Best Desktop For Music Production 2017

Best Desktop For Music Production 2017

[Updated: 14 April 2018] – We've curated the best laptops for music production this year. Go forth and make music!
Best Desktop For Music Production 2017
Best Desktop For Music Production 2017 Statistics
Choosing a good laptop for music production shouldn't be too hard but it is a critical decision to make.
What you want is a laptop powerful enough for recording and music production. On top of that, it will last you many years to come, eventually making sense of your investment.
You possibly travel a lot as well and want a laptop to produce music, that isn't bulky or heavy.
Ten Best Windows Music Production Software. Certain things you should check before purchasing a music/audio production software. It includes the ability to support various MIDI and audio tracks, loop library, variety of virtual instruments, or does it have a multiband equalizer to fine-tune your recordings, or does it support third-party plugins, etc. Laptop vs Desktop/Tower Generally laptops offer less power/performance compared to desktops at the same price-point. Laptops also limit your options for expansion and upgrades. Of course, laptops can be used but you should have a specific requirement to be mobile with your music production/performance. If not, definitely go the desktop route.
I totally understand. In fact, in my years of producing music, I owned over 5 laptops, Macs & PCs in the past 10 years of producing music.
How To Choose A Good Laptop for Music ProductionFirst of all, you need to think about the OS you'd like to produce music on. Will you primarily make music on a Mac or PC?
I've covered this topic about choosing a computer for music production previously, but just to add, choosing an OS to make music on usually depends on the DAW software you want to use.
Personally, I started my music production journey in 2006 with Logic Express. Since then, I have switched between multiple DAWs such as Cubase, Studio One, and even switch between using Mac & PC a few times only to finally finding myself buying a MacBook Pro Retina to use Logic X almost 10 years later in 2016.
Choosing a good laptop for music production boils down to three main factors:
Main DAW software you'll use
Processing power – You'll want the fastest processor you can afford.
RAM – You need more RAM for VST intensive production. I recommend a minimum of 8GB.
Don't make the mistake I did, by jumping into buying a laptop that didn't quite like for music production. I bought the Asus GL552VW on impulse. Good affordable laptop but not without some annoyance.
See the review video:
Of course, things such as battery life for making music on the go, available storage space to store your samples or available ports are important as well. But there are often workarounds for those.
Let's get started.
Best 10 Laptops For Music Production in 2018Here are the best 10 laptops that you can consider buying in 2018 for music production. I'll also briefly explain the pros and cons of each.
1 – MacBook Pro Retina 2015One of the best laptops to go for when it comes to music production is the MacBook Pro.
Why? Because it simply works. I'm not going to discuss the war between PC or Macs for music production but having used both & while it really boils down to personal preference, I still prefer using a MacBook Pro over any Windows laptop to produce music.
With a MacBook Pro (the Retina 2015 model), you get everything you need to make music immediately. Fast SSD drive, Core Audio, RAM, battery life & CPU power to take on most music production demands.
Hey, what about the latest Macbook Pro? To be honest, the current MacBook Pro model with the touch bar isn't bad. The reason I didn't feature it here is that of the need for more ports on a laptop for music production. The current model does not have enough ports without using a dongle.
Most MIDI controllers & audio interfaces all work on a USB3 connection. And to be honest, the touch bar on the new MacBook Pros doesn't actually help your production workflow.
One more thing. If you're planning to buy the MacBook Pro & need to add more RAM, don't buy the 13″ model & upgrade the RAM. Instead, it makes more monetary sense to buy the 15″ base model as it comes with 16GB RAM installed, together with an i7 processor.
Pros
Ready to use out-of-the-box.
Solid performance & quality.
Little driver or software issues with a Mac system.
Comes with Garageband (which is great for beginners)
Cons
Small SSD space. Not enough for keeping large samples.
Expensive.
May lack enough ports.
Not very upgradable.
RAM only up to 16GB.
Slower processor compared to many other Windows laptop.
2 – Razer Blade Stealth 13.3″If you've been around the internet looking for a high-quality laptop, you may have heard about the Razer Blade Stealth. This laptop is great in many ways for music production and here are some reasons why.
It has the 8th generation Quad Core i7-8550U that will deal with all your DAW & plugins processing. It comes with 16GB of RAM which sadly isn't upgradable but should definitely do the trick for a travelling producer. In addition, it also has an NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 106, which will be an extra help for your RAM usage when producing music, as it'll help with some plugin processing.
