Best Budget Laptops for Music Production : 2020 Buyers’ Guide!

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Digital music production has come a long way in the last 20 years. Just a few years ago, it was nearly impossible to produce a song entirely on a computer, without it sounding like some 8-Bit Nintendo Music (Remember that sound?). However, with computers becoming more and more powerful, computer-based programs started to slowly replace the old integrated digital audio workstations. Nowadays, the vast majority of songs are produced exclusively on computers, and you can create pretty much any type of sound you can think of using your laptop only. This revolutionized the world of music for good, and made it possible for people with little to no musical experience to create their own music. New genres of electronic music have since been introduced, such as EDM, Trap, modern rap music, etc.

So if you are a music producer or an aspiring artist looking for a laptop for music production, you’re in the right place.  To help you narrow your search, we have gathered a list of some of the best budget laptops for music production you can find today. But first let’s look at some factor you should take in consideration when choosing a laptop for music production.

What to look for in a laptop for music production?

Before we give you our recommendations for what makes a good music production laptop, let’s take a look at the most used digital audio workstations (DAWs) and the hardware requirements for each program:

Ableton Live 9 ·         Multicore processor

·         4 GB RAM

·         1024×768 display

Logic Pro X (Apple Only) ·         4GB of RAM

·         Display with 1280-by-768 resolution or higher

·         OS X 10.11 or later

·         Requires 64-bit Audio Units plug-ins

·         Minimum 6GB of disk space. 51GB of optional content available via in-app download.

Image-Line FL Studio 12 ·         2Ghz Intel Pentium 4 / AMD Athlon 64 (or later) compatible CPU with full SSE2 support

·         1 Gb or more RAM recommended

·         2Gb of free disk space

·         Soundcard with DirectSound drivers.

Cakewalk SONAR ·         Processor: 2.6GHz Intel or AMD multi-core processor (at least Intel i5 or AMD A10 APU recommended)

·         Memory: 4GB

·         Hard Drive: 5GB for minimal install (20GB recommended)

·         Monitor Resolution: 1280×800 (1920 x 1080 recommended)

·         Audio Interface: ASIO compatible hardware is recommended

Steinberg Cubase ·         64-bit Intel or AMD multi-core processor (Intel i5 or faster recommended)

·         4 GB RAM (8 GB or more recommended)

·         18 GB free HD space

·         1366 x 768 display resolution (1920 x 1080 recommended)

This list is far from being exhaustive and there are other widely used noteworthy DAWs such as Avid Pro Tools, PreSonus Studio One, Propellerhead Reason, and Cockos Reaper.  The minimum requirements can vary from an application to another, that’s why it is important to decide on which DAW program you will be using, especially if you’re on a budget. For Pro Tools, you can check our new article where have listed some of the best laptops for Pro Tools available right now.

What are the main specs to check for in a laptop for music production? Our recommendations:

Processor: As you might have expected, the CPU is the primary factor in your ability to run your favorite music production software with large complex projects. As a rule, for audio production, get the fastest multicore processor that you can afford, because on most laptops, you will be able to upgrade the RAM and the hard drive, but not the CPU.

RAM:  It is highly recommended that you get a laptop with 8GB of RAM as a comfortable minimum. Most DAWs will eat up your RAM, and if you are going to be using lots plugins or VSTs, you should even consider adding more RAM.  It is preferable to get a laptop which comes with a free RAM slot and gives you the opportunity to upgrade.

Storage:  Solid state drives are recommended, since they are extremely faster than traditional mechanical drives, and make your laptop more responsive. However, they are expensive per GB and thus will really add up to the price of your device. Most manufacturers will only include a 512GB drive if it’s an SSD (and even less for budget laptops), while you can get a cheaper laptop with a bigger capacity mechanical drive. To decide whether you will need an SSD or a traditional drive take a look at the programs you will be using: do you need your laptop to be more responsive and to load files almost instantly? In this case, go with an SSD if it is within your budget. Even in 2020, large SSDs are still prohibitively expensive. If you will need lots of space, to install sound libraries or samples, it is recommended to get a regular hard drive.  This is of course a matter of personal preference: you can always upgrade from a mechanical drive to an SSD, or choose a laptop with small capacity SSD, and store all your big files on an external drive for example.

