music production laptop requirements

When looking for a laptop to use for music production, there are a few key things you need to consider. The most important factor is the power of the laptop. You need one that will be able to handle the intense programs and plugins you will be using.

Another important consideration is the portability of the laptop. If you plan on taking your laptop with you to sessions and shows, you will want one that is lightweight and has long battery life. Additionally, you will want to make sure that the laptop has a good sound card and plenty of storage space.

When you’re looking for the best laptop for music production, you want one that will allow you to create high-quality audio content. You need a machine that can handle a wide range of tasks, from composing and recording music to editing and mixing tracks.

Here are some of the budget music production laptops for you.

Before you dive headfirst into buying a music production PC/laptop, it’s important to know what to look for. In this article, we’ve broken down the essential factors to look for before you shell out your hard-earned money.

WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM PC/LAPTOP SPECS FOR MUSIC PRODUCTION?

The minimum recommended pc/laptop specs for music production are:

THE PRODUCER HIVE PODCAST

• A minimum of 2.4Ghz quad-core processor power (i5, i7)
• At least 4GB of RAM
• A 64-bit operating system
• A minimum of 500GB of internal storage (HDD or SSD)
• A 13″ screen

MUSIC PRODUCTION COMPUTERS/PC/LAPTOPS: THE ESSENTIALS

WHAT PROCESSORS ARE GOOD FOR MUSIC PRODUCTION?

The processor is not an area you want to ‘cheap out’ on. You’ll want the best processor possible, as this affects the overall performance abilities and speed of the PC/laptop. A fast processor renders and exports tracks quickly and will keep pace with live performances. Ideally, you’ll want a quad-core (i5 or i7) and a high clock speed that is no lower than 2.4Ghz.

HOW MUCH RAM DO I NEED FOR MUSIC PRODUCTION?

Random-Access Memory, or RAM, determines how many things your computer/laptop can juggle at once. For those looking to get serious about music production, 16GB is fast becoming the new standard (some are even opting for 32GB of RAM these days). VSTs, sound libraries, WAV files—all of these consume a lot of RAM, making it a crucial spec to pay attention to for producers.

The bigger the project, the more RAM you’ll need. Most laptops (and virtually all computers) come with the ability to upgrade your RAM, so even if you opt for 16GB now, you can upgrade to 32GB when you see fit.

You can get away with 8GB of RAM, though 16GB is recommended here.

HOW MUCH HD STORAGE DO I NEED FOR MUSIC PRODUCTION?

Virtual instruments are more frequently incorporating high-quality flawless samples, even if they’re synths.

One single virtual instrument can easily be 100GB with round-robin sampling.

DAWs (your music-making software) are also becoming larger and larger as more elements get bundled into their suites. Ableton Live 10, for example, is almost 60GB alone.

IS SSD OR HDD BETTER FOR MUSIC PRODUCTION?

With virtual instruments and sample libraries taking up so much hard drive space, storage is an important factor to consider.

The SSD is also quieter and due to its faster properties, can reduce recording latency (making it the preferred choice for recording musicians).

HDDs still have their place though. While they are noisier, they benefit from their storage capacity and price point. This means they are perfect for storing massive sample libraries and projects.

In fact, what many producers do is have samples stored on HDD and plugins and DAWs on SSD. This allows plugins to load lightning fast, while samples have their own large, dedicated storage space to run in.It’s not the end of the world if you end up with a laptop that has low hard drive space, though. Many offer you the ability to swap out the hard drives for bigger ones, and you can also always purchase an external HD on the cheap.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 32 BIT AND 64 BIT OPERATING SYSTEMS?

64 bit operating systems are the gold standard for most creative software applications.

32 bit operating systems have become redundant as they are only able to run applications using a maximum of 4GB of RAM, which by today’s standards — is a no go. You could probably get by, but it won’t be a very satisfying experience, especially once you get more than a few soft synths or guitar modelers up and running.

Most laptops made after 2016 are most likely going to come bundled in with a 64-bit operating system by default. Regarding Macbooks, anything past 2008 Macbook Pro will come with a 64-bit operating system.

WHAT LAPTOP SCREEN SIZE IS OPTIMAL FOR MUSIC PRODUCTION?

While larger screens are less mobile, many of today’s DAWs and VSTs take up huge visual real estate. If you intend to spend a lot of time tweaking parameters and monitoring tracks, seeing them all at once on a 15” or larger screen is preferential.

For basic recording, beat-making, and scratching out concepts, though, you could probably get away with something smaller like a 13” monitor. And of course, the larger the laptop screen, generally the more space for power.

Personally, I enjoy using 15″ laptops and simply connecting an external monitor via HDMI for my primary screen, and using the laptop for a 2nd screen where I’ll position my VSTs.

If you’re after a true performance beast though, 17″ is probably what you’re going to want to look at.

DO I NEED A PORTABLE LAPTOP FOR MUSIC PRODUCTION?

Looking to perform with the laptop as well as use it in the studio? Mobility will be something to consider, then.

If you’re taking your laptop to clubs to perform with, you’ll want a smaller, lighter laptop with a robust battery in case you can’t plug in.

Are you just looking for around-the-studio mobility? If so, you probably won’t mind a heavy beast of a laptop as much, nor will you care about battery life as it will be plugged in most of the time.

WHAT’S THE BEST FREE DAW TO GET STARTED WITH MUSIC PRODUCTION?

If you’re on Mac, I recommend Garageband. If you’re on PC, I recommend Cakewalk by BandLab.