Apple is set to release Logic Pro 12 and Mainstage 4.0 on January 28, coinciding with the launch of the new Apple Creator Studio service.
Good news, Apple Logic Pro 12 and Mainstage 4.0 are out now as free updates for existing users.
The new features in Apple Logic Pro 12 include, among others, the AI Session Synth Player and Chord ID. The latter identifies chords from any part of your song, and Session Players will automatically follow along.
Also new is the sound library, which offers audio previews of any sound packs, allows installing favorites, and adds a new deletion option to free up storage.
Mainstage 4.0 is also a free update and features the new sound library/browser. A new feature highlight is the support of Ableton Link, allowing you to sync tempo with Ableton Link-supported software and hardware devices.
Logic Pro 12 and Mainstage 4.0 are free updates for existing users. New users can get it as part of the Apple Creator Studio for $12,99 per month or $129 yearly or via a one-time purchase of $199/229€ and $29,99/34,99€ respectively.
Article from January 13, 2026
Apple today announced a new subscription service, Apple Creator Studio, which bundles all pro apps for macOS and iPadOS, including Logic Pro, starting at $12,99 per month.
A closer look reveals that Apple is updating all its apps to new versions, including Logic Pro 12, Logic Pro for iPad 3.0, MainStage 4.0, Final Cut Pro 13, and Pixelmator Pro 4.0. The updates for Logic Pro and Mainstage are particularly noteworthy.
Apple Logic Pro 12 and Mainstage 4.0
First, on which systems will the new version run? According to Apple, Logic Pro 12 requires macOS 15.6 or later and a Mac with Apple Silicon.
The key point is that Apple Silicon is required. Intel isn’t mentioned, meaning support for Intel systems could be completely cut off, which would be unfortunate. Up until now, there has been support for Intel systems, but not all features, such as the recent AI capabilities.
Logic Pro for iPad requires iPadOS 26 or later and an iPad with Apple’s A12 Bionic chip or later. Some features also require an Apple A17 Pro chip or later.
The information available so far does not indicate whether Apple Logic Pro 12 will be a free update. If not, this would mark the first time it will be a paid product since Logic Pro X in 2013.
One thing is certain: version 12 will be the first Logic Pro version available via subscription, specifically the Apple Creator Studio, priced at $12.99 per month or $129 per year. You can still buy it as a one-time purchase.
Logic Pro 12 One-Time Purchase Vs Subscription: A Difference?
Questions arose about the Creator Studio, specifically the difference between the one-time purchase and the subscription version. Apple says no, they are the same.
Logic Pro and MainStage have all the same features whether they are subscription or one-time-purchase versions. However, a subscription to Apple Creator Studio bundles Apple’s powerful creative apps for one low monthly payment.
It includes Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro for Mac and iPad, along with Motion, Compressor, and Pixelmator Pro. You’ll also receive premium versions of Keynote, Pages, Numbers, and Freeform with new AI capabilities and a wide range of high‑quality content.
The only difference is the Logic Pro icon design. Here, a distinction is drawn between the one-time purchase and subscription versions. According to Apple, the Apple Creator Studio apps have unique icons.
Logic Pro 12 New Features
Logic Pro 12 will be released on January 28th and will include several new features. Some of these are already known. Whether there will be more new features is currently unknown.
Synth Player is a new AI Session Player that delivers electronic music performances with a diverse range of chordal and synth bass parts. This new engine is developed in-house using Apple’s own team of expert sound designers.
As with every AI Session Player, creators can direct Synth Player using intuitive controls for complexity and intensity, while additional parameters unlock advanced performance capabilities.
Synth Player can also access third-party Audio Units plug-ins or control an external hardware synthesizer.
Then, it also includes a new Chord ID feature that serves as your personal music-theory expert, turning any audio or MIDI recording into a ready-to-use chord progression.
It can analyze complex harmonic content from nearly any recording to automatically populate the chord track in Logic Pro.
And since the chord track drives the performances of any AI Session Player, users can quickly audition different players, styles, and genres, allowing them creative freedom to experiment and dial in their favorite vibe.
According to Apple, it will also ship with a new sound library with hundreds of royalty-free loops, samples, instrument patches, drum sounds, and more.
Logic Pro for iPad will also include a new quick swipe comping feature from the macOS version.
It also includes new Music Understanding features with natural language search in the sound browser to help users describe a loop or find similar loops. All this without tags, guesses, or filters.
Mainstage 4
Alongside the upcoming Logic Pro 12 update, Apple will also release a major update to Mainstage, a tool that lets you bring your virtual instruments to the stage.
Apple hasn’t provided any details on new features or improvements for Mainstage 4 in its press release at this time, aside from noting that it will also be part of Creator Studio. We’ll have to wait for more information until January 28th for that.
First Impression
At first glance, the new Logic Pro 12 update seems very AI-focused. I hope they’ll show more new features on release day to make it feel like a true 12.0 update, not like a renamed 11.3.
Apple Logic Pro 12 and Mainstage 4.0 will be available on January 28th for $ 199.99 and $ 29.99, respectively. Free or paid updates TBA. LP 12 and Mainstage will also be available as part of the new Apple Creator Studio for $ 12.99/month or $129/year.
More information here: Apple
everybody should ban these subscription things, fortunately the open-source community will probably take care of that 🙂
Logic Pro is available as one-time purchase or subscription. You have the option 😉
ah great ! thank you for the precision..
But who knows how long that will last?
As of now since Logic and Final Cut for iPad were released it’s only subscription based.
The more Apple does so the more chance this will become the only option for all applications.
So yeah boycott the subscription model as much as possible and try not to encourage it either. 😉
A lot of Logic Pro plugins need some cosmetic improvements. I’m already tired of this A.I. mambo jambo. If version 12 comes with more tools for non-musical people I’m probably done with this daw
All the DAWs have hits and misses — this one doesn’t really feel like a V12.
Superficial updates only… and that ugly icon… oh boy 🙂
Would have loved to see a second marker track, multiple video files in one project, expansion of the audio busses past 256 total (other DAWs have these as unlimited)… etc., etc. Real stuff for every day pro use, and not some gimmicky crap.
And most importantly, dropping support for MacPro Intel computers is really not a ‘pro’ move.
When they came out with the new Mac Pro’s, they were supposed to be upgradable, blah, blah…. I took the plunge and invested 15K on a loaded MacPro (2020), to only see now that my main DAW is not upgradable anymore.
I’ll most likely switch DAWs because I am not getting another Mac Pro, or Mac Studio, or whatever.
Cubase or Nuendo, or even ProTools (another headache 🙂 will probably be it.
If you’re paying a subscription then nothing is free.
for existing users of Logic Pro 12 and Mainstage 4.0 (one-time purchase). Sure in a subscription, you pay monthly/yearly
Let me spell it out for you in the simplest way…
sorry for using caps…
IF YOU ARE CURENT USER OF LOGIC (any version) YOU GET V12 FOR FREE – NO SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED.
If you are Not you have now 2 options-subscribe and get additional goodies or buy outright as before
The old plugins still need cosmetic work. Man, they’re lazy
I’ve decided to stick with my 2019 iMac, OS Ventura and Logic Pro 10.7.9. As interesting and useful as all the AI trappings are, I don’t personally need any of them, and besides I don’t want to give Apple any more of my money, they really are the masters of built-in and perceived redundancy.
Well, can’t complain really since it is yet another free update from Apple but to be honest it’s bit underwhelming
The standalone versiion is a Universal Binary, so Logic Prro 12 wiill work on a Intel Mac, but without the new AI Slop.