- Best Mac For Audio Production
- Best Mac Specs For Music Production
- Best Mac For Production Tips
- Mac Pro For Music Production
- Best Mac For Production Possibilities
The Mac Pro is the Mac Pro that Apple should have introduced in 2013. It answers many of the wishes of creatives and video professionals with extremely powerful components and a more suitable design.
The best Macs for music production are different enough to suit the needs of different music producers. If you create shorter and smaller songs, you won't need as much storage as someone who produces full-scale soundtracks. We think the best Macs for music production are the iMac 5K and the 13 inch MacBook Pro. Which is the best Mac for making music? We compare the entire Apple Mac range to see which one is best for different music production situations The Mac is an obvious candidate if you're looking. We’re just going to focus on the best laptops for music production and podcasting. There are many more options for desktop and all-in-one computers that work well for audio recording and podcast recording, but the flexibility and portability of a laptop makes it a must-have. The other big thing to consider is Apple vs Windows (Mac vs PC).
Best Mac For Music Production
Ever wonder what is the best Mac for music production in our genre of play? Or if you own one, you must have wondered is this enough and for how long? Yes, our modern way of life has gone side to side with fast growing technology. And our computers are the main source of our virtual brain hustle.
Is There A Right Mac For Music Production?
With so many to choose from, we are really left with so much on our mind, enough to get our wallets and our desires longer and bigger. Most of the time confused, we bravely march towards testing new equipment in order to elongate our creativity. Often left misguided or disappointed, but also surprised with the time-money distance. If you are not sitting on your budget and are open to try out the latest and biggest-supporting best Mac machines for Hip Hop production, this is your spot. Let`s get right down to it.
4 Things A Best Mac Must Have For Music Production
Now, we are not just going to serve you the best Mac list like that. Without leaving some kind of guidance first. Now, as usual with picking any type of computer device, you must learn to seek for the right component specs. What comes inside the best Mac box? This will be your to-go list before you decide on anything else. Here is what we mean exactly.
1 – Processor
This is as crucial as it gets. The brain of your best Mac computer. Some say it`s the heart, but you get the idea. Now, when handling a demanding job like music production, you expect higher standards only if you wish to have a flawless workflow. To keep our focus on the best Mac for Hip Hop production, the best processor speed you need for a more than decent work rate is i5 or AMD quad-core running at 3Ghz.
This is a minimum or the lowest range you can hit. The real best ones go around i7 or Xeonocta-core (or you can go with 10 or12-core option even), with 2.3Ghz or 3.8 Ghz.
The Powerful iMac Pro is coming thisDecember and will feature an 18-core Xeonprocessor with turbo boost up to 4.5Ghz 128Gb of RAM DDR4 and 4TBGB SSD hard drive space. A good processor is just a scratch under a very large table of bestMac world. Moving on to the next department.
2 – RAM Memory
Second key component thing to look out for when purchasing your best Mac is the RAM memory. Compare it to what ever human organ you like, but without RAM you are as dead as a vampire. There has to be at least 8 GB of RAM available in order to get some of that worflow on a Pro level.
Aswe saw, the latest version of Mac will give you the top of the tops, straight to Heaven ride. But if you are not yet there with your savings, it`s totally ok, 8 would do just fine. Let`s see what else you should take into consideration for your best Mac computer.
3 – Hard Drive Capacity
Next in line is your so called file storage space. We know that there are two different types of hard drives. A HDD and SSD. Which one do you need? It`s better to own them both. It will eventually depend on the best Mac machine you buy, but if you already got the HDD, then do yourself a favor and go grab the SSD too.
A minimum of 500GB to 1TB of HDD is your goal here. The extra SSD is just to make things better and more slicker. SSD or Solid-State Drive will come in handy with those super-heavy plugins, so a tip here is to install the compact 3rd party plugins onto th SSD drive if you don`t wan`t to take a risk of having glitches while making your music. Because SSD is mush faster that typical HDD.
