Written by
Vain Rowe
Although its popularity is inferior to Microsoft Windows, the Mac product wins a whopping amount of compliments from users thanks to its excellent processing ability in video and audio. This outstanding ability originates from the powerful processors and chips, including Apple silicon, M-series chips, and more processors and chips not being explored out till now.
Mac lineup consists of kinds of Mac models with different features and highlights, if you're looking for the best Mac for music production, you've clicked on the very post since it spells out what Mac is best for music production. Let's explore it then!
Tips you should think about before you pick a Mac for music production
Before picking one perfect Mac device for music processing, you should know what aspects you ought to take into consideration for incomparable performance and user experience.
1. Mac screen
According to mature music producers, the larger the computer screen is, the better the user experience you get. A considerably big screen allows you to deal with kinds of audio tracks and view audio lists more clearly, so you needn't grasp the device too closely or neck forward for better visual sight.
Alternatively, you can fit the Mac device with an external monitor or eGPU for an unparalleled visual experience.
2. RAM
RAM, also random access memory, is another significant factor you ought to take into consideration when you select a Mac for video or audio processing tasks. 16GB RAM is enough for you to tackle with video and audio, but bear in mind that this one can't be upgraded like storage. More RAM like 32GB or bigger will prove it a lot and help everything run a bit smoother in the future.
3. Storage
Storage is a crucial part of choosing the best Mac for music production as you will save loads of finished or unfinished projects on its hard drive. A device with much storage space is recommended if you use it not only for music production but also as an assistant dealing with other jobs.
Apple's current 13-inch M2 MacBook Air starts with a base storage of 256GB, but it's better if you can comfortably afford a machine with bigger storage space.
4. Processor/chip
M-series chip is acknowledged as super fast and smooth for its processing speed and data transaction, and this is also verified by both professional expert teams and geeks. Till now, Apple has four generations of M chips including M1, M2, M3, and coming M4.
It would be a nice choice if you can afford a machine outfitted with a M-series chip for your music production career.
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What Mac is best for music production?
With the four aspects above being taken into consideration, then it's quite easy to pick one Mac device for your music career. You just choose one with the appropriate screen, RAM, storage, and processor/chip based on your budget, then everything is done! Several Mac devices are fitting for music production listed there, you can have a real quick view or you can choose another one by yourself.
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023)
Apple MacBook Pro 14 with a M3 chip is the top-recommended device for music production that we tested. This very built-in device is configured with a whopping of processing power for even the most challenging music production tasks. It also provides a great user experience with its sharp display (high-definition and high-resolution), large keyboard, and gigantic touchpad.
Moreover, its excellent port selection makes it easy to plug in your production station, keyboard, audio interface, etc. It even comes with a high-output 3.5mm headphone jack for hard-to-drive to connect. Importantly, it is built with a super cooling fan without making noise when heat sinks.
The only drawback of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 with an M3 chip is that it starts from $1599 and ends at $1999 with different configurations. But if you have enough budget, then it has no drawback down the road!
If you want further screen area and are willing to pay extra, consider the larger Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3, 2023). It's the same device, just with bigger speakers.
Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024)
Pick the M3 Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024) if you want something less pricey. Although it doesn't have as much processing power as the MacBook Pro 14 recommended above, it's still fast enough to handle music production without too many issues.
Plus, this is a fanless device, so you don't need to worry about fan noise ruining your recordings. It has a large 15-inch Retina display (not Mini LED, sadly) and a gigantic haptic touchpad, and its build is just as premium and sturdy as its Pro siblings.
Unfortunately, however, its port selection is limited to two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3s, so you'll likely need a dock. Also, while the M3 MacBook Air supports two external displays, it can only do so with the laptop lid closed, which might be too limiting if you're used to working with multiple displays.
Final words
This post spells out what aspects should think about when you want to select the best Mac for music production, plus, it recommends 2 best devices for you to reference if you still have no clue after reading this buyer guide.
Anyway, a big screen, enough RAM and storage, and a powerful processor/chip are essential based on your expected price! Beyond that, the higher the configuration of the Mac is, the better is for music production.
