Hi,
Just looking for advice on a macbook pro for production, which one is recommended? Does screen size matter?

thanks

I've got a 13 (mbp) and love it. Running Logic, Reason and Reaper all without problems. Logic (to me at least) is a blast with all the gewgaws included, and screen sets make the 13" screen a non issue. GUI space on Reaper is pretty limited on the 13, though, but totally manageable with a hot key assignment here and there.

Plugging an external monitor looks fantastic, btw.

If you're looking for something portable, the 13 is great. If it's going to live on a desk and you have more cash, a larger screen might be nice. Resource wise, they're all quite capable. You can stuff in more ram of course, but I think most people way over-estimate the need for (and utility of) this. Just me, though. I don't use huge sample libraries and such so I may be totally off base.

Don't go for one you can't upgrade and/or repair easily. I think that's just common sense, but market-lemmings will buy anything. Avoid the Air and Retina Macs, if only because they're worse for the environment.

I recommend a:

15' MBP without Retina Display
2.7GHz i7-Core
8 GB ram (16GB if possible)
1 SSD
Swap out the SuperDrive for an addition hard drive (too eliminate the need carry an external)

I run Logic Pro, Ableton, and Reason.

I personally like larger screens and feel that micro-managing plugins (constantly opening and closing plugin windows) because of limited screen space distracts from music making. 15' gives a larger screen size than 13' and is still portable unlike the 17' (Apple actually no longer makes 17's) If you have external monitor, make sure you get the cables needed to use it with your MBP.

If you plan to have large projects, with many channels, each running multiple VSTs (especially all those intensive cinematic kontakt sample libraries), you are going to want at least 8GB. My previous MBP had 4GB RAM and ran fine, but my production is much smoother now that I'm using 16GB.

MBPs are built to last and with the specs above you can be sure that your MBP will be a capable DAW for years to come.

Ge yourself one of these to go with it,

http://www.airetechit.co.uk/e-shop/products.php?204651&livem ode=1

I use one hooked up to my iMac, its the same quality, you just need to get a Mini display port to Dvi adapter and a Dvi-Dvi adapter (i got both of mine from amazon for cheap)

Then you can have the luxury of dual screen in your home studio and just unplug the AOC when you take it on the road, its what joachim garruad does

Mike

always worked on mac (powerbook and now macbook pro). I am disappointed, however. Macs are too limited, due to closed policy... apple controls everything for you, and puts crappy things you don't need at all (the i-cloud, the i-whatever, the i-tunes). The prices are very high, for instance I had to pay 39€ for a little cable in order to connect my Mbp to an external monitor. The first time I connected a macbook to a second monitor i thought there was something that did not work, because fonts were so blurred. Then I discovered Apple does not support clear-type fonts So, if you buy a macbook 13, you have to keep on it or accept those blurred fonts on bigger external monitors. I worklike this, and it is very uncomfortable. Not to mention the stupid AU format: useless, but you have to use it, because apple wants you to think "different" If i were you i'd wait for windows 8, more professional for musicians nowadays. And microsoft tablets will come out with it, so imagine the difference. Ipad iOS is just a phone OS, I have Ipad and all the "synths" (so to say...) are toys. I remain on mac only because I love Logic, but if Logic was multiplatform I would give all that expensive and cheesy i-crap away.
Last edited by myrna on Thu Aug 02, 2012 5:07 am; edited 1 time in total

Many Thanks for the replies, I've read them all...

If you have external monitor, make sure you get the cables needed to use it with your MBP.

are you talking about a sound monitor here?

Make sure you look at the refurbished section on the mac store good prices on recent models

I guess he means "external screen"... Apple products have a strange not standard little plug, so you have to buy an apple monitor or a stupid adapter for analog or digital external monitors. And the results are awful with big ones: cloning the screens is useless, since apple's video boards are crap, and you can't work with it. if you want a decent resolution you have to choose the double monitor option. A painful situation

I dont' understand this, I thought Logic costs about 500 dollars?

here you can download it, much cheaper?


http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/logic-pro/id459578486?ls=1&mt =12

that is not logic pro. It still costs 500 dollars (the complete option, including appleloops, mainstage etc.). That is just logic, without the rest. If you want to download the rest, the price becomes 500$.

Its called Mini DisplayPort, and actually it is standard; part of the DisplayPort standard, to be precise.

The rest of your post is equally accurate.

never seen such "display ports" on other computers apart apple ones, actually. What I know for sure is this: a single cable for a notebook to pc costs 2€. For that white "cool" (?) i-apple thing I had to pay 39€... That is just ridiculous.

He means a screen.