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9to5Toys

justinkahnmusic

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9to5Mac / 9to5Toys

Justin is the Editor-in-Chief at 9to5Toys and a senior editor covering all things music for 9to5Mac, daily deals, and more. A senior deal Jedi over at 9to5Toys where he heads up our Apple gear and game/app coverage, Justin is also an audio engineer/producer with well over 10 years experience in the music industry.

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All of the best iOS/Mac app and game deals for Black Friday 2020

from 9to5Toys Nov 27 2020 - 2:17 pm PT

It’s time to gather all of this week’s best Black Friday iOS and Mac app deals into one convenient list. Black Friday 2020 is still rolling with huge deals on the latest M1 Apple gear, iPad Pro, and well, just about everything else you might want to get your hands on. Amongst all of that, we have been tracking loads of top-tier Mac and iOS apps including games, productivity suites, photography software, and much more with deep price drops on Apple’s digital storefronts. And now, we have rounded up the best-of-the-best Black Friday iOS and Mac app deals down below.

Logic Pro Step Sequencer- How to - Getting Started

Logic Pro 10.6 arrives with Logic Remote 1.5 Sequencer control, more

Justin Kahn Nov 12 2020 - 3:10 pm PT

Along with the announcement of next-generation, M1-equipped Macs, we are also getting Logic Pro 10.6. Apple has now issued the latest update for its flagship music production software to coincide with the latest MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini models. While it’s certainly not as groundbreaking as the massive 10.5 update issued earlier this year, there are some interesting enhancements here along with an influx of new and very much free MainStage content. Read on for the details.

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Halloween iOS game deals

All of the best Halloween iOS game deals

from 9to5Toys Oct 30 2020 - 1:09 pm PT

Just one day from the spookiest holiday of the year, we are tracking a plethora of notable Halloween iOS game deals this year. Over the last couple weeks, we have seen a collection of top-tier titles go on sale from The Room series to Stardew Valley and Crypt of the NecroDancer, just to name a few. While many of the deals were spread across our daily roundups as they happened, we have now collected everything into one handy list for your browsing convenience. If you’re looking for some mobile games to keep busy this weekend, or just an opportunity to add them to your library at a discount to play later, you’ll want to head below to take a closer look.

Best iPhone 12 cases now available for purchase

Justin Kahn Oct 13 2020 - 2:35 pm PT

With Apple’s 2020 lineup now unveiled, it’s time to look at all of the best new iPhone 12 cases. Alongside iOS 14 and a custom A14 chip, the new iPhone 12 models feature a modernized form-factor, MagSafe tech, and a gorgeous design worth protecting. Down below, we have collected all of the best and most interesting cases and covers available for Apple’s latest handsets from the biggest names in the business. Read on for a closer look at all of the fresh new iPhone 12 cases listed below.

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Best MIDI keyboards for Mac 2020

Best MIDI keyboards for Mac 2020 Edition: NI, ROLI, Akai, Arturia, more

Justin Kahn Oct 4 2020 - 1:06 pm PT

This is the best MIDI keyboards for Mac and Logic Pro X 2020 Edition. With so many of us finding more time than usual this year to get creative and start new audio projects, not to mention that massive update Logic Pro X users saw a few months back, having a good controller by our sides might be more important, and useful than ever. If our MacBooks or iOS devices are the brains of our music production setups, than a dependable MIDI keyboard might just be the heart of the operation. What is a simple piece of plastic made to look like a piano to many, is an expressive tool for translating human emotion and creativity into an otherwise overly-efficient piece of cold steel with an Apple logo on it to the rest of us. Head below for a closer look the best MIDI keyboards to help unleash your creativity and to decide which option is best for your particular needs.

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Creating Apple Loops

Logic Pros: Leveraging Apple Loops and Untagged content to expand your arsenal

Justin Kahn Sep 13 2020 - 1:13 pm PT

Today, we are taking a look at creating Apple Loops, Untagged Loops, the Loop Browser, and some related updates. With the influx of new content and patterns, alongside some improvements to Apple’s tempo and pitch-fluid audio format infrastructure in the 10.5 update, it’s time for a refresher. The introduction of the new Live Loops environment, as well as the Step Sequencer patterns and more, makes creating custom Apple Loops, understanding how Untagged content works, and the ability to leverage this wealth of free content even more useful.