A nice feature is the touchscreen display, so you could in fact, use the touchscreen to tweak your audio plugins & draw automation. The standard SSD storage that comes with it, is a 256GB SSD, but you can upgrade it to 512GB. The 1TB version will cost you quite a bit more, and I foresee most music producers using an external hard disk with the Razer Blade.
However, a quick workaround is to use the USB-C port, where you can use an external SSD or HDD to load any of your projects, plugins or virtual instruments with ease. While the USB-C is pretty fast, make sure you get an external drive, preferably an SSD that is fast enough to load & save samples.
Though the Razer Blade Stealth is marketed for gaming, where you'll be putting down money for design & the graphics card, the laptop will perform great for any music production usage.
Pros
Solid performance and quality.
Has USB-C. One of the most powerful USB connections to date.
Cons
Expensive.
Little option for upgrades.
There are cheaper alternatives if you're in a pinch.
3 – Dell XPS 15The Dell XPS series is a laptop series that has been around for some time. The Dell XPS 15 is also one of the sexiest 15-inch laptop you can buy for music production.
Unlike many other Chinese-made laptops which can be quite flimsy with its build, you'll appreciate the strong & premium build of the XPS 15, its nice borderless display, the touch deck & how slim-profiled the laptop is. It's seriously a beauty of a laptop.
Performance wise, there are few models you can choose from, depending on your budget. But be informed that the Dell XPS is pricier than other laptops with the same performance, due to the build and component quality.
The entry model starts at $999 with the 7th gen i3 processor. I'd advise you to bump your budget up and get the $1249 model that comes with the 7th gen i5 processor at a bare minimum. Or better yet, get the model with the i7 processor to future-proof your laptop purchase.
The entry model sports a 7200RPM hard disk drive which would be fine for music production, but if you're afraid of hitting into bottlenecks with the storage drive speed, get the higher end models that come with SSD.
The RAM on every model is upgradable to 32GB, making it ideal for music production. There's also plenty of ports from USB3.0 to Thunderbolt, so connectivity in the studio shouldn't be an issue.
Pros
Beautifully designed & solid
Very nice display
Powerful. Expensive models come with Nvidia graphics card.
Cons
No option to have 2 storage drives.
Pricier option. You pay for the build quality & brand
4. PCAudioLabs (MC Mobile M7S)PC Audio Labs makes laptops and computers for music producers. What you get is not off the shelf basic PCs, but specialized Windows systems, tweaked specifically for professional audio. Compared to many off-the-shelf laptops, where drivers are built by Windows, PC AudioLabs take it further by tweaking the drivers specifically for music production.
The MC Mobile M7s comes packed with an Intel® Core™ i7-7700HQ, it has the power to handle all of your processing in your DAW. In fact, the systems built by PCAudioLabs (including the MC Mobile M7s), has been used to score films, power DJ performances and becoming the heart of many commercial recording studios. Why you could upgrade the RAM to 64GB if you want!
Storage wise, you have an M.2/PCIe or an option for an SSD or an HDD. All of the storage can be upgradable to your needs.
In addition to the purchase of this laptop (other PC AudioLabs' products/custom PC included), PC AudioLabs also comes with pro audio training from OBEDIA, a well-known company which profession is in helping music producers with training and solving technicalities. This largely separates them apart even from big companies like Apple. They also come with free lifetime phone and email tech support even when your warranty has already come to an end.
In summary, this laptop just shouts customisability and if you'd like the idea of having a laptop built specifically for music production, this one is a go.
Pros
Made for music production.
Lifetime phone & email support by pro audio hardware & software techs.
Extremely customizable towards your needs & budget.
Comes with pro audio training from OBEDIA.
Cons
It'll come with a cost.
Favors intermediate & pro producers who know what they want. As a beginner, you might do OK on normal laptops.
5 – HP Pavilion Power 15The HP Pavilion Power 15 is a nice laptop with enough screen size for busy DAW edits. Packed with an Intel® Core™ i7-7700HQ, you'll have enough processing power for large music arrangements and recordings. On the contrary, it only packs 4GB of RAM in which can be upgraded to 16GB only (max). The battery is a plus on the Pavilion if you like to do a bit of writing out of the studio.
The big thing to shout about with this machine is the fact that it has a dual storage option. With the capability of having an SSD and an HDD, you can put your programs on your SSD and dump all of your plugins and VSTs on your HDD which can be upgraded up to 2TB.