Mac or PC, which is best for Music Production?  The answer is both. While all Apple laptops come with respectable specs, PCs offer a much wider choice, and are significantly less expensive and more flexible: the rule here is to simply choose a good system, and go with the operating system you’re familiar with. However, you should consider the programs you will need to run, some DAW applications are only available for Mac users, others are only available under Windows platform.

Now that you have an idea which specs will make a difference when looking for a laptop for music production, let’s look at some of the best laptops we have picked for you. Please note that we have only included budget laptops under $700 on this list. You can also check this article if you need a laptop for FL studio.

Best Budget Laptops for music production:

  • Acer Aspire 5 A515-54G-53H6

The Acer Aspire 5 A515-54G-53H6 is one of the best laptops you can get at this price range, it features a 10th Generation Intel Core i5-10210U Processor, 8GB of RAM, a fast 512GB solid state drive, and an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 graphics card.  This is a perfect combination if you are looking for good laptop for music production, but also want to do more on your laptop, such as graphic design or gaming. The Acer Aspire 5 A515-54G-53H6 is the perfect multimedia companion. You can also add more RAM, up to 32GB.

The chassis is a mix of brushed aluminum and plastic, and the overall design looks quite slim, even though the laptop’s dimensions are 15.02 x 10.2 x 1.19 inches.

The Acer Aspire 5 A515-54G-53H6 is also future proof when it comes to ports, with 2 USB 3.0, 1 USB2.0, and 1 USB type C. Battery life is excellent, and you can get up to 9.5 hours of runtime from a single charge.

Processor Intel Core i5-10210U Processor
RAM 8GB
Storage 512GB, SSD
Graphics Integrated, Intel UHD 620
Screen 15,6 inch, 1920X1080
Connectivity and Ports 2 – USB 3.0 port

1- USB 2.0 port

1 – USB type C

1 – HDMI port,

Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1

Battery up to 9.5 hours battery life
  • Asus Vivobook S15 S530UA-DB51-IG

Asus Vivobook S15 15.6” Slim and Portable Laptop, Intel Core i5-8250U Processor (Up to 3.4GHz), 8GB DDR4, 256GB SSD, NanoEdge Bezel, Windows 10 - S530UA-DB51-IG, Icicle Gold

With its elegant glossy finish with a brushed-metal texture, the Asus Vivobook S15 S530UA-DB51-IG not only gives you that premium feel, but has also enough computing power to handle all your daily needs.  This laptop comes with an Intel Core  i5-8250U processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. This processor has a score of 6196 on CPU Benchmark, and can handle multitasking or music production software with no lags. The Vivobook S15 is definitely one of the best budget laptops for music production, at this price range.

As for ports, the Vivobook S15 S530UA-DB51-IG comes with 3 USB ports including 1 USB type C and 1 USB 3.0), HDMI.  Asus also equipped this model with a 3 cell 42 Whrs battery, so expect around 6 hours of use before you will need to plug in the charger again.

Processor Intel Core i5-8250U Processor
RAM 8GB
Storage 256GB, SSD
Graphics Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics 620
Screen 15,6 inch, 1920X1080
Connectivity and Ports 1 – USB 3.1 port Type C

3- USB 3.0 ports

1 – HDMI port,

Battery up to 8 hours battery life
  • Dell Inspiron i3583: Best laptop for Music Production under $500

New ! Dell Inspiron i3583 15.6

If you’re on a tight budget, and need a laptop for music music production, then consider the Inspiron 3583. This laptop comes packed with an 8th Generation Intel Core i3-8145U processor, 8GB DDR4 RAM, and a 128GB SSD. Built for multimedia users, the Inspiron i3583 can seamlessly handle your workflow and also music production programs..

