OK. I have a Mac and I'm wanting to get into recording. I play bass, guitar, sax, drums, and am working on piano. I could technically record whole songs myself. However, I'm not quite the singer, so I've heard Logic (the $1,000) has vocal pitch correction. So, really, what are the big differences between the three that make them worth their money?

Logic Express is a huge upgrade over Garageband. Logic Pro adds a whole bunch of plugins/instruments and I believe other functionality and features. Here is the comparison chart from Apple:

http://www.apple.com/logicexpress/comparison.html

It's been several years since Logic saw a big upgrade, so there is lots of speculation that there will be a new version sometime this year. Interestingly, there used to be a free time-limited trial version of Express, but it's no longer there. Lots of discussion at www.bigbluelounge.com

Thanks for that chart. I knew there had to be one out there, but I couldn't find it. I'm on the apple site like every day, you'd think I would've found it. :D Well, I'd start out with Express and then get a Pro upgrade, cause I don't have $1,000 to drop on this. I rarely ever record at the moment, but want to do it more; plus I'm planning on being a music major.

Thanks for that chart. I knew there had to be one out there, but I couldn't find it. I'm on the apple site like every day, you'd think I would've found it. :D Well, I'd start out with Express and then get a Pro upgrade, cause I don't have $1,000 to drop on this. I rarely ever record at the moment, but want to do it more; plus I'm planning on being a music major.

If you're already enrolled at a school you can get an educational discount from Apple. I believe they are restricted from major upgrades, but some places sell the edu version so cheap it doesn't matter.

I'm going to England for college and the Edu version is like 150quid or so over there, which is still more than $300. For express, that is.

Could a Mod please put this in the Recording Gear and Equipment section? Thanks

Also, is there a chart that compares the features of all 3 (like the one andrewd linked to, but for all 3, not just the 2)?

Start with Garageband and learn it inside out. It's an easy to use piece of software, but it's hardly a toy.

Once you've progressed in your own projects to the limits of Garageband, pick up Logic Express. Logic Pro is most likely overkill unless [from the moment you pick it up] you'll be making $$ with it.

Learning Garageband first will give you the fundamentals you need to figure out Logic Express (both software and recording techniques). Obviously LE is quite advanced over GB, but the software methods and rules between both are very similar.

For a little bit less , I would strongly suggest Digital Performer 5.12.
It has VI's included , Automated pitch correction , not as a plugin but as a system , and all the bell and whistle of a big DAW.
https://www.motu.com/store_products/upgrades/dp


Your learning curve with Logic is gonna be longer , DP is more an "analogue" way of layout as opposed to object an oriented one.

imho , bla bla bla

For a little bit less , I would strongly suggest Digital Performer 5.12.
It has VI's included , Automated pitch correction , not as a plugin but as a system , and all the bell and whistle of a big DAW.
https://www.motu.com/store_products/upgrades/dp


Your learning curve with Logic is gonna be longer , DP is more an "analogue" way of layout as opposed to object an oriented one.

imho , bla bla bla

IMHO, the opposite is true with DP vs. LP. Maybe I just need to spend a little more time with DP though.

IMHO, the opposite is true with DP vs. LP. Maybe I just need to spend a little more time with DP though.

I said that if the guy starts from nothing.

Of course if you already know a software , it's easier to stick to it.....

I ordered Logic Express the other day.

I ordered Logic Express the other day.

I think that was the right choice, logic is great, garageband is ok but severely limited, im of the school of thought that you should start getting used to a program from the get go and not make a series of step ups, having to learn a new interface as you go!

Logic is such a great program. I think it is a much better tool than even Pro Tools. Unless you're going to be doing heavy mixing and editing, Express is the right choice. You can use Apple Loops in it just like GarageBand and there is so much more.

Logic Pro is very deep. The usability that is so intuitive in GarageBand is not there in Logic. Its way more complex, especially with midi routing capabilities

Garageband is a great first step and then you may find that it doesn't give you everything and you may outgrow it. I did.

I went to Logic Express because Garageband files are 100% compatible, it has 75% of the features of Logic Pro.

My recordings have improved to the point that I wanted to go Pro.
Fortunately, Apple has an upgrade path that does not penalize you for making that interim step of Express. In other words, Express plus the Upgrade to Pro costs the same as if you just bought Pro.

I've never used Logic, so I can't speak to it directly, but I can tell you I used to use Cubase and I moved to GarageBand and I have never looked back. GarageBand has done everything I've ever needed to do and done it well.