Video editing or some light film score on this laptop will work too, with an NVIDIA GeForce 1050. The Pavilion Power 15 makes a great laptop for the beginner or intermediate music producer who enjoys making music and doing other tasks. Just make sure you get the specs you want right from the factory, to save troublesome upgrades later on.
Pros
Best Desktop For Music Production 2017Huge storage w/ dual storage option.
Good amount of ports including USB-C.
Long battery life – up to 14 hours.
Cons
RAM upgradable to 16GB only.
Plastic-built
Best Desktop For Music Production 2017 Statistics6 – Dell Inspiron 15 7000An affordable gaming laptop that looks just twice as expensive the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 is a workhorse, that should be considered. With models that start from only $799, the Inspiron 15 7000 comes with the latest 8th generation Core i5-8250U processor.
It packs a lot of power for the intermediate music producer.
There are also dual drives built into the laptop, with an SSD as its main drive, so DAW will feel snappy on this laptop. While the laptop comes with a big 15″ display, giving you plenty of real estate for working in your DAW, the display is somewhat not as vibrant as compared to many other laptops.
This will be slightly discouraging if you plan on making videos with it as well as the colors are not exactly accurate. However, if producing music is your main focus and nothing else, then Dell Inspiron 15 7000 is worth a consideration – without spending too much!
Pros
Long battery life – up to 11 hours.
Decent performance at its price.
Great build, looks professional and solid.
Cons
Dull & inaccurate display
Heavy.
Bottom of the laptop can get pretty hot with more need for processing.
7 – HP Spectre x360 (2018)Another well made laptop, the Spectre X360 allows you to use it like a normal laptop or as a tablet. Although a little small, it's very well built. Also, expect great battery life on the Spectre X360. It is capable of running up to 8 hours with continuous online browsing.
Now sporting the latest 8th gen Intel Core i7, you'll have all the power to record & produce music. You could upgrade the Spectre's storage to a whopping 1TB SSD, so streaming your tracks with it should be fairly fast while having all the space you need.
Where it used to fall short, now the RAM can be upgraded to a max of 32GB. This means the Spectre x360 while being a touch-screen laptop is capable of processing intensive music work such as film scoring.
The bummer would be the available ports on the laptop. There's only single USB3.0 port that you could use for your audio interface or MIDI controller. On the right side of the laptop, there's another two USB type-C port which is meant for charging and a Thunderbolt 3 port. Using the HP Spectre X360 for music production means investing in some USB-hubs, unfortunately.
If you find yourself travelling a lot & like a thin laptop that you can produce music on, then consider it. However, at the tech specs, you're getting, the Spectre costs considerably more than other laptops in its range – mostly due to the build quality and slim profile.
The graphics card that comes with the Spectre X360 is not as powerful as the other gaming laptops I mentioned earlier, but for some light photoshopping or video editing, it should do fine. Just don't expect to play games with high graphics intensity on it – which I'll doubt since you'll be more busy making music.
Pros
Great battery life for travelling & producing.
Very nice 4K display.
Can be upgraded with the latest processor, large SSD and RAM.
A silent laptop.
Cons
Very few ports. Need to get USB hub.
Heats up pretty quick due to its thin build
Decent graphics card.
Gets expensive with all the upgrades.
8 – Asus GL503 15.6″The Asus GL503, (refresh from the FX503) is a gaming laptop that works well for music production. Why? It's pretty damn powerful for its size and weight. You get the latest Intel Core™ i7-8750H processor that would take on any recording and plugin processing without a hiccup.
As with most gaming laptops, the GL503 comes with a very powerful graphics card, an NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti with 4GB GDDR5 VRAM – which essentially is an overkill for any music production work, but very much welcomed if you're doing some video editing and film scoring as well. You could upgrade the RAM to 32GB, should you be a heavy plugin and effects user.
As for storage space, I'd recommend you go for the 256GB SSD to install all your softwares and upgrade to the 7200rpm HDD (not the 5400rpm), to store and load your samples quickly. The build of the laptop isn't the best one out there, but if you can live with gaming-looking laptops, with lots of led lights and mostly a plastic build, you'll do fine.
While the GL503 does boast about its cooling proficiency, it does get a little warm when you're doing lots of processing on it. As with most gaming laptops, the battery isn't that great when the laptop starts putting lots of load on the processor. But if you're going to be plugged in when making music, the Asus GL503 will perform like a charm.
Pros
Very powerful for its size & weight.
Enough ports for most music production needs
Customizable & upgradable to the power you need.
