Cubase Or Logic, Which one is the best for a mac user??? Options

[formatj]

Logic can mix audio of any type whether it be dialogue, sound effects, music, etc....

All I meant was that normally working on a film it is not the job of the composer to mix his/her music to the film with the sound effects and dialogue. This is usually given to a sound editor/engineer.
So you would just supply them with a music mix.

I guess it depends on the budget of the film.

I have in the past worked on some low budget short films where I did the music and sound effects (and I did it all in Logic).

[tokyoroland]

Thanks for the reply!

would if I was sent a film with dialogue already incorporated into it. could I adjust that sound level and edit it in Logic? I would want a certain balance of music and dialogue. does Logic come with good sound effects?
- jeff

[formatj]

There is nothing to stop you from mixing your music with dialogue and sound effects already supplied. How are your mixing skills?

Logic does not come with any sound effects (possibly a couple of 3rd party promo sample CD's, I'm not sure what is packaged at the moment).

It does come with a few free software synths (ES E, ES M and ES P) and 12 week trial on some other software synths and sampler (EXS24, EVP88, ES1) and 30 day trial on some others (EVB3, ES2, EVOC20, and EVD6).

You can download various free software synths and sound effects from the net or purchase sample CD's or third party software synths from various suppliers if you need more sounds, or you can make your own!

[tokyoroland]

"You can download various free software synths and sound effects from the net or purchase sample CD's or third party software synths from various suppliers if you need more sounds,"


any suggestions?

[formatj]

For software synths and samplers a good resource is http://www.kvr-vst.com/

For free sounds you can use a search engine such as google and type in something like "free sound fx".
I would recommend buying emagic's EXS24. It will give you access to a huge library of sounds in AKAI, gigasampler, soundfont formats etc.....

You will find the sounds available in these formats are much better than the XP-30 sounds.

below are a few links for free sounds that will work with EXS24

http://www.first-wave-music.de/downloads/f..._downloads.html
http://www.esoundz.com/soundz.html
http://www.cone.nl/test/exs.htm
http://www.chickensys.com/exs/
http://MusicBootCamp.com/exs24.shtml
http://www.analoguesamples.com/
http://www.projectsam.com/

[gdoubleyou]

I recently purchased the Big Box promo. It comes bundled with the ES1 softsynth, EXSP24 VSTplug(sample playback), and VP73 VSTPlug(rhodes emulator).

There are also three eMagic soft synths integrated into the program ready to use.

Several other softsynths are integrated into the program also. You are able to activate them for a limited period. You can later buy a licences for unlimited use.

Logic5 also includes an EXS editor so you can create your own banks of samples.

From eMagic's website it looks like the only difference between the EXS24 and EXSP24 is that the EXS24 can also load SDII, and sample cell formats. And that the EXSP24 is a VSTi, and can be used in any VSTi host, and there should be an audio unit version soon.

I've only had it for a couple of weeks so I am in the steep part of the learning curve.

The only feature that irritated so far is that Logic using OMS can not bring in my custom patch names.(don't use factory presets)
It's a cut and paste operation. It's tedious for 5 devices, but you only have to do it once.

[tokyoroland]

gdoubleyou -

do you know where I could get Big Box from, and how much it costs?

p.s. thanks Format J for the links!

p.s.s. so, would it be better to get EXS24 or EXSP24??

I just want to use the sounds in it unlimitedly, or atleast for a long period of time.

Also-- should I try to learn Logic first and THEN buy the EXS or just buy it now. Will all of this be too confusing at first? Remember how little you knew when you started out... that's ME!!! I have alot of tech stuff to figure out. thanks for everyone's help!




- jeff44rr000

[formatj]

Big box is the equivalent of Logic Silver with extra goodies. It does not currently work under OS X, though it will at some point in the future. It has less features than Platinum or Gold. It retails at US$299, you can get it for $249 from most internet music stores.

EXS24 is better than EXSP24, not sure if you need the extra features.

Virtual synthesizers and samplers are very easy to use.
It comes down to if you want to spend the extra money now and if you want a larger and better range of sounds.

Have a listen to the demos at http://www.projectsam.com/ (for example)
and hear the quality of the sounds you can expect.

[tokyoroland]

So EXS is a key, or what? And it comes with a whole bunch of sounds, or do i add sounds from downloads, or both? do I plug in the EXS and then load sounds onto it? I know I should research it first...but how much does it cost and where could I get it from? I am not full of money, ya know. I work a min. wage job ( I live at home w/family )

I am looking for mostly piano sounds, choir sounds, and a whole bunch of "atmostphere" sounds. I don't know how many sounds come with Logic plat., but I DO like SOME of my xp30 sounds, like the Euro Piano.

Am I looking at 100 bucks for a cr-rom like the horns from project sam.
I assume that these sounds and much better than the free sounds.
Though my budget is a little thin, I want to mimic a live orchestra and other instruments as best as I can.


thanks again, format j. you have been a real help.

p.s. do you have any music on the net? - jeff

[gdoubleyou]

I picked up the big box at Guitar Center, and got it for $200.

Check their website, but you may be able to get it cheaper at one of their stores.

I'm not so sure the EXS24, is better than the EXSP24 VSTi.

The have the same parameters, the EXS24 does add a volume control, and an edit button that takes you to the editor. But you can only use it in Logic. I was curious about the differences so I activated the demo. They sound the same to my ear. The big difference I see is direct import of Sample Cell, and SDII formats.(check out the screenshots.
http://www.emagic.de/english/products/inst...s/exsp24_2.html
http://www.emagic.de/english/products/inst...s/exs24_2.html)

In Cubase the EXSP24 VSTi shows up as 4 stereo tracks. It can load multiple samples and have them triggered by different midi channels.

Hopefully the EXSP24 will be converted to audio units.

The EXS24 is not an audio unit, it's an integrated instrument, part of Logics code base.

Looks like I have more upgrading to do Steinberg announced that SX for OSX will be relesed on Oct.10.

NOW it's getting interesting!!!