Desktop vs Laptop

[Sweaty Ear]

Hi all,

Was looking to buy a new computer for music production and was thinking of getting a laptop for the portability but then after researching found you can get a desktop with more power/features for the same price or cheaper. Wanted to know what you think the pros and cons of using a desktop vs a laptop with your DAW are (other than portability of course). Any help would be appreciated.

[dan_flash]

I think most people prefer a desktop because, as you rightly said, you can get more power for your money and it is customisable etc.

For what it's worth though, I personally prefer laptop. After using purpose-built desktop machines for years, I put Linux on my 10 year old laptop, upgraded RAM and swapped out the HDD for an SSD and now that's me sorted.

I mainly use Renoise, Reaper / Ardour, Airwindows and GVSTs. Scarlett USB interface, SM57, hardware amp sims and/or Guitarix etc.

Desktop is more power but using Linux means my old laptop has become a powerful studio that means I can record vocals in the car or program drums on the sofa with headphones while the baby is asleep etc etc and that to me is enough of a reason to use laptops over desktops. Everyone's situation and preferences are different though.

[kritikon]

I went the laptop route last year, having previously always used desktops for music. No regrets here, and portability is definitely the main advantage. I didn't go top spec, and from what I saw it was pretty expensive to get a laptop that was wizzbang for music specifically. Midrange is plenty good enough unless you go silly with plugins...I do have to render judiciously, but I always used to do that on desktops anyway. I would struggle to make a track with all live s/w and then master it with quality mastering plugins...but it's really no hardship to do the sensible thing and render a mix and then master that.

For the same money I definitely could have got a higher powered desktop and custom built is easier. But I don't miss the extra power...nice to have but not essential IMO.

Most obvious benefit to me is studio space. Would have been a bit of a pita to fit a desktop into my setup, but a laptop is easier with just a bit of desk space. Depends on how your setup is, but I never enjoyed big bulky desktops in limited spaces and it meant buying specific studio furniture to accommodate a desktop.

2nd benefit...the obvious portability. I didn't think I would do this initially but sometimes it is nice to be able to do a bit of music away from the studio, usually upstairs in the lounge or whatever. Sometimes you just don't want the whole rigmarole of firing up a whole studio...nice to be able to curl up somewhere comfy and make noise.

A benefit I wasn't expecting was the keyboard. Most desktop keyboards seem to be standard size, standard spacing. My laptop is just that little bit bigger spaced and I find it way easier to use. Really surprised me what a big difference a tiny improvement makes. But I guess if you look hard enough there must be similar desktop keyboards.

Benefit...trackpad. Using a mouse for prolonged periods stuffs my wrist. Don't get that now with the pad (though took me a while to get used to it).

Definitely less ports on your usual laptops and I can see how USB ports could be an issue for some, especially if you use dongles. Personally it's no problem, even though I use a Cubase dongle. 1 port for soundcard, 1 for dongle is OK for me and still leaves me a free port if I want to add in a mixer, or program some synth or other.

Another downside is extra expense for a screen which makes laptops still more costly than desktops. For proper music sessions laptop screens are way too small. You're going to need a proper monitor. They're not exactly expensive nowadays though. I can work on the laptop screen, but it's not ideal for a fully featured DAW.

Last time I looked though, you can get more bang for buck with desktops still.

[Sweaty Ear]

Thanks for your replies. quite helpful. will most likely need something with at least 4 usb ports but possibly 3 if the mouse pad option works and 2 if you don't have to plug the dongle directly into the computer. unfortunately the daw doesn't come in a Linux version but knowing a 5 year old laptop would be powerful enough definitely opens up possibilities financially.

[chk071]

Get a desktop. More bang for the buck, no heat issues, more USB ports. Bigger screen.

[thecontrolcentre]

Laptop user here, mainly for the portability. I used to DJ quite regularly (before Covid). Mine came with 4 USB ports, 2 of which are used for hubs. I'm down to only 1 spare USB2 input now, but thats after more than 7 years with this i7 machine.

I added a couple of extra 1TB SSD's when it was being built in 2014 by SCAN, so have 3 1TB SSDs onboard (one for the OS , programs and plugins, one for audio files/ music projects/sample libraries, and one for video and photos), plus 1TB and 2TB SSD's on 2 of the USB3 ports. One for backups and the other for storing movies, TV shows, etc.

The 3XS laptop been a good, cool running, quiet, fast & reliable PC except for the 17" screen shedding a line of pixels after around 7 years use. SCAN replaced the screen for £220 (out of warranty) and it's been fine ever since. I use it for video as well as audio.

