Logic Pro 13 brings an MPE Play Surface, a unified browser and an AI assistant
Logic Pro 13 adds an MPE-ready Play Surface, a unified browser that also files plug-in presets, and a faster step sequencer. A free update for owners.
Apple released Logic Pro 13 for Mac on November 5. Version 13.0 is a free update for existing owners, available on the Mac App Store. Most headlines went to the Intelligent Assistant, a subscriber-only beta. For anyone playing software synths, the real news lies elsewhere: an MPE-ready Play Surface, a unified browser that also files third-party plug-in presets, and a faster-to-edit step sequencer. This article is based on Apple’s official Logic Pro for Mac release notes, Apple’s Logic Pro page and the Mac App Store listing.
Who it is for
- Mac musicians who mostly work with software instruments (Alchemy, Sample Alchemy, third-party plug-ins) and want to find sounds faster;
- players who want per-note expression without an MPE controller, on a trackpad or an iPad;
- beatmakers who program in the step sequencer and launch Live Loops cells.
What changes for synthesis
Play Surface: an MPE-ready playing window
The new Play Surface window (Command-K) brings together an on-screen keyboard, Chord Strips (ready-to-play chord rows) and a drum pad grid, all matched to the selected track’s patch. You play from the computer keyboard, mouse, trackpad or by touch, with up to four windows open. The keyboard supports MPE-compatible instruments and MIDI Mono mode. The Poly Pitch option enables polyphonic pitch bend. The Y-axis can send modulation, channel pressure, polyphonic aftertouch or velocity. If those terms are fuzzy, our explainer on polyphonic aftertouch and MPE sorts them out. The arpeggiator can now record its output to a track.
Multi-Touch on the Play Surface requires a MacBook Pro with a PROLED XDR display or an iPad used as a second display through Sidecar, Apple’s feature that turns an iPad into an extra Mac screen. With Sidecar, plug-in windows move to the iPad and resize to fit. Multi-Touch also works on Sample Alchemy source handles, step sequencer steps and mixer faders.
A unified browser
The Unified Browser combines the Logic sound library, your own samples and patches, plug-in presets, Sampler instruments and downloaded Splice sounds. You can search by describing a sound, use Find Similar and save searches. Sample folders you add are analysed for tempo, key and tags. Analysis of your own files and Find Similar require an Apple silicon Mac.
Step sequencer and fixes
The step sequencer gains multi-step selection and editing, a ramp and tie workflow, and randomisation of selected steps. On the instrument side, the release notes mostly list fixes: a wrong granular window on some Alchemy presets, stuck MPE notes when two notes of the same pitch overlap, and Sample Alchemy source sync. Apple announces no new synth: Retro Synth does not appear in the release notes.
Beyond synthesis
Stem Splitter can now split a drum track into kick, snare, hi-hat, toms, cymbals and other percussion. The Intelligent Assistant takes plain-language requests (tracks, plug-ins, arrangement, recording). It requires an Apple Creator Studio subscription, an Apple silicon Mac and macOS 27, and works in English only. The interface adopts the Liquid Glass look.
What it costs
- Free update for Logic Pro owners;
- $199.99 as a one-time Mac App Store purchase (€229.99 in France);
- Apple Creator Studio subscription at $12.99 a month or $129 a year, including Logic Pro and the Intelligent Assistant;
- requirements: macOS 26.1 or later, according to the Mac App Store listing.
What it competes with
The two direct rivals on the synthesis side are Ableton Live 12 and Bitwig Studio, both of which edit MPE per note and also run on Windows. Bitwig stays ahead on modulation, with modulators you can assign to any parameter. Logic Pro 13 does not close that gap, but it offers something neither has out of the box: MPE expression without a dedicated controller, on a trackpad or an iPad. Its one-time price is also below the full editions of Live and Bitwig Studio. It remains Mac-only. The plug-in formats it accepts (AU only for Logic) are covered in our guide to VST3, AU, AAX and CLAP.
Other host software is tracked in our DAWs & Hosts section.