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Logic Pro Sound Library

Logic Pros: Relocating and organizing your Sound Library in LPX 10.5

Justin Kahn Aug 30 2020 - 12:33 pm PT

Today we are taking a look at how to relocate the Logic Pro Sound Library and keep all of the new content organized. Along with the massive Logic Pro X update back in May came over 2,500 new loops, 70 Drum Machine Designer kits, and more — expanding the free bundled Logic Pro Sound Library significantly. While we have explored content storage solutions and customizing your plug-in library in the past, it’s time for some sound content housekeeping. Whether you forgot about the 70+ GB of free content hogging precious internal storage space, or are just trying to get your new Logic Pro X setup organized properly, taking a look at the Sound Library Manager and understanding how Logic can quickly relocate the stock sound content can be particularly convenient.

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Remix FX Logic Pro X 10.5

Logic Pro X 10.5: Recording multi-touch Remix FX performances, more

Justin Kahn Aug 16 2020 - 1:07 pm PT

Now housed inside Logic Pro X, the Remix FX plug-in brings more than just a few DJ tricks to Apple’s flagship production suite. To some degree overshadowed by the influx of game-changing new tools and technologies that hit Logic Pro X with the 10.5 update, the multi-FX, touch control plug-in rig can be a particularly useful and creative production tool that only enhances new powerhouse additions like Sampler and Live Loops. Below we are exploring its capabilities and how Logic Pro X users can take advantage of the immersive touch-based musical performance surface.

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Drag and drop export feature in Logic Pro X

Logic Pro X 10.5: Drag and Drop export — one-click audio/MIDI region sharing

Justin Kahn Aug 9 2020 - 12:18 pm PT

Today we are taking a closer look at the new Logic Pro X drag and drop export functionality. A trend you may have noticed through our recent exploration of LPX’s blockbuster new features — Sampler, Step Sequencer, Live Loops, more — is Apple’s focus on simple drag and drop control over our audio/MIDI. This has also notably extended to the way we can export tracks and regions from our Logic Pro X projects directly into the Finder, emails, and just about anywhere that will accept them. Hit the jump for a closer look.

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Logic Pro Launchpad grid controller - Novation - Live Loops

Logic Pro X 10.5: Using Launchpad grid controllers with Live Loops, more

Justin Kahn Jul 19 2020 - 2:10 pm PT

It’s time to take full control of Apple’s latest production technologies with Novation’s Live Loops and Logic Pro Launchpad grid controllers. The Live Loops grid-based environment is a wonderful experience with a connected iPad, allowing for a more immersive approach to your cells via the Logic Remote app. But Live Loops also brings with it official support for a wide range of those colorful and affordable grid controllers from Novation. For compatible models, functionality details, and more, hit the jump.
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Plug-in deals hero

Holiday weekend instrument and FX deals for Logic Pro X users + more

Justin Kahn Jul 5 2020 - 10:00 am PT

After taking a good look at each of the main features in the latest Logic Pro X update, it’s time for the notable holiday weekend plug-in deals. This time of year tends to bring a number of half year sales and things of that nature on plug-ins, software instruments, FX, and even some hardware gear for Logic users and music makers of all kinds. Head below for this weekend’s deals and freebies from Waves, UAD, iZotope, Spitfire Audio, Native Instruments, KORG, Apogee, and many others.
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Auto Sampler Logic Pro X 10.5

Logic Pro X 10.5: Create custom instruments with the brilliant new Auto Sampler

Justin Kahn Jun 28 2020 - 12:41 pm PT

Apple has completely overhauled Logic Pro X’s sampling technology with the new Sampler and Quick Sampler. While those two might be running the audio recycling operation here, the powerful new Logic Pro X tool known as Auto Sampler is not to be overlooked. Now available to all users, the plug-in can automate the sample creation process like Logic Pro X has never seen before.
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Sampler Logic Pro X 10.5 - How to, Getting Started Guide