4 – Mac Face [Screen Size]
This is maybe not so important for Hip Hop production focus, but a matter of personal taste. And combination on both. Maybe you are more mobile producer, so you`ll need a smaller-size go-to best Mac laptop and you purchased the bigger monitor separately. Or you are more of a PC artist and your screen size is crucial for your production, because the bigger the screen window, the better the mixing sessions work.
And don`t forget the final mastering stage. Because, let`s admit, it is way too harder to work on a small screen, where everything seems so squeezed in one tiny spot, you are pushed to use the zoom-in and zoom-out function like your signature move. It becomes a real nightmare, especially if music production is all that you do 24/7.
[5] – One Extra Thing – USB Ports On The Mac
One thing that cannot be overlooked is not your battery life, not even the keyboard or mouse you will be using. But your connectivity grid is kind of important. A solid PC, especially laptop must have at least 3 available USB ports. And not just any ports. USB 3 and up.
What`s A Good Screen Size For The Best Mac?
Some confirm 15″ and above. But, personally, I wouldn`t go below 22″. Only when reaching the 22-inch frame window is when you truly open up your mixing horizons. So, take my advice and go on 22. At least (for external Mac monitors of course).
Final Countdown: Best Mac For Music Production
We are at the last chapter and to be honest, the throne pick for the best Mac wasn`t that hard. But, since it`s up to your personal choice and need based on your ultimate goal as a type of producer you are, we will give two best Mac picks to your flavor. First will be for those producers that are kind of an “nothing but studio hustle” types. The other will be presented to those “mobile” ones, who travel a lot and/or do other jobs regarding music, like Djing or live gigs. Without no more hesitation, here are two best Mac computers for Hip Hop music production. No matter the level you`re at, these Pros can`t miss ya.
Apple iMac Pro 27-inch i7
Buy From Amazon – Apple iMac MNED2LL/A 27 Inch, 3.8GHz Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 2TB Fusion Drive, Silver
![Production Production](/uploads/1/2/6/6/126666539/218309891.jpg)
Now, you probably assumed already the winner among the best Mac desktop computers. The undefeated iMac Empire. And while we wait for the next month`s release of the 18-core beast, the i7 quad-core will do just fine. And comparing the prices of the both future and now product. more than just fine. With 27-inch retina 4K display, the best Mac iMac Pro can be found just under $2,000 which makes it more available than ever.
The slick design carbon/aluminium look of the screen makes an authentic line to Mac`s character. On it`s back, a various port openings are elegantly tucked in for the completion of stellar performance. A headphone jack, SDXC card reader, 4 USB ports, pair of Thunderbolt 2 inputs and a Gigabit ethernet port and a power jack in the dead center.
Specs:
- 27-inch (diagonal) 16:9 widescreen Retina 4K display
- 4.2 GHz Intel Core i7 Quad-Core Processor
- 8 GB of 2400 MHz DDR4 SDRAM
- 1 TB or 2 TB of HDD (hard disc space) + SSD fusion drive
- Radeon Pro 575 with 4GB of VRAM or Radeon Pro 580 graphics processor with 8 GB of VRAM
- FaceTime HD camera
- SDXC card slot and four USB-A ports
- built in stereo speakers and microphone
- headphone jack
- 802.1 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2
- Apple Magic Keyboard and Apple Magic Mouse 2
- Mac OS X or Mac OS Sierra
Pros:
- great quality
- fast forflow
- easy set-up
- powerful OS
- reliable
- elegant design
Cons:
- too slow (in some experiences)
- no CD-ROM
Apple MacBook Pro 15″
Buy From Amazon – Apple 15″ MacBook Pro, Retina, Touch Bar, 2.8GHz Intel Core i7 Quad Core, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Space Gray, MPTR2LL/A (Newest Version)
And the laptop winner in undeniably the most famous among them Apple lovers, the MacBook Pro 15-inch. This best Mac comes with either an i5 or i7 quad-core processor and a Touchbar, giving amazingly reproductive display and pretty loud speaker system. An extraordinary bright display will give your best Mac a crisp-clear view on your virtual mixing console. And all those plugins you are working with in your desirable DAW.
