Emagic

Emagic GmbH was a German music-technology company that developed professional MIDI, sequencing, notation, digital-audio, and music-hardware products. It was founded in Rellingen in 1992 by Gerhard Lengeling and Chris Adam, with Sven Junge later joining the founding team in a sales role. The company emerged from an earlier collaboration around C-Lab, a Hamburg-based business created to distribute software developed by Lengeling and Adam. The founders' work began in the mid-1980s with MIDI and music-notation products for the Commodore 64 and Atari ST. Their early releases included SoftTrack 16+, SuperTrack, ScoreTrack, Creator, and Notator. These products helped establish the team in the rapidly developing computer-music market, where musicians and studios were adopting personal computers for sequencing, notation, synchronization, and control of MIDI instruments. After leaving C-Lab in late 1992 following a dispute with its owners, Lengeling, Adam, and Junge established Emagic Soft- und Hardware GmbH. The Emagic name combined the ideas of electronic technology and magic. In early 1993, the company introduced Notator Logic for the Macintosh and subsequently supported Atari ST and Windows platforms. The product was redesigned and eventually marketed simply as Emagic Logic. Logic developed into the company's central product and became a professional digital audio workstation used for MIDI sequencing, audio recording, editing, mixing, notation, software instruments, and effects. Emagic expanded beyond its core sequencer. SoundDiver provided patch editing and librarian functions for hardware synthesizers over MIDI, while Waveburner supported CD authoring. The company also developed software instruments and audio-production tools, including the ES1 and ES2 synthesizers, EXS24 sampler, EVP73 and EVP88 keyboard instruments, EVB3 organ emulation, EVD6 clavinet emulation, and the EVOC20 vocoder. Its hardware portfolio included MIDI interfaces, synchronization equipment, PCI audio cards, and USB audio interfaces such as the Audiowerk and EMI families. Logic Control connected the software environment to dedicated physical control hardware. Apple acquired Emagic on July 1, 2002. The transaction was strategically important because Logic was one of the leading professional music applications available for both Mac and Windows. Apple announced that Windows development would end, making Logic 5.5.1 the final Windows release. The decision generated substantial criticism among Windows-based users who had invested in the platform and expected continued support. The precise number of users who left Logic or moved from Windows to Mac is not established by the available reference material. Following the acquisition, Apple released Logic 6 in February 2003 and Logic Pro 6 in 2004. Logic Pro consolidated numerous previously separate Emagic products and plug-ins into a unified package, while Logic Express provided a lower-cost, reduced-feature alternative. Logic Pro 7, released on September 29, 2004, was the first major release to use the Apple brand rather than Emagic. Apple also assumed technical support for the product line, while legacy Emagic support continued for a limited period. Apple gradually retired the Emagic identity and discontinued older standalone offerings. SoundDiver production ended in 2005, and Emagic became defunct on June 12, 2006. The Logic product family survived under Apple and remains associated with Apple's professional music software business. Gerhard Lengeling continued at Apple as a senior director of software engineering for musical applications, contributing to the ongoing development of Logic Pro for Mac.