Logic Pro X 10.5: Apple’s intelligent new flagship Sampler dethrones a legend

Justin Kahn Jun 21 2020 - 1:16 pm PT

The long awaited successor to Logic Pro X’s EXS24 software sampler is here with full backwards compatibility, a suite of new toys pulled from Alchemy, a much needed makeover, and some particularly intelligent sampling tech. Among the latest 10.5 update’s most exciting new additions, Sampler has now dethroned Logic Pro’s roughly decades old workhorse sampler. If Quick Sampler can completely change the way music makers interact with just about every little clip of audio they can get a mouse pointer on, Sampler can do all that and more, automatically transforming collections of samples and melodic phrases into coherent virtual instruments with artificial intelligence levels of automation.
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Logic Pro X 10.5: Programming Apple’s new Step Sequencer beat-making machine

Justin Kahn Jun 14 2020 - 3:29 pm PT

Logic Pro Step Sequencer- How to - Getting Started

With the Logic Pro Step Sequencer comes a new way to interact with MIDI and automation data. Not unlike something found in vintage drum machines and hardware sequencers, we can now program our software instruments in the new Logic Pro X 10.5 editor and creative tool known as Step Sequencer. Its introduction continues the trend of bringing powerful new workflows to Logic Pro X inspired by popular vintage products and other DAWs, but with that particular Apple touch of course.
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Logic Pro X 10.5: Getting started with the new one-click Quick Sampler

Justin Kahn Jun 7 2020 - 1:37 pm PT

Quick Sampler - Logic Pro X 10.5 - hero

Logic Pro X 10.5’s new Quick Sampler completely changes the way users interact with the audio and creative resources around them. It perfectly accommodates a popular instant sampling workflow where producers pull sounds from anywhere — recorded off a phone, stolen off the internet, clipped from Apple’s library, etc — and then loop, chop, pitch, and program them into interesting musical ideas. Software sampling certainly isn’t new by any means, nor is it to Logic Pro X, but this technique of quick and immediate sound recycling has now been laced throughout the LPX 10.5 production environment and has a dedicated home with Quick Sampler. Apple’s new instant sampling plug-in reinvents the best of what’s already on offer in the marketplace, makes intelligent use of its world-class audio pitch/timing manipulation technology, and wraps it all up in an incredibly intuitive package.
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Logic Pro X 10.5: Exploring Apple’s new fully-integrated Drum Synth

Justin Kahn May 31 2020 - 10:56 am PT

Apple introduced a collection of amazing new features and products in Logic Pro X 10.5, and Drum Synth is not to be overlooked. While the latest overhaul of Apple’s flagship DAW is jam-packed full of big-time features — Live Loops, the new EXS24 replacement, Sampler, and more — there are several enhancements that might not make it on the marquee. We previously touched on some of these features like instant sampling and enhancements to the powerhouse Alchemy instrument, and now it’s time to delve into the new Logic Pro X Drum Synth.
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Logic Pro X 10.5: How to get started with Apple’s magical new Live Loops

Justin Kahn May 24 2020 - 1:42 pm PT

Live Loops Logic Pro X 10.5

Apple introduced the incredible new Live Loops in the latest Logic Pro X 10.5 update. The new feature is just that, a fresh way of interacting with your tracks and loops in Logic Pro X that is designed to work in tandem with the existing workflow, not instead of it. Directly integrated with the main Tracks area and familiar left to right timeline workflow, Live Loops provides creatives with a free-form, modular point of view of music making that can then be either performed into or immediately copied over to the familiar timeline where the musical parts can then be fully edited as they always have been. It has been quite a magical experience thus far, and while Apple has made it about as intuitive as it could be, there’s a lot to it, even on a surface level for those just getting started.
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Logic Pro X update 10.5-Sampler-instant sampling-Novation hero