Best studio computer. Cons
Battery life isn't as good.
Gets hot with lots of processing.
9 – Samsung Notebook 9Want a laptop that is thin & light, but doesn't sacrifice on performance? The Samsung Notebook 9 is a great 15″ laptop that is powerful, given that it comes with an i7 processor, 256GB SSD drive & 16GB RAM.
The Samsung Notebook 9 is thinner than a MacBook Air and despite that slim built, it also comes with a dedicated Nvidia 940MX GPU built in. While the M.2 SSD 256GB SSD might seem small, it can be upgraded up to 1TB.
Design for the traveler in mind, there's also a USB-C port on the Samsung Notebook 9 that you can use to charge the laptop with a standard phone charger. Samsung claims that a 20-min charge would give enough battery juice for the laptop to last for 2.1 hours.
For us as music producers, there are also plenty of connectivity with USB 3.0 ports, HDMI and strangely a microSD port instead of a standard sized SD port on the laptop.
Pros
Extremely portable and ideal for the travelling music producer
Nice display and screen real estate
Upgradable SSD to 1TB a win!
Cons
RAM only upgradable up to 16GB. Won't be able to handle samples which are too huge.
Weird to have a microSD slot instead of a full standard sized SD card.
10 – Asus Zenbook ProPrefer a thinner ultrabook, not as chunky as most gaming laptops, but is slick, slim and gets the job done? The Asus Zenbook Pro is an amazing laptop for music production with its powerful Intel i7 processor. Once again like most HP laptops, the RAM is only upgradable up to 16GB only.
This laptop has many ports and if you're a MIDI controller person, you'll be happy to know there's enough. Storage on this guy is not that great but you'll be relieved to know that they are PCIe SSD storage. This means you'll have fast transfers speeds despite the low storage count.
In all seriousness, I think this laptop may be a little underrated but it seriously does its job as a slim, slick, powerful ultrabook.
Pros
Great performance & build quality.
Excellent display.
Decent amount of ports including Thunderbolt.
Cons
RAM upgradable to 16GB only.
Low storage capacity.
Bonus #11 – Eluktronics P650RP6 Gaming LaptopNever thought I'd recommend this beast of a machine here but upon studying it, this is a must-have on this list.
The Eluktronics P650RP6 is a beast for a laptop, created by the Eluktronics, a US company who feels that 5400RPM hard drives shouldn't be placed inside modern laptops anymore. They pride themselves to use the best components and parts in the laptops they build.
Of the many models offered, the Eluktronics P650RP6 is one that shows promise in performance and also serving as a laptop for music production. With the top models, you can beef up the laptop, powered by a powerful i7 processor, 1TB SSD, 7200RPM HDD secondary drive & RAM upgradable to a whopping 64GB.
With all this packed into a laptop, it makes the Eluktronics P650RP6 possibly one of the most powerful and best laptop for music production. Packed with a truckload of connectivity options for all your audio devices, it's also a no-brainer if you use a lot of MIDI controllers or if you're planning to hook up multiple displays in the studio. Battery life on the laptop is also decent with approximately 4-5 hours of non-intensive usage.
In my opinion, the Eluktronics laptop falls short with its noisy fan noise under heavy computing load. This might not be so much of a big deal if you work in a two-room recording studio setting. But if you record & mix in the same room, the noisy fans might be a nuisance when recording. Other than that, the Eleuktronics P650RP6 is a true beast of a laptop for music production at the right cost.
Pros
Pricer but price is right for the performance & power.
RAM up to 64GB. Run all the samples you need!
Laptop with most connectivity in its class.
Cons
Noisy fans under heavy load.
Bulky and not very sexy.
ConclusionThere are so many laptops you can choose to produce music on. However what matters at the end of the day is that you put your craft into practice and actually make music.
Many amateur music producers lust too much over new gear but don't spend the time to record, compose & produce.
I hope you're not one & despite the laptop, you decide to get, make sure you produce music. And if you do, feel free to post them over on Audio Mentor's Facebook page so that the community can take a listen.
Lastly, what do you think of this list? What laptop are you using currently to record and produce music? Comment below.
Best Laptops For Music Production From 2017We've kept some of the best laptops from yesteryears here below. Remember, choosing a computer for professional audio is different from choosing one to play games. The key is to know what you need in a system before getting one.
Feel free to reference them from the list below!