I use a second 23" monitor for editing video and adjusting VSTs with small GUIs. I've always used a remote USB keyboard and mouse which does use a couple of ports on my USB2 hub, but I'm sure it saves wear and tear to the lappy itself.

[kritikon]

Thanks for your replies. quite helpful. will most likely need something with at least 4 usb ports but possibly 3 if the mouse pad option works and 2 if you don't have to plug the dongle directly into the computer. unfortunately the daw doesn't come in a Linux version but knowing a 5 year old laptop would be powerful enough definitely opens up possibilities financially.

Dongles sound like they're becoming a thing of the past. Even Steinberg is going to drop them from v12, and there's already some kind of soft eLicenser option also which negates the dongle (not entirely sure how it works but Cubase always gives me a warning about soft eLicenser authorisation when I fire up even though the dongle's in). And though I don't like anything associated with PACE, iLok can be done directly on the laptop rather than dongle. Ridiculous amount of d/l needed for iLok though - I recently installed it for a dumb freebie that it turns out I don't even like, and it horrified me that iLok needed 194MB (I shall be getting rid of that shite off my computer tout-suite). Between syncrosoft and iLok it's not far short of 1/2 a GB. So lack of USB is far less of an issue than it used to be.

[nathanj]

Depends on how you’re going to use it. Do you need portability? That’s basically the only thing you need to ask.

[Sweaty Ear]

yeah true. guess i don't neeeeed portability but was thinking laptop would be easier to carry around and deal with. also, even though you might not take your full sized midi instrument with you on vacation for example you could take your laptop and still work. was wondering if there are issues with daws working better with one or the other with mpe, vst3, etc. and what you all use. seems like more of you like laptops over desktops tho.
people lose dongles but still not thrilled about soft locks cuz i'm not comfortable with being forced to install extra software yet, especially ones that connect with the internet. did some reading on steinberg's 30day licenses and that might be the deal breaker for me.

the other thing i wanted to ask you about was if the small form factor desktops are viable for music production. didn't know if they even come with a sound source as some of them are the size of a box of chocolates.

[astralprojection]

both!
a desktop really is unreplacable for many reasons; but none of those really matters for music production. a high end laptop is more than sufficient for any CPU and RAM needs for sure.
so if youre not going to do anything else like gaming for example, then just go laptop but spend a few extra bucks on some quality dont skimp out
but just go both tbh, nothing beats having both :p

[DJ Warmonger]

"Portability" makes sense only if you travel around and do gigs with your laptop. After you plug an audio interface and USB hub with several devices to a laptop, it's no longer portable ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Besides, ergonomics. Laptop is always tiring, and potentially harmful to your eyes and wrists. It is very different with PC, which you can configure to your needs and keep a screen and keyboard at right position.

[Michael L]

Besides, ergonomics.

Important.
Also, plugin GUIs are larger on a desktop screen, put multiple items on your screen at once, mount screen at eye level, add multiple drives with no hassles, plug in and configure all your peripherals just once and after that just turn it all on with one button. Bliss.

[chk071]

Yes, I think desktop has loads of thing going for it in terms of audio production. As has been said, the only advantage of a laptop (portability) is soon void when you connect your devices.

[.jon]

"Portability" makes sense only if you travel around and do gigs with your laptop. After you plug an audio interface and USB hub with several devices to a laptop, it's no longer portable ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Besides, ergonomics. Laptop is always tiring, and potentially harmful to your eyes and wrists. It is very different with PC, which you can configure to your needs and keep a screen and ketyboard at right position.

But when you travel around, portability is mandatory and a desktop makes no sense whatsoever. You cant take it even to another room in your home. And the laptop itself remains portable, you dont need all the externals with you all the time.

If you spend so many hours on the PC that you need to worry about ergonomics, does it leave you with any time at all to play instruments or make any music?

[DJ Warmonger]

"Portability" makes sense only if you travel around and do gigs with your laptop. After you plug an audio interface and USB hub with several devices to a laptop, it's no longer portable ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Besides, ergonomics. Laptop is always tiring, and potentially harmful to your eyes and wrists. It is very different with PC, which you can configure to your needs and keep a screen and ketyboard at right position.

If you spend so many hours on the PC that you need to worry about ergonomics, does it leave you with any time at all to play instruments or make any music?

I think we have a very different idea of "making music" ¯\_(ツ)_/¯