With a HD 15,6 inch screen, the Inspiron i3583 is not cumbersome, nor too small, which is a big plus if you need to carry your projects with you and work in them on the go. Battery life is also quite good, and the included 3220mAh battery can give you up to 8 hours of runtime.

In terms of ports, there are USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, and Ethernet. This laptop doesn’t have a USB C on the other hand, and while the build quality is solid, the design is quite dull. The keyboard is also not backlit; but at this price range, this is one of the cheapest laptops for music production you can find.

Processor Intel Core i3-8145U Processor
RAM 8GB
Storage 127GB, SSD
Graphics Integrated, Intel HD Graphics 620
Screen 15,6 inch, 1366 x 768
Connectivity and Ports 2 – USB 3.0 port

1- USB 2.0 port

1 – HDMI port,

Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1

Battery up to 8 hours battery life

2019 Newest Lenovo IdeaPad S340 15.6 Inch Laptop (Intel Quad-Core i5-8265U up to 3.9GHz, Intel UHD Graphics 620, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB M.2 SSD, WiFi, Bluetooth, HDMI, Windows 10) (Black)

The Lenovo IdeaPad S340 is a business looking 15 inch budget laptop. Under the black matte chassis you will find an Intel Core i5-8265U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. This laptop is perfect for a wide range of users, and is also a great laptop for music production.

The wide 15,6” screen has a resolution of 1366×768 pixels, and provides decent image quality. However, if you can’t stand HD displays, then consider another laptop or buy a different version. Also, this is not a gaming laptop, as it only comes with Intel 620 integrated graphics.

In terms of ports, we have a USB type C, 2 USB 3.0, and an HDMI port.

Processor Intel Core i5-8265U Processor
RAM 8GB
Storage 256GB, SSD
Graphics Integrated, Intel HD Graphics 620
Screen 15,6 inch, 1366X768
Connectivity and Ports 1 – USB 3.1 port Type C

2- USB 2.0 port

1 – HDMI port,

Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1,

Battery up to 8 hours battery life

Newest Lenovo Flex 14

If you’re looking for a relatively affordable multi-use laptop, then look no further than the Lenovo Flex 14. This laptop packs an 8th generation Core i5-8265U Processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The Flex 14 should be on your short list when looking for a laptop for music production, it has everything to handle most DAWs and music production software, and there is plenty of storage space to store your projects too.

The Flex 14 also has a Full HD LED Touchscreen, with 10-finger Multi-Touch Support. And you can also purchase a stylus if you like drawing, or taking notes.

Digital music production has come a long way in the last twenty years. Until a few years ago, it was almost impossible to create a song entirely on a computer without it sounding like Nintendo 8-bit music (remember that sound?). However, as computers became more powerful, computer programs slowly began to replace older integrated digital audio workstations. Nowadays, the vast majority of songs are made exclusively on a computer, and with a laptop you can make almost any kind of sound you can imagine. It has revolutionized the music world forever, allowing people with little or no musical experience to make their own music. Since then, new genres of electronic music have emerged, such as EDM, stairs, modern rap and others.

If you are a music producer or an inexperienced artist looking for a laptop to produce music, you have come to the right place.  To help you narrow down your search, we’ve compiled a list of the best low-cost music production laptops you can find today. But let’s first consider a number of factors when choosing a laptop for music production.

What should you pay attention to when using a laptop for music production?

Before we give you recommendations on what a good laptop can do for music production, let’s look at the most commonly used digital audio workstations (DAWs) and the hardware requirements for each program:

Ableton Live 9 – Multi-core processor

– 4 GB WORKING MEMORY

– 1024×768 display

Logic Pro X (Apple only) – 4 GB WORKING MEMORY

– Display with a resolution of 1280 x 768 or higher

– OS X 10.11 or higher

– Requires 64-bit plug-ins for audio modules

– At least 6 GB of hard disk space. 51 GB of additional content that can be downloaded into the application

Beeldlijn FL Studio 12 – 2 GHz Intel Pentium 4 / AMD Athlon 64 (or higher) processor compatible with SSE2 support

– 1 GB or more RAM recommended

– 2 GB free hard disk space

– Sound card with DirectSound drivers.

