Macbook Pro DAW?
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 5175 posts since 29 Apr, 2006
In the market for a new computer soon. I'm on a PC quadcore blah blah.
Can you run cpu intensive projects on a macbook pro laptop without any dropouts/crackles?
what about latency? how low can you set it before you notice?
how does the macbook pro compare to the mac pro as far as performance for audio/midi work?
anyone switched from a i9 type PC setup to a macbook pro? what did you notice?
I would love to see something that rivals the mac pro but in the ipad with a bigger screen...
Can you run cpu intensive projects on a macbook pro laptop without any dropouts/crackles?
what about latency? how low can you set it before you notice?
how does the macbook pro compare to the mac pro as far as performance for audio/midi work?
anyone switched from a i9 type PC setup to a macbook pro? what did you notice?
I would love to see something that rivals the mac pro but in the ipad with a bigger screen...
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- KVRian
- 705 posts since 9 May, 2005
If you're used to a well-configured (current generation) i7 Tower/Rack with the CPU running at 4.4+GHz, absolutely no laptop will offer that level of performance. Doesn't matter if you're talking Mac or PC.
Think about it logically.
A laptop is a very tight space. Heat is very much a concern.
To keep heat in check, performance compromises have to be made.
Again, doesn't matter if you're talking Mac or PC.
Both use Intel processors... and Intel chipset motherboards.
Notice that clock speeds on laptop CPUs haven't gotten much faster the last ~5 years.
This is exactly why...
Long story short:
As long as you have reasonable performance expectations, you won't be disappointed in a MacBook Pro (or nice PC laptop).
If you expect identical performance to the best Tower/Rack machines, you will not be satisfied with any laptop (Mac or custom build PC using Clevo shell).
Think about it logically.
A laptop is a very tight space. Heat is very much a concern.
To keep heat in check, performance compromises have to be made.
Again, doesn't matter if you're talking Mac or PC.
Both use Intel processors... and Intel chipset motherboards.
Notice that clock speeds on laptop CPUs haven't gotten much faster the last ~5 years.
This is exactly why...
Long story short:
As long as you have reasonable performance expectations, you won't be disappointed in a MacBook Pro (or nice PC laptop).
If you expect identical performance to the best Tower/Rack machines, you will not be satisfied with any laptop (Mac or custom build PC using Clevo shell).
- KVRAF
- 3897 posts since 28 Jan, 2011 from MEXICO
The 15" MBP with quadcore i7 is good, about 20% better that the old i7 920 and probably 10-15% behind a desktop i7. But you can't overclock.
dedication to flying
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- KVRian
- 1265 posts since 9 Sep, 2005 from Oulu, Finland
An i7 quad core Macbook Pro is a very nice piece of tech...
However, if you don't actually need the portability and possibly not even OS-X, why bother? (Remember that none of the abundant Windows free/cheap software will run natively on OS-X. Obviously many of those things are free or cheap for a reason but well...)
You mentioned iPad. The Macbooks don't have a touch screen, so they are not an alternative to iPad in that sense.
However, if you don't actually need the portability and possibly not even OS-X, why bother? (Remember that none of the abundant Windows free/cheap software will run natively on OS-X. Obviously many of those things are free or cheap for a reason but well...)
You mentioned iPad. The Macbooks don't have a touch screen, so they are not an alternative to iPad in that sense.
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 5175 posts since 29 Apr, 2006
Thanks a ton guys. good to hear some solid info.
- KVRAF
- 2545 posts since 15 Jan, 2013 from L'Écosse
I would say that the best PC you can buy is still a MacBook Pro running Bootcamp.
- KVRAF
- 25053 posts since 20 Oct, 2007 from gonesville
I'm not up on the current models. I bought a MacPro and a MacBookPro at the same time, same vintage.
While there can be no specific comparison the way I loaded up the former, the general comparison is that the former is almost on an order of magnitude more robust a computer.
If the MBP has the same number of cores and maxing out the RAM is the same, the differences fade away and moreso if you're looking at SSD.
I don't know, I'm not in the market. The laptop gets really hot as it is, so the points above regarding the limitation of CPU vs a tower do not seem to vanish. Enough RAM for me would tend to amount to overheating issues...
While there can be no specific comparison the way I loaded up the former, the general comparison is that the former is almost on an order of magnitude more robust a computer.
If the MBP has the same number of cores and maxing out the RAM is the same, the differences fade away and moreso if you're looking at SSD.
I don't know, I'm not in the market. The laptop gets really hot as it is, so the points above regarding the limitation of CPU vs a tower do not seem to vanish. Enough RAM for me would tend to amount to overheating issues...
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- KVRist
- 167 posts since 8 May, 2008
There is one thing keeping me away from going to PC, and thats mainstage 3, there is no single host comming close to what mainstage can do for me in a live situation..
And windows has nothing that comes even close in offering me the same verstillity in configuration my sound and interface in one program...
And windows has nothing that comes even close in offering me the same verstillity in configuration my sound and interface in one program...
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- KVRian
- 1090 posts since 31 May, 2007
Maybe this is just my own personal experience but no way would i go back to a pc/windows rig after switching to my macbook pro...no trouble with drivers anymore and more importantly no audio latency when recording my external hardware synths,
Tbh im not even overkeen on apples marketing strategies but for music making i reckon you cant go wrong with a MBP
Tbh im not even overkeen on apples marketing strategies but for music making i reckon you cant go wrong with a MBP
live 11 / Arturia collection / many Softube plug ins / thats it
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- KVRian
- 705 posts since 9 May, 2005
Based on what?Nightpolymath wrote:I would say that the best PC you can buy is still a MacBook Pro running Bootcamp.
A well-configured Tower/Rack will smoke the fastest MBP.
If you're using BootCamp to run Windows, keep in mind that companies like Cakewalk don't officially support running Sonar under BootCamp.
If you'll be running PC DAW apps, it makes sense to get a nice PC.
If you'll be running Mac DAW apps, it makes sense to get a Mac.
- KVRAF
- 8680 posts since 9 Jan, 2004 from leroyaumeuni
Macbook Pro.. Logic.. simples.
Next!
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My other host is Bruce Forsyth
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- KVRian
- 835 posts since 28 Apr, 2014 from Texas
While the 15" i7 quad core MBP is fast, its not as fast as a PC tower running the equivalent desktop i7.
I would say unless you seriously abuse your CPU the Macbook will be fine. I have the dual core Haswell i5 Macbook and I am happy enough with it using it for production on the go, though I do have to be careful with plugins like Diva, Kaleidoscope and B2.
I would say unless you seriously abuse your CPU the Macbook will be fine. I have the dual core Haswell i5 Macbook and I am happy enough with it using it for production on the go, though I do have to be careful with plugins like Diva, Kaleidoscope and B2.
SW: Cubase 9.5 | Komplete 11 | Omnisphere 2 | Perfect Storm 2.5 | Soundtoys 5
HW: Steinberg UR28M | Focal Alpha 50 | Fender Jazz Bass | Alesis VI25
HW: Steinberg UR28M | Focal Alpha 50 | Fender Jazz Bass | Alesis VI25