The Ultimate Guide To Pick the Best Computer for Music Production
Today here at Music Production Headquarters we will be talking a little bit about the best computer for music production, This is a continuation of our music production equipment series which is aimed to get you started with all the vital parts of music production. This will apply to desktop computers and laptops alike. The main difference will be portability and screen size on the laptops end.
Before we get started I understand getting the biggest and best computer however slower computers can still get a lot done. I currently run with an Intel core duo, with 4 gigs of ram and an Intel SSD along with 3 other hard drives for backing up, I also use a Hackintosh that was formerly a custom-built windows PC. I just upgraded to this Mac Mini check out why and how here.
The following is for someone who
- Is planning to do most of their work “inside the box”.
- Guide/ resource for laptops and desktops for music production
- Someone looking at a new computer/laptop
- Someone wondering if they should upgrade
Software Considerations
Before even considering looking at computers take a look at what your DAW (digital audio workstation) minimum requirements are.
For example here is my DAW of choice Pro Tools 10 minimum system requirements.
Ram: How it works and why it is important.
First off what is ram? No it is not a type of truck,or a football team, it is a acronym for Random Access Memory.
“Think of ram as short-term memory and a hard drive as long-term memory /storage’.
When there are applications running the processor will store them in the ram. Once the program is closed the application will be wiped from the computers short-term storage or ram, and is stored on the hard drive. Now think about if you had more short-term memory for yourself how much more efficient would you be? The same concept applies when it comes to computer.
The first thing to look at is ram. If you have the funds max out your ram it is dirt cheap and will help your computer run faster for longer. It will also allow you to open more plugins at one time allowing for bigger mixes without your computer crashing. I did this with the Mac Mini I recently upgraded to.
What Other Benefits Does Ram Provide?
Having more ram has other uses outside of audio production as well. You can open more programs and do more processing.
For example I have had Ever note open along with a few tabs in Chrome while Pro Tools sits in the background along with a handful of other applications and I am only using 3 gigs out of 4.
Now if I am mixing a 30-40 track session with a lot of plugins and virtual instruments I will close everything I can or I will run out of ram and my computer will become non responsive.
CPU / Processor
“The processor is like the brain of the computer or the producer on the session.”
It does all the computing and organizing it tells other things what to do and has a vision of what needs to happen for given processes.
Like I mentioned I was running a Intel core duo. For the most part it does the job and is still running well for a 5 year old computer cpu.
If you are looking to purchase a new computer the minimum processor I would recommend is an Intel I5 or I7 to help future proof my investment. When in doubt get the better processor to help future proof your computer purchase. This is what I did when I was deciding between the I5 or I7 Mac Mini.
What to Look for in Hard Drives
The hard drive is where the computer store things long-term like recording sessions, applications, session documents, and custom plugin settings. Without enough storage you cannot save anything and files are only getting bigger.
The minimum storage I would recommend is 500 gigs.
250 gigs for your operating system and 250 for your music production / session drive.
Hard Drive Speeds
The last thing I would take into consider is the speed. I would get a drive with at a minimum of 5400 rpms and ideally 7200 rpms. This should allow your computer to be able to read and write data fast enough to keep up. In some instances with Pro Tools even with a 7200 hard drive I still got errors.
What About these Solid State Hard Drives?
For your main operating drive I would seriously consider a SSD (Solid State Drive) drive. I got one not long ago and it is AMAZING. It is the single best computer purchase I have made in the last 5 years. Remember though that the SSD drive should not be used to store sessions it should be kept clean and used for the operation systems and applications. Failing to do this will lower the overall life of the ssd.
Bonus Tip Regarding Hard Drives
If you only have 1 drive I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND partitioning your hard drive into two sections,1 section for your sessions media etc.
- 1 section for your sessions media etc.
- 1 section for the operating system
After that all sessions should be saved to the session drive and all things regarding the operating system saved to that drive.
By doing this you are able to keep your operating drive running smoothly by keeping clutter to a minimum.
Backup, Backup, Backup
Spend the money and get a backup drive it is not required but it is suggested to get at least one backup drive I currently have 3. They are dirt cheap on amazon you can get a 1tb external drive for under $70
If you want you can read about my backup system that saved 300 gigs of sessions here. If it is not backed up in 3 locations it’s not really backed up.
Operating Systems Windows vs Mac vs Hackintosh?
There is a lot of debate about which operating system to use. It really depends on your workflow and what you intend to do. There is really no right or wrong answer to each option. For example I planned to intern and do work in commercial studios. Every commercial studio I have been in uses a Mac so that is what I use. They also use Pro Tools so this is what I ended up using.
I started out with a Mac Book Pro for school and started playing with the Hackintosh idea which is what I used for 3 years. Check out Lifehacker’s article on Hackintosh builds for more info about Hackintosh builds. They can be very fun and rewarding just be prepared for a learning curve.
If you prefer Windows that is just fine like I said it is dependent on your work flow and audio goals. If you are here I’d amuse you are just getting started so use what you have. Windows 8 is out however personally I would go with Windows 7 if I had the chance. It seems to be more stable and I would not have to deal with Windows 8 tabbed interface. However this is personal preference either should work just fine. Make sure to check your music production softwares system requirements.
Desktop and Laptop Recommendations
Below are two links 1 for desktop computers and one for laptop computers that amazon has to offer. It is near impossible to narrow down the perfect computer for each individual so I started by filtering down the above recommendations. Feel free to click the link and filter down even further based on what your needs are. Make sure to check out reviews as well.
Other Considerations Connections Inputs and Outputs
One other thing to consider is how many inputs and outputs you have for connecting. How will you connect your monitor, keyboard and mouse or audio interface along with all of your USB and other connected items.
What I am Using Currently
Here is an external hard drive I am using currently. It also serves as a portable drive for recording as it is an external hard drive.
Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Desk 1.5 TB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive STAC1500100
The SSD Drive I am using and love!
Intel 520 Series Solid-State Drive 120 GB SATA 6 Gb/s 2.5-Inch - SSDSC2CW120A3K5 (Reseller Kit)
What I plan to upgrade in the future.
Here is the hard drive I plan to upgrade to once I am doing more location recordings and more sessions at studios in Nashville.
G-Technology G-DRIVE Q 2TB External Hard Drive w/ eSATA, USB 2.0, Firewire 400, Firewire 800 Interfaces 0G00203
Here is one of the Mac mini’s I was talking about. I would plan to manually upgrade the ram to 16 gigs if not more. Or hopefully by the time I am ready for an upgrade it is standard.
Apple Mac Mini MD389LL/A with Lion Server (NEWEST VERSION)
Update like I mentioned I already upgraded to a Mac Mini check it out here
Category: Blog, Music Production Equipment Series