1. Acer Aspire VX 15The Acer Aspire VX 15 is an affordable gaming laptop with a starting price from only $800. Although catered more towards gamers, it serves well as a music production and video editing laptop too. The entry model has an Intel i5 processor while the higher end models have an i7 but no matter the model, solid performance is not lost.
RAM can only be upgraded up to 16GB. The starting model only has a 256GB SSD built in hence, you'll need to rely on external storage devices. A 2.5inch HDD drive can also be added with some assembly required.
2. ASUS FX502VM-AS73The is a powerhouse of a laptop with plenty of ports from USB 3 ports, USB-C, HDMI & even a mini display port. It is fitted with the latest 7th gen i7 core processor & upgradable RAM up to 32GB. This laptop performs well as a video editing laptop too as it is equipped with an NVIDIA GTX 960M graphics card.
The laptop comes with an exceptional, impressive cooling system that keeps everything at bay even with the heaviest CPU/GPU workload. It is recommended to get the top end model because it comes with an SSD that is upgradable to 512GB and an HDD of 1TB so, you can install your programs on one and larger files on the other. The downside of this laptop is the battery life.
3. Asus ROG Strix GL553VDThe main attraction for the Asus ROG Gl553VD is the two storage drives. An SSD of 512GB and an HDD of 1TB at 7200RPM. Running with the latest Kaby Lake Intel i7 processor with the RAM upgradable to 32GB, there is no sacrifice in performance.
Equipped with an NVIDIA GTX 1050, your DAW will be able to take advantage of the GPU processing. There is a CD drive on the laptop too if you still need it.
This laptop falls short in which the battery life is limited and the touchpad is pretty lousy hence, it doesn't really make it ideal for producing music when travelling.
4. Lenovo Legion Y520 LaptopThe [easyazon_link identifier='B06XWFCKYX' locale='US' tag='audiowebazon-20'] is a laptop that shouts performance at a price that won't disappoint. Packed with the latest i7 processor, it is a pity that the RAM is only upgradeable up to 16GB. Fitted with an NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti graphics card, it should be pretty snappy to do some video editing or photoshopping on the side.
If you use a lot of MIDI gear, you'll be happy to know that there are enough USB ports for them. You get to choose from a 256GB SSD, a 2TB HDD or a hybrid storage. Do take note that the HDD is not a 7200RPM type, so I'd suggest getting the model with an SSD and use an external drive to store your data.
5 – HP Envy 13Unlike the Spectre X360, the [easyazon_link identifier='B06XKW9M56' locale='US' tag='audiowebazon-20']HP Envy 13 is yet another slim laptop that packs a punch. You could go for the 15″ model if you like a bigger real-estate for making music, however, for the added screen space we personally felt the 15-inch variant wasn't priced for value. Again, it could make sense to go with the 13″ variant. It's small, lightweight, slim and powerful.
Drop Your Comments Here
Today we're looking for the best computer for music production and recording. So you have the music production gear; keyboards, speakers, microphones, and most importantly, those creative ideas storming around in your brain. But what about the actual computer to act as the backbone of your entire digital music production setup? When it comes to a music making computer, we want to settle some anxiety you may have right off the bat: it isn't too big of deal which one you get. When we say that, we mean what kind, type, brand, etc. You will want to follow our checklists for musts so you ensure you have a computer that can actually handle the modern-day digital music production setup; however, there is a vast majority of models to choose from that will work perfectly fine.
How to Choose Your Computer for Music ProductionYour budget – As perhaps assumed, this is our first and foremost the biggest deciding factor. Although you don't necessarily have to drop thousands of dollars on your music making computer, the higher you go, the better overall quality your work flow will be. Many reading this article may be just starting to build a home studio, so keep in mind what other gear you need to balance your money out. To have a fast and easy setup however shouldn't take more than a thousand bucks (and lower). If you're a starter musician buying your beginners music gear, you may want to save some money and grab a more budget-friendly computer to get going (read our beginners music computer guide for that). However, we do recommend saving up as much cash and being as patient as you can, since computers will be a long-term investment for the next 5 or so years. As stated previously, they're also the backbone of a home studio — without a solid music computer, your other gear won't even work properly and will be useless.
Mac vs. PC? Uh oh, we're not going to get into this debate. When it comes to music production, this debacle is quite overplayed. You need to understand that in the end both are merely just computers. There is not a preferred 'brand' of computer for music making! The only deciding factor for using a Mac or PC (in our opinion) is explained in the next bullet point (or if you're loyal to a certain route, but that's not our business). However, you can also read our PC or Mac for music making article for more detail into this popular argument before you continue on.
