Hardware Support

To ensure compatibility with existing, or future, audio interface hardware, Logic Platinum simultaneously supports: AV (SoundManager, MME & DirectSound), EASI, ASIO, Digidesign DirectI/O and Audiowerk on both Mac OS and Windows. In addition, Digidesign's TDM system for ProTools hardware, including Surround, is extensively supported on Mac OS. The optional ESB TDM marries Logic's native processing capabilities (outputs and EXS24) with those of the TDM hardware, enhancing the capabilities of the TDM system.

MIDI Timing and Synchronization

Logic incorporates a proprietary Emagic technology called AMT - Active MIDI Transmission. The combination of Unitor8 or AMT8 hardware and Logic ensures that MIDI timing is precise across all ports, even in the largest of MIDI systems. Literally hundreds of MIDI ports can be addressed, with MIDI data arriving simultaneously at each, no matter how dense the MIDI arrangement. For synchronization purposes, Logic Platinum will send and receive MIDI Clock, MTC, MMC and word clock signals, making it ideal for film, TV and post-production facilities.

Realtime Composition

The Arrange window is Logic's primary workspace. Individual MIDI sequences and audio regions can be recorded, arranged and edited, with audio and MIDI data handled in a virtually identical fashion. These audio and MIDI "objects" can be packed into nested folders for quick and easy song arrangement. Audio tracks can be individually zoomed, soloed or muted, and mixing and MIDI data is handled seamlessly by the new automation system. Markers can be created and recalled to "jump" to any location in the song, complete with production notes. Audio regions can be managed. MIDI edits such as quantization, transposition, note length changes and more are calculated in realtime. Audio and MIDI objects are easily resized, soloed, muted, looped and mixed in the Arrange window in realtime, without stopping the sequencer.

Total Recall Mixing and Automation

Logic Platinum 5 introduces a refined track-based automation system found in the Arrange window. Automated parameters are displayed with full names and values for fast and optimal control over even the most complex automation situations. Every control movement can be recorded and edited using Read, Write, Latch and Touch modes , allowing realtime automated playback of all volume, pan, effects and instrument parameter movements. Supporting 32 Bit value resolutions, and offering sample-accurate precision, the mix automation is smooth and exact. The graphic creation of various curve shapes, copy/paste and moving of mix automation data (with or without the underlying MIDI or audio data) and scaling is fast and intuitive. Additionally, the adaptive track mixer reflects the track layout of audio and MIDI channels shown in the Arrange window. Multi format Surround mixing of audio channels, busses and instruments, including individual formats for each track, bus or instrument, is supported, even using Digidesign's TDM system. And every setting of the mixer, the effects and the instruments, as well as the complete automation, is saved with the song. The result of automated mix, including all tracks, live inputs, instruments and effects, can be mixed down to a single stereo file or multiple Surround files. This can benefit from the transparent POW-r dithering process, assuring that 24Bit/96kHz recordings retain their true sonic character even at 16Bit/44.1kHz CD resolution.

Plug-In Processing

Logic's fully automated effects system offers 8 sends to 16 busses, 8 inserts and 4 EQs per audio track, with inserts and sends also available for audio instruments and live inputs. Insert effects to be used in inputs, tracks, instruments, busses and outputs include VST (Windows and Mac OS) and DirectX plug-ins, as well as over 50 built-in effects. These range from the traditional as dynamics, reverbs and EQs, through to a range of sound sculpting tools such as the Autofilter or Spectral Gate and mastering processors such as the Multiband Compressor and Limiter. The optional EVOC20 provides vocoding and filterbank effects. All plug-ins operate at 32 Bit resolution, making signal overloads virtually impossible, and ensuring audio quality.

TDM Support

In addition to the built-in effect system, Digidesign's TDM system for ProTools hardware is completely supported (Mac OS), including Surround. Depending on the configuration, up to 64 audio tracks and 64 busses are available. TDM plug-ins from all major developers can be used and fully automated. I/O inserts even allow the integration of external audio effect processors.

Audio Instruments

Up to 32 software-based synthesizers and samplers such as Emagic's optional ES1, ES2, EVP88, EXS24, or VST2 instruments, can be used in Logic's Audio Instrument channels. Three powerful software synthesizers for monophonic, ensemble and polyphonic sounds are now included as standard. Audio Instruments are seamlessly integrated into Logic's mixer, making the entire palette of effects available for creative processing. Playback timing is sample-accurate. The audio output of external software instrument applications, such as Rebirth and Reason, can be streamed into Logic's mixer via ReWire and allows full access to Logic's extensive array of effects and mixing facilities.

