Apple on Wednesday released a major update to Logic Pro X, the company’s professional digital audio workstation software. As part of the update, Apple also released a new version of Logic Remote, giving the software access to Logic or Audio Unit plug-in parameters and multi-touch gestures, as well as other changes.

MainStage gets updated with a redesigned compressor plug-in features, a Retina-ready interface and 7 models including the new Classic VCA, which is one of my personal favorites.

Other improvements in this release include:

• 10 new Drummers that produce beats in a variety of electronic and hip hop styles including Techno, House, Trap, Dubstep and more

• Drummer provides specialized sound and performance controls for dialing in electronic or hip hop drum grooves

• New Drum Machine Designer plug-in offers new sounds and features for customizing electronic drum kits in a variety of styles

• Create a sequence of notes with a single mouse gesture using the new Brush Tool in the Piano Roll Editor

• New view options in the Piano Roll Editor let you see more notes in less vertical space and help identify drum sounds by name

• Easily compress or expand the timing of selected notes with new time handles in the Piano Roll Editor

• Note Repeat and Spot Erase modes allow classic drum machine style techniques for creating beats in realtime

• Smart Quantize proportionally corrects the timing and length of notes to preserve the musicality of your original performance

• Redesigned Compressor plug-in features scalable, Retina-ready interface and 7 models including the new Classic VCA

• Retro Synth can now create wavetables from imported audio and is able to stack up to 8 voices

• Expanded sound library includes over 200 new synth patches and 10 classic Mellotron instruments

• Automation can now be part of a region, not just the track, which makes it easier to use effects creatively

• Manage large-scale mixes more easily with the addition of console-style VCA faders

“I’m always looking for new beats and inspiring sounds that nobody has heard before, said Diplo (Beyoncé, Usher, Madonna, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg). “The new Drummer and Drum Machine Designer in Logic Pro X will be a useful set of tools to spark ideas for anyone to create great sounding electronic beats. I’d use Drummer to create grooves and fills, then chop them up and use some of the crazy processing tools to make them sound interesting & unique.”

The update can be downloaded from the Mac App Store.