Emagic's roots lay in the development of computer-based music tools by Gerhard Lengeling and Chris Adam in Hamburg. Their initial work focused on MIDI sequencing and notation for home computers. A Hamburg music-store business helped establish C-Lab as a vehicle for licensing and distributing the products, and Sven Junge joined the operation as sales manager. C-Lab released SoftTrack 16+ and SuperTrack for the Commodore 64 in 1985, followed by ScoreTrack in 1986. The company then moved toward the Atari ST, releasing Creator in 1987 and Notator in 1988. These products combined sequencing and, in Notator's case, music-notation capabilities. In late 1992, Lengeling, Adam, and Junge separated from C-Lab after a dispute with the company's owners. They formed Emagic Soft- und Hardware GmbH in Rellingen, Germany. The new company named itself by combining concepts associated with electronic technology and magic. Its first significant product was Notator Logic for Macintosh, released in early 1993. Versions for Atari ST and Windows followed. The Notator name was eventually removed, and the software was rebuilt and developed as Emagic Logic. Logic became Emagic's principal product and evolved from a MIDI sequencer into a broad digital audio workstation. It supported sequencing, recording, editing, mixing, notation, software instruments, effects, synchronization, and studio integration. Emagic complemented Logic with SoundDiver, a MIDI-based editor and librarian for synthesizers, and Waveburner, a CD-authoring application. Its software catalog also included music-theory and utility products, while its instrument collection included synthesizers, samplers, keyboard emulations, a Hammond-organ emulation, a clavinet emulation, and a vocoder. The company also built and sold music hardware. Its products included Unitor synchronization and MIDI systems, AMT8 and MT4 interfaces, Audiowerk PCI audio cards, EMI USB audio interfaces, and Logic Control. This combination of application software, instruments, effects, interfaces, and control hardware made Emagic a significant integrated supplier for computer-based music production. Apple acquired Emagic on July 1, 2002. The acquisition brought Logic into Apple's professional applications strategy, but it also produced a major platform decision: Apple ended development for Windows. Logic 5.5.1 was the last Windows version, and the change provoked criticism from users who had chosen Logic specifically for Windows systems. The available source material reports estimates of approximately 70,000 affected users, but does not establish how many ultimately abandoned Logic or migrated to Mac. Apple released Logic 6 in February 2003. In 2004, Logic Pro 6 replaced several earlier editions and consolidated more than 20 Emagic products and associated components, including instrument and effect plug-ins, Waveburner Pro, and Pro Tools TDM support. Apple also introduced Logic Express as a less extensive successor to Logic Silver and Logic Gold. Logic Pro 7 followed on September 29, 2004, and was the first major release to carry the Apple name. Technical support was transferred to Apple, while Emagic continued support for older products for a limited period. SoundDiver production ended in 2005, and the Emagic corporate entity became defunct on June 12, 2006. Logic continued as Apple's flagship Mac digital audio workstation, while Gerhard Lengeling remained involved in Apple's musical-application engineering.

• 2006

  Emagic becomes defunct

  [1]Emagicen.wikipedia.org

  The Emagic entity was reported as defunct on June 12 after its products had been absorbed into Apple's portfolio.

• 2004

  Logic Pro 7 launches under Apple branding

  [1]Emagicen.wikipedia.org

  Logic Pro 7 was released on September 29 as the first major Logic version marketed under Apple's name.

• 2003

  Logic 6 is released

  [1]Emagicen.wikipedia.org

  Logic 6 became the first major release of the product after Apple's acquisition.

• 2002

  Apple acquires Emagic

  [1]Emagicen.wikipedia.org

  Apple completed its acquisition of Emagic on July 1 and announced the end of Windows development for Logic.

• 1993

  Notator Logic is introduced

  [1]Emagicen.wikipedia.org

  Emagic released Notator Logic for Macintosh and later supported Atari ST and Windows.

• 1992

  Emagic is founded

  [1]Emagicen.wikipedia.org

  Gerhard Lengeling, Chris Adam, and Sven Junge founded Emagic Soft- und Hardware GmbH after leaving C-Lab.

• 1988

  Notator launches for Atari ST

  [1]Emagicen.wikipedia.org

  Notator added sequencing and notation functions for Atari ST users.

• 1987

  Creator launches for Atari ST

  [1]Emagicen.wikipedia.org

  C-Lab introduced Creator, an Atari ST sequencer.

• 1986

  ScoreTrack adds notation capabilities

  [1]Emagicen.wikipedia.org

  C-Lab released ScoreTrack for the Commodore 64, extending the product range from sequencing into music notation.

• 1985

  C-Lab releases early MIDI sequencers

  [1]Emagicen.wikipedia.org

  SoftTrack 16+ and SuperTrack were released for the Commodore 64, establishing the founders' early presence in computer music.

Professional music-production technology combining MIDI sequencing, notation, audio recording, software instruments, effects, synchronization, and studio hardware. Emagic positioned Logic as an integrated workstation for musicians, composers, producers, and recording studios.

• Digital audio workstation · 1993

  Emagic Logic

  Emagic's flagship music-production application evolved from Notator Logic into a full digital audio workstation. It combined MIDI sequencing, audio recording and editing, mixing, notation, software instruments, effects, synchronization, and support for professional studio workflows. It was released for Macintosh and, for part of its history, Windows and Atari systems. After Apple's acquisition, the product continued as Logic and later Logic Pro.

• MIDI sequencer and notation software · 1988

  Notator

  Notator was C-Lab's influential Atari ST sequencing and notation application and an important predecessor to Emagic's Logic family. It followed Creator and combined MIDI-based composition and arrangement with score-related functions. The Notator name was later incorporated into Notator Logic before being dropped as the software was redesigned and developed as Logic.

