Logic or Pro Tools?

I was talking recently to record producer Paul Borg, who has a track record of success as long as your arm going back nearly twenty years. Although I always recommend Pro Tools as currently the best multitrack recording system, Paul Borg uses both Logic and Pro Tools for his work.

Now here is an interesting question - if one were better than the other, surely he would standardize on that?

Paul's explanation is that Logic is better for the creative side of production, while Pro Tools is better for recording and editing. This does make a lot of sense. Logic has a very good MIDI sequencer interface, while the MIDI side of Pro Tools has traditionally always been in second place after the audio. Of course MIDI as such isn't always necessary these days. Software instruments reside within the software and obviously require no MIDI interface or cable. However, they are recorded and edited in a very MIDI-like way, so it's still meaningful to talk about MIDI even though strictly speaking it has little relevance.

The number of software instruments that are available for Logic these days is immense. In fact it comes really well stacked up as standard. Although Pro Tools does have software instruments available, there are nowhere near as many.

So, putting together the advanced MIDI facilities of Logic with the plethora of software instruments available, it does have to be considered a very powerful creative tool.

Now, looking at the recording side... well, Pro Tools just has it. Pro Tools has been around so long, has had so much top-level professional influence in its design, and is totally non-bedroom studio orientated. For multitrack recording, overdubbing and editing it is supreme. It is also about as good as software ever could be for mixing too, and with a hardware controller is starting to replace traditional consoles in top studios. Logic struggles in comparison.

So Paul Borg starts off a musical arrangement in Logic and reaches the point of having a viable 'basic tracks' recording. Then he transfers to Pro Tools for audio recording including vocals, then he transfers back to Logic for further creative input. After that, it's back to Pro Tools for editing and mixing.

It may seem overly 'back and forth', but if it gets the job done...

One apparent problem is that Logic is now Macintosh only. But if you're a professional, you choose your software first, and then choose a computer to run it on. There is no room for the Mac versus PC debate when only results matter.