Apple's music focus lately has been on the iTunes Music Store, but the company sang a different tune last week when it introduced Logic Pro 7, Logic Express 7, and two additional Jam Packs that can be used with those applications as well as GarageBand.

<http://www.apple.com/software/logic/>
<http://www.apple.com/software/logicexpress/>
<http://www.apple.com/ilife/garageband/jampacks/>

Logic Pro 7 adds three new software instruments: Sculpture, a "component-modeling based synthesizer;" UltraBeat, a drum machine; and Guitar Amp Pro, a guitar amplifier simulator. (Apple previewed these components at the NAMM exhibition last January; see "Apple Clarifies Logic at NAMM" in TidBITS-713.) Logic Pro 7 also adds support for Apple Loops and features distributed processing, enabling other networked Macs to work on audio files concurrently.

<http://db.tidbits.com/article/07510>

Logic Express 7 is a streamlined version of Logic Pro 7, much as Apple's Final Cut Express is an intermediate version of Final Cut Pro; see Apple's comparison chart at the URL below for specific differences between the two Logic applications.

<http://www.apple.com/software/logicexpress/ comparison.html>

For GarageBand users who have now played every instrument and loop available in the program, Apple also released two new Jam Packs. Jam Pack 2: Remix Tools adds beats, bass lines, and synth hooks for your next dance party. Jam Pack 3: Rhythm Section expands GarageBand's lineup of drum kits, percussion, and other instruments.

The full version of Logic Pro 7 costs $1,000; upgrades from Logic Gold/Platinum 5 or 6, or Logic Pro 6, cost $300. Logic Express 7 sells for $300, with upgrades from Logic Express 6 priced at $100. The new Jam Packs are $100 each. Both Logic applications require Mac OS X 10.3 or later.