Cakewalk SONAR – Processor: 2.6 GHz Intel or AMD multi-core processor (Intel i5 or AMD A10 APU or higher recommended)

– Memory: 4 GB

– Hard drive: 5 GB for minimum installation (20 GB recommended)

– Screen Resolution: 1280×800 (1920×1080 recommended)

– Audio Interface : It is recommended to use ASIO compatible hardware.

Steinberg Cubase – 64-bit Intel or AMD multi-core processor (Intel i5 or faster recommended)

– 4 GB RAM (8 GB or more recommended)

– 18 GB free HD storage

– Screen Resolution 1366 x 768 (1920 x 1080 recommended)

This list is far from complete, and there are other notable and widely used image processing software such as Avid Pro Tools, PreSonus Studio One, Propellerhead Reason, and Cockos Reaper.  The minimum requirements may vary per application, so it is important to decide which DAW you will use, especially if you have a budget. For Pro Tools, check out our new article that lists some of the best Pro Tools laptops available today.

What are the main specifications that can be checked in a music production log? Our recommendations :

Processor: As you can imagine, the CPU is an important factor in your ability to run your favorite music production software on large, complex projects. In general, you get the fastest multi-core processor you can afford for audio production because most laptops allow you to upgrade the memory and hard drive, but not the processor.

RAM:  We strongly recommend that you purchase a laptop with at least 8 GB of RAM. Most DAWs consume your RAM, and if you use a lot of plug-ins or VSTs, you should even think about adding more RAM.  It is advisable to purchase a laptop that has a free RAM lock and can be upgraded.

Storage :  SSD drives are recommended because they are extremely fast compared to traditional mechanical drives and make your laptop react faster. However, they are expensive per gigabyte and therefore increase the price of your device. Most manufacturers only install a 512GB drive if it’s an SSD (and even less so for cheap laptops), while you can get a cheaper laptop with a larger mechanical drive capacity. To decide whether you need an SSD drive or a conventional drive, look at the programs you are going to use: Do you need a laptop to react faster and download files almost instantly? In this case, use a DSS if it is in your budget. Even in 2020, the cost of large SSDs will still be excessive. If you need a lot of space to install sound libraries or samples, we recommend purchasing a normal hard drive.  It is of course a matter of personal preference: You can switch from a mechanical drive to an SSD at any time, or opt for a laptop with a small SSD capacity and store all your large files on, for example, an external drive.

Mac or PC, which is the best choice for music production?  The answer is: both. While all Apple laptops have respectable features, the PC offers a much wider choice and is much cheaper and more flexible: The rule here is to simply choose a good system and switch to the known operating system. However, you must take into account the programmes to be implemented. Some DAW applications are only available to Mac users, while others are only available on the Windows platform.

Now that you have an idea of the features that will make a difference in your search for a music production laptop, let’s take a look at some of the best laptops we’ve selected for you. Please note that we have only included laptops under $700 in this list. You can also read this article if you need a laptop for your FL-Studio.

Best music production accounting:

  • Acer suction 5 A515-54G-53H6

Generation, DDR4 8GB, SSD 256GB, fingerprint reader, Windows 10 House, A515-54-51DJ

The Acer Aspire 5 A515-54G-53H6 is one of the best notebooks in its price range and features a 10th generation Intel Core i5-10210U processor. 8 GB RAM, a fast 512 GB SSD and an Intel UHD Graphics 620 graphics card.  It’s the perfect combination if you’re looking for a good laptop for music production, but also want to do more on your laptop, such as graphic design or games. The Acer Aspire 5 A515-54G-53H6 is the perfect multimedia companion. You can also add more RAM, up to 32 GB.

The housing is a mix of brushed aluminum and plastic, and the overall design looks pretty slim, although the laptop measures 15.02 x 10.2 x 1.19 inches.

The Acer Aspire 5 A515-54G-53H6 can also be upgraded for connections with 2 USB 3.0, 1 USB2.0 and 1 USB C type. Battery life is excellent and you can work for up to 9.5 hours on a single charge.

