Nowadays that virtually all music recording has gone digital…
The first question on every musician’s mind when first starting out with music production is:
Which computer should I get?
Though as I’m sure you already know, there is no “one-size-fits-all” answer.
Because depending on factors such as:
- budget
- processing speed
- portability
YOUR ideal option might be completely different from someone else’s.
Which is why for today’s post, I end to show you everything you need to know to find the perfect computer/laptop for YOUR setup.
So let’s begin. First up…
Laptops vs. Desktops
More and more these days, as technology becomes increasingly “mobile“…
Desktop computers are slowly becoming a thing of the past.
Yet for music recording, they’re still what all the pros continue to use.
Here’s why:
- They’re generally faster – their larger housing offers room for maximum processing power to meet the high demands of today’s DAW’s and plugins.
- They have more IN’s/OUT’s – which allow you to incorporate larger, more sophisticated routings to keep up with your ever-growing setup.
- They offer greater customization – which let’s you add more RAM, extra hard drives, additional video cards, and more…as necessary.
- They solve the noise problem – by allowing you to keep the tower (noisy) in a separate room for your studio monitors and microphones.
Despite all these advantages, the ONE thing that desktop computers lack is…PORTABILITY.
And in today’s world of DJ’s and mobile studios, the portability of a laptop is a MUST.
Plus…since most of us use a laptop for school/work anyway, it eliminates the need for 2 separate purchases.
Now at this point, I’ll assume you’ve already decided whether a desktop or laptop computer is right for you.
So let’s move on. Up next…
Mac vs. PC
Want to know the easiest way to piss-off a recording geek? Here’s what you do:
If he uses a PC in his studio, tell him Macs are better.
If he uses a Mac, tell him PC’s are better.
Because for some strange reason, this topic incites violent debates…that last forever, and result in no real conclusions.
In fact, I absolutely HATE giving my opinion on this topic.
But here it is anyway:
Personally, I like Macs. Not just for recording, but for everything. And these days, most of the music world (and the rest of the world) agrees.
If YOU agree as well…get a Mac.
So why a PC then? It’s usually 1 of 3 reasons:
- Price – Macs are usually more expensive than PC’s, and not everyone can afford them.
- Customization – computer nerds typically prefer PC’s, since they are much easier to modify/supercharge.
- Windows – some people just like the Windows OS.
If none of these 3 things apply to you…get a Mac.
But whichever side you choose, just know that tons of great music has been created on either one, and this topic isn’t nearly as important as some might have you believe.
Assuming you’ve made your decision…let’s move on.
Up next…
Mac Desktops
With Mac desktops, you have 3 options:
- Mac Pro
- iMac
- Mac Mini
Now here’s how they compare:
First, there’s the Mac Pro.
For studio recording, there’s probably nothing better. Peek your head into any pro studio…and odds are, that’s what you’ll find.
However…
The truth is: for most of us, a Mac Pro would simply be overkill. So next up…the iMac.
While not nearly as powerful, the iMac is much more practical for a typical beginner’s setup, as it combines the computer and monitor into a single device.
If you can afford it, it’s quite likely the ideal choice for most home studios.
If you CAN’T however, your final option is the Mac Mini.
How many times have your heard someone say:
I want to get a Mac, but they’re too expensive 🙁
Well the Mac Mini is proof that this is not entirely true.
It may not have the speed or flexibility of the more expensive models…but it offers ALL the benefits of the Mac OSX, for a very modest price tag.
Up next…
PC Desktops
For those of you guys who build custom PCs…
I have no doubt you know far more about this subject than I do…
So…
If you can assemble something faster and better than a Mac Pro…go for it.
I wouldn’t dare try to convince you otherwise.
If however, you DON’T fall into this category, and you really don’t know much about computers at all…
Then I suggest staying away from PC desktops altogether.
And here’s why:
If you’re NOT a huge PC fan, the only reason to choose a PC for your studio would be if you’re a beginner trying to save money.
And since the main benefit of desktop computer is MORE PROCESSING POWER, it makes little sense to get any desktop that isn’t blazing fast.
So if you only have $500 to spend, you might as well get a laptop, so you can at least have some portability as well.
Having said that, let’s move on…
The 4 KEY Laptop Specs
Since we’ve already established that laptops are…in a way…”less-than-ideal” for music production…
Here are 5 potential issues to look out for:
- Mechanical Noise – if you’re a DJ in a loud club, this obviously doesn’t matter. But in a bedroom studio, it matters a lot. One way to check for this: read a ton of user reviews. Another way: opt for a SSD (solid state drive) with no moving parts, over a traditional HDD (hard disk drive).
- Backlit Keys – in low-light environments such as lounges and clubs, these are a MUST-HAVE.
