KVR Audio

Bombadil · Post by **Bombadil** » Sun Jul 31, 2022 7:13 pm

My M1 Mini 16 GB/1 TB BTO works just fine with Logic. Better than fine. I really can't see the need for this much horsepower unless you do orchestral/video recording/editing.

/Debby Downer....

sQeetz · Post by **sQeetz** » Sun Jul 31, 2022 8:06 pm

Bombadil wrote: Sun Jul 31, 2022 7:13 pm My M1 Mini 16 GB/1 TB BTO works just fine with Logic. Better than fine. I really can't see the need for this much horsepower unless you do orchestral/video recording/editing.

/Debby Downer....

I also have the M1 and will probably wait for couple of years to see a benefit in upgrading. Maybe Apple Silicon M4 or M5.....

ON BEATS · Post by **ON BEATS** » Mon Aug 01, 2022 4:15 am

M1 supporter here

it is crazy powerful and never slows down or gets hot. it is the best computing decision i ever made.

Tronam · Post by **Tronam** » Thu Sep 01, 2022 6:52 am

PAK wrote: Tue Jul 12, 2022 7:15 am
Tronam wrote: Mon Jul 11, 2022 10:58 pmUnless you genuinely want/need the 20-core M1 Ultra, I think an M1 Pro 14" MBP is a better overall package than the Mac Studio
Yes, I agree with you. If your goal is to maximize the amount of virtual instruments / FX you can run, for your money, you're looking for a higher number of performance cores and less graphics cores. Amusingly, Apple appears to hide the number of performance cores, when purchasing, instead pointing you at the overall core count and amount of neural engines!

The M1 Pro has an 8 performance core, 16 graphic core option. This compares to the Mac Studio, where the M1 Max base config is the same 8 performance cores, but starts at 24 graphics cores. Meaning, if Apple ever update the Mac Mini with the Pro chip, then the base Mac Studio would likely become difficult to justify for many users, depending on Apple's pricing (big caveat there).

Which is why the updated Mac Mini will probably just have the base M2 chip with the same upgrade options as the new MacBook Air, such as 24GB of RAM. If they released a Mac Mini with M2 Pro it would have more CPU power than all Mac Studios save for the Ultra which doesn't make much sense. Why create a whole new product category and then leapfrog it 9 months later with an "entry level" Mac Mini? This seems unlikely to me. If they do offer M2 Pro, it'll be a binned chip with only 6 performance cores like the base model 14" MacBook Pro.

PAK · Post by **PAK** » Fri Sep 02, 2022 1:09 am

Tronam wrote: Thu Sep 01, 2022 6:52 amWhich is why the updated Mac Mini will probably just have the base M2 chip with the same upgrade options as the new MacBook Air, such as 24GB of RAM. If they released a Mac Mini with M2 Pro it would have more CPU power than all Mac Studios save for the Ultra which doesn't make much sense. Why create a whole new product category and then leapfrog it 9 months later with an "entry level" Mac Mini?

Progress?

But you're probably right.. IE Not enough time has passed for Apple to offer an alternative model which costs less for more performance. Plus M2 will likely raise prices, so a Pro Mini might not offer the cost savings people would hope for anyway..

If they do offer it your 6 performance core part is a good guess. Likewise, it'd kinda have to be in the $1400-$1500 price range, with a 16GB ram / 512GB base config. That way it's ~$600 less to get the base M1 Mini, and $600 more to get the base Studio M1 Max. It still kinda leaves the Macbook Pro looking like the better deal though, huh?

Whilst they're (not) considering DAW users, they could also do worse than consider a 12 performance core part, priced between the base Studio Max and Ultra models. Presently they've left a very steep price gap between the two.

Tronam · Post by **Tronam** » Fri Sep 02, 2022 8:12 am

Don't get me wrong, if they did release a new Mac Mini with the full M2 Pro chip I'd probably get one. For audio work it would be more than enough power for my music projects, unless of course some fancy new synth comes along that eats CPU cycles for breakfast. Then I guess we'll all get back on the never-ending upgrade treadmill again.

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 7:58 pm

I'm trying to decide on which Mac Studio to get - seems the best option for me right now. Explored Mac Pros and the M2 Air also looks tempting but on the whole I don't really need a laptop as my iPad Pro is enough for portable use. Just trying to weigh up Max vs Ultra. Possibly for me the Max with 32 GPU cores may be the best bet over an Ultra (with increased weight and heat) - not sure though.

