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The Mac is an apparent candidate if you happen to’re on the lookout for a pc with which to make music. The selection may be overwhelming, although, with units starting from a number of hundred {dollars} or kilos to 1000’s greater than you may spend on a automotive. On this article we examine all of them and clarify which Mac is best for you.
There was a time when music manufacturing required hiring a studio, however expertise strikes quick. In the course of the Eighties, there was a revolution in analog house recording equipment; then the Nineties noticed house computer systems progressively take over. Immediately, you are able to do every part from recording pop songs to mastering film soundtracks on a Mac. However which Mac? That’s the query we’re right here to reply!
Why use a Mac for music manufacturing
Whether or not you select a Mac or PC for music manufacturing is basically all the way down to the platform you like and who you’re collaborating with. Nonetheless, there are a number of explanation why musicians who select to make use of Macs achieve this.
One purpose is the straightforward incontrovertible fact that Macs are extremely straightforward to make use of, so musicians don’t get sidetracked attempting to set issues up or repair issues. The current addition of the M-series of Apple-made chips additionally signifies that they’re very highly effective, typically outperforming Intel-equipped PC equivalents. Mac laptops are additionally slim and lightweight, with very good construct high quality – a profit if you’re carrying them round to gigs in addition to utilizing them in a studio.
Greatest Mac configuration for music manufacturing
If you will make music with a Mac then there are a variety of issues that you could think about. We’ll run via every of those beneath that will help you make your ultimate choice.
Software program
The software program you employ – your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) – is as arguably as vital as the pc you select. There are many choices accessible on macOS, which you’ll examine in our round-up of the very best music recording software program for Mac.
Two spectacular packages you possibly can solely discover on Macs are Apple’s personal Logic Professional and its enthusiast-focused cousin GarageBand. (Learn our Logic Professional and Garageband critiques.)
GarageBand is basically an audio sketchbook, albeit a robust one in the precise fingers. It’s nice for rapidly getting down the bones of songs or compositions, with loads of help for plug-ins. We all know of a number of skilled musicians that use it for creating demos of concepts, which they’ll then share with different musicians within the early stage of writing. Better of all, GarageBand comes free with each Mac, simply one other good purpose for utilizing Apple’s computer systems to create your music.
Once they need to get critical although, there’s a great probability they’ll change to Logic Professional X, which is the much more highly effective and feature-rich DAW.
RAM
Music software program is notoriously hungry for reminiscence. An absence of RAM (in Apple phrases that is known as Unified Reminiscence) turns into a critical bottleneck in any pro-level venture. You’ll have the ability to run fewer devices and fewer results; you’ll spend extra time rendering and fewer time doing issues stay.
Think about 16GB your minimal. This shouldn’t be tough, all Macs and MacBooks may be geared up with 16GB RAM – and we advocate that you simply do configure your Mac to not less than this stage, if no more. Word that M3, M2 and M1 Macs ship with 8GB RAM as customary. The M2 and M3 Macs may be up to date to 16GB RAM and prime out at 24GB, whereas M1 Macs may solely help as much as 16GB RAM. Should you assume you may want 32GB RAM then you will have to improve to the Professional model (e.g. M3 Professional) which is an possibility within the MacBook Professional or Mac mini and comes with 16GB as customary and helps 32GB. For 64GB or 96GB RAM, you want the Max (e.g. M3 Max) an possibility for the MacBook Professional or Mac Studio. And for 128GB or 192GB RAM you’ll want to have a look at the Extremely (e.g. M2 Extremely) within the Mac Studio or Mac Professional.
Storage
Storage is prone to be an vital think about your choice. All Apple Macs use SSDs and have carried out so for a few years now. It is a profit as a result of onerous drives is usually a bottleneck as a consequence of their comparatively low pace in comparison with SSDs, and they are often noisy.
