If you’ve ever been on a music festival where popular DJs have performed, you’ve probably noticed that many artists use laptops. Also, when producing music, popular producers have a lot of high-end equipment, including laptops and desktops. Well, if you paid attention to the logo on their computers, you could easily conclude that all top producers and DJs use Apple. More specifically, their Macs. Wondering why this is so?
The thing is pretty simple, the Mac offers the quality you need for DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) as well as all other third-party plug-ins. In addition, Apple has its DAW called Logic Pro X, which is among the best music production software with FL Studio and Ableton Live. Also, top-level components must be built into the desktop or laptop computer to support music rendering and processing. The main things are RAM (minimum 16GB for smooth work), storage space (SSDs are a great choice) but also the processor. Of course, we should also mention that connections are very important if you want to use instruments or accessories such as a headset.
With all this in mind, the Mac is a pretty good solution and it becomes clear why it is a favorite choice for top renowned artists. Therefore, we have decided to present the best Mac machines for your music studio. So, if you’re ready, let’s get started.
1. Apple iMac
If you own a music studio or you are a bedroom producer who spends the most time creating music inside, then the Apple iMac is a great choice. At first glance, you can conclude this is a very well-designed device. This is actually an all-in-one computer, so if you want a practical and powerful device, the iMac is a great solution. There are currently several versions available, but the advice is to choose the most recently released ones.
Okay, let’s see what’s inside. Well, there is the Intel Core i3, a powerful quad-core 8th-gen processor as well as the excellent Radeon Pro 555X GPU. It will provide you with 4K resolution and smooth work on multiple screens simultaneously. There are even more powerful variants with Intel Core i5 with 6 cores as well as the Radeon Pro 570X or a premium version with Intel Xeon W processor, 1TB SSD storage and 32GB of RAM and Radeon Pro Vega 56. So, it’s up to you how much money you are willing to spend. We almost forgot about the size of the screen. Well, 21.5- and 27-inch versions are available. In terms of money, the iMac ranges from around $1,300 to as much as $5,000. Overall, your budget is the main thing that the final choice will depend on.
2. Apple MacBook Pro
If you need a portable version, the best choice is the MacBook Pro. Honestly, there are several MacBooks, but none are even close to the level required for produce music like the Pro. This model has been updated in 2019 so you can be sure you are buying the latest device. The Touch Bar definitely stands out as the main upgrade. As for the screen size, 13- and 15-inch versions are available.
In terms of components, the 13-inch models feature Intel Core i5 8th-generation processor as well as Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 GPU. RAM can be a problem as it only has 8GB. On the other hand, the 15-inch versions are enhanced with 16GB RAM, 256GB storage space (SSD), and Intel Core i7 6-core 9th generation processor. Of course, there’s the Radeon Pro 555X GPU. For smaller models, you have to spend about $1300, while a 15-inch MacBook Pro costs about $2400.
3. Apple Mac mini
Still, you might want to buy something cheaper. If so, the top pick is a Mac mini. Although the price is not too low, you will be able to get a Mac mini for less than $1000, more precisely for about $800. This includes a 3.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i3 processor as well as a 128GB SSD for storing your data. The only downside is low RAM (8GB). Earlier we said that 16GB is the minimum for smooth operation, so this option is better for about an additional $200. In terms of connectivity, the situation is similar to that of iMac where the main focus is on USB Type-C ports.
So, for about $1000 you can get a decent machine. Of course, you shouldn’t forget that you will also need to buy peripherals in order to work.
4. Apple Mac Pro
Finally, after the cheapest Mac for music production, we have to introduce one pretty expensive and premium solution. It’s the Mac Pro. This computer hasn’t yet been officially launched, but it is expected to be in the fall of 2019. When designing the new Mac Pro, Apple kept in mind reducing noise and creating a quiet environment, which is very important in music production.
However, what does the new Mac Pro have inside? Like all Macs we mentioned, this one also comes with Intel inside, more specifically the 28-core Xeon W processor. Also, there’s storage space of as much as 1.5TB SSD, as well as 12 RAM slots, which means it’s upgradeable up to 768GB. As for the GPU, AMD Radeon Pro Vega II, currently, the most powerful graphics card in the world, will be installed. All components will be powered by an incredible 1.4KW power supply. That is enough to conclude how powerful this beast is. In terms of price, it is logical that it isn’t budget-friendly at all. If you have around $6000, you will be able to buy the lower-specs version (if it’s possible to say that), while for the most powerful one there is price yet, but it is expected to be several tens of thousands of dollars.
In the end, our conclusion is that iMac is the best choice because it has a reasonable price and fantastic features for even the most demanding tasks. If you still want a portable variant, then the best buy is MacBook Pro.