What DAW are you using? Do you have your digital audio workstation picked out yet? If so, this may steer you towards a specific Mac or PC choice. We would only go with Mac if you're planning on using Pro Tools (they do have a Windows version out now), Garageband or Logic since they are Mac-only. Otherwise, both can work, but double-check on your preferred software's compatibility.
Laptop vs. desktop – Here's another debate when it comes to computers for music. Nowadays, I've heard of producers using laptops at home considering how powerful and capable they've become in recent years. One of the biggest deciding factors for a laptop vs. desktop choice is if you're planning on traveling or performing live. If this is so, we'd grab a laptop since it'll work amazing for these purposes as well as can hold its own while you're at homein the studio making some tunes in between gigs (you can read our music production laptops guide as well). Otherwise, grabbing a powerful desktop PCMac has a lot of potential. We have mostly desktop below, so read our guide we've just linked in case you're in need of a laptop — we did sprinkle a few below, too.
These are all pre-built – We know many computer junkies out there who frown at those who buy computers that already have their insides picked out. We wanted to mention this last since it won't pertain to everybody. If you're in the mood to just get going on making some tunes, pre-built is the way to go. Creating your own music computer does give you some flexibility when it comes to doing a little more work and researching the best RAM, hard drive and processor you'd like to mix and match with (which can probably save you a few bucks in the long run as well); however, many pre-built PC's in the market are still amazing for recording and producing music, so if you aren't into learning how to make your own computer right now, it's no worries. We'll leave that up to you. If you are indeed into making your own music computer, read our article for an in-depth guide.
Checklist for Computers for Making MusicIn order to get a feel for what specifications we actually need in our computers, let's first compare and contrast with some of the most popular music software out there and what minimum system requirements they ask for. We can then use this as a guide to see what the absolute minimum is. Going above is always a good idea since a lot of software out there update quite frequently and sometimes increase their requirements, and you want to be set for the long-term, not just the 'minimum'.
Let's review the three most popular software out there right now in Pro Tools, Ableton and Logic. Pro Tools is by far the most demanding software, so if you aren't using it but still want a computer that supports it, you'll be in the clear for literally anything else out there.

Pro Tools:
Operating System: Windows 8.1 or higher, Mac OS X 10.11.6 or higher
Processor: Intel Core i7
RAM: 16 GB (32 GB ‘recommended')
Hard Drive: 15 GB (installation only)
PCle slot for HDX or HD native cards
Ableton Live:
Operating System: Windows 7 or higher, Mac OS X 10.11.6 or higher
Processor: Intel Core i5
RAM: 4 GB (8 GB ‘recommended')
Hard Drive: At least 10 GB
Logic Pro X
Operating System: macOS 10.12 or higher
Processor: Intel Core i5
RAM: 4 GB
Hard Drive: 6 GB for installation, 63 GB for full Sound Library installation
Graphics: OpenCL-capable, Intel 3000 or later
Now that we've analyzed the 'minimum requirements', and key word here is 'minimum', let's organize it al into a checklist for you to use when shopping for the best music production and recording computer.
Processors – This is a tough one because a 3.0 GHz processor is a huge difference if it's let's say dual core or quad-core. Processor is extremely important (besides RAM or an SSD drive listed below), because it allows us to work in a quicker, more fluid manner, as well as merely to handle the 'processes' we need while we make our music. In our opinion, the faster you can work, the more ideas you can get out of your head and into your music canvas. You also don't want your computer clogging up during a crucial moment of creation, especially if you're recording and there's a blip in your track and you have to re-do it all! We would go with at least a 3.0 processor that is at least a quad-core — more specifically, an Intel Core i5 or AMD equivalent.
There must be at least 16 GB of RAM. Any higher you go in the RAM department is always a plus, so be our guest. For this year we've just increased this requirement from 8 to 16 because Pro Tools now has a minimum requirement of 16 GB! RAM is short for Random Access Memory, which is responsible for storing temporary data to act as the 'working memory' of our computer. This is important because just like our processor, music software needs to constantly 'work' with each action you partake in, calling for not only 'enough' working memory but fast enough so we don't experience any glitches or lag. We'll be honest — we have 64 GB in ours. But our projects are huge, and starting out with 16 is fine and you can continue to upgrade from there.