The Editor Windows

Logic's linked editors provide the power to fine-tune music at any level. View a composition in its entirety or select and make changes to the smallest detail with the Matrix, Event List or Hyper Editors. The fully integrated Stereo Sample Editor offers destructive manipulation of audio recordings, plus many creative DSP tools including time stretching and pitch shifting with formant correction. On the Mac, Audiosuite and Premiere format plug-ins can also be used.

Score Editor Window

The Score window is a MIDI editor that displays traditional music notation. It also provides layout functions which make it possible to create professional score printouts. Logic's interpretation converts MIDI recordings to clear and legible sheet music in realtime, without changing the original performance. Notation can be edited with or without affecting the MIDI data. Score Styles offer immediate changes to the display of each sequence according to preset or user-defined staff formats. Note colors make parts in polyphonic score styles more legible. Instrument Sets allow you to save and print the entire score, individual parts or any desired combination of instruments used in the composition. The new step input allows the computer keyboard to be used as a note typewriter. As further features: Vast range of notation symbols, optional use of 3rd-party fonts (Sonata, Jazz, Swing fonts), fast lyric input aligned to notes, voice separation tool for polyphonic parts, graphic export of any desired part of a page, automatic guitar tablature and drum notation, individual editing of notehead size and stem length, individual staff indents, cross-staff beaming, notation of alias sequences plus more.

The Environment

The Environment is a usefull onscreen "flowchart" of the connected MIDI equipment, providing unparalleled creative options for visually combining software-based processing devices such as faders, arpeggiators, delays and more in almost infinite ways: build remote controls for your MIDI gear, use a Mod Wheel to crossfade between audio tracks or create realtime instruments like step sequencers and rhythm generators. This level of MIDI control is still unmatched in today's music software marketplace.

Freely Configurable User Interface

Every Logic Platinum song offers up to 90 Screensets , which are customized combinations of edit windows. Each Screenset recalls the type of window(s) opened plus size, position and zoom settings within each. Logic also features over 800 user-definable Key Commands. These are computer or MIDI keyboard shortcuts accessing almost every program function. Default Screensets can be altered to match any personal needs via user-definable menus

Processor Specific Optimizations

Logic features native support for the latest Macintosh computers, including multi-processor, Velocity Engine models. Logic Platinum Windows features native SSE/SSE2 support for P3/P4/AthlonXP processors. These optimizations increase the number of tracks, effects and audio instruments for simultaneous use.

Built-In Support of Logic Control


Logic Control is the hardware controller for Logic. It features full transport controls, a jog/scrub wheel, nine 100mm touch sensitive, high-resolution Penny & Giles motor faders, 8 rotary V-pots[TM], a generous display which shows parameter names and values, various function keys and select/mute/rec/solo buttons per channel. With Logic Control, plug-ins can be called up and edited as easily as Logic's new automation system is controlled. Logic Control offers access to 8 channels simultaneously, and with the optional Logic Control XT you can extend your system with as many eight channel blocks as you need.

General

Ultra-precise 32 Bit internal processing

Event resolution 1/3,840 note

Tempo resolution accurate to 1/10,000 bpm in the range from 0.05 to 9,999 bpm

Freely configurable user interface

90 freely configurable Screensets per song

Over 800 freely definable Key and MIDI commands for all important program functions

Interactive windows with Catch/Link/Content Link

Individually zoomable/resizable tracks

Optimized user interface offering fast navigation

New online help system

Localized menus, multilingual interface

Synchronized Quicktime/AVI/MPEG video support -with appropriate codecs installed (current MediaPlayer or QuickTime recommended)-

Adaptive, self-configuring Track Mixer for MIDI & audio

Comprehensive Logic Control system support

MIDI

Virtually unlimited number of MIDI tracks

Realtime MIDI quantize, Groove Templates

Matrix, Event, Hyper and Transform Editors

Time signature and key change Editor

Score Editor: realtime notation, coloured notes, steptime input window, professional layout/printout

HyperDraw[TM] for all event types in Arrange, Matrix and Score

Editor

Sophisticated MIDI processing Environment

Touch Tracks: live playing of folders/sequencies

AMT for precise MIDI timing with AMT8/Unitor8

Up to 128 (Mac)/64 (Win) MIDI ports supported

OMS/MTP (Mac OS) or MME (Windows) compatible

Full synchronization options with MTC, MMC, SMPTE

AutoLink with SoundDiver

Automation

All-new, track-based, sample-accurate automation engine for virtually every parameter including effect plug-ins and Audio Instruments

