starting from scratch - macbook pro or imac 27

[ThaneSpire]

First post. Long time reader. I finally have saved enough, but I'm getting tripped up on the M1 vs intel thing. I don't want to wait until next year; ideally would like to get new mac for production in the next few months (mostly in the box, one track at a time (acoustic guitar, vocals)). I read this article that said M1 macs are 'entry level' (https://www.pro-tools-expert.com/produc ... this-first)

If I go and build the 27" imac with the strongest intel CPU available and 64gb ram, it comes out roughly same price as a macbook pro with similar upgrades. Main difference appears to be:

2.4Ghz 8-core i9 (macbook pro)

vs

3.6Ghz 10-core 10th gen i9

Just trying to hear from more experienced peeps if you'd go one direction over another above, or if my understanding of the M1 performance is wrong. (Ableton, Logic, FL user)

[chk071]

The iMac will be a lot faster, obviously.

With your specs, I come up with a price of 4.200 €... Plus X if you want to have a 1 TB SSD, and some other stuff. Are you set on a Mac? Otherwise, I'd take a look what you can get in the Windows world, for at least one or two thousand € less.

[sprnva]

Apple will be going all-in with the transition to their own chips. I wouldn't be investing in an Intel Mac at this stage.

For the use case you describe even the entry-level M1 Air would be more than sufficient. So it comes down to whether you want a desktop or a laptop. The Mini is also a solid option if you want a desktop. Just be sure to max out the RAM and get a decent amount of internal storage as neither can be upgraded later. Although with storage there's always USB/Thunderbolt external options.

[ThaneSpire]

Right on. Many thanks. I guess that's what I'm getting at - the future-proofing question. I don't want to drop all the $ I've saved on an intel mac and then they transition off it, and then all the software developers allay my concerns about compatibility w/m1 chips eventually anyway. Hoping they make a 16" M1 macbook pro.

[elektrastudio]

You kinda have 2 options. Buy all out new future proof it now OR Buy a used machine for short term and resell/upgrade when apple release more impressive stuff.
Rumors saying macbook pro with the M1X 10 core laptop is dropping at least this year for sure. So, if you can wait, wait. If you can't, buy a used m1 mac mini (since that won't depreciate a lot when the new stuff release) and upgrade with a loss of about 50-100$.
If I were you, I'd hold my breath and wait WWDC at least. New stuff supposed to be coming out.

[ThaneSpire]

Thanks so much - I think it's time to wait - sounds like I pulled together some savings at an interesting/transitional time. Appreciate the guidance.

[fedexnman]

If you go Intel Mac route you'll be running Windows(bootcamped) and an outdated NOT supported OSX in about a 2 to 4 years at the most , I guarantee they'll drop support.

[EnGee]

Go the M1/M1x route. Wait for the next Silicon chip if you can.
I have MacBook Air connected to a 32" 2k display and I can use both simultaneously (2 monitors setup). It's a wonderful and powerful enough setup for me running Logic Pro and u-he betas (and some others) natively and most important of all, silent

[BONES]

Why is that important? I'm not seeing it. Do you work in a soundproof room and only listen to your mixes at -16dB? Doesn't the sound of your breathing annoy you?

First post. Long time reader. I finally have saved enough, but I'm getting tripped up on the M1 vs intel thing. I don't want to wait until next year; ideally would like to get new mac for production in the next few months (mostly in the box, one track at a time (acoustic guitar, vocals)). I read this article that said M1 macs are 'entry level'

I'd suggest your requirements are similarly entry level. I imagine you'd be able to record one track at a time on an entry-level iPad. I'd be interested to know why you think you have to buy a Mac. To limit your choices from the very beginning seems like a recipe for later regret to me.

[EnGee]

Why is that important? I'm not seeing it. Do you work in a soundproof room and only listen to your mixes at -16dB? Doesn't the sound of your breathing annoy you?

So, you are making music without thinking! Just hitting keys and then turn off your Dell when finished! You don't have silent moments to think! Do you like to listen to your Dell's fans running all the times? Be reasonable Bones!

I'd suggest your requirements are similarly entry level. I imagine you'd be able to record one track at a time on an entry-level iPad. I'd be interested to know why you think you have to buy a Mac. To limit your choices from the very beginning seems like a recipe for later regret to me.

