MetalThrasher
Well-known member
I need to get a new laptop soon and I'm considering getting a MacBook. What is the bare minimum model I should be looking at if I want to use it for recording?
MacBook for Recording?
- Thread starter MetalThrasher
- Start date
Monkey Man
Super Moderator
If you want to be able to keep the OS reasonably-up-to-date, you'll need to go Apple Silicon.
IOW, M1, M2, M3 or the upcoming M4.
That's all I know on that matter.
If you're willing to live with incompatibilities, you can always pick up a 5-10 year-old model on-the-cheap and should still have enough power to run dozens of tracks and FX.
IOW, M1, M2, M3 or the upcoming M4.
That's all I know on that matter.
If you're willing to live with incompatibilities, you can always pick up a 5-10 year-old model on-the-cheap and should still have enough power to run dozens of tracks and FX.
GrimTrigger
Member
Chronic Narnia
Active member
You need a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro with an “M” Processor and at least 16GB of memory.
cobrahead1030
Well-known member
I went the Amazon discount route and have been pretty happy with mine.
I went with an 8GB/256GB and I get by ok with it. I have to be mindful of keeping my hard drive clean, which isn't a huge deal with external storage. I also have occasional issues running logic if I have a ton of plug-ins going. That being said, I'm able to write/record everything I need to fairly easily, but I wish I'd spent a little more on a 16/256.
I'll probably upgrade next year.
TotallyRadGuitars
Well-known member
I'm still rocking an old Macbook with the intel processor and Logic Pro X. Seems to work fine, maybe someday I'll have to upgrade but not for a while, and it was half the price of an M2 at the time. That said, I have nothing installed on it at all besides Logic so it's super clean, nothing to slow it down. If it had to function as my main/only computer then I'd be more interested in an upgrade.
Soundstorm
Well-known member
MacBook Air with an M chip and at least 16GB Ram. The Airs have smaller hard drives but you can get by with an external for extra space.
MetalThrasher
Well-known member
Thanks for the advice! I ordered this one......
Apple 2024 MacBook Air 15-inch Laptop with M3 chip: 15.3-inch Liquid Retina Display, 16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, 1080p FaceTime HD Camera, Touch ID; Midnight
Monkey Man
Super Moderator
Congrats MT! 
That little thing's a beast.
That little thing's a beast.
Techdeth
RESIDENT ROCK PROFESSOR
How much that run
rushcentrale
Member
That's plenty of computer for recording.
MetalThrasher
Well-known member
$1,500 at Amazon.
MetalThrasher
Well-known member
Laptop is coming tomorrow which is great because I'm off Friday and Monday!
