Tech Reviews: Logic Pro for iPad

The DAW is now an essential part of music classroom equipment and is found as frequently as ukuleles and keyboards these days. It's not uncommon for departments to have dedicated computer rooms to allow students to create music on a DAW, or at least have some round the outside of a general music classroom.

There is a range of DAWs available for both PC and Mac and each has advantages and disadvantages. For instance: Bandlab and Soundtrap are both free but limited, Cubase is still the best for MIDI editing, Pro Tools is still the master of audio editing, and Logic Pro is a good ‘all-rounder’. Logic has a wide range of included instruments and loops, and high-quality audio editing features.

Although Soundtrap and Bandlab both run on tablet computers relatively happily, there isn't a truly professional-level DAW available on iPad. This has always seemed like a missed opportunity. With the iPads tactile method of interaction, the iPad feels a much more natural way to control faders and automation control than using a mouse. Until now…

Rather unexpectedly, earlier this year, Apple finally announced the launch of Logic Pro (and Final Cut for video editing) for the iPad. I was very excited about this prospect for a key reason – BYOD.

BYOD

The last two schools that I have worked in have implemented a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy while I have been there, and I fully believe that the benefits it offers far outweigh any issues that might arise (it's also the topic of my PhD research). The option to have a functional device available in all lessons and then available again at home makes the concept of classroom music teaching entirely different. Why does practical work need to stop once the lesson is over?

Logic Pro for iPad

As a seasoned Logic user, I was pleasantly surprised when I opened Logic on the iPad. GarageBand has been available for the iPad for some time, and I've never really liked the interface for selecting tracks and sounds. Logic feels much more grown-up and allows me to pick a track type rather than assuming I want an instrument to start with.

Although the screen does initially look slightly different to the desktop version, everything that I need on a regular basis is still there. The preset selection view is still a drawer on the left and the inspector panel allows quick access to quantise and transpose functions. The only major difference here is that the fader is now a separate tab rather than found within the inspector.

In use

I found myself recording and creating music in Logic on the iPad very quickly. The workflow does feel the same as the desktop version and I found myself quickly using the some of the same key commands and shortcuts, but with the bonus of simply dragging things around on the screen when needed.

The method of opening different sections of the screen for different tasks quickly becomes intuitive and I was quickly adding effects, altering EQs and moving MIDI notes around. The on-screen keyboard is functional, but still much easier with a real keyboard via MIDI.

The elephant in the room

Although I think that Logic Pro for iPad is excellent and a potentially useful tool for students to use on their devices in music classrooms, there are a couple of elephants in the room that we need to address. Firstly, Logic only runs on an iPad – a device not all students will not have access to. The idea of BYOD is that people can bring what they have and aren't expected to buy something new. If a student doesn't then have an iPad this is somewhat restrictive. However, I'm hoping that, now Apple have launched Logic Pro, other manufacturers will follow suit and launch pro versions of other DAWs on other platforms. Cubasis is great on Android and iPad, but I’d love to see a full version of Cubase Pro across different platforms.

The other key issue is the cost of £49 a year (or £4.99 monthly). Logic Pro for iPad uses a subscription model (which only software manufacturers like) and is potentially prohibitively expensive for a lot of users. It's comparable with other pieces of software at this level, but they aren't subscription models.

Summary

Logic Pro for iPad is a potentially revolutionary product in music making via touchscreen. However, on my 2020 iPad Air it felt very small and the bigger screen of the iPad Pro might make things easier. The workflow and sound quality are as easy to use as the desktop version, so for those students that need the next step-up from free software, Logic Pro for iPad could be that step.

Find a helpful glossary of terms used in our music tech reviews here: musicteachermagazine.co.uk/other/article/tech-column-music-technology-glossary