Logic update

nice

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

I'm a bit confused about the newly touted Track Stacks, which have been around for some time now. They just say they can nest tracks for organizing. I don't see any different explanation in the feature's window. What all has changed?

I do see, however, that I can now take a group of VCA faders and put them in a stack, effectively creating a VCAs Master control. That's something I've done in PT for ages, but it was not available in Logic to my knowledge. So...good progress for those end-of-mixing volume tweaks.

I am still really wanting them to add the option to save I/O labeling/routing with a project, or just as a separate file that could be loaded in on demand. This global-only option is for the birds.

A couple of important points as to why, but in terms of Logic finally directly supporting 32-bit float files, the first and most important to me is that I have a couple of audio recorders where I record in 32-bit float, and I've always had to use a different program to edit them, b/c Logic couldn't do it. Now it can! And I'm a lot faster in Logic than anything else at this point.

But in regards to why someone might choose to record in 32-bit float (and there aren't many audio interfaces that can do this, it's mostly external recorders), it essentially removes the possibility of maxing out your dynamic range. You basically are not going to be able to clip your converter on the way in.

Doug will point out that you may still be able to clip the analog stage somewhere ahead of the converter, and he's right, of course, but as long as you don't do something stupid ahead of the converter, you essentially do not have to worry about your recording level. The Zoom F6, for example, does not even allow you to set your recording level if you are in 32-bit float record mode. You just arm the tracks and hit record. I've found that feature to work far, far, far better than I would've thought before trying it out. (Other recorders, like the excellent Sound Devices MixPre II series, do still allow you to set gain level, even in 32-bit float mode.)

Curtis Judd has several excellent YouTube videos about the technology. If you search YT for "Curtis Judd 32 bit float", you'll find several videos. Curtis is a sound-for-picture guy, recording mostly dialogue and wild sound for video productions and filmmakers, but much of what he says is applicable for general audio capture, as well.

I suspect it will be quite some time before we see widespread use of this type of thing in music studio recording, but for location sound, it can be an absolute godsend. And for something like capturing audio on set, it's amazing. If you're recording SFX like engines revving or guns firing, it can be challenging to get the levels right in 24-bit fixed. Or in nature recording, especially like a thunderstorm, you could have an otherwise great recording distort and clip on a particularly loud thunderclap. Which is why Sound Devices recorders have had (optional) limiters on the inputs for years: as a safety feature. But if you're recording in 32-bit float, you just don't have to worry about it (assuming you don't clip your mic's input or the preamp's input, of course). Limiters are not necessary - they have more of a sound than recording in 32-bit float. Even if the audio looks clipped in your audio editor, it's actually not, because there is soooooooo much headroom. You can just gain it down and there's no distortion. No real penalty.

Of course, certain things we all know to be true are still true in a 32-bit float capture system: converters sound different at different levels, for instance, but in practical terms, worries about input levels are nonexistent.

Just learned that the menu item that used to be called Logic Pro > Preferences is now Logic Pro > Settings.

I guess there are a lot of instances where software would use the term settings here, but I always thought there was a distinction between what are generally global preferences and project specific settings. It just makes things confusing for people who have been doing things forever in Logic and seeking out Preferences.

Not a fan of the settings change either. It is my understanding there are still global preferences and the new settings is applicable to the particular session you are working in. Mentioned here if my memory is correct:

Any mention of being able to rearrange channels/auxs in the mixer and have them follow in the tracks view? That’s about the only thing that still bothers me in Logic these days. Just like when I used PT, I do most of my work in tracks, but I can ‘see’ signal flow better in mixer.
Glad they implemented region gain!

Region gain is still easier in PT with just being able to hover and grab a control in a certain area of the region, but I guess if I can memorize the dang key command this will be faster.

The inspector windows are nice for some things, but it is a bit of a visual disconnect to have to move your eyes away from the tracks area so frequently. If you are working on a lot of adjustments on multiple tracks, that's a lot of clicking and moving back and forth with your eyes' focus. Hopefully this is an improvement.

Requires 12.3 or later