Apple/Emagic just announced Logic Pro.

Bottom line: Logic Platinum 6 plus all optional synths/effects for $999. It costed over $2000 yesterday.

Best of all? Upgrade from Logic 6 Platinum -> Logic Pro: $199

O Glorious day. Here's the announcement:

NAMM 2004, ANAHEIM, Calif., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Apple(R) today
streamlined its award-winning, professional audio production software line by
announcing Logic(R) Pro 6 for professional musicians and Logic Express 6 for
students and educators. Used by over 200,000 musicians worldwide, Logic is the
industry-leading audio production software for professional musicians, audio
engineers, producers and film composers. Logic Pro 6 consolidates 12
pre-existing, groundbreaking products into one comprehensive package for just
$999 (US). Logic Express 6 provides a basic set of professional tools to allow
students and educators to compose and produce music with sophisticated results
at an affordable price of $299 (US).

"Logic has set the standard for professional music production with its
comprehensive set of tools, including sample-accurate software instruments,
non-destructive real-time editing and sophisticated DSP effects and mastering,"
said Rob Schoeben, Apple's vice president of Applications Marketing. "Until
today, a lot of the power and flexibility of the Logic product line came from
additional pluginsand add-ons. Now, these are all included in Logic Pro 6 at
one affordable price."

Logic Pro 6 includes Logic Platinum, the award-winning audio recording and
sequencer application, and the entire line of 53 audio DSP pluginsand
professional-quality software instruments. Logic Pro 6 is a recording studio in
a box with everything professional musicians and audio engineers need to
compose, record, edit and mix their music, including professional software
instruments, multitrack recorders, mixing desks and sound effect processors.
Logic Pro 6 also includes the ability to create 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound,
support for up to 128 audio tracks, virtually unlimited input channels and a
sample rate of up to 192k.

"I've used Logic products for everything from producing scores for the London
Symphony Orchestra to demoing songs for the Rolling Stones. It's been my main
means of musical expression for over a decade," said Matt Clifford, professional
musician, composer and producer. "With Logic Pro 6, musicians can now instantly
add a comprehensive set of powerful software tools to their set up at a fraction
of the cost."

Based on Logic Pro 6, Logic Express 6 is a computer music production
application designed to fit the needs of students and educators with a basic set
of professional tools to compose and produce music with sophisticated results.
Logic Express 6 features powerful audio production tools, including over 28
effect pluginsand sample-based software instruments. Logic Express 6 also
includes support for up to 48 audio tracks, 12 input channels and a sample rate
of up to 96k. Since everything learned in Logic Express 6 is directly
transferable to Logic Pro 6, Logic Express 6 offers a smooth migration path to
high-end audio production.

"Apple has always provided a great platform for education, and Logic Express
6 brings a great new educational tool for musicians," said DAvid Mash, vice
president of Information Technology for Berklee College of Music. "Logic Express
6 will become an essential part of the toolset many music students use because
it offers everything an aspiring musician needs to create their songs like a pro
-- from the first idea through the recording and arrangement to the final mix."

Logic Pro 6 and Logic Express 6 are part of Apple's complete line of music
creation tools that address the needs of consumers, students, educators,
creative pros and professional musicians alike. At the entry level, Apple's new
GarageBand(TM) music application turns a Mac(R) into a professional-quality
musical instrument and recording studio. Jam Pack, an add-on music content
package for GarageBand, expands the user's creative options by providing
additional loops, software instruments, effects presets and guitar amps.
Designed specifically for videographers and motion graphics professionals,
Apple's Soundtrack music production tool provides creative pros with more than
4,000 professionally-recorded audio loops and sound effects to create
professional-quality soundtracks, now available at an even more affordable price
of just $199 (US).

Pricing & Availability

Logic Pro 6 and Logic Express 6 will be available in March through Authorized
Apple Resellers for a suggested retail price of $999 (US) and $299 (US)
respectively. Logic Pro 6 requires Mac OS(R) X, version 10.2 or higher, Mac OS
9.1 or higher, a Macintosh(R) computer with a 300 MHz or faster PowerPC G3, G4
or G5 processor, 256MB of RAM and 350MB of available disk space for
installation. Logic Express 6 requires Mac OS X, version 10.2 or higher, Mac OS
9.1 or higher, a Macintosh computer with a 250 MHz or faster PowerPC G3, G4 or
G5 processor, 128MB of RAM and 100MB of available disk space for installation.
More information on Logic Pro 6 and Logic Express 6 can be found at
http://www.apple.com/software/pro/logic.

GarageBand will be available on January 16, as part of iLife(R) '04, for a
suggested retail price of $49 (US) through the Apple Store(R) (http://www.apple.com),
Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. The iLife '04
applications, which include GarageBand, will also be included with all new Macs.
An iLife Up-To-Date upgrade package is available to all customers who purchased
a new Mac on or after January 6 that does not include iLife '04. The iLife
Up-To-Date package is available for a shipping and handling fee of $19.95 (US).
Jam Pack will be available on January 16 for a suggested retail price of $99
(US) at the Apple Store (http://www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and through Apple
Authorized Resellers. Full system requirements and more information on
GarageBand and Jam Pack can be found at http://www.apple.com/ilife/garageband.

Soundtrack is available through The Apple Store (http://www.apple.com), Apple's
retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of
$199 (US). Full system requirements and more information on Soundtrack can be
found at http://www.apple.com/soundtrack.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II
and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is
committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students,
educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its
innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings.

NOTE: Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, Mac, Mac OS, Logic, GarageBand,
iLife and Apple Store are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Apple.
Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE Apple Computer, Inc.
/NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple's PR web site
(http://www.apple.com/pr/) or call Apple's Media Helpline at 408-974-2042
/CONTACT: Cameron Craig, +1-408-974-6281, or cam@apple.com, or Christine
Wilhelmy, +1-408-974-9730, or cwilhelmy@apple.com, both of Apple Computer,
Inc./
/Web site: http://www.apple.com /
(AAPL)