More on Logic Pro X 10.5: Instant sampling, Alchemy, grid controllers, more

Justin Kahn May 17 2020 - 1:54 pm PT

Apple lit it up last week when it dropped a massive new Logic Pro X update. Packed with stunning new features — some arguably 20-years in the making — Logic Pro X 10.5 is a game changer for anyone that loves to make music on a Mac. While introducing a stable of marquee workflow possibilities, the way these technologies have been thread through the experience in combination with other quality of life enhancements, provide much more than just Live Loops and Step Sequencers.
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Logic Pro X 10.5 deep dive: Live Loops, Drum Synth, EXS24 replacement, more

Justin Kahn May 12 2020 - 4:09 pm PT

Logic Pro X 10.5 update

Apple unveiled one of the most substantial updates its flagship DAW has ever seen today. The gigantic Logic Pro X 10.5 update revolutionizes the way users can create while offering up its own take on some of the more popular workflow styles its competition has become famous for. Head below for a closer look at the major new features.
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Apple unleashes massive new update for Logic Pro X with Live Loops and more

Justin Kahn May 12 2020 - 5:41 am PT

Apple has now unleashed the latest update for its flagship music production software, Logic Pro X. And it’s a major one. As expected from a leaked screenshot late last month, the Logic Pro X 10.5 update includes some amazing new features like Live Loops, Remix FX, and much more. Head below for a closer look.
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Free instrument library LABS

Logic Pros: Exploring the FREE Spitfire Audio LABS instrument collection

Justin Kahn Apr 26 2020 - 12:45 pm PT

Spitfire Audio, a British company making stellar virtual production gear since 2007 or so, has now logged over 3 million downloads of its free instrument library, LABS. The DAW agnostic dedicated plug-in houses a series of sampler instruments for musicians using Logic Pro X or just about any other platform. Recently adding a brand new 60’s-inspired “Wurli” instrument to its growing library, we thought it was time to dive into this completely free virtual instrument resource.
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Universal Audio LUNA recording platform first impressions

Universal Audio LUNA hands-on: An exciting free DAW that’s going to cost you

Justin Kahn Apr 12 2020 - 1:30 pm PT

Universal Audio’s new LUNA recording platform is now available for free to all of its Thunderbolt-interface owners. The highly anticipated new recording environment is looking to rival industry heavyweights like our beloved Logic Pro X, Pro Tools, Live 10, and others with a tightly-integrated hardware/software system and its powerhouse stable of analog processing emulations. Universal Audio has been responsible for some of the recording industry’s most prolific audio processing units since the 1950’s — a trend that continues to this day with its professional audio interfaces and best-in-class DSP-based virtual FX units for audio professionals. Head below for our hands-on first impressions.
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EastWest Hollywood Backup Singers

Logic Pros Review: EastWest’s backup vocal instrument can actually sing your lyrics

Justin Kahn Mar 29 2020 - 11:25 am PT

In today’s Logic Pros, we are taking a deep dive into the new EastWest Hollywood Backup Singers. The powerful vocal sampler instrument adds a trio of iconic Hollywood singers to your Logic Pro X library and directly beneath your finger tips. EastWest has been a major player in the premium sampler instrument game for a while now and its latest gives producers incredible ability to program three equally tenured, if not even more iconic, vocalists to their liking. Head below the jump for everything.
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Logic Pros Plug-in deals and freebies amid social distancing

[Update: New Deals] Best plug-ins and FX on sale (or FREE) for music producers

Justin Kahn Mar 22 2020 - 10:20 am PT

It seems like a fitting time to look at all of the best plug-in deals and freebies for musicians and producers stuck at home. At this point, some creative distractions in between news updates and worrying about if you have enough essentials stocked up can go a long way. Companies like Moog and Korg were some of the first out of the gate to offer up free musical distractions for folks stuck at home in the form of all-digital, downloadable iOS synth gear. But since then, plenty of premiere plug-in and effects makers have launched wide-ranging sales and rare freebie offers to promote social distancing. Head below for everything.
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