The conventional approach to increasing the processing power of native systems requires you to invest in costly, dedicated processors built onto expansion cards or into external hardware. Now, with Logic Pro 7, you can work with up to 128 stereo audio streams simply by using Macs over Ethernet. Logic distributed audio processing scales from single composition to full-blown audio post-production needs.

There’s no need to open your computer, as you don’t need to add an expansion card, and by it’s very nature, this feature provides immediate access to the latest processor technology. Simply add one or more Macintosh systems via Ethernet connections to your Logic Pro 7 system. The result is an audio and music production system with processing power that was previously unimaginable for native-based systems.

Project Studio

Distributed audio processing delivers the perfect link between a PowerBook and a Power Mac G5 in project studios. While the PowerBook makes for a reliable production and recording partner on the road, the Power Mac G5 is the ideal studio workhorse. Making them work together seamlessly optimizes workflow and maximizes productivity.

Swapping projects between the mobile computer and the stationary system in the studio normally requires fairly involved file management procedures to ensure that you've loaded both systems with the same samples, instrument and plug-in settings and audio files. Working with different audio hardware also means allocating the new Audio I/O to the Audio tracks and Audio Instrument tracks.

Using distributed audio processing in your project studio allows all files to remain on the local storage media of the Master system — the hard drive of your PowerBook, for example. Starting work in the studio after collecting ideas while touring simply involves connecting your PowerBook to your studio’s Power Mac G5 via Ethernet. You can continue to work as per usual, but with a phenomenal boost in processing power.

Distributed Audio Processing enables you to make full use of external studios instantly, and use expensive studio time more effectively. You can install the simple Node application — if it isn’t already on the studio Macintosh — and connect a standard Ethernet cable to the studio’s computer in a few seconds. This allows you to make full use of the studio without leaving the setup you’re familiar with.

Networked Facility

In bigger studio facilities, distributed audio processing lets you flexibly serve any processing demands — whether for mixing, producing, post production or sound design — in a highly cost effective way. Logic Pro 7 eliminates the need to equip each studio with an array of computers or dedicated DSP hardware because you can pool the Node computers in a central spot in the studio complex. Access the required horsepower, whenever it is needed, from every computer connected to the network.

Distributed audio processing in Logic Pro 7 will benefit from future developments in network technology. The protocol is independent of the network hardware, thanks to the use of the standard TCP. Furthermore, maintenance is simplified. One Node replaces another without problems, so repairing a Node doesn’t mean that production has to stop. The Nodes can be centrally placed outside the actual studio rooms, creating room for additional equipment and reducing noise and heat levels inside the control room.

Organic Growth

Optimized for all current Apple Macintosh computers, Logic Pro 7 makes highly efficient use of the CPU processing power in both G4 and G5 single and dual processor systems. This allows more complex musical arrangements, featuring more software instruments and effects, than ever. The new distributed audio processing feature offers a plug-and-play solution that provides the ability to tap networked computers for even more DSP processing power. Using standard network technology makes it simple to set up a new installation, or add to an existing one. Should your demands grow, you can easily expand your network and benefit from the latest processor technology available.

Logic Pro 7 Music Studio

How It Works

A distributed audio network requires at least two Apple computers running Mac OS X version 10.3 or later, with one acting as a master system (1GHz G4 or faster recommended) and additional computers serving as “nodes” (G5 recommended). Logic node software uses each networked computer as an additional processor for your Logic Pro 7 system. You may install Logic Node on an unlimited number of Macs. Gigabit Ethernet provides the best performance. If you use more than one node, the switch that manages them must be Gigabit to avoid data transfer bottlenecks.

Simple setup and control

Select which and how many nodes you want to use in the audio preferences depending on the needs of your project. A quick toggle in the Arrange window lets you take advantage of node power.

Less Is More

Distrubuted audio lets you take advantage of more power in the studio, but if you want to compose while you're en route to the next gig, Logic lets you free up the needed resources. If the processor load of your system is approaching its maximum when adding a software instrument or plug-in, you can simply freeze another Audio or Audio Instrument track that you don’t need to edit at the moment. This lets you immediately take advantage of the CPU resources returned by the freeze procedure for sound generation and processing duties on the track you’re currently editing.