• Synthesizer editor and librarian

  SoundDiver

  SoundDiver was a MIDI-based editor and librarian for hardware synthesizers. It allowed users to manage patches and sounds from a computer, simplifying organization and editing across compatible instruments. A beta version existed for Mac OS X, but production was discontinued in 2005 after Apple's acquisition of Emagic.

• CD-authoring and audio utility

  Waveburner

  Waveburner was Emagic's CD-authoring application for preparing and producing audio discs. It was later incorporated into the broader Logic Pro product consolidation carried out after Apple's acquisition.

• Virtual instruments

  Emagic software instruments

  Emagic developed a broad instrument collection that included the ES1 and ES2 synthesizers, EXS24 sampler, EVP73 and EVP88 electric-keyboard instruments, EVB3 Hammond B3 emulation, EVD6 clavinet emulation, and EVOC20 vocoder. These technologies became part of the instrument ecosystem associated with Logic after Apple acquired the company.

• Audio interface hardware

  Audiowerk and EMI interfaces

  Emagic's hardware catalog included Audiowerk II and Audiowerk8 PCI soundcards as well as EMI 6|2m and EMI 2|6 USB audio interfaces. These products extended the company's software offering into recording and audio I/O hardware for computer-based studios.

• MIDI and synchronization hardware

  Unitor, AMT8, and MT4

  The Unitor, AMT8, and MT4 families provided MIDI connectivity and synchronization functions for music-computer systems. Unitor products included SMPTE and EBU synchronization capabilities, while the AMT8 and MT4 served as rack or desktop MIDI interfaces for studio setups.

• Music-production control surface

  Logic Control

  Logic Control was a dedicated hardware control surface designed to provide hands-on operation of Logic's mixing and production functions. It represented Emagic's effort to connect software-based recording workflows with physical studio controls.

• 2004

  Logic Pro 6 consolidates the portfolioProduct launch

  Background

  Apple inherited a product range divided among multiple Logic editions and related applications and plug-ins.

  Action taken

  Logic Pro 6 consolidated more than 20 Emagic products and components into a single professional package, while Logic Express served as a reduced-feature alternative.

  Aftermath

  The consolidation simplified Apple's professional music-software range and prepared the Logic family for continued Apple branding.

  Source

• 2004

  Logic Pro moves fully to Apple brandingGeneration change

  Background

  Apple had already integrated Logic development after acquiring Emagic.

  Action taken

  Logic Pro 7 was released on September 29, 2004, as the first major version marketed under Apple's name rather than Emagic's.

  Aftermath

  Emagic's standalone brand identity faded, while Logic remained an Apple music-production product.

  Source

• 2002

  Apple acquires EmagicM&A

  Background

  Apple sought to add professional music-production software and engineering expertise to its application portfolio.

  Action taken

  Apple acquired Emagic on July 1, 2002, transferring Logic and related technologies into Apple's business.

  Aftermath

  The Emagic brand was progressively retired, while Logic continued as an Apple product.

  Source

• 2002

  Windows support is endedStrategy

  Background

  At the time of the acquisition, Logic had users on both Macintosh and Windows platforms.

  Action taken

  Apple stopped further Windows development, leaving Logic 5.5.1 as the final Windows version.

  Aftermath

  The decision caused controversy among Windows-based Logic users, although the available material does not establish the number who changed platforms or abandoned the product.

  Source

• 2006

  Emagic becomes defunct[1]Emagicen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Emagic corporate identity was discontinued after Apple transferred its products and support operations into Apple's business.

• 2004

  Logic Pro 6 consolidates Emagic product lines[1]Emagicen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Logic Pro 6 combined numerous previously separate Emagic products, instruments, effects, Waveburner Pro, and Pro Tools TDM support into a single professional package.

• 2004

  Logic Pro 7 adopts the Apple brand[1]Emagicen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  Released on September 29, 2004, Logic Pro 7 was the first version released under Apple's brand rather than Emagic's.

• 2003

  Logic 6 becomes the first major post-acquisition release[1]Emagicen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  Apple released Logic 6 in February 2003 as the first major Logic release after acquiring Emagic.

• 2002

  Apple acquires Emagic[1]Emagicen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Apple acquired Emagic on July 1, bringing the Logic digital audio workstation and related music-production technologies into Apple's software portfolio.

• 2002

  Windows development of Logic discontinued[1]Emagicen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Following Apple's acquisition, development of the Windows version ended. Logic 5.5.1 became the final Windows release, prompting criticism from users who had invested in the platform.

1. 1Emagicen.wikipedia.org