Some two years after giving its professional video editing software an overhaul with the contentious Final Cut Pro X, Apple has announced a similarly named overhaul for its professional music recording software. Logic Pro X is here, and it should be available in the Mac App Store later today for the same $199.99 as the outgoing Logic Pro 9. This pricing applies to both new and existing Logic Pro users—there's reportedly no free or reduced-price upgrade for current users.

In addition to a revamped interface, the most significant new feature of the software is called "Drummer," a collection of drum samples and playing styles designed to make your drum loops sound less like drum loops and more like actual musicians. More amplifiers and cabinet settings are also available for bass guitar tracks, and all of your sounds are easier to manipulate via new Smart Controls that turn a series of manual settings (still available for those who know how to use them) into a series of dials.

Apple has also released a new companion app for the iPad called Logic Remote, which will allow you to make some adjustments and play a few instruments on your iPad if your actual instruments are elsewhere or if you aren't sitting right next to your computer.

Early reviews say that this software shouldn't be as jarring an update for musicians as Final Cut Pro X was for professional video producers. MacWorld claims that the new release offers new features and makes the program easier to use but does so without removing features that made the previous version of the software desirable. Logic Pro X is 64-bit only, so those with 32-bit plugins will need to find new ones, but otherwise it is compatible with older projects going all the way back to Logic 5.

Apple has also introduced MainStage 3, a new version of the live-music-oriented companion software to Logic Pro, for $29.99.