Best Windows Laptop For Music Production 2020 – When it comes to music production, the importance of having a laptop built for the job cannot be understated.
Our laptops when making music – choosing the right DAW, installing the best effects and instrument plugins, etc.
Best Windows Laptop For Music Production 2020
(No one likes seeing the dreaded “system overload” message seconds after pressing the play button), it’s important to have a laptop equipped with the features and functionality needed to handle music production in 2023.
Best Laptops For Music Production
In this article, we’ll examine the key factors you’ll want to consider, along with a few specific laptop models that can be solid starting points for your search.
There are a number of factors you will want to keep in mind when evaluating laptops for music production. First of all, if you’re already used to using a particular DAW, you’ll want to make sure the laptop’s operating system is compatible with it. For example, Logic Pro is an Apple-exclusive DAW, so you’ll want a Mac if you’re committed to using it.
On the other hand, there are also a number of plugins that are also exclusive to Windows – so it may be worth taking stock of the plugins that are essential to your toolkit before choosing a new laptop (if you’re just starting out). in your music production journey, don’t worry too much about this as most plugins are compatible with both Mac and Windows).
That said, let’s dive deeper into five other key factors that matter when it comes to making music on a laptop: RAM, CPU, storage, display, and connection types.
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RAM (short for Random Access Memory) is the type of computer memory that addresses a laptop’s ability to quickly handle multiple tasks and efficiently process large amounts of data. You can see RAM expressed in gigabytes, and it is most often in one of the following amounts: 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB.
RAM plays a role in almost every aspect of music production, from playing multiple tracks at the same time to processing all the effects and synths you’ll be using at any given time. If your laptop doesn’t have enough RAM, your DAW will start to slow down, freeze or even crash.
Minimum RAM for music production is 8GB, but 16GB and above is more optimal, especially if you are working on sessions with many tracks or complex sample libraries.
The CPU (short for Central Processing Unit) performs the most important calculations and instructions that allow the software on your laptop to run. Working with RAM, it allows you to process audio, effects and more in real time.
Best Windows Laptop For Music Production
A CPU with a higher clock speed and more cores will be able to handle the complex tasks that music production requires faster and more efficiently. Some popular processors found in modern laptops include Intel Core i9, Intel Core i7, AMD Ryzen 9, Apple M2 and Apple M1.
Regardless of your exact processor, there are still ways to use what you’ve got efficiently – check out our tips for optimizing CPU resources when making music here.
If RAM represents short-term memory, you can think of the CPU as the “brain” of your laptop. Both are essential and work closely together to meet your music production needs.
That said, the CPU may get insufficient attention from many growing manufacturers compared to RAM, despite being (literally) the most central part of your laptop’s performance. You’ll find that the price of a laptop can change drastically depending on its CPU specs – we’ll explore this further when we discuss specific models.
Best Laptops For Music Production 2023
DAWs, software tools and sample libraries can take up a lot of space, so it’s important to have a good amount of storage available, especially if you have these tools on your laptop as opposed to an external drive.
There are two main types of storage that you should be aware of: solid state drives (SSD) and conventional hard drives (HDD). SSDs use flash memory to store data, while HDDs use spinning disks and read/write heads.
In general, SSDs are preferred for music production over HDDs because they have higher read and write speeds that are ideal for tasks such as opening projects, accessing large audio files, etc. slightly more expensive than HDDs, although they have become more and more affordable over the years.
Happens at all times when operating a DAW. While a specific screen size is not critical, larger screens (eg 15″ and above) with higher resolutions (eg 1080p and above) can help you navigate your session better.
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In addition to choosing a laptop with a larger screen, using a monitor with your device can be another way to organize and visualize your production flow.
Last but not least, if you use hardware, microphones or physical instruments in your creative process, it’s important to make sure your laptop covers the types of connections you need. For example, does your audio interface require a Thunderbolt or FireWire connection? Are you using a USB microphone? If the exact connection type isn’t available, make sure you can at least use a hub, adapter or dongle to get there.
Now that you have a basic understanding of the key factors and features to look for, let’s take a look at some laptops that are popular among music producers. While not an exhaustive list of all solid options here, these can serve as good starting points if you’re not sure where to start.
We’ve organized the list by price of a new laptop in descending order so you can explore different price ranges that work best for you. That said, researching used options can still be a worthwhile endeavor as long as you buy from a reputable source. Exact price points may also vary depending on the specific dealer and configuration.
Best Laptops For Music Production In 2023
One of the most widely used and highly respected laptops, the MacBook Pro 16″ offers solid performance, a beautiful Liquid Retina XDR display (which reportedly supports one billion colors) and impressive battery life for long sessions on the go. If you have the more modern version, the M2 Max will outperform the M2 Pro, but both are among the most powerful chips you can find for top-end CPUs and GPUs.
ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16 is a unique laptop because it is specifically designed to address creators. It has tons of storage, a versatile range of I/O connections and a color accurate 16″ screen. You can customize your processor (see Intel Core i9-12900H processor and AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX processor) and the price will vary depending of your choice.
A “budget” alternative to the MacBook Pro 16″, the MacBook Pro 14″ with the Apple M1 chip is a laptop that still offers industry-leading performance, earning it the number one slot for
The list of the best laptops for music production. Essentially trade two inches of screen and the last chip for an alternative that’s still incredibly powerful and capable of supporting complex project files and plugins with ease.
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Although it might not be the first option most people consider, the right gaming laptops can actually be great for music production. With an Intel i9 processor and 16GB of RAM, the Strix Scar 15 meets a music producer’s need for processing power. You also have a number of relevant connectivity options, including two USB-C ports (including a Thunderbolt 4), two USB-A ports, HDMI and a 1/8″ headphone jack.
Another high-end gaming laptop, the Alienware X14, has 16GB of RAM, an Intel Core i7-12700H processor, and 512GB of SSD storage. It has a bold, all-white look with striking blue accents, which can be attractive if you’re looking for something that makes a statement. The laptop costs around $2,300 when fully specced, but you can get something solid for as little as $1,600.
With one of the largest (but thinnest) screens on this list, Dell’s XPS 17″ balances premium design and functionality with its Intel Core i9 processor, up to 64GB of RAM, and Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU. The only downside is that it has a relatively low number of ports compared to some of the other options on this list, so you’ll want to double check that it has everything you need for your personal workflow. .
Equipped with an Intel Core i7-11800H processor, 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage, the MS1 Katana GF66 offers reliable performance for its price. Its all-plastic design could be an adversary for those who prefer a construction with less give, but that doesn’t interfere with its ability to perform the many tasks necessary for music production.
Best Laptops For Music Production In 2023
While the MacBook Pro is generally preferred by music producers for its durability, the MacBook Air 2020 offers undeniable value for its cost, especially when you consider that it is an Apple product. Thanks to the recent release of the 2022 M2 MacBook Air, you can find this version