At least 500 GB of hard drive capacity– This is up to you, as some say 1TB at least; however, 500 GB is pretty hefty if you aren't downloading sounds and storing them on the computer or using the device for anything else (such as work, school, images and videos). Keep in mind however a lot of VST software plug-ins and effects are very demanding in regards to hard drive space. We actually use both our internal hard drives as well as an extra external hard drive with about 2 more TB on it (we have thousands of VST's and samples).
Make sure at least some of your hard-drive is SSD (Solid-State Drive)! This is very important because SSD helps process data and requests much faster than regular HDD. Read more about SSD vs. HDD here.
A big enough screen to work with (15″ and up), but that really comes down to your personal preference and whether or not you're on a laptop or desktop computer. We personally need two screens and couldn't imagine making music without two for a dual-monitor setup. It really helps workflow. But that's your call.
We don't think video cards matter at all unless you're editing videos on the side. The stock card in most pre-built computers are feasible, since nowadays most computers will come with some great video cards that support most types of video work or video games.
The Top 10 Best Computers for Music Production and RecordingThe following list is our recommended 10 best computers for production currently in the market. We made sure to choose a wide range of types. Also understand that there are new models of computers coming out almost weekly now, so don't let the 'this one is new!' label get too into your head. We feel the following models are solid because of user reviews, specs, and overall reputation. Let us know if you have any questions or comments!
Apple iMacIf you're planning on being a 'studio only' producer (whether you're home, semi or even professional), here's the best Mac computer to buy. If you grab one of these, you can use their Mac-specific DAWs, such as Logic, Garageband, and of course Pro Tools. Even if you don't plan on using Pro Tools right away, you can always upgrade in a few years (we think this will last you at least 5+ years if you purchase a model with a decent specification list). So don't forget to keep the future (long-term of course) in mind when investing in a computer for music production, considering it's what holds the entire setup together. If you want a Mac, grab either this or the laptop we first presented and don't look back, we wouldn't bother reading on.
We link you to a broad search page because there are many iMac versions available and are continued to be released to this day. This is also first due to this — we have options to pertain to our budgets and can mix and match certain specs we need or don't. Of course, be sure to use our checklist above when finding the right Apple iMac for you. This is by far the safest pick as the best music making computer in the market today.
Lenovo ThinkServerWe've done a lot of research and talking to our friends who make music for a living, and when it comes to a PC that isn't Mac, the name Lenovo continued to come up. Although it really doesn't matter (really, it doesn't) which brand you grab, there are a few aspects to take into consideration: user reviews, reports on longevity, brand support, and stats on the quality of internal parts they use. That's why we feel as compared to some other PC brands like HP, Acer or Dell (although mentioned later), it's safe to grab one we've analyzed and have used personally. Therefore, this is our (our recommendation) choice for Windows PC for producing music.
Lenovo builds tanks, and the word among the internet supports that. This may be a bit excessive for some, but can more than handle any process you throw at it to act as the best music recording and production computer out there if you need a Windows machine. Enter the Lenovo ThinkServer.
Acer AspireWhen it comes to the best music making and recording desktop PC, we have a few options. The Acer Aspire is one we couldn't ignore as another one of the best music production computers due to the reviews backing up its overall quality and build. Depending on which model you grab, there will be very feasible specifications to get your music making going out of the box. You have numerous USB ports for your interfaces and other external pieces of gear, ability to have multiple screens (oh yes, this helps tremendously), a decent weight (it's a desktop, so in our opinion the heavier the more sturdy), and a wonderful Acer community out there if you need any help.
Here's a great pick for a desktop PC to run Windows with your music making endeavors, and you get some great options to customize to your price-point on top of it all.
Apple MacBook ProHere's the consensus when it comes to the best laptop for music making and recording — The Apple MacBook Pro. Talk to many producers who have a laptop in their setup and they'll swear by it (if they're 'Mac people' of course). In fact, there will probably be people who scoff at the thought of making music anything but this. Yes — people still swear by making music on laptops only!
You all can have your opinions; however, if you don't have a strong belief yet and if you want a computer for making music that you're confident others use, this is one to grab, especially if you're planning on producing on the go, or perhaps performing live (when that happens again). There are many specification combinations available to fit within your budget range, too (such as screen size, memory capacity, processor speed (for a price) and more).
Another big reason we recommend the Apple MacBook Pro first for a laptop-seeker aside from Mac's obvious reputation is the flat-out performance of these things — they're sturdy, last a while, come with feasible internal builds (that you can't customize, though) and more. Lastly, some music software come as mac only, while others both — it's more likely software and gear are mac-only as opposed to windows-only — something to think about. MacWorld's article loves the MacBook Pro for music making.