Tronam · Post by **Tronam** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 8:48 pm

All of the Mac Studios run cooler than any computer I’ve ever used. Even with all 20 cores throttled my Ultra barely exceeds 55° and that’s after dialing down the fan speed to its minimum 1100rpm. Probably the most overkill thermal solution ever.

pdxindy · Post by **pdxindy** » Sat Sep 24, 2022 3:46 am

Tronam wrote: Thu Sep 01, 2022 6:52 am Which is why the updated Mac Mini will probably just have the base M2 chip with the same upgrade options as the new MacBook Air, such as 24GB of RAM. If they released a Mac Mini with M2 Pro it would have more CPU power than all Mac Studios save for the Ultra which doesn't make much sense.

The Mac Mini will get the M2-Pro. It has to in order to be faster than the Intel model it is replacing.

Mac Studio has other advantages... more I/O, more memory, etc. Mac Studio with M1-Max will still have faster graphics, just less overall cpu power. Then Mac Studio will fairly soon after get the M2-Max

Tronam · Post by **Tronam** » Sat Sep 24, 2022 4:42 am

pdxindy wrote: Sat Sep 24, 2022 3:46 am
Tronam wrote: Thu Sep 01, 2022 6:52 am Which is why the updated Mac Mini will probably just have the base M2 chip with the same upgrade options as the new MacBook Air, such as 24GB of RAM. If they released a Mac Mini with M2 Pro it would have more CPU power than all Mac Studios save for the Ultra which doesn't make much sense.
The Mac Mini will get the M2-Pro. It has to in order to be faster than the Intel model it is replacing.

Mac Studio has other advantages... more I/O, more memory, etc. Mac Studio with M1-Max will still have faster graphics, just less overall cpu power. Then Mac Studio will fairly soon after get the M2-Max

The 2020 M1 Mac Mini is already faster. The Intel model only continues to exists for some niche use cases or businesses who still need an x86 Mac for compatibility. The Mac Studio fills the void that the “high end” mini was supposed to represent. That’s why it was created, to be essentially a Mac Mini Pro.

pdxindy · Post by **pdxindy** » Sat Sep 24, 2022 5:42 am

Tronam wrote: Sat Sep 24, 2022 4:42 am The 2020 M1 Mac Mini is already faster. The Intel model only continues to exists for some niche use cases or businesses who still need an x86 Mac for compatibility. The Mac Studio fills the void that the “high end” mini was supposed to represent. That’s why it was created, to be essentially a Mac Mini Pro.

We disagree... i say they will use the Pro cpu's as a mid level Mac Mini. Of course we are both just speculating.

Tronam · Post by **Tronam** » Mon Sep 26, 2022 6:18 am

pdxindy wrote: Sat Sep 24, 2022 5:42 am
Tronam wrote: Sat Sep 24, 2022 4:42 am The 2020 M1 Mac Mini is already faster. The Intel model only continues to exists for some niche use cases or businesses who still need an x86 Mac for compatibility. The Mac Studio fills the void that the “high end” mini was supposed to represent. That’s why it was created, to be essentially a Mac Mini Pro.
We disagree... i say they will use the Pro cpu's as a mid level Mac Mini. Of course we are both just speculating.

I'd love to be wrong though because a Mac Mini like that would be awesome, especially for audio folks. It's just telling that there's no current Mac below $1999 with a "Pro" chip in it. Not even the 13" MacBook Pro offers that as an option. They like to segment their product lines.

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 11:24 am

aMUSEd wrote: Thu Sep 22, 2022 7:58 pm I'm trying to decide on which Mac Studio to get - seems the best option for me right now. Explored Mac Pros and the M2 Air also looks tempting but on the whole I don't really need a laptop as my iPad Pro is enough for portable use. Just trying to weigh up Max vs Ultra. Possibly for me the Max with 32 GPU cores may be the best bet over an Ultra (with increased weight and heat) - not sure though.

My 32 GPU Max with 64Gb system memory arrived Saturday so spent weekend setting it up - wow!!!!

Mac Studio: M1 Max vs. M1 Ultra?