Logic Pro 10.8
Apple has updated Logic Pro to version 10.8 with a bevy of new features for the professional audio app. The additions include the Mastering Assistant with a variety of intuitive sound-shaping tools, Sample Alchemy for transforming a single audio sample into a playable instrument, the Beat Breaker multi-effect plug-in for reshaping and reshuffling of audio in real-time, and support for recording in 32-bit float when using supported devices.
The release notes list nearly 200 improvements and fixes, including improved stability when MIDI 2.0 is enabled and using Audio Units that output MIDI, faster performance of Show/Hide Automation Groups, support for VoiceOver triggering scenes in Live Loops, support for copy and pasting region-based Automation between regions, and much more. Logic Pro 10.8 now requires macOS 13.5 Ventura or later. ($199.99 new in the Mac App Store, free update, 1.2 GB, release notes, macOS 13.5+)
It’s a lot of cool stuff - The mastering plugin is neat but I’d really like Apple to fess up about where they are using AI in their software.
I have been using BX mastering plugin (or Final Plug from Wave Arts) for my upload bouncing and I’ve always liked to keep it simple/stupid - and this Plugin fits the bill. Though I have a LOT of plugins - The default plug ins from Apple are really cool and useful. I’ve been using Logic since V7 (actually earlier than that, but pretty much exclusively since 7) there’s a lot I still don’t know and some stuff I used to have to do - i don’t have to do anymore (like extensive MIDI environment wrangling) - my workflow is pretty fast and Logic helps this a good deal these days. (I also do tape and DAWLESS recording). However- Since Sonoma came on, I do have some GUI issues (flashing Channels) which I have reported to Apple (I’m on Intel MacMini so maybe has to do with that). 10.8.1 has not resolved this issue. (minor but annoying)