Nonetheless, SSDs are far dearer per GB than onerous drives. Entry-level Apple notebooks have 256GB SSDs, however professional instrument and results collections when put in can require a whole lot of GB, and that’s earlier than you even begin to add your personal music information. So that you most likely desire a minimal of 512GB SSD together with your Mac. Another excuse to keep away from the lower-capacity Macs is that previously we’ve discovered the smaller SSDs to be slower than their larger-capacity counterparts – although it seems Apple has addressed this now: the 256GB MacBook Air doesn’t undergo from the sluggish storage downside.
You need to work out what you’ll want, and whether or not belongings will probably be saved internally or externally. Exterior drives may be tremendous for giant pattern libraries and the like, particularly when linked utilizing Thunderbolt, however you then want to find out find out how to take every part with you if you happen to’re a musician who works with individuals in many various places. Cloud storage is perhaps a great possibility right here: try our Greatest Cloud Storage Providers for Mac.
Portability
Talking of being at completely different places, you will need to determine whether or not you want the Mac to be transportable or not. Should you’re at all times transferring round, working with numerous musicians in numerous international locations, a Mac Studio most likely gained’t slot in your hand baggage. However if you happen to’re a solo musician who solely ever creates music in a house studio, you can get extra bang in your buck with a desktop machine such because the M2 Professional Mac mini.
If you’re studio primarily based chances are you’ll assume that you simply want an iMac to be able to reap the benefits of the big show, however you possibly can plug in an exterior show to any Mac, so even if you happen to had a laptop computer Mac you can fortunately use it with a 30-inch display screen when you’re at your desk.
Ports
You additionally want to think about the opposite equipment you need to use. Should you don’t have any additional equipment (if your whole music-making occurs inside a Mac) then this gained’t be a priority, and, in idea, any Mac may do. However you probably have a pile of audio interfaces, USB devices, headphones, displays, and different very important {hardware}, attempting to get by the 2 USB-C ports discovered on the MacBook Air and entry-level MacBook Professional fashions will drive you to despair. (Wherein case you may want a USB hub to make use of together with your new Mac).
Fortunately in current occasions, Apple has added extra ports to its latest Mac laptops, so you will see SDXC, Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, and extra on the aspect of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional. The Mac mini and Mac Studio even have a pleasant choice of ports.
Some Macs have extra ports than others.
Apple
Apple
Apple
Processor
Excessive-end audio work may be extraordinarily processor-intensive, particularly when utilizing skilled plug-ins and results. In case your calls for are nice, you’re going to wish a Mac with pretty critical processing energy. Ergo, whichever Mac you determine to purchase, keep away from low-end fashions that appear to lurk within the line-up to allow Apple to say ‘from’ and use a cheaper price tag in advertising materials. That stated, the present crop of entry-level Macs with their M3 chips are proving to be fairly formidable.
For the last word possibility flip to the MacBook Professional with the M3 Professional or M3 Max, or anticipate these chips to reach within the Mac mini or Mac Studio. The M2 Extremely within the Mac Studio and Mac Professional may also enchantment, however would probably be overkill.
Graphics
There’s additionally the query of the GPU. Traditionally, recording and modifying audio didn’t make the most of many graphics card sources, in contrast to 3D design and video modifying. Issues are extra difficult as of late as some audio software program is GPU-accelerated. It’s additionally an element do you have to require extra shows. Apple’s M2 Macs supply 8 or 10-core GPUS and may suffice usually.
Should you assume you’ll profit from extra graphics prowess then look to the 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Professional with the M3 Professional (14 or 18 graphics cores) or the M3 Max (30 or 40 graphics cores). The Mac Studio and Mac Professional go additional providing the M2 Extremely with 60- or 76-core GPU (we’re nonetheless awaiting the M3 Extremely, however count on to see enhancements there).
