Specs: i7 processor 32g Ram 500g SSD 4 ports In this video, I discuss how good this computer is for music production and recording. I share my thoughts on wh. The Air is perfectly capable of being used as a music production device, but within the size & price range, the Pro has some luxuries that make it a better experience to work on day after day. While the 15″ macbook pros offer even more benefits in terms of power and upgradability let’s compare them and see what you can learn from it.

Who would say no to a MacBook air for music production? If you are a MacBook lover in general then give me a high five because we are gonna talk all about using a MacBook air for music production!

The Best MacBook Air For Music Production Tips

Let’s be real, when it comes to appearance, super performance or brand Apple is one of the top brands in the market!

Now the real question is which Apple laptop is the best for music production?

personally, I have been using MacBook air from a few months so I will be sharing with you a brief review and things that you will find it helpful when thinking of using a MacBook air for music production.

My comparison will be between MacBook air and a regular laptop of similar price range and let’s also pick a MacBook PRO.

Why Macbook Air Rocks

Here are some benefits of using a Macbook air compared to a Non-Apple laptop: I love the fact that it is Slim and lightweight for daily travel.

Let’s appreciate the battery life: 10-11 hours battery backup on normal usage. Now if you compare them to any premium laptop Apple touchpads are awesome, smooth and responsive. Don’t you think?

Okay, the audio quality on macbook air speakers is good, but let’s be true, it’s not as loud as a MacBook Pro’s speakers. Skype call coming up? Another thing is that Apple front camera works the best in low light which is best for low light skype calls!

SSD Power: despite the low power processor apps launch very fast on a MacBook air due to SSD. I also love the metal body construction that gives it a nice finishing touch.

Mag safe charger can be very helpful if you are really careless plus you’re working on an important music production project.

Macbook Pro Good For Music Production

The ambient light sensor that adjusts brightness automatically is a nice feature although many people are not aware of this feature!

If you happen to keep your Air closed or you just drop it somewhere idle you will find out that the battery has dropped less than 3 or 4 % even tho you checked back after 2 or 3 days.

This could be the best part: Mac OS, contains some pretty needed apps like a calendar, To-do’s app, notes, Quicktime, Mail app etc. Hassle free OS

Something that many people face with non-apple laptops is the heating issues. there are no heating issues on a MacBook air laptop.

But If you are working on really BIG and I mean BIG projects let’s be real here, MacBook air won’t be able to pull it off. In that case, I recommend the Macbook Pro for several reasons.

The Air is perfectly capable of being used as a music production device, but within the size & price range, the Pro has some luxuries that make it a better experience to work on day after day.

While the 15″ macbook pros offer even more benefits in terms of power and upgradability let’s compare them and see what you can learn from it:

Tip #1 Think of the Retina screen resolution:

Having this screen to me was worth the price difference between the Air and Pro alone, and the biggest deciding factor for me.

At 2560-by-1600 native resolution, the retina screen operates at 1680 by 1050 scaled resolution for my DAW, which allows me to see more of the workspace as compared to the current Air, which operates at 1440 by 900.

Screen real estate is very nice to have when working in Ableton – being able to see more tracks and channels helps a lot in managing projects.

A macbook air can be a great fit when we talk price here but you could get external monitors to help with the screen resolution!

Tip #2 Check which CPU and RAM specs is best for you:

The Air is a lot less powerful in terms of specs. There is a noticeable difference between a 1.6ghz Core I5 and 2.6ghz Core I5 when it comes to using VSTs and effects in my music production.

The same can be said of 4gb and 8gb ram – I would not recommend anything less than 8gb for a studio computer. No joke!

I say this because I have maxed out both before while producing. For the price of upgrading an Air from 4gb to 8gb ram, it’s more cost effective to go for the Pro, which has 8gb standard, as well as a better CPU and screen.

So think about the CPU when it comes to a mcbook air for music production. Are you willing to upgrade if yours is less than 8gb ram?

