Audio engineers and music producers tend to gravitate towards the reliability of Mac computers. This is especially true in regards to portable digital audio workstation solutions.
Regardless of the specific job, when audio professionals need to work remotely, an Apple laptop is commonly employed.
Apple currently offers three different laptop models: MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. When in the market for a Mac laptop, choosing the best one of the three depends entirely on the user’s needs and budget.
Apple MacBook
The MacBook is the entry-level Apple laptop. In terms of configurations, only minor memory and hard drive upgrades are offered. It is the most financially accessible model and is also popular due to its compact size.
Despite the lack of configurations, the MacBook is a very capable digital audio computer and is the laptop of choice for many live musicians and DJs looking to save money and save room on stage.
Apple MacBook Air
Although attractive in its own right, the incredibly thin and lightweight MacBook Air is not a viable professional audio solution for several important reasons:
- It is a very expensive package. For example, it is possible to buy a MacBook Pro with a faster processor and a larger screen for less money than the MacBook Air.
- The onboard 2GB of memory is not expandable and is not enough for many pro audio applications.
- The MacBook Air does not support Firewire connectivity thus making the MacBook Air incompatible with Firewire devices such as audio interfaces or external hard drives.
Apple MacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro is the most powerful Apple laptop computer on the market. In comparison to the regular MacBook, it is much more expensive but also highly configurable. Along with the usual memory and hard drive upgrades, MacBook Pro users have the luxury of choosing from three different screen sizes (13-inch, 15-inch and 17-inch) and four different processor speeds.
All of these different configurations ensure a fast and reliable digital audio environment thus making the MacBook Pro suitable for demanding pro audio environments such as capturing live multitrack audio from a front-of-house mixing desk.
Refurbished Mac Laptops and AppleCare
For those looking to save some money, buying a factory refurbished Mac laptop is a solid alternative to buying a brand new laptop from an official Apple retailer. The online Apple store sells certified factory refurbished Mac laptops, desktops and iPods for 10-30% off the retail price.
Whether buying new or refurbished, purchasing the AppleCare Protection Plan extends the warranty of an Apple computer to three years and is highly recommended for all Mac laptop users.
Clayton Worbeck - Clayton is a professional music producer, engineer and musician specializing in electronic and rock music. He has worked as an audio ...
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