Editor in Chief Intel Core i5-10210U Processor
RAM 8 GB
Storage 512GB, SSD
Graph Integrated, Intel UHD 620
Screen 15.6 inches, 1920X1080.
Communications & Ports 2 – USB 3.0 port

1- USB 2.0 port

1 – USB type C

1 – HDMI connection,

Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1

Battery Battery life up to 9.5 hours
  • Asus Vivobook S15 S530UA-DB51-IG

Asus Vivobook S15 15.6 slim and portable notebook, Intel Core i5-8250U processor (up to 3.4 GHz), 8GB DDR4, 256GB SSD, NanoEdge bracket, Windows 10 - S530UA-DB51-IG, Icicle Gold

The Vivobook S15 S530UA-DB51-IG by Asus, with its elegant high gloss finish and matt metal structure, not only gives you a first-class feel, but also has the processing power to meet all your daily needs.  This laptop is equipped with an Intel Core i5-8250U processor, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD. This processor has a score of 6196 on the reference CPU and can run multitasking or music software without delay. The Vivobook S15 is definitely one of the best low-budget notebooks for music production in this price range.

Regarding connections, the Vivobook S15 S530UA-DB51-IG has 3 USB ports, including 1 USB Type C and 1 USB 3.0), HDMI.  Asus has also equipped this model with a 3-cell 42 Whrs battery. So you will have to wait about 6 hours before reconnecting the charger.

Editor in Chief Intel Core i5-8250U Processor
RAM 8 GB
Storage 256 GB, SEMICONDUCTOR DRIVE
Graph Integrated, Intel UHD 620 graphics
Screen 15.6 inches, 1920X1080.
Communications & Ports 1 – USB connection type C 3.1

3- USB 3.0 Ports

1 – HDMI connection,

Battery Up to 8 hours battery life
  • Dell Inspiron i3583: Best music production book at $500

Dell Inspiron i3583 15.6

If you have a limited budget and need a laptop to produce music, consider the Inspiron 3583. This notebook is equipped with an Intel Core i3-8145U processor and is the 8th generation of notebooks. 8 GB DDR4 RAM and a 128 GB hard disk drive. The Inspiron i3583 is designed for multimedia users and can easily manage both your workflow and your music creation programs……

With a 15.6-inch HD display, the Inspiron i3583 isn’t bulky or too small, which is a big advantage if you need to take your projects with you and work on them on the go. Battery life is also pretty good, and the included 3220mAh battery can give you up to 8 hours.

As far as connections are concerned, there are USB 3.0, HDMI and Ethernet ports. On the other hand, this notebook does not have a USB C, and although the build quality is durable, the design is rather boring. The keyboard also has no backlight, but in this price range it is one of the cheapest music production magazines you can find.

Editor in Chief Intel Core i3-8145U Processor
RAM 8 GB
Storage 127 GB, SOLID-STATE DRIVE
Graph Integrated, Intel HD Graphics 620
Screen 15.6 inch, 1366 x 768
Communications & Ports 2 – USB 3.0 port

1- USB 2.0 port

1 – HDMI connection,

Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1

Battery Up to 8 hours battery life

2019 Latest Lenovo IdeaPad S340 Notebook 15.6 (Intel Quad-Core i5-8265U up to 3.9 GHz, Intel UHD graphics 620, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB M.2 SSD, WiFi, Bluetooth, HDMI, Windows 10) (black)

Lenovo IdeaPad S340 is a company looking for an affordable 15-inch notebook. Under the matte black housing is an Intel Core i5-8265U processor, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD. This laptop is ideal for a wide range of users and is also very useful for music production.

The 15.6-inch widescreen display has a resolution of 1366×768 pixels and offers good image quality. However, if you do not support HD displays, consider another laptop or buy another version. What’s more, it’s not a game notebook, as it’s only equipped with integrated Intel 620 graphics.

As far as connections are concerned, we have a USB C type, 2 USB 3.0 and an HDMI port.