Show help
Talking of exterior shows, observe that if you wish to plug in multiple extra show the usual M1 and M2 MacBooks gained’t formally help multiple extra show (though there are methods round this, see: The right way to join two or extra exterior shows to Apple M1 or M2 Macs). The Mac mini, Mac Studio and all different MacBooks help numerous exterior shows. This might matter if you happen to want to use graphics with the music you play.
Greatest Mac for musicians
1. MacBook Professional, 14-inch, M3 Professional (2023)
Worth When Reviewed:
$1,999
If you need a good-sized display screen, loads of ports, and loads of energy the 14-inch MacBook Professional is an efficient possibility. There’s a M3 model of the 14-inch MacBook Professional, however we advocate the M3 Professional, or M3 Max fashions.
This Mac was up to date in October 2023 with the M3 Professional and M3 Max. There’s additionally a 16-inch MacBook Professional if you’d like a good greater display screen, which additionally provides the identical M3 Professional chip and 16GB Unified Reminiscence (aka RAM) as customary. This could, in fact, be upgraded on the level of sale, maxing out at 36GB for the M3 Professional (you possibly can stand up to 128GB within the dearer M3 Max fashions).
You’ll get 512GB or 1TB storage as customary, with the choice to extend that to a 8TB. There isn’t a 256GB SSD possibility for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional, which avoids the difficulty with slower SSDs that plagues the 256GB SSDs (though because the introduction of the M3 MacBook Air Apple seems to have addressed this subject).
The M3 Professional brings 14 or 18 GPU cores that can be utilized to crunch the numbers wanted when utilizing a great deal of plug-ins, VSTs or rendering multi-channel compositions onscreen. Must you need essentially the most highly effective MacBook Professional you should purchase, then have a look at the M3 Max, which maxes out at 40 GPU cores.
That is an costly Mac, however we frequently see huge reductions so we strongly advocate that you simply store round to avoid wasting. Try these MacBook Professional offers for the very best costs.
Learn our full
Apple 14-inch MacBook Professional (M3 Professional, 2023) evaluation
2. MacBook Professional, 14-inch, M3 (2023)
Worth When Reviewed:
$1,599
The Professional or Max fashions are our first alternative, however not each musician has the price range for Apple’s M3 Professional-powered MacBook Professional. The excellent news is the 14-inch M3-powered MacBook Professional is worthy of consideration for music-making.
The 14-inch MacBook Professional with M3 was launched in October 2023. It changed the 13-inch MacBook Professional with M2 chip. The M3 is highly effective sufficient to supply nice efficiency and make brief work of initiatives with loads of layered tracks, results, VSTs, and provides clean playback with out stuttering or overloading. True, the baseline mannequin does solely include 8GB of RAM, so we’d advise upgrading this to both 16GB or 24GB on the time of buy, as you possibly can’t make any changes afterward because of the non-upgradable method these are constructed.
If you need energy and portability, then the 14-inch MacBook Professional with M3 is kind of the workhorse.
Learn our full
Apple 14-inch MacBook Professional (M3, 2023) evaluation
3. MacBook Air, 13-inch, M3 (2024)
Worth When Reviewed:
$1,099 (base)
The 13-inch MacBook Air with M3 is one other Mac laptop computer that may very well be thought-about in your DAW. When it comes to weight, it’s the lightest of the present crop at 2.7 kilos/1.24kg, however that doesn’t imply it’s a light-weight within the efficiency stakes.
As a result of Air’s energy effectivity, the laptop computer additionally comes with no fan, which may very well be a godsend if you happen to report close to the laptop computer. As with all Macs, there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack so you possibly can edit on the go with out worrying about latency.
With a decrease beginning worth than the MacBook Professional with M3, the MacBook Air with M3 is a horny possibility. You could possibly up storage and RAM and nonetheless lower your expenses in comparison with the equal MacBook Professional. The 512GB MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM prices $1,499/£1,499 from Apple, in comparison with $1,899/£1,899 for a similar spec within the MacBook Professional.