Worst advice ever! He will spend money twice then! Just let him/her buy a good computer from the first time and spend the next years with zero worried mind! How iPad would be more useful than iMac or a MacBook (Air or Pro)?! You are giving him/her an advice based on guessing not on a practical experience with M1 MacBook/iMac computer, right?

[Passing Bye]

If you are going Apple, skip Intel.

[BONES]

So, you are making music without thinking! Just hitting keys and then turn off your Dell when finished! You don't have silent moments to think!

No, not ever. 90% of the time the TV is on when I'm working on music. Right now I am fiddling around with Hexeract, via my Roli, watching Inspector George Gently (an episode I've not seen before) and replying to you. When the ads come on I'll have a run through one of our old songs I've just ported over from Orion and maybe give it a tweak or two. I don't need silence to think and distractions allow my subconscious to churn things over and spit out ideas when I go back to the music.

Do you like to listen to your Dell's fans running all the times? Be reasonable Bones!

For a start, the fans hardly ever run but I've got the fridge motor a metre from where I sit, it's cold tonight so I've got a fan heater on and, even without those, I'd be lucky to hear the laptop's fans over the baseline noise from my hardware anyway. It's easy to tune all that stuff out when you need to concentrate.

I'd suggest your requirements are similarly entry level.

My requirements for making music certainly are compared to the requirements of my profession. That's why I've been using a $400 second-hand Surface Pro for making music for the last couple of months and why the laptop I had before the current one only had a Core i5 processor in it. I don't really need all the power of the big Dell most of the time, I bought more for freelance work.

Just let him/her buy a good computer from the first time and spend the next years with zero worried mind! How iPad would be more useful than iMac or a MacBook (Air or Pro)?! You are giving him/her an advice based on guessing not on a practical experience with M1 MacBook/iMac computer, right?

No, I am giving advice based upon what the OP said he wanted to do. There was no mention of the need for a full DAW or plugins, just recording vocals and guitar, one at a time. Are you telling me an iPad with Garageband couldn't manage that? (I am assuming you can record audio to GB, I have no idea whether or not you can.)

[glokraw]

When one or the other of the duopoly operating systems have undone themselves at various times, the Mac user can opt to get fully stung, by buying the latest apple iteration, or pick up a cheap wintel device. When the wintel user gets stung, they usually just fix the problem, and for many, running out to pick up a cheap Mac isn't happening. Obviously. Really wealthy people don't need to care, some care a lot, it's part of how they got wealthy in many cases. But people on the working end of computers often are on a budget, and with time constraints. Dropping a mac off at the corner apple store won't easily fit in either case.
Cheers

[kovacs]

@ThaneSpire, you don't mention if you own a Mac already or not. I'm assuming you don't.

The M1 is so new that you will find reviews ranging from "it's crap" to "it's amazing". But I would not even consider getting an intel Mac now. My 2016 15" MBP is starting to struggle and my next machine will be an M-series Mac.

Check out YouTube reviews, and look at dates. Look at the ones which are fairly recent, and if possible long term reviews.


One possible route would be to get a M1 Mac Mini for audio production, 16GB if you can. (I have seen lots of audio production tests on YouTube which claim 8GB is plenty though, due to the way M1 handles memory). Then sell it when you know what you want. They are fantastic little machines. You'll need a monitor though.

If I were to buy a new music computer today I'd go for the 13" M1 MacBook Pro with 16GB and 512GB SSD. Use an external SSD which is cheaper than getting more SSD from Apple. But I am waiting for the next release to see what happens.

Oh, and consider Logic Pro X if you switch. It's amazing value for money. But Ableton Live runs great on it, but it runs in Rosetta and does not yet have native M1 support.

I have used Macs since 1995 and am not about to change.

[jancivil]

Well, it depends on how much RAM you in fact use. I have somewhat followed developments, and based in what I understand the architecture is not going to relieve 50-75% of memory pressure using a couple of things at one time, eg., Cubase connected to VE Pro with a not-so-lite load. IE: I have 64 GB. Last time I looked during playback the system was using around 23.
The reduced m-p is notable for people who multitask and for example have something to get to _while_ video is rendering, maybe a couple, three somethings, in which case the new machines tend to represent a huge advance.

i bought the 2019 MBP last July. i spent all told 5K, USD. I also have what's touted today, not just by its vendor, as the lowest latency audio interface on earth. So I'm not going to be experiencing a whole lot of bottleneck with it. I'm pretty sure 16GB would be, I could be wrong but I wouldn't buy it on spec.