Editor in Chief Intel Core i5-8265U Processor
RAM 8 GB
Storage 256 GB, SEMICONDUCTOR DRIVE
Graph Integrated, Intel HD Graphics 620
Screen 15.6 inches, 1366X768.
Communications & Ports 1 – USB connection type C 3.1

2- USB 2.0 port

1 – HDMI connection,

4. Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1,

Battery Up to 8 hours battery life

the latest Lenovo Flex 14

If you’re looking for a relatively affordable multifunction notebook, the Lenovo Flex 14 is the right choice. This notebook is equipped with an 8th generation Core i5-8265U processor. 16 GB RAM and a 512 GB SSD. If you are looking for a laptop for music production, the Flex 14 should be on your shortlist. It has everything that is compatible with most music production and sound recording software, and there is also plenty of storage space for your projects.

The Flex 14 also features a Full HD LED backlit touch screen and supports multi-touch input with 10 fingers. You can also buy a pen if you want to draw or take notes.

Editor in Chief Intel Core i5-8265U Processor
RAM 16 GB
Storage 512GB, SSD
Graph Integrated, Intel UHD 620 graphics
Screen 14 inches, 1920X1080,
Communications & Ports 1 – USB connection type C 3.1

2- USB 3.0 Ports

1 – HDMI connection

Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1

Battery Up to 9 hours battery life

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Although we do not have anything against Windows, Mac scales a bit higher due to the built-in resources, Podcasting support via GarageBand, and better system stability.What is the preferred RAM size on laptops dedicated to music production?For mid-level professionals, 8GB is a good ballpark for start proceedings as it would be sufficient for nominally sized projects and available mixes. However, if you are looking to pursue music production and also the aligned aspects including audio recording, slicing, and editing, 16GB is the bare minimum. For high-end commercial tasks where Synths, VSTs, WAVs, and other resources are used for beefier projects, even 32GB might run out quickly.What are the most essential CPU-intensive aspects to look at for productive music production?In case you are more into mixing and playing with the presets and samples, a processor with an excellent turbo clock speed limit is necessary. For basic to mid-range requirements the single-core performance or rather the single-core turbo speed is the most important metric. However, if you are invested in more complex tasks including working alongside 30 tracks, multiple audio effects, and sample instruments like Piano roll and synths, additional cores are also necessary.When shall we consider getting a laptop with HDD for music production?Storage space is of relevance when music production is concerned as a single, complicated mix can easily take up 1GB of space. While we would always suggest going for an SSD, preferably an NVMe- compatible one, you can always choose a hard disk drive in case the budget is an issue. HDD is still a good place to store archived files and samples that aren't invoked frequently. However, the best approach is to opt for a dual-storage module with a smaller SSD, just for installing the OS and the primary DAW.Why audiophiles are usually sold out on a good port arrangement?Professionals need to connect audio gear, instruments, MIDI pads, and even microphones for a more cohesive workflow. Besides that, some might even look to include mixing boards, audio interface or sound cards, external keyboards, and a mouse for better navigation. The mentioned requirements are taken care of if the laptop comes with a decent port arrangement, preferably a couple of Thunderbolt 3, USB ports, and even support for accommodating a fast USB hub.Show moreShow less,Which OS is better for music production, Windows 10, or the latest macOS Catalina?While both these operating platforms are equipped enough to handle requirements related to audio production, mixing, and editing, you should prefer the macOS if you have the budget for a MacBook. Although we do not have anything against Windows, Mac scales a bit higher due to the built-in resources, Podcasting support via GarageBand, and better system stability.What is the preferred RAM size on laptops dedicated to music production?For mid-level professionals, 8GB is a good ballpark for start proceedings as it would be sufficient for nominally sized projects and available mixes. However, if you are looking to pursue music production and also the aligned aspects including audio recording, slicing, and editing, 16GB is the bare minimum. For high-end commercial tasks where Synths, VSTs, WAVs, and other resources are used for beefier projects, even 32GB might run out quickly.What are the most essential CPU-intensive aspects to look at for productive music production?In case you are more into mixing and playing with the presets and samples, a processor with an excellent turbo clock speed limit is necessary. For basic to mid-range requirements the single-core performance or rather