Logic Pro X 10.2: Update for video editors?
Over at Logic Pro Expert, Edgar Rothermich has written up the many undocumented features in the Logic Pro X 10.2 update:
The release notes that come with the Logic Pro X 10.2 update indicate how big of an update this is. The list has over 250 items of new features, changes and bug fixes: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203718.
However, this is not all. There are additional changes in Logic Pro X 10.2 that are not mentioned in the release notes. In this article, I will not only list those changes, but provide in-depth explanations for each of those topics.
Here are aspects of this update of interest to Final Cut Pro X users.
Force-click support
A small thing is how the Logic team have chosen to implement force click for Macs that have input devices that can detect how hard you press. In Logic 10.2 force click acts as ‘click with pencil tool’ without switching from the current tool – which is usually the pointer tool in Logic.
In the case of Final Cut, we usually spend most of our time with the pointer tool – there is a less obvious ‘second most popular tool’ to assign to the force-click action. If you are in a metadata-oriented mode it would be the range tool, if you are fine cutting it would be the trim tool. As most editors have a hand on the keyboard able to switch tools instantly or even temporarily, I’m not sure what I’d want force-click to mean in Final Cut.
No closer to Soundtrack Pro X
Logic isn’t getting many new features that make it more useful for those working on video and feature projects. The Logic team are concentrating on supporting those who work with music and audio-originated productions. If you do use Logic for video post production, the new features that aid recording will be useful though.
Logic certainly doesn’t look like it is getting closer to being able to work in a trackless/role-based way. It is becoming a much better track-based audio application.
Hopefully this means there’s space for a new audio post production application better suited for sound editors, mixers and designers.
Collaboration
As well as being able to upload music directly to established Apple Music Connect accounts, an interesting precedent is Logic 10.2’s integration with a third-party collaboration service called Gobbler.
Once signed into Gobbler, Logic users can
- Send their whole project to another Gobbler user
- Send a song to another Gobbler users
- Automatically back up their projects to their cloud-based Gobbler accounts
Equivalent features for Final Cut Pro X/iMovie users could be very useful!
Some may say that Final Cut’s integration with some video collaboration systems is close to providing these services. In the case of Logic, the integration is deeper: If you’ve signed into Gobbler, Apple modifies the Logic UI. Edgar lists the UI changes in his article:
Once you have Gobbler installed on your machine, Logic Pro will notice that and adds additional Gobbler-related menu items and settings in Logic Pro.
The Procedure for backing up your Project to Gobble
- You can enable the Gobbler backup mechanism with a checkbox directly in the Project Save Dialog when you first save your Project.
- That checkbox is also available in the Project Settings ➤ Assets window where you can disable/enable it at any time.
- In addition, the File ➤ Gobbler ➤ submenu contains commands to start, pause, and remove the Backup procedure, plus access (load) any previous backups that are listed in that submenu
Read about Logic Pro X 10.2 and more at Logic Pro Expert.