To avoid wasting more cash you may think about the M2 MacBook Air, which is obtainable for $999/£999, it’s a great Mac, however the worth distinction is so small our recommendation is to spend the small $100/£100 extra for the M3 mannequin, or lower your expenses by purchasing round for a great deal on the M3. See: Greatest MacBook Air offers. You may see how the 2 completely different fashions examine by studying our MacBook Air (M3) vs MacBook Air (M2) article.
4. MacBook Air, 15-inch, M3 (2024)
Worth When Reviewed:
$1,299 (base)
Really feel just like the display screen on the 13-inch MacBook Air is perhaps too cramped in your wants? Apple additionally sells a 15-inch MacBook Air. It prices greater than the 13-inch MacBook Air, however truly represents good worth for cash compared to the 14-inch MacBook Professional, which has a similar-sized display screen however prices much more. See: 15-inch MacBook vs 14-inch MacBook Professional for extra info.
Learn our full
Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 2024) evaluation
5. Mac mini, M2 Professional (2023)
Worth When Reviewed:
$1,299
Should you don’t want the portability of a laptop computer the very best worth for cash Mac for musicians is the Mac mini with M2 Professional, which launched in January 2023. For $1,299/£1,399 you may get the identical chip that can price you $1,999/£2,149 within the MacBook Professional. Certain you’ll want a separate display screen, mouse and keyboard, however it’s nonetheless going to avoid wasting you a ton of cash.
It’s small, quiet, and has nice connectivity choices, together with an extra audio-in port that may very well be helpful for legacy merchandise. What extra may you ask for?
We simply counsel that you simply wait as a result of we count on that Apple will replace the Mac mini with an M3 Professional very quickly.
Learn our full
Apple Mac mini (M2 Professional, 2023) evaluation
6. Mac mini, M2 (2023)
Worth When Reviewed:
From $599
Should you don’t want the M2 Professional there’s an ordinary Mac mini with M2 chip, which begins at simply $599/£649. If you have already got a show, keyboard, mouse and are simply on the lookout for an engine on which to make some music, the Mac mini is a stable alternative.
It’s small, quiet, and has nice connectivity choices, together with an extra audio-in port that may very well be helpful for legacy merchandise.
The Mac mini is at the moment accessible with the M2chip and 256GB SSD for simply $599/£649. There’s additionally a 512GB mannequin for $799/£849. Double the RAM to 16GB, for an additional $200/£200.
If funds are low, the Mac mini is a good alternative for making music. Listed below are the very best costs for the Mac mini. However count on a M3 mannequin to launch quickly.
Learn our full
Apple Mac mini (M2, 2023) evaluation
7. Mac Studio, M2 Max (2023)
Worth When Reviewed:
£1,999
These trying to create professional-level music within the house or studio will need to have a look at the Mac Studio. Aimed on the Professional market, however nonetheless reasonably priced, this beefed-up Mac mini boasts the M2 Max SoC, with a 12-Core CPU and 30-Core GPU, or the M2 Extremely for 24-core CPU and as much as 60 or 76-core GPU. Each choices ship enviable ranges of efficiency.
Add to this as much as 64GB RAM for the M2 Max, or 192GB RAM for the M2 Extremely, and as much as 8TB of storage (all of which may be upgraded on the level of sale) and you’ve got an extremely potent Mac that may deal with something you throw at it. There are many ports accessible, together with 4x Thunderbolt 4 and 2x USB-C and 2x USB-A, so your whole outboard equipment ought to have the ability to plug immediately into the Mac Studio. As with the Mac mini, you’ll must carry your personal show, keyboard, mouse and audio system.
Just like the Mac mini count on this mannequin to be up to date quickly, the Mac Studio with M3 Max will probably be launched across the time of WWDC in June.
Try the very best offers for the Mac Studio to see if it can save you on the standard worth of $1,999/£2,099.
Learn our full
Apple Mac Studio (M2 Max, 2023) evaluation
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