- Screen Size – you may not think it’s important now, but once you’ve spent some time with any DAW, you’ll quickly see how valuable a bigger screen can be.
- Ports – as laptops get increasingly smaller, the number of ins/outs gets smaller as well. So make sure you have enough to get by.
Now let’s check out some laptops already…
Mac Laptops
With Mac laptops you have 3 options:
- Macbook Pro
- Macbook Air
- Macbook
First, there’s the Macbook Pro.
My best guess is…Macbook Pros are the single most popular laptops for home recording.
- They’re ultra fast
- They’ve got lots of inputs
- They have large screen with detailed display
If you can afford it, get it. If not…
Then the Macbook and Macbook Air come in TIED at a distant 2nd place.
They’re not as fast, and they don’t have nearly as many inputs, but they’re extremely thin and lightweight…the Macbook Air ESPECIALLY!
So there you go. Check them out:
Up next…
PC Laptops
On one hand, PC laptops are GREAT…
Because you have a virtually unlimited number of options to choose from.
On the other hand, PC laptops SUCK…for the exact same reason.
And what I mean by that is…
While it’s nice to have options, but the more options you have, the harder it is:
- to actually choose one
- to be certain you’ve made the right choice
- to be happy with your choice after you’ve made it
And unfortunately, for music production, there is no clear-cut winner that stands out from all the others.
But as most people agree…the best PC laptops for music tend to be the best PC laptops in general.
So here are 5 of the most popular and well-reviewed options:
- HP Envy – (price/reviews)
- Asus Zenbook – (price/reviews)
- HP Special Edition w/ Beats Audio – (price/reviews)
- Dell Inspiron – (price/reviews)
- Lenovo Yoga 3 – (price/reviews)
Up next…
DAW System Requirements
One important point worthy of mention that rarely gets discussed…
Is the system requirements for your DAW of choice.
Even though these days, most computers are compatible with most DAW’s…
In some rare cases…they’re NOT, so you should always double check just to make sure.
If you don’t have a preferred DAW yet, or don’t even know what a DAW is, then don’t worry about this part.
However for those of you that DO, here are the links to the system requirements for each of today’s top DAW’s:
- Presonus Studio One
- Cakewalk Sonar
- FL Studio
- Propellerhead Reason
- Ableton Live
- MOTU Digital Performer
- Steinberg Cubase
- Apple Logic Pro X
- Avid Pro Tools
Up next…
3 Essential Computer Accessories
Once you’ve finally chosen a computer, next come the ACCESSORIES.
For recording studios, the 3 accessories I recommend are:
- a keyboard
- a mouse
- a monitor
Now here’s what you want from each one…
1. The Keyboard
While any old keyboard will do…
Your ideal keyboard should include 3 features:
- DAW shortcut markers – which help you memorize all those shortcuts WAY faster.
- A number pad – which includes a TON of useful shortcuts for most DAW’s.
- A wireless connection – which allows you access to your transport controls from anywhere in the room.
NOTE: Even if you have a laptop, you may still find it worthwhile to buy an external keyboard. That’s how useful they are.
Now here are my 2 favorites:
- Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard – (PC/Mac/reviews) – besides having a number pad and a wireless connection, this keyboard has one unique feature that you almost never see: solar power. That means no batteries or cables ever.
- LogicKeyboard Custom DAW Keyboards – (website) – easily the most well-known maker of software shortcut markers, LogicKeyboard has both custom keyboards and skin layovers for virtually every DAW/keyboard combo imaginable.
Up next…
2. The Mouse
Again…while any old mouse (or trackpad) will do…
With a really good mouse…
A few programmable buttons can give you access to your most frequently used DAW shortcuts without ever touching your keyboard.
And this one tool can speed up your workflow significantly.
While there are an almost infinite number of these mice to choose from…I suggest Logitech.com as a good place to start your search.
My personal favorite mouse in their line is the Logitech Performance Mouse MX – (price/reviews). If you’re not sure what to get, I highly recommend it.
For some other great options, check these out as well:
3. The Computer Monitor
When you first start out with home recording…
You probably won’t recognize the value of REALLY GOOD monitor right away.
But eventually, after working without one for a while…
You’ll notice 3 things:
- Low resolution screens can only display a small number of tracks at once.
- Flat screen TV’s often look pixelated, and are awkward to view from close up.
- Screens with slower refresh rates can’t display level meters in sync with the track.
Any one of these problems alone is annoying. All 3 together will drive you crazy.
And once that happens, I highly suggest getting a good external monitor.
For a good high-end option, here is an example of something that would work well:
As an alternative, any standard monitor (such as this one) will work almost as well.