Apple unveils Logic Pro X with companion iPad app

Apple has unveiled Logic Pro X, the most advanced version of Logic Pro to date, featuring a new interface designed for pros, new creative tools for musicians, and an expanded collection of instruments and effects.

Logic Pro X features a new streamlined interface that provides access to advanced tools and functionality for more technical tasks, or can be hidden to allow musicians to focus on being creative. It also comes with a host of new features like Drummer, Flex Pitch, Track Stacks, Smart Controls and an improved Mixer.

Drummer provides a virtual session player that automatically plays along with your song in a variety of drumming styles and techniques, and Flex Pitch, which provides integrated pitch editing for audio recordings. Flex Pitch helps users fix out-of-tune vocals and even change the melodies of recorded audio by manipulating individual notes within an audio waveform.

Track Stacks lets you organise and collapse multiple tracks into one, or can be used to create layered instruments. Smart Controls allow you to manipulate multiple plug-ins and parameters with a single move. An improved Mixer helps offers increased visibility into signal flow and dynamics and faster ways to manipulate channel inserts.

"Logic Pro X is our most powerful version yet, with advanced tools and a modern new interface designed to streamline the process of creating professional quality music," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "Musicians are going to love creative new features like Drummer, Flex Pitch, Track Stacks and the Arpeggiator."

Logic Pro X expands Logic Pro's collection of synthesisers and keyboards with more new instruments. It also features an entirely new Sound Library with an updated loop collection and over 1,500 instrument and effect Patches that make creative use of Track Stacks, Smart Controls, the Arpeggiator and other new plug-ins.

Apple also introduced Logic Remote, a new way to play and control Logic Pro X from your iPad, giving musicians the flexibility to create and mix their music from anywhere in the room. Logic Remote gives users new ways to record, mix and even perform instruments in Logic Pro X from anywhere in the room, turning their iPad into a keyboard, drum pad, guitar fretboard, mixing board or transport control.

Apple also launched MainStage 3, a major update to MainStage, is the live performance companion app for Logic Pro X, turning the Mac into a live rig that makes it easy to bring sounds from the studio to the concert stage. MainStage 3 features a new user interface and maintains compatibility with the new Logic Pro X plug-ins, Patches and Smart Controls.

Logic Pro X and MainStage 3 are now available from the Mac App Store for Rs. 11,500 ($199.99) and Rs. 1,650 ($29.99), while Logic Remote for iPad is a free download.