Tip #3 Don’t overlook the power of the Size, Weight and Battery life!

The advantages of the Air is its portability. It’s so lightweight that makes music production easier and on the go most of the times.

The extra hours of battery life and slightly lighter weight is nice to have over the Pro, but for a studio environment when you’ll be plugged into the wall, I find it doesnt make too much of a difference, especially when the weight difference between the two models is around half of a pound!

If you are a person that travels a lot the macbook air for music production could be the way to go.

But if you’re stuck in your studio in the long run, the Pro has by far the better price/performance out of the two.

The lightness and thinness of the Air is something to behold, but for a few hundred dollars more, I recommend making the jump to a computer that can handle a lot more of your production needs.

Macbook Air, while very good for the purpose it is designed for. It is light. efficient, portable notebook type device but if you’re a music production guy it is not really suitable for use with a very resource demanding application such as Logic Pro.

Of course, you could use it but depend on how complex your arrangements are, the number of tracks, the type of plugins or even the number of audio tracks etc.

Have in mind you would likely soon run into it’s limitations.

Conclusion

All of them will work but finally, the decision is on your workload.

The large your projects the more powerful your setup should so you can either start with a Macbook air which is cheaper but works well for basic projects then when you see things get heavier you consider migrating to a pro that works for logic pro , cubase , Protools etc… a MacbookPro with minimum 16GB & a 4core processor is advised.

If you can afford a MacPro or a iMac (if you want something portable skip this one) at the least … it can be a greater fit.

There you have it, Macbook Air For Music Production Tips!

What is your pick, macbook air for music production or Macbbok Pro?

What to read next? I’ve got you!

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See ya, Cosby!

What is the best Mac for music production?

Music production requires high-quality equipment, including a high-quality computer that can handle modern, high-power recording and production software. Fortunately, most music production software is compatible with Mac computers.

The best Mac for audio production overall might be the Mac Pro, simply because it has the most powerful processor, but, in the end, it all depends on the music producer’s needs. People in this business need a reliable computer with plenty of memory and storage. Doing a little research before purchasing ensures the user gets a laptop to fit their specific needs.

Lightweight Mac computers for everyday use

Some music careers require portability, and MacBooks are the perfect match in this case, though they are less powerful than desktop computers. DJs and events coordinators may find MacBooks ideal since they are lightweight and easy to carry around.

MacBook Pro

The MacBook Pro boasts a powerful processor for a laptop, giving it the ability to power bigger programs reliably. Users can lay multiple tracks fast and run large programs without losing speed. This MacBook comes with:

  • 4-, 9-, or 8-core Intel processors;
  • up to 32GB of memory;
  • Retina display with True Tone technology;
  • Touch Bar and Touch ID for more productivity.

The Touch Bar sits at the top of the keyboard and automatically adapts to whatever program is running. This means that the user will have more control over audio production apps, like Logic Pro X, and it could eliminate the need for a wireless mouse. With the Touch Bar, music producers can jump to a location, fine-tune sounds, and turn the Touch Bar into an instrument they need.

Macbook Pro Good For Music Production Software

The MacBook Pro also comes in two sizes — a 13-inch and a 15-inch — and starts at $1,299. Both sizes come with solid-state drives (SSDs) for secure storage while traveling — something that will come in handy for music producers on-the-go.

MacBook Air

Being the lightest MacBook, this laptop is a great portable device to have. It weighs 2.75 pounds and is made from 100% recycled aluminum, making it eco-friendly. The MacBook Air starts at $1,099 and features:

  • high-resolution Retina display with True Tone technology;
  • Touch ID;
  • up to 16GB of memory;
  • an eighth-generation Intel Core i5 processor.

Though it is one of the lightest laptops you can get, the MacBook Air lacks screen space and may not be powerful enough for the music programs needed. It comes with 1TB of SSD storage, which allows for fast app launches and plenty of room for documents and pictures, but might not be enough for music programs and associated files.

