Emagic Adds Surround to Logic Audio 4.5

Logic's surround panner

April 14, 2000 -- Emagic announced Version 4.5 of Logic Audio at Musikmesse Frankfurt 2000. The latest stage in the evolution of the most-used professional audio/MIDI sequencer in the world, Logic Audio Version 4.5 features major enhancements to the mixer functionality. These include not only the introduction of extremely comprehensive Surround functionality, but also a new class of Audio Objects, called Audio Inputs, that significantly furthers the value of the integrated real-time effects system. Version 4.5 also supports the new Studio Description Language, an Emagic development for the description of MIDI devices that provides even more detailed control over complex studio setups.

With these and other features based on feedback from Emagic's international professional user-base, Version 4.5 further demonstrates Emagic's ongoing commitment to help its customers maintain a creative and competitive edge in an increasingly more demanding market.

Surround with Logic Audio

For Logic Audio Version 4.5, Emagic has developed a uniquely powerful eight-channel Surround solution. The high channel count guarantees compatibility, even with the most extravagant Surround formats. Logic Audio allows complete freedom when it comes to designing the placement and movement of sounds in space because the Surround mode can be chosen at any time in any channel strip. All Surround movements can be completely automated. There is a separate fader to control LFE channel amount for each channel strip.

Emagic's Surround system offers the certainty that the Surround mix meets the demands of current production processes and techniques.

The mixer with surround panning
(Click for a larger image)

Audio mixer with enhanced functionality

The audio mixer in Logic Audio Gold and Platinum is now supplemented by a further class of Audio Objects – the physical inputs of an audio card can now be assigned to the new Audio Input Objects with which the input signals can be equipped with real-time effects via inserts and bus sends. Furthermore, the input signals of record-ready audio tracks can also be provided with real-time effects (Silver, Gold and Platinum). Logic Audio 4.5, together with an audio card that provides an appropriate number of audio inputs, can therefore make the use of an external mixer superfluous.

Support for Studio Description Language (SDL)

The new Studio Description Language (SDL) now offers enhanced communication between SoundDiver 3.0 and Logic Audio Silver, Gold and Platinum by describing all MIDI devices connected to the MIDI interface. Logic Audio therefore has all the information required to know which device is connected to which port, as well as knowing which MIDI channels, programs and banks are active in each device. This means that name providing between Logic Audio and SoundDiver is considerably more flexible. And thanks to SDL, Logic Audio now also has access to the program names of all active devices without running SoundDiver.

Audio Engine performance now optimized

As part of Emagic's cross-platform strategy, Version 4.5 sees a further standardization of Logic's audio engine. Logic Audio Windows profits from this with shortened latency when playing real-time instruments (dependent on the driver used), improved fader latency, optimized VST plug-in support, software input monitoring and overall performance improvements.In conjunction with these developments, Emagic is also proud to be the first manufacturer to support Digidesign's Direct I/O under Windows.

EASI now in Logic Audio Mac

With Version 4.5, Logic Audio Macintosh users now also have the use of the EASI protocol at their disposal. The Enhanced Audio Streaming Interface (EASI) provides a future-orientated communication standard between audio hardware and software without limitations.

SoundScape Support

With support for SoundScape 2.0, Logic Audio Platinum 4.5 for Windows can now control the PC-based audio workstations R.Ed and SSHDR1 Plus. This means that audio and MIDI recording and editing are now integrated into one software solution that also offers simultaneous hardware support. In other words, additional hardware such as Audiowerk8 can be used alongside the SoundScape hardware to provide even more options.

MicroLogic AV with VST 2.0

MicroLogic AV 4.5 now also supports VST plug-ins and VST2.0 instruments under both Mac and Windows. Long the favorite choice of discerning, ambitious beginners, the lowest priced member of the Logic Audio Series continues to redefine the term “entry level3 and its many fans can now take advantage of the availability of a multitude of effects and instruments.

Availability and Price

The no-charge Version 4.5 updater will be available for download by all current Version 4.0 owners from May 2000 from Emagic's web site.

Version 4.5 Key Features

Enhanced functionality of the audio mixer:
New Audio Input Object with real-time effects for input signals (Gold, Platinum)
Input signals of record-ready audio tracks can be provided with real-time effects (Silver, Gold, Platinum)
Surround: format independent description of sound source position within the room, with selectable speaker order (Platinum)
Support of Studio Description Language (SDL) (Silver, Gold, Platinum)
Optimized performance under Windows through further standardi zation of the audio engine as part of Emagic's cross-platform development strategy.
SoundScape 2.0 Support: SSHDR1 Plus and R.Ed, along with Multiple Hardware Support (Platinum Windows)
New Drivers:
– EASI support for Mac
– Emagic the first manufacturer to support DirectI/O under Windows
– MicroLogic AV 4.5 now with VST plug-in and VST2.0 instrument Support