Garageband sounds vs Logic Express

Question

Hi All,
I'm new here and I apologize if this has been covered in an existing post. I've searched a lot and not found an answer to my specific question...
I've read that the loops that come with Logic Express sound better than those that come with Garageband. I understand that Logic's instruments sound better. I'm thinking about upgrading to Logic Express for this reason (and others).
But what I would like to know, is upon upgrading to Logic Express, will my existing Garageband loops sound any better?
If a Garageband loop is just a simple audio sample, then I wouldn't expect any improvement. But if the loop is based on a MIDI instrument - then would it make sense that Logic could provide a better "engine" for all those existing instruments?
To take it one step further, how do the Jam Packs apply to this? I'm thinking of getting one of them. If the instruments in the Jam Pack only sound as good as Garageband instruments, then is it really worth getting it if you have Logic?
Any advice is much appreciated!
macboook core 2 duo   Mac OS X (10.4.8)  

Answer 1

Hi noeqplease
I think my problem is that I still don't understand exactly what makes up a "loop".
If a loop is just an audio sample, then I understand why it will sound the same using any software. I also understand that Logic will be able to get more out of that sample - because it has more tools to apply to that sample.
However, take a look at this quote from the following Jam Pack review article:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/reviewof_garagebandjampacks.htm
"In a typical Jam Pack you get loops AND audio instruments. The "blue" loops are straight audio loops and are typically of high quality. They can be stretched, compressed, effected, like any other audio track. But the "green" loops in the browser are actually an audio instruments with a MIDI track associated."
After reading that, it sounds like some loops are really just MIDI files which point to a certain instrument. Therefore, if you get all new (and better) instruments with Logic, then maybe all those loops will sound better.
So here's where I ask again:
-is it true that some loops aren't hard samples, but rather depend on the quality of your instrument synthesizer?
-if so, will installing Logic make those loops sound better? (i.e. does Logic have better instruments to use for all the old Garageband loops? - OR does Logic only provide new and better instruments for the new loops included with Logic?)
-if so, what % of Jam Pack loops are "green" and would get the benefit of being used with Logic vs GB?
thanks again!!
macboook core 2 duo Mac OS X (10.4.8)