Let’s start my favorite laptop from Apple: You usually will have a much longer lifespan if you get a computer toward the higher end of the spec list because it won’t be outdated as quickly, which means over time it will actually cost you less. Performance will be much better if you get a laptop with at least the recommended requirements so I’m just going to recommend music production laptops that meet or exceed the recommended specs. Many of these popular tools have minimum requirements and recommended requirements. Avid Pro Tools is another very popular industry-leading software that works on both systems. If you want to use GarageBand (a great choice for podcast production), it’s included free with Apple computers. If you want to use Logic Pro, it’s made by Apple and only works their computers. The Mac operating system is usually more stable, which can be critical when recording, although there are tons of big-name producers who swear by both systems. Personally, I’m an Apple fan, but I started with Windows – and I use both of them daily. This choice usually comes down to what recording software (DAW) you are going to use and what you are used to using. The other big thing to consider is Apple vs Windows (Mac vs PC). 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. We’re just going to focus on the best laptops for music production and podcasting. 7th generation processors are also excellent. 8th generation Intel i7 processors are the best, followed by Intel i5. This will allow you to get your mixes into a single file much quicker and process effects and chains without the CPU needing to wait, among many other benefits. Most important for audio processing is a CPU with fast single-core performance. I recommend getting at least 16GB RAM if at all possible. These usage requirements use a lot of RAM and graphic power, respectively. There is a good chance you’ll have lots of programs and tabs open at the same time and you will need the ability to add at least 1 extra screen (many people use 2 or 3). In keeping with the budget tag, there may be compromises in some places, but overall any of the machines here will do a sterling job of getting you recording, editing and mixing in no time at all.įind out more about how we test music gear and services at MusicRadar.So you want to get serious about music production or podcasting? You’ll need a good laptop that can handle everything you throw at it. In this guide, we’ve tried to offer up some suggestions of great affordable PCs for music production, including both laptops and desktops. While many older peripherals, like USB MIDI keyboards and controllers, still rely on older USB ports, there’s a growing trend towards employing USB-C connectors. It’s important also to consider the connectivity available to you with your PC. If you can get a PC with an SSD within your budget, you should. These drives offer much faster data transfer rates and, with no moving parts to break, are more reliable than the older models. It used to be every PC had a hard disc drive (HDD) although these are being succeeded by faster – albeit more expensive – solid-state drives (SSD). Storage also refers to the storage volume. In our experience, upgrading the RAM is the simplest and quickest way to breathe new life into an ageing production machine too. At the budget end of the price spectrum, you should be looking for upwards of 8GB as a minimum, although with some PCs you may be able to upgrade this yourself. The bigger the RAM, the larger and more complex the DAW sessions you can run. On it, the audio you’re using in a session is stored so your digital audio workstation (DAW) can access it quickly. RAM requirementsīreaking it down a bit your PC’s RAM is the short-term memory of your computer. Storage, on the other hand, is arguably more important as it dictates how quickly your PC can write your tracks ‘to tape’ and then, subsequently, how quickly it can re-access that audio when it needs to. Performance comes in the form of how long it takes to export an audio file, or how long you’ll be waiting for a plugin to load. Don’t be distracted by flashy RGB lights, or a 4K screen with music production, it’s all about performance and storage. When you are looking to buy a budget PC to produce music on, you need to be aware of a few key specifications you should be looking out for. MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you.
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