Apple representatives confirmed on Thursday that the company is showing an Intel-native version of its high-end audio application, Logic Pro 7 at the NAMM music show in Anaheim, Calif. The company also confirmed that it is ahead of schedule developing the application and will release Logic Pro 7.2 in February 2006.
At his Macworld Expo keynote, Steve Jobs included Logic Pro 7 among the list of pro-level applications slated to appear in Universal Binary form in March; Aperture and Final Cut Pro are the other Apple offerings targeted for a March release in Universal form. Universal software can run natively on Macs powered by either Intel or PowerPC processors.
During a demo on the NAMM show floor with Apple executives, Logic’s performance seemed much faster than with PowerPC-based machines — an observation Apple agreed with.
“The performance is stunning and has met my already high expectations,” Dr. Gerhard Lengeling, Apple senior director and lead architect audio/music apps, told Macworld .
The company was showing the application on one of the recently introduced MacBook Pro portable computers. During the demo, Apple’s Bob Hunt was running video, with thumbnails, music and a dozen or more high-end effects.
“None of these sessions would even run on a PowerBook,” said Hunt, comparing the new Intel-based MacBook Pro to the PowerBook.
Making Logic Pro a universal binary is not the only change users will see with the updated version. Logic Pro 7.2 will also feature integrated support for the new Apogee Ensemble interface; Digidesign Pro Tools HD 7 DAE support; Serato Pitch ‘n Time support; Improved Rewire support; Enhanced Control Surfaces support; and 32-channel support for multi-channel Audio Units instruments.
Logic Pro 7.2 also adds compatibility with GarageBand 3 by adding playback of compressed files; a Ducking plug-in; a speech enhancement plug-in; and the same jingles and sounds effects found in GarageBand.
If you own Logic Pro 7.1, upgrades to the Intel compatible version will cost $49.