A full-sized keyboard will make your quick-finger editing a top-end of your daily workflow. Another great add regarding hardware is integrated SSD hard, which makes this fast-flow run like butter. As for the connections, Macbook Pro works with 2 Thunderbolt 3, USB ports and a normal 3.5mm headphone jack.
Specs:
- 15.4-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Retina Display
- 2.8GHz quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz or 2.9GHz quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz
- 256GB PCIe-based onboard SSD
Configurable to 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB SSD or 512GB PCIe-based onboard SSD
Configurable to 1TB or 2TB SSD - 16GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 RAM
- 2.8GHz Radeon Pro 555 with 2GB of GDDR5 memory or 2.9GHz Radeon Pro 560 with 4GB of GDDR5 memory
- 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports
- headphone jack (3.5mm)
- 802.1 Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth 4.2
- 720p FaceTime HD camera
- three microphones
Pros:
- lightweight
- super fast SSD hard
- solid build
- easy and fast workflow
- amazing graphics
- great battery life
- wide and responsive trackpad
- fantastic keyboard
Cons:
- small amount of USB ports
- warms too much
- touchbar not so impressive
- the USB-C only input/output
- the price
The Best Mac For Music Production Conclusion
Take a number and upgrade righteously. If your budget allows it then you are more than lucky to test one of these beast computer machines. If you`re out of luck currently, time will price-down the tags and you can keep up with the Apple bites. We saw that Apple`s Pro series hold the market not just among the artist genre, but much wider. If you are a Macophile, then you know your tech-spec rights.
If you are a rookie, there`s always a time for a new family member among user gang. This will be the best Mac wrap up. Our latest writeup was about “Best Bridge Cameras On The Market”, so if you into the best of the best, don`t let yourself miss it.
Mac Tips
Mac TipsUpdated: October 22, 2020 | 11 min readMusic-making does not require renting studios to record your tracks—all you need is your home laptop to apply the desired effects to polish tracks. But before this, learn which Apple computers are the best ones to record music.
Musicians prefer Macs, and for several reasons—high-quality music production is one of them. In this article, we’ll cover the main aspects you should consider when choosing the best Mac for music production and give our recommendations on important models specs.
In a nutshell, we believe the top three of the best Macs for music production 2020 are:
- 27-inch 5K iMac—the best choice for music production
- 16-inch MacBook Pro—the best portable laptop
- Mac mini—the best budget Mac
Read further to find out why these models are the best computers for creating music!
What’s Best for Musicians—Mac or PC?
Choosing between macOS and a Windows platform depends mostly on your computer preferences and your collaborators. With the fast development of technology, the PC is right behind Mac. However, it's easier to get started making music on a Mac than on a PC. We’ll tell you why.
The PC standard audio drivers won’t be suitable for creating music professionally. Windows users would need to install ASIO drivers for the sound card alongside other music hardware they’d like to use, for example, MIDI controllers. Windows does not provide native music software—that’s why installing extra music software is essential.
On a Mac, on the contrary, fewer steps are required. You can plug in music hardware and then open GarageBand—the pre-installed app on iOS and macOS in DAW (digital audio workstation). It lets you have your music studio for recording, editing, composing, and experimenting with audio-tracks. We’ll tell you more about GarageBand in this article.
Recommended system requirements
The Mac’s system requirements depend on which type of music software you’d be using and the complexity of your music-making processes. The next step is to check the program’s official system requirements you will run. This will help you determine the minimum required specs your Mac should have.
For music production, a Mac should have at least a 2.2Ghz i7 quad-core processor. The process determines how fast your music projects would run (and usually they are huge). Start at least with 16GB of RAM. Having less than 16 GB of RAM means using fewer instrument voices. Also, your speed will decrease.
Let’s talk about storage. The amount of disk space depends on the size of the audio files you’ll be working on. As a rule, professional software can use hundreds of GBs. So, for starters, Macs coming with basic 256GB SSDs may be enough. Still, you can plan to add some external storage for your Mac in the future.
Video cards have always been important for playing games and video editing. And for audio software as well. Choose a video card wisely— check which one is required by the audio software you need and if you’ll have to connect any displays.
