Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Image-Line FruityLoops Studio, and Logic Pro are the tools that make up the foundation of sound design and music production. But to use them to the fullest, creatives needed powerful machines with loads of RAM.
That’s now changing with the iPad Pro. With Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve now finding a new home on the Apple Silicon tablet, we were bound to see a digital audio workstation (or DAW) follow suit.
With the release of Logic Pro on the iPad, musicians and creatives who make a living in audio are now much more mobile than they used to be.
But how powerful is Logic Pro on iPad? Can it really hold its own with a dedicated workstation? Here’s everything we know.
iPad Pro Power
Powered by Apple Silicon, the iPad Pro has become a mobile powerhouse for creatives. That power is now being utilized to bring Logic Pro to the platform. But with a new platform, we’re also getting new features that are exclusive to a touch-based device.
According to Apple, the first thing creatives will get is an all-new sound browser that uses dynamic filtering better organize my sound library. This includes all my instruments, audio, plug-ins, samples, and loops. Will it hold my 100GB library? That remains to be seen.
EQs and CompressorsCredit: Apple
But having it all in one location is a super nice feature. I can’t wait to play with the new layout to see how it speeds up my workflow.
Multi-Touch gestures are also included, so creatives can either play software instruments or naturally interact with the controls. Instead of one mouse button, you now have at least ten. One for each finger you have.
Pinch-to-zoom and swipe-to-scroll will be awesome to have when navigating complex projects. The Plug-in Tiles features seem to put all the controls I need right in front of me.
As a musician who dabbles in production, this is a nice feature to have. I don’t want to dig around in the DAW when all I really want to do is make music.
Live LoopsCredit: Apple
Having the ability to use mics on the iPad is also a cool tool for capturing vocals or instruments. While the five mics array is claimed to be studio-quality, I’m not sure if they’ll ever replace my dedicated condenser mics. But in a pinch, I’m sure they’ll be awesome to use.
While I don’t have an Apple Pencil, the idea of being able to draw track automation and make precision edits really makes me want to try one out. Barring that, I can always use the Smart Keyboard Folio or Magic Keyboard to fall back on my key commands and shortcuts.
Chop beats on the moveCredit: Apple
With a whole set of instruments and Plug-Ins (over 100 according to Apple), Logic Pro for iPad is shaping up to be the full-fledged DAW in mobile form. I really see this being a hit with producers and beatmakers on the go or traveling on tour.
Music for You, Foley for Me
But beyond music, I’m really excited to see how this will evolve my Foley workflow. While I don’t always record my own Foley for large projects, the small ones usually get the personal treatment.
Having an iPad with Logic will save me the step of having to transfer footage from a dedicated recorder. The only question is, will the mics be good enough? I aim to find out.
Imagine recording Foley on site and then transferring right into Final Cut on the iPadCredit: Apple
Logic Pro on iPad will support roundtrip capabilities as well, so I can export all I need right from the iPad. If Final Cut Pro on iPad is anything like Logic, I might end up moving back from Resolve. But that’s a big maybe.
The only downside I see for now is the subscription-only mode. That’s $4.99 per month or $49 per year. It’s not a lot, but after owning Logic Pro for the better part of a decade, I’m not too keen on paying for it indefinitely. But c’est le vie, right?
What do you think? How would you use logic on the iPad? Let us know in the comments!
