Apple has released Logic Pro 13, the biggest visual overhaul the DAW has seen in years. Most of the headlines focus on the new dark "liquid glass" interface, a smarter sound browser and an AI assistant. But two features deserve a closer look from anyone who plays an expressive controller: a new Play Surface performance keyboard and Sidecar support that turns an iPad into a multi-touch controller for Logic on the Mac.
This article covers what was announced, what it could mean for MPE workflows, and what to check before you update a working rig.
The essentials
According to Synth Anatomy's launch report, Logic Pro 13 is a free update for existing Logic Pro 10+ owners on a perpetual license, and is also included in Apple's Creator Studio subscription. New users can buy it for $199.99, or subscribe for $12.99 per month or $129 per year.
The headline additions include:
- A redesigned interface with a dark "liquid glass" finish.
- A smart browser that analyses audio on-device, tags sounds automatically and integrates with Splice.
- An extended Stem Splitter that can now break drum stems into kick, snare, hi-hat, toms, cymbals and other percussion.
- Play Surface, a resizable on-screen performance keyboard.
- Sidecar support, so an iPad can act as a multi-touch controller for Logic running on a Mac.
- Multi-select improvements in the sequencer.
- An AI assistant that can, for example, set up a vocal track from a single prompt. It is limited to Creator Studio subscribers, requires macOS 27 and an Apple Intelligence-capable Mac, and currently works in U.S. English only.
Play Surface: polyphonic glides on screen
The detail that caught our attention is that Play Surface is described as supporting velocity, modulation and polyphonic pitch glides. In plain terms, that means you should be able to slide individual notes independently while others are held, which is exactly the kind of gesture MPE was designed to carry.
Apple has not positioned Play Surface as an MPE controller in the launch material we have seen, so treat it as a sketching and auditioning tool rather than a replacement for dedicated hardware. Still, it matters for two reasons:
- It lowers the barrier. Many Logic users have never heard a pitch glide on one note of a chord. A built-in surface that does it out of the box introduces per-note expression to a huge audience.
- It's a quick test bench. If a patch responds to polyphonic glides from Play Surface, it is a good sign the instrument is set up to receive per-note pitch.
Logic's own instruments, such as Alchemy and Sampler, have supported MPE for several versions, so the plumbing is already in place inside the DAW.
Sidecar: the iPad as a multi-touch controller
Sidecar has existed for a while as a way to use an iPad as a second Mac display. In Logic Pro 13, Apple extends that to multi-touch control of Logic itself. For expressive players this opens interesting possibilities: a large glass surface, close to your hardware controller, for faders, macros or on-screen playing.
It's worth keeping expectations realistic. An iPad screen has no pressure sensing, so it won't replace the depth of a Haken Continuum, a LinnStrument or an Expressive E Osmose. But as a second surface for macro control while your hands stay on an MPE instrument, it could be very practical.
Before you update a working rig
Big interface overhauls can shift settings and break habits. If Logic is the centre of your MPE setup, we suggest a careful approach:
- Back up your projects and templates before installing, and keep a copy of your previous Logic version if you can.
- Check your MIDI input settings after updating. Make sure your controller still appears and that MPE mode is still enabled on the relevant software instrument tracks.
- Confirm pitch-bend range. Most MPE controllers expect 48 semitones per note. A mismatch between controller and instrument is the most common cause of out-of-tune glides.
- Test third-party MPE plugins one by one, especially AU instruments you rely on for performance.
- Watch macOS requirements. The AI assistant needs macOS 27; check the rest of the requirements on Apple's Logic Pro page before upgrading your operating system mid-project.
Why this matters
Logic Pro 13 is not an "MPE release" in the way some DAW updates have been. Its biggest story is design and AI. Yet the decision to give a mainstream, built-in performance keyboard polyphonic pitch glides says something: per-note expression is moving from a niche feature to a default expectation.
For players who already own an expressive controller, that's good news. The more users hear and play per-note gestures, the more developers will prioritise MPE support in their instruments, presets and documentation.
We'll be testing Logic Pro 13 with a range of controllers in the coming weeks. In the meantime, if you've already updated, the most useful thing you can do is run your own short checklist: controller detected, MPE mode on, pitch-bend range matched, and your favourite patch still breathing the way it should.