Which Mac for Music Production and Live Performance
_Ritchi_ Posted messages 21190 Registration date Status Contributeur Last intervention -
Hello everyone. I want to buy a MacBook Pro to:
- Do home studio work (I compose electro and produce all kinds of music)
- Do live performances (I run pre-made electro sets with Cubase 14)
Not being a computer whiz, I'm lost in the ocean of M1, M2, M3, M4, Pro, Max, 32GB, 16GB, etc... (even though I've watched a lot of videos and articles on the subject).
Some important information:
- I've been working for 8 years on a 2017 iMac with 8GB of RAM, which allowed me to compose 3 albums, about ten singles, and music for images. It's a computer that would be considered a huge clunker today, but it still allowed me to do all that despite its "meager capabilities" (I love it dearly 
)
- My only budget constraint is not to buy an overkill super powerful and super expensive Mac that I would only use 1% of its capabilities. But I still want a machine that leaves me some performance margin so I don't lag, especially in live settings of course.
- I mainly work with audio but also with Kontakt plug-ins, and I would like to be able to play with a few virtual synths live; the projects on stage are live sets of about 1-1.5 hours that I run on Cubase 14. I use plug-ins for composing and a bit of mixing, but without ever going to extremes (I don't run 40 UAD plug-ins at the same time, you know).
- I would like to buy refurbished if possible.
Can you guide me a bit in choosing my Mac? What generation? Pro or Max? Refurbished or not?
Thanks in advance for your insights.
2 réponses
Hello
Since your 2017 iMac has made you happy so far, I would say that any MacBook Pro will fully satisfy you, but you need to keep the following points in mind:
- RAM:
Unlike your iMac where you could add RAM yourself, know that all Mac laptops are no longer upgradable after purchase because the RAM is soldered to the motherboard!
==> You therefore need to buy your future MacBook Pro with at least 16GB of RAM (that's really a minimum). 32GB or more depending on your budget would be great.
- Disk space (SSD):
Same as for the RAM, the SSD is soldered to the motherboard! So look at the capacity of your internal hard drive on your iMac and get at least the same size on your MacBook Pro. If you use external drives to store your music files, maybe get a slightly larger SSD. 1TB of SSD seems like a good base to me.
- Software:
With your iMac, you had at best macOS 13 Ventura.
With your new MacBook Pro, you'll have the latest macOS version, probably macOS 15 Sequoia.
When you say "New macOS," it means "Potential compatibility issues with your favorite applications" and therefore means "Obligation to purchase the new version of applications that have become incompatible."
This can seriously increase your budget.
- Accessories:
Just like with applications, an accessory (printer, scanner, ...) may become obsolete with the new version of macOS on your next MacBook Pro. If the accessory is recent, then the manufacturer has likely updated the driver, but if the accessory is old or if the manufacturer falls into the "planned obsolescence" category, then you'll need to buy a new accessory.
These are the tips I wanted to give you.
Keep us updated on your next purchase and the adventures you'll encounter.
Ritchi
The Bobot AI is here to help you!
For home studio activities and live performances with moderate use of plug-ins, the MacBook Pro M1 with 16 GB of RAM would be a good option. This configuration should provide you with more than enough power for live sessions and composition projects. The choice between the Pro and Max models really depends on your budget: the Max provides more processing power, but if you don't plan to use very resource-intensive applications, the Pro should be powerful enough.
Regarding refurbished options, it's a great alternative to save money. Refurbished products are usually just as good as new, as long as they are refurbished by Apple or a certified seller. They come with the same warranties as new products.
However, I recommend checking the specifications of the refurbished computer to ensure it will meet your needs. In particular, carefully check the condition of the battery.
As for the question of the generation of the Mac, the M1 is the latest generation of Apple processors. Models with this processor will therefore be more recent and are likely to have a longer lifespan than older models.