The Best Macs for Music Production
Here is our list of the best Macs for music-making:
27-inch 5K iMac—the best choice for music production
The new 2019 hardware makes the 27-inch 5K iMac our top pick for your home studio. You can customize its RAM up to 64GB. The advanced processor lets you use all the features of pro audio editing apps. The size of the Retina display is an obvious benefit. Besides, it comes with four USB 3 ports alongside with two Thunderbolt 3/USB Type C ports.
16-inch MacBook Pro—the best portable laptop
If you go on tours—the 16-inch MacBook Pro is just right for you! The basic configuration makes it powerful enough. Using the Touch Bar is useful when you record tracks and change the settings at once. Only 4.3 pounds (2.0 kg) of weight, MacBook Pro has a major advantage for musicians who are always on the road.
Mac mini—the best budget Mac
Why is the Mac mini also on the list of the best Macs for music-making? Mac mini had an update in March 2020, bringing in a 256GB SSD. Besides, it is a good choice if you’re on a budget. What’s great about the Mac mini is a small size, an extra audio-in port. In addition to this, you can customize it with a much more powerful processor and more RAM. But be ready to buy a keyboard, a mouse, a display to go with your Mac mini model.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Mac for Music Production
Best Mac For Audio Production
Consider these two factors when deciding on the best computer for music:
Portability
Among the first things to consider when determining which Mac to choose is to think over whether you need a desktop computer or a laptop. A laptop is the best choice for musicians who move a lot for work.
Connections
Using many additional instruments, such as monitors, headphones, USB instruments, and other audio interfaces, is essential. That’s why a limited number of USB ports might become an issue. Do check and compare the Connections sections when reviewing Mac specifications.
Mac Music Software
Best Mac Specs For Music Production
Here are our 2020 picks for the best apps for music-making on a Mac:
Best Mac For Production Tips
- If you’ve just started producing music, GarageBand has Smart Instruments helping you create a guitar, drum, synth, and orchestral parts without knowing how to play these instruments. GarageBand version 10.3 is full of surprises. New sound effects and instrument sounds and 1000 electronic and urban loops at your disposal are just the beginning. The Artist Lessons are finally free for those craving to learn songs taught by famous artists.
- Logic Pro X is called GarageBand's 'companion' and is, in fact, Apple's professional audio software. If you're an electronic musician and want to experiment with sound, you might opt for Logic Pro X. The great news is that you can get a 90-day free trial. However, you’ll need to run macOS 10.14.6 (macOS Mojave) or later. Moreover, this app is rather resource-consuming, so the best MacBook for Logic Pro X is either a 13-inch MacBook Pro or a 16-inch model.
- Ableton Live 10 makes your DJ experience smooth. Being a DAW it offers empowered MIDI sequencing hardware and software. With this app working on MIDI controllers is hustle-free now.
- PreSonus Studio One 4 Prime is for you if you’re still deciding whether you’re just at the beginning of your music-making career. It is free! A perfect app to start creating music with. Being a full-scale digital studio, it offers the Artist and Pro editions and an improved drum editor to make your instrument editing workflow easier.
- Cakewalk SONAR Mac Prototype is another free app used to be available on Windows only. However, now it can be installed on a Mac too.
How to Prepare your Mac for Music Recording?
Mac Pro For Music Production
Recording music does sound like a high-load process for your Mac. Full storage, apps responding longer than usual, or a spinning wheel on your screen may slow you down. So how to get back to productive work?
For starters, it's always a good idea to clean RAM. The rule applies—the more memory available, the faster your Mac should run. Memory Cleaner feature in MacKeeper frees up RAM with just a few clicks and lets you know which apps may be eating up memory without you even knowing it.
Another thing that may hamper music recording is the lack of free space. Music-making requires some extra gigabytes at hand, so you can use such MacKeeper tools as Safe Cleanup and Duplicates Finder to scan your Mac for old copies of files, caches, or apps leftovers and safely remove them.
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Best Mac For Production Possibilities
We hope our guide helped you choose the proper computer for music-making. Now go and grab your instrument or mic, plug it into your new Mac, and get rockin’!