PC Audio Labs Rok BoxFlying under the radar at times (unfortunately) due to the lack of heavily marketed brand names, PC Audio Labs brings us computers literally made for the tough processes of music production. We were unfamiliar with what they brought to the table until a few years ago, but after heavy research and asking around with other producers what their thoughts were, many had zero complaints and actually scoffed at the fact that we recommended any other music production computer aside from these guys.
Perhaps labeled as ‘expensive' by others (you'll get what you pay for, trust us), especially compared to dinkier machines, their Rok Box series in particular brings us many solutions in not only the personal computer department but laptops as well. They have quite a few models to choose from depending on budget — you can up go to a few thousands to grab a tank, or perhaps just under a thousand for a decent budget-friendly workstation for beginners. They also allow for add-ons for your PC's internal parts, such as RAM, hard drive and more. Praised by many professional musicians around the world, we're glad this takes a place relatively early in our best recording and production computer guide. They also have tons and of how-to's and support videos on their website to help you through out your music journey.
Dell InspironWe've had Dell around our entire lives, and although they had mixed reviews back in the day when it came to quality, the Inspiron series as a whole has been recommended quite a few times when it comes to overall effectiveness, especially for music considering the specs are up there. If you aren't a fan of Mac and don't recognize the Lenovo name, we'd grab this one and check out the reviews for yourself.
The Dell Inspiron is a highly reviewed and reputable desktop PC for music production. They have decent user support if you ever need (we suppose is a plus), and it doesn't hurt to have a brand name you're familiar with. Dell Inspiron help is always available, too.
HP PavilionThe HP Pavilion is another popular and highly reviewed pre-built computer series in the market right now that brings us great specs and power for handling music production tasks. Widely praised for their compatibility with ‘gaming', this also gives us confidence music software is viable as well. Again, this is a pre-built ‘series' (yes, they have laptops as well if you're a big HP fan), so you can choose a particular model that fits not only your budget but music software's needs as well.
Of course, we require going a bit higher than the ‘minimum' (a few of the higher models have more than enough, or you can always add-on let's say some more RAM or hard drive memory later down the road as well). Just another decent computer series here that can act as the best music recording computer if you want a known brand and Windows desktop.
Lenovo ThinkPadThese things are tanks. Lenovo is a heavy hitter in the quality department of both laptops and PC's (we have a few of their models in this article for a reason). The overall build is extremely sturdy (which is one of the main reasons we recommend Lenovo's to our readers) and they'll last you for quite a while if you're looking to invest in a laptop that will be around for a while. Additionally, a lot of these come with SSD (Solid State Drives) which as we've stated previously, is a must and a huge plus for convenience and speed (SSD's are basically less affected by impacts, load apps and your computer quicker, and lower failure rates).
What's even better are the options they give you; you can go as high as you'd like in the RAM and processor department. We've again linked you to a broad page to see the many different types of ThinkPad's out there if you wanted one of the best laptops that uses Windows (in our opinion) — we recommend sticking in the middle price-point, fulfilling our checklist above; however, if you can go higher, we'd say go for it if you have the cash. We're typing on a Lenovo ThinkPad right now.
Acer PredatorThis Acer Predator is considered by many as a 'gaming desktop computer', and although obviously by the video card it is, the processor, RAM and overall quality of the machine works quite well as the best computer for music making, too. We put this in here because it's just another option — although the PC's listed first are more suited (and perhaps a bit cheaper) when it comes to music production (since video cards aren't necessary with recording or producing), the Acer Predator is a PC to keep in mind while you shop if you indeed plan on perhaps playing games, making videos or other activities on a computer. I mean, it's not like you're buying a PC just to make music with (perhaps some of you are), so purchasing a computer that is more of an all-around type may be in your interest.
Lenovo ThinkCentreThis is Lenovo's bit of a mix between a laptop and PC. The Lenovo ThinkCentre is considered a 'tiny' desktop due to the size, and when it comes to price it's relatively cheap as compared to many models we've listed in here. It's just another option; you may be looking for an in-the-middle price point and something that fits snug into your existing studio setup. It's also great for traveling if you plan on setting up a desktop at a friends or stage.
Although we do recommend spending the extra few bucks on a computer we've previously listed, the ThinkCentre still brings what we feel are requirements for the 'best music production computer' specifications, is by a reliable brand on top of it.
More gear reviews and guides in the realm..