THE BEST COMPUTERS/LAPTOPS FOR MAKING MUSIC

When you decide you’d like to be a pro at this music thing, you need good gear… And your computer is one of the more pivotal aspects in a home music studio. For the many of us who do not record analogue, your computer arguably takes the center stage during and post production. So we really need to consider what the best computers for home music production would be for us.

This right here, is a quality in investment, that you won’t regret in the long run. So… what is exactly are the best computers for home music production?

A Few Things to Consider

Very briefly, before we dive into our recommendations. Here’s a little food for thought…

1. • Consider Your Budget- Just how much are you willing to spend? Mac computers are generally on the more costly side of things. However, Windows computers can perform just as optimally given the right computer specs.

1. • What specs do you need?- This can really vary from person to person, but one major factor depends on the requirements of your DAW Software. In computers for home music production, at the very minimum, around 8GB of ram would do, although ideally I suggest aiming for 16Gigs. Also, it’s best to go for the fastest processor your budget can allow.

• • Is portability relevant?- You need to consider whether or not you will be traveling with your computer, in which case, a laptop is preferable. Otherwise, if you have certainty that you’re primarily working from home, you could consider a desktop. Desktop computers come with a number of their own advantages as we will discuss.

Mac vs PC

We won’t really get into that age old debate about Mac vs. PC. Some might argue that Macs are more resilient in build, while others insist that PCs offer the advantage of easier hardware customization… The fact of the matter is, either, given the adequate tech specifications, can do the trick sufficiently. Choosing between the best computers for home music production in this instance would be more an issue of comfort, budget and preference.

Now without further ado…

The Top 5 Best Computers for Home Music Production

Laptops

Laptops are great for portability if that is a factor that matters in your case. One of the advantages of purchasing a laptop is that it eliminates the need of making two purchases if you use your computer for multiple purposes (school, job etc). Using a desktop in your studio may require you to get a laptop for other additional work.

1. Asus Rog

The Asus Rog series of laptops are truly wonderful for Windows users. They are typically marketed towards gamers, however it possesses a number of powerful features making it ideal for music production.  The GX501 particularly stands as it has a dual storage system. This allows for a formidably fast performance as the main software runs off a 256GB SSD, leaving the 1TB HDD completely available for storage. All of your samples can go in here, without eating into space.This is a really well built computer, boasting an Intel i7 processor and 16GB of RAM. It’s worth noting that a mouse would work better with this laptop, as opposed to the trackpad itself.

Take a look at the Asus Rog GX501 Laptop here on Amazon.

Or for comparison, have a look these additional Asus Rog options here on Amazon.

2. MacBook Pro

MacBook Pros are a very popular choice amongst top class music producers all across the world. If you have the cash, many would argue that this is your best option. The MacBook Pro is known for its reliably built hardware, and overall intuitive use, great for beginners.

The MacBook Pro Retina 15″ model is the preferable option in this particular case as it already comes with 16GB of RAM. The 13″ inch option has less RAM, but it is upgradable. However this could me more costly in the long run. You want something that’s good to go from the beginning. The shortfalls of this computer are the lack of upgradability, as you cannot get more than 16GB. Also you may experience a shortage of ports, however this can easily rectified with a usb hub.

The MacBook Pro 15″ Retina offers an Intel quad-core i7, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD

Take a look the MacBook Pro 15″ here on Amazon for more.

3. Dell Inspiron 15 7000

This model of computer is a little more on the budget friendly side of things, however it is capable of performing the tasks pretty well. This is a great option for Windows users, perhaps best suitable for intermediate level music producers.

The Dell Inspiron 15 7000 features 16GB of RAM (a 32BG option is also available). It also has an Intel Core i5 processor, which is  a little slower than the core i7 processors previously mentioned, however, this should definitely get you by relatively well. It also has two storage drives built in: a 256GB SSD to run the main software as well as a 2TB HDD for additional storage of samples if you’d like.

Have a look at the Dell Inspiron 15 7000  here on Amazon. Or, alternatively, you can have a look at the 32GB RAM version here

Desktop Computers

The desktop option as far as computers for home music studios are concerned, also rather advantageous. Sure, you don’t have portability (which is a pro or a con depending on you individual needs), but this is generally what professionals in the industry prefer in big studios. Desktop computers are typically faster, they’re extremely customizable (add more hard drives and RAM to your hearts desire), and they also have more ports. Additionally, you usually get to save a bit of money with this option

4. Recommend Tower Desktop PCs

There is no one ideal answer here, but rather you want to target the ideal specs. The key things you should look for in a desktop are at least 16GB of RAM, if you can go for 32GB. However it is very simple to upgrade or just add more RAM to a desktop. Next, ensure it has a core i7 processor for fast performance.

The HP Envy is a wonderful example of all the above, additionally featuring a 256GB SSD as well as a 1TB hard drive. See more about it here on Amazon.

For desktop options featuring these ideal specs, check out these options here on Amazon for your comparison.

5. HP Envy 34″ Curved (All-in-One Desktop PCs)

For something a little different, you opt for all-in-one desktop computers. The only shortfall you could say here, is the slight lack of customizability compared to tower computers. Towers offer ample space that could add or take away as much you’d like from. However, All-in-one PCs, are a great option, generally a more enhance performance than laptops.

The HP Envy 34″ Curved desktop offers an Intel core i7 processor, 32GB Ram and a 2TB SSD.

For more, reviews, specs and prices have a look at the HP Envy Curved here on Amazon.

 

And That’s it for our Top 5 best computers for home music production.

Now, go forth an choose the ideal one for you! For more essential music studio gear, check out our Recommended Gears page.