Independent of sequencer record status

Read, write, latch and touch modes

32 Bit automation data resolution

Automated parameters are displayed with full name and value

Color-coded automation data is displayed directly in Arrange window as envelope with break points

Break points can be freely drawn, edited and scaled

Automation curves freely adjustable between convex, concave, s-form or linear shapes

Automation data can be moved or copied with corresponding audio data, or independently

Plug-ins and Audio Instruments

Up to 32 Audio Instruments for insertion of Emagic and VST2 virtual instruments (dependent on computer resources)

8 inserts for plug-ins and 8 sends per Audio Instrument

3 new Emagic instruments included - ES M monophonic, ES P polyphonic and ES E for ensemble sounds

Optional ES1, ES2, EXS24, EXSP24, EVP88, EVP73

VST/VST2 realtime plug-in support

DirectX realtime plug-in support (Windows)

Over 50 effect plug-ins included: various delays, re-verbs, distortions, dynamics, modulation effects, BitCrusher, Auto Filter, Enveloper, Spectral Gate, etc. Of these, Phase/Clip Distortion, Denoiser, DeEsser, Tremolo, Stereo Spread, Exciter, SubBass, Limiter, Adaptive Limiter, Multiband Compressor are new.

Optional EVOC20 vocoder/filterbank package

Sidechains for plug-ins and Audio Instruments

ReWire1 support for ReBirth and Reason

Adobe Premiere + AudioSuite plug-in support (Mac)

Audio

Audio resolution up to 24 Bit/96 kHz

Up to 96 stereo audio tracks (single hardware) (dependent on computer resources)

Up to 192 stereo audio tracks (multi hardware) (dependent on computer resources)

High-end POW-r dithering Algorithm

Hardware independent audio scrubbing

8 channel surround mixing in any of 12 formats

4 fully parametric EQ bands per track

8 FX inserts per track, 8 effect sends per track

Audio input objects with 8 FX inserts and 8 sends

16 stereo busses for subgroups and FX returns

8 inserts per bus, 8 inserts per output object

Bouncing with realtime effects

Integrated stereo sample editor with Time and Pitch Machine II[TM] with formant correction (developed in co-operation with Prosoniq), Audio to Score, Quantize Audio/Groove Machine and more

Cycle-Recording for Audio, quick Punch on the fly

Fit MIDI tempo to audio, Strip Silence function

REX2 file support in Arrange and EXS24

OMF (Avid/ProTools) and Open TL import/export

Supported Audio Hardware (tracks)

Emagic Audio Engine (up to 96 stereo tracks per driver class): Mac AV, PC AV (MME, DirectSound), EASI, ASIO, Direct I/O, Audiowerk2/8

Yamaha DSP Factory (16)

Roland VS (Arrange editing) (8/16)

Korg 1212 I/O (Mac) (96)

Sonorus Stud I/O (Mac) (96)

Digidesign DAE (Mac) (8)

Digidesign TDM (ProTools III/24/24MIX, 24MIX+, MIX3) including TDM plug-ins and Surround (Mac) (16-64)

Cascade 3 x Audiowerk8 for output expansion

Virtually unlimited multiple hardware support

System Requirements Windows

Minimum:

Athlon/Duron or Pentium 300 MHz

Windows 98 SE/Me/2000/XP

128 MB RAM

CD-ROM or DVD drive

free USB-Port for XSKey

Recommended:

CPU with SSE command set (Athlon XP, Duron from 1GHz, Pentium III, Pentium IV)

256 MB RAM or more

Low-latency audio hardware for software instruments

Multiple I/O audio hardware for Surround

Separate fast hard drive for audio data

MIDI interface, MIDI keyboard

System Requirements Mac

Minimal:

604/250 MHz processor

Mac OS 9.1 (Mac OS X support in development) or higher

128 MB RAM

CD-ROM or DVD drive

free USB port for XSKey

Recommended:

CPU with Velocity Engine support (G4/MP)

256 MB RAM or more

Low-latency audio hardware for software instruments

Multiple I/O audio hardware for Surround

Separate fast hard drive for audio data

MIDI interface, MIDI keyboard

System Requirements Hard Disk

Transfer rate >3 MB/s

Average access time <10 ms

Sufficient capacity (approx. 5 MB per track minute)

When using IDE drives, the CD-ROM should use the other channel

UW SCSI controller is recommended for use with external drives