and a

“score editor” to allow you to create your own … tracks with only a mouse ..  It has

a “virtual drummer” feature which features an interactive drum set for visual

implementation of drums for some fun playing and natural sounding kits. Also has

an arpeggiator that’s better than a lot of software out there, it’s programmable too.

This thing is just jam packed with features, synths, plug-ins, and not to mention a

great interface for easy learning.”1

Jamie Lendino, from PC Mag2 says ‘Logic Pro X 10.1 remains an amazing value,

and various small upgrades throughout make it even easier than before to realize

complete music projects from start to finish. Unless you need Pro Tools for

compatibility with other studios, or simply because you're more familiar with it—

perfectly valid reasons to go with Avid—Logic Pro remains our favorite mainstream

DAW and a clear Editors' Choice’.

1 Sean from The Wire Real. Top 10 Best Music Production Software – Digital Audio Workstations. Accessed 10 May 2016. http://www.wirerealm.com/guides/best-music-production-software-daw.2 James Lendino, Apple Logic Pro X 10.1 Review. PC Mag. Accessed 12 May 2016. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2401411,00.asp.

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Name: Peter Sheehan Student ID: 481 SEQ1 Assignment 2(b)

In its review of Pro Logic X SOS says:

‘There is no doubt that Apple have developed some very sophisticated features in

Logic Pro X. Drummer, Track Stacks, Flex Pitch, Smart Controls and Logic Remote

are, for the most part, brilliantly implemented and serve their purpose well, along

with other bonuses such as MIDI plug-ins and being able to have Alternatives

within a project. But many of the big new features appeal to very different sets of

users... Such features demonstrate how Apple are trying to broaden Logic Pro's

appeal,… it means, that certain areas of the program, and certain lingering

requests from long-time users, are still arguably not getting the attention they

warrant. For example, the Piano Roll editor … it will always be hard for Apple to

meet expectations if upgrades are slow. Ultimately, though, Logic Pro X is still

Logic deep down, has many new features, and is available at a ridiculous price.3‘ 

3 Sound On Sound SOS. Review: Apple Pro Logic X - September 2013. Accessed 12 May 2016. http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep13/articles/pro-x.htm?print=yes.

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Name: Peter Sheehan Student ID: 481 SEQ1 Assignment 2(b)

Avid Pro Tools

Recommended level: Expert\professional

Pro Tools as the industry standard is the software to buy. For the Avid Pro Tools

Retail Edition is priced at $1,0254.

Sean from Wire Real says it provides ‘the standard ability to compose, record, mix,

edit, master, etc. What’s advanced is it has it’s own Avid Audio Engine which gives

you a super fast processor, a 64-bit memory capacity for sessions (never lag,

freeze, etc), it’s own latency input buffer to help with that annoying delay, and built-

in metering. Change the tempo with time-stretch of any track, and there’s

something called Elastic Pitch that’s a bit like autotune in the sense of ‘correcting’

harmonies.

It also comes with 70 effects and plug-ins: reverb, compressors, EQ’s, channel

4 Software Time. Avid Pro Tools Sales. Accessed 12 May 2016. https://www.softwaretime.com.au/avid-pro-tools?gclid=Cj0KEQjw09C5BRDy972s6q2y4egBEiQA5_guv3QyyJ-dakMpyeC0Gos4j9qCGIepN0L_86DDMIuq0JIaAkps8P8HAQ.

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Name: Peter Sheehan Student ID: 481 SEQ1 Assignment 2(b)

stripping, the works — merely anything you can think of, Pro Tools has.‘ Its

drawback is it takes hours, days, weeks or even months to learn it. But when done

it will be the best music-making decision.

The Hub in its software comparison says: ‘An industry standard software … with

lots of professional-grade features and plug-ins, Pro Tools is an excellent choice

for those seeking the highest quality audio possible and nearly unlimited sound

processing options. However, it is a relatively complex program for novice users

and involves a steep learning curve’.

CONCLUSION

Ackerman & Jackson from Cnet sum things up well when they surmise: ‘For $200,

Logic Pro X 10.1 offers a huge toolkit for both professional and advanced amateur

audio engineers and musicians. That said, Pro Tools is in many ways still the

industry standard, especially if you plan to take your work to a professional

recording studio for additional recording or mixing. The value equation has also

changed somewhat with the recent release of Pro Tools First, a limited, but still

usable, free version of Pro Tools that offers an easy way to learn that software

before investing.

