7 Best Macs For Music Production: Buyer’s Guide

Apple products are always sleek and stylish, and the Macbook is no exception. It’s perfect for music production because of its powerful hardware and well-designed software. The Macbook has a variety of music production software available, including Logic Pro X, Garageband, and Ableton Live. There are many high-quality plugins and virtual instruments available for purchase.

The Macbook is powerful enough to run any music production software with ease. It also has a long battery life, so you can produce music for hours on end. In this guide, we’ll show you the best Macbook for music production and what to look for when choosing one.

M1/M2 Chip or Intel Macs: Which is Better for Music Production?

There are two types of Macbooks available: M1/M2 chip and Intel.

• The first thing you’ll notice about the new Macbooks is the M1/M2 chip. The M1/M2 chip is a custom-designed processor that Apple created specifically for the Macbook. It’s faster and more efficient than any other type of processor on the market and also has an integrated GPU, which is perfect for music production.
• The second type of Macbook is the Intel Macbook. The Intel Macbook has a more traditional processor, which is not as fast or efficient as the M1/M2 chip. However, some Intel Macbooks do have a dedicated GPU, which is also great for music production.

When it comes to music production, we recommend choosing a Macbook with an M1/M2 chip. The M1/M2 chip is faster and more efficient, and it has an integrated GPU. The only downside to the M1/M2 chip is that a few music production software do not yet support it.

Storage: How Much Do You Need?

Music production software can be very demanding, and it can take up a lot of space. We recommend choosing a Macbook with at least 256GB of storage. This will give you enough space to install music production software and all of your plugins and virtual instruments.

If you need more storage, you can always upgrade to a larger SSD later. The M1/M2 chip Macbooks have up to 2TB of storage, which is more than enough for music production or you can buy an external storage drive to store your music files on.

RAM: How Much RAM Do I Need for Music Production?

The amount of RAM you need for music production depends on the software you’re using.

For example, if you’re using Logic Pro X, you’ll need at least 8GB of RAM. If you’re using Garageband, you’ll need at least 4GB of RAM. And for Ableton Live, you’ll need at least 8GB of RAM.

In general, we recommend choosing a Macbook with at least 8GB of RAM. This will allow you to run any music production software without any issues. 16GB of RAM is even better, and it will future-proof your Macbook.

Size: What Size Macbook Should I Get for Music Production?

The size of the Macbook you need depends on how you’re going to use it. If you’re only going to use it for music production, we recommend choosing a 13-inch Macbook. The 13-inch Macbook is the perfect size for music production because it’s small and lightweight, but it still has enough power to run any music production software.

If you’re going to use your Macbook for other things, such as video editing, we recommend choosing a 16-inch Macbook. The 16-inch Macbook has a larger screen and more powerful hardware, which is perfect for resource-intensive tasks.

Portability: Should I Get a MacBook Pro or an iMac?

If you’re looking for a portable Macbook, we recommend choosing a MacBook Pro. The MacBook Pro is light and compact, and it’s easy to take with you on the go.

If you’re looking for a powerful desktop computer that’s great for music production or working at home or a studio, we recommend choosing Mac Mini or an iMac. The iMac is more powerful than the MacBook Pro, and it has a large screen that’s perfect for music production.

Ports: Which Ports Do I Need?

One of the most frustrating things about the new MacBook is the lack of ports. It has only Thunderbolt 3 ports, which can be limiting for some users. If you need to connect more than one device, you’ll need to use a hub or dock to get the full range of ports you’re used to.

There are also ways to expand the ports on your Macbook using a USB hub or Dock station. We have a list of the best USB hubs for Macbooks. This is perfect if you need more ports.

Price: How Much Should I Spend on a Macbook for Music Production?

The price of the Macbook you need depends on the type of music production you’re doing. If you’re just starting out, we recommend choosing a Macbook that’s under $1,500. This will allow you to get started without breaking the bank.

Best Macbook for Music Production: Our Top Picks

Now that you know the different types of Macbooks available, it’s time to choose the best Macbook for music production. When choosing a Macbook, there are several factors you need to consider, including:

Best Overall – MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2021)

Last update on 2023-10-04 | Details

Best For Portability – MacBook Air M2 (13-inch, 2022)

Last update on 2023-10-04 | Details

Best For Style & Power: Apple iMac (24-inch, 2021)

Last update on 2023-10-04 | Details

Best For Professionals: MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021)

Last update on 2023-10-04 | Details

Best For Minimalist Setup: Apple Mac Mini (2020) 

Last update on 2023-10-04 | Details

Best Budget: Apple MacBook Air Laptop (13-inch, 2021)

Last update on 2023-10-04 | Details

Best All-In-One: Apple iMac (27-inch, 2020)

Last update on 2023-10-04 | Details

FAQs

1. What is DAW?

DAW stands for digital audio workstation. It’s a software application that you use to create and edit music. Some of the most popular DAWs are Logic Pro X, Garageband, Reason 12, Audacity and Ableton Live.

2. Do I need an external hard drive?

No, you don’t need an external hard drive for music production. However, we recommend using one to store your music files and backups. External hard drives are also helpful if you want to transfer files between different computers or your Macbook is running out of storage space.

Samsung X5 Portable SSD 2TB is one of the best external hard drives for Macbooks.

3. What are the minimum system requirements for music production?

The minimum system requirements for music production depend on the type of music production you’re doing. You can check a software’s system requirements on their website.

• Logic Pro X
• Garageband
• Reason 12
• Audacity
• Ableton Live

4. What are the best monitors for music production?

The best monitors for music production depend on your budget and the type of music you’re producing. Some of our favorite monitors for music production are the Dell S2722QC 27-inch and LG 27UN850-W Ultrafine. By using an external monitor, you can have more screen real estate to work with and a higher resolution.

5. Do I need MIDI?

MIDI stands for musical instrument digital interface. It’s a protocol that allows electronic musical instruments and computers to communicate with each other.

On a Windows PC, you may need to install many drivers, including sound card drivers and MIDI drivers. On a Mac, you don’t need to install any drivers because they’re part of the operating system (not all).

6  Mac or PC platform: Which is better?

Choosing a Mac or PC platform is a personal preference. Some people prefer Macs because they’re easy to use and they have a stylish design. Other people prefer PCs because they’re more affordable and they have more powerful hardware options.

Both Macs and PCs are great for music production. However, if you’re just starting out, we recommend choosing a Mac because they’re easier to use. Apple does have some native music production software, such as Logic Pro X and Garageband, which you may find useful.

• Garageband is a popular digital audio workstation (DAW) for music production. It’s made by Apple and it’s free available for Macs and iOS devices. Garageband has a simple interface and it’s easy to use. It also comes with a variety of built-in instruments and effects, which makes it a great choice for beginners. You can also use Garageband to record live instruments and vocals.
• Logic Pro X is a paid DAW that is made by Apple for $199.99. Logic Pro X has more features than Garageband and is more complex; it takes some time to learn how to use it. If you are serious about music production, we recommend choosing Logic Pro X over Garageband.