But, even the most powerful laptops may get slower over time. We recommend using optimization software, like CleanMyMac X, to easily manage massive files and data on your machine and increase its performance. It will clear up old, unused files, hidden/background apps, and other memory-hogs that can also help preserve peak performance over any Mac's life.

Powerful laptops for an amazing performance

High-end audio work requires a high-powered central processing unit (CPU). CPUs do a lot of the “heavy lifting” on a computer, as its main job is to execute programs. In correlation, the bigger the processor, the better the music programs will run.

iMac Pro

The iMac Pro is an all-in-one and starts at $4,999. It also provides a variety of ports to connect any equipment needed, like microphones, extra monitors, and USB instruments. The iMac Pro comes with:

  • 8-,10-, 14-, or 18-core processor;
  • Radeon Pro Vega graphics;
  • up to 256GB of memory;
  • 4TB of SSD.

With a 27-inch screen, a music producer can open several programs without having to flip between screens. Plus, with 4TB of all-flash storage, multiple music projects can be saved and loaded without the worry of the computer slowing down.

In case you have some issues with memory due to the excessive amount of apps, you could use CleanMyMac X’s Uninstaller module. It will remove unused apps from your Mac and delete leftovers that are usually hidden in your machine’s memory. Here’s how to use the Uninstaller module:

  1. Download CleanMyMac X for free here.
  2. Launch the app and select Uninstaller.
  3. Check the boxes next to apps you want to remove and click Uninstall.
  4. After CleanMyMac X removed the apps, check the Leftovers tab to delete the remaining data.

CleanMyMac will then get rid of unnecessary apps and their data.

But, what if you cleaning your Mac doesn’t make it more powerful? Then our next option will be great for you.

Mac Pro

The Mac Pro is available with a 28-core processor, which means it’s the most powerful Mac to date. This Mac is made for professionals who need the best CPU performance. Music producers can play hundreds of virtual instruments with this Mac and store tons of files without the risk of running out. It also features:

  • up to 1.5TB of memory;
  • 360-degree access to customize and expand;
  • Apple Afterburner which allows the user to work with 4K and 8K files;
  • Mac Pro Expansion Model, which allows for high-performance graphics.

The Mac Pro also comes with an additional 4TB of SSD storage, so music producers can save and download multiple files in any size. It has various ports to plug into to connect any equipment needed. This is useful for those who are studio recording or mixing and mastering.

Affordable Macbooks for all-purpose use

Price can be a factor in decision making like this. However, music producers shouldn’t let price stand in the way of performance. Mac has affordable options for people in this line of work.

iMac

The original iMac is an all-in-one that has an updated processor that allows for speed and high performance. It comes in two screen sizes, with a 21.5-inch and 27-inch screen. This computer’s processor boasts speeds of up to 5.0GHz, which means running applications like Logic X Pro will be effortless. The iMac also features:

  • up to 5K retina display;
  • up to 3TB of Fusion Drive;
  • multiple USB ports.

Macbook Pro Good For Music Production Editing

For those looking for a big screen and an affordable price, the iMac could likely be the best of both worlds, starting at $1,799.

Mac Mini

The Mac Mini is powerful, fast, and relatively inexpensive compared to the MacBooks and iMacs. At $799, the Mini comes with new eighth-generation 6- and quad-core processors and up to 64GB of memory. It also has the same connectivity as an iMac so that music producers can hook up multiple instruments and microphones. Other features include:

  • up to 2TB SSD storage;
  • four Thunderbolt 3 ports;
  • up to 4.6GHz Turbo Boost.

With the added SSD storage, music producers are able to save, download, and upload multiple large files, like a live concert sound engine.

Macbook Pro For Audio Production

In general, it’s important to look at memory and storage when considering an ideal computer since music producers will handle numerous amount of large files that need to be accessed quickly. Though music producers might think they need a computer with a powerful processor, the best type of computer really depends on the user’s needs. Whether you are a DJ traveling to gigs or a sound technician with a studio, Macs are a reliable choice for your future career.