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Name: Peter Sheehan Student ID: 481 SEQ1 Assignment 2(b)

But the secret weapon in Logic is no doubt the ability to use your iPad as a real

time control surface, for riding faders, playing instruments, or adjusting plug-ins.

Having tried many hardware and software external control surfaces for Pro Tools

and other music programs over the years, the iPad-to-Logic connection is

amazingly simple to set up and it operates in real time. The connection offers

tremendous flexibility, making Logic an easy-to-use tool for capturing music ideas

on the fly once you're fluent in the basic workings of this deep, complex software

package.5

In general for most users Logic Pro will be the best option, despite its remaining

issues, especially if it is primarily for recording rather than using it live. For sheer

excellence particularly with the release of Pro Tools First, Pro Tools will remain

clearly the industry standard! You’re choice!

5 Dan Ackerman Jason Parker. Logic Pro X 10.1 (OS X) review. Cnet . Accessed 12 May 2016. http://www.cnet.com/au/products/logic-pro-x-macintosh/.

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Name: Peter Sheehan Student ID: 481 SEQ1 Assignment 2(b)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ackerman, Dan. Parker, Jason. Logic Pro X 10.1 (OS X) review. Cnet. Accessed

12 May 2016. http://www.cnet.com/au/products/logic-pro-x-macintosh/.

Lendino, James. Apple Logic Pro X 10.1 Review. PC Mag. Accessed 12 May 2016.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2401411,00.asp.

Software Time. Avid Pro Tools Sales. Accessed 12 May 2016.

https://www.softwaretime.com.au/avid-pro-tools?

gclid=Cj0KEQjw09C5BRDy972s6q2y4egBEiQA5_guv3QyyJ-

dakMpyeC0Gos4j9qCGIepN0L_86DDMIuq0JIaAkps8P8HAQ

Sound On Sound SOS. Review: Apple Pro Logic X - September 2013. Accessed

12 May 2016. http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep13/articles/pro-x.htm.

The Hub | Buying Guide: How to Choose Recording Equipment, (July 2014),

http://thehub.musiciansfriend.com/audio-recording-buying-guides/recording-gear-

buying-guide. Accessed 29 March 2016.

The Wire Real. Top 10 Best Music Production Software – Digital Audio

Workstations. Accessed 10 May 2016. http://www.wirerealm.com/guides/best-

music-production-software-daw.

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Name: Peter Sheehan Student ID: 481 SEQ1 Assignment 2(b)

Wikipedia. Pro Tools. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_Tools. Accessed 11 May

2016.

Wikipedia. Logic Pro. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logic_Pro. Accessed 11 May

2016.

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Name: Peter Sheehan Student ID: 481 SEQ1 Assignment 2(b)

ATTACHMENT A

Ableton Live

Recommended level: Medium to expert

Free trial | Full version | Forum

Since it’s introduction in 1999, Ableton Live has been a very popular DAW and for

good reason. You’ve got the standard multi-track recording (an unlimited number of

audio/MIDI tracks for songs) and cut/paste/splice features, but what’s especially

great about this software is the seamless MIDI sequencing software and hardware.

We’ve had so many fusses with our MIDI controllers getting mapped to our sounds

through the DAW (back when we used Acid in 2005-2010), but ever since the

switch to Ableton it’s been extremely headache-free. Another huge plus is the

sound packages included. Although this really depends on your preferences and

whether or not you have your gear and sounds up to speed, it comes with 23

sound libraries (about 50GB of sounds), so you can make music out-of-the-box.

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Name: Peter Sheehan Student ID: 481 SEQ1 Assignment 2(b)

To finish off our description for the beloved Ableton, this thing is the absolute best

music software for performing live. We’ve experienced very few glitches (the

biggest fear of performers…it can make or break a set). What’s even better is that

Ableton has paired up with some brands to create gear specifically for the program,

often matching interfaces with the software for easier pairing and remembering of

sounds. Read our best MIDI controller for Ableton to see what we’re talking about.

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