the single-core turbo speed is the most important metric. However, if you are invested in more complex tasks including working alongside 30 tracks, multiple audio effects, and sample instruments like Piano roll and synths, additional cores are also necessary.When shall we consider getting a laptop with HDD for music production?Storage space is of relevance when music production is concerned as a single, complicated mix can easily take up 1GB of space. While we would always suggest going for an SSD, preferably an NVMe- compatible one, you can always choose a hard disk drive in case the budget is an issue. HDD is still a good place to store archived files and samples that aren't invoked frequently. However, the best approach is to opt for a dual-storage module with a smaller SSD, just for installing the OS and the primary DAW.Why audiophiles are usually sold out on a good port arrangement?Professionals need to connect audio gear, instruments, MIDI pads, and even microphones for a more cohesive workflow. Besides that, some might even look to include mixing boards, audio interface or sound cards, external keyboards, and a mouse for better navigation. The mentioned requirements are taken care of if the laptop comes with a decent port arrangement, preferably a couple of Thunderbolt 3, USB ports, and even support for accommodating a fast USB hub.,While both these operating platforms are equipped enough to handle requirements related to audio production, mixing, and editing, you should prefer the macOS if you have the budget for a MacBook. Although we do not have anything against Windows, Mac scales a bit higher due to the built-in resources, Podcasting support via GarageBand, and better system stability.,For mid-level professionals, 8GB is a good ballpark for start proceedings as it would be sufficient for nominally sized projects and available mixes. However, if you are looking to pursue music production and also the aligned aspects including audio recording, slicing, and editing, 16GB is the bare minimum. For high-end commercial tasks where Synths, VSTs, WAVs, and other resources are used for beefier projects, even 32GB might run out quickly.,In case you are more into mixing and playing with the presets and samples, a processor with an excellent turbo clock speed limit is necessary. For basic to mid-range requirements the single-core performance or rather the single-core turbo speed is the most important metric. However, if you are invested in more complex tasks including working alongside 30 tracks, multiple audio effects, and sample instruments like Piano roll and synths, additional cores are also necessary.,When shall we consider getting a laptop with HDD for music production?Storage space is of relevance when music production is concerned as a single, complicated mix can easily take up 1GB of space. While we would always suggest going for an SSD, preferably an NVMe- compatible one, you can always choose a hard disk drive in case the budget is an issue. HDD is still a good place to store archived files and samples that aren't invoked frequently. However, the best approach is to opt for a dual-storage module with a smaller SSD, just for installing the OS and the primary DAW.Why audiophiles are usually sold out on a good port arrangement?Professionals need to connect audio gear, instruments, MIDI pads, and even microphones for a more cohesive workflow. Besides that, some might even look to include mixing boards, audio interface or sound cards, external keyboards, and a mouse for better navigation. The mentioned requirements are taken care of if the laptop comes with a decent port arrangement, preferably a couple of Thunderbolt 3, USB ports, and even support for accommodating a fast USB hub.,Storage space is of relevance when music production is concerned as a single, complicated mix can easily take up 1GB of space. While we would always suggest going for an SSD, preferably an NVMe- compatible one, you can always choose a hard disk drive in case the budget is an issue. HDD is still a good place to store archived files and samples that aren't invoked frequently. However, the best approach is to opt for a dual-storage module with a smaller SSD, just for installing the OS and the primary DAW.,Professionals need to connect audio gear, instruments, MIDI pads, and even microphones for a more cohesive workflow. Besides that, some might even look to include mixing boards, audio interface or sound cards, external keyboards, and a mouse for better navigation. The mentioned requirements are taken care of if the laptop comes with a decent port arrangement, preferably a couple of Thunderbolt 3, USB ports, and even support for accommodating a fast USB hub.,Show more,laptop specs for music production reddit,quad core for music production,nuc for music production,i7-10510u music production,audio laptops australia,i5-8300h music production,best budget laptop for music production 2020,budget laptop for music production in india 2020,best computer for music production