Best New Mac Computer for Pro Audio Engineers

Choosing Between an Apple Desktop or Laptop for Audio Production

Jul 7, 2009 Clayton Worbeck

For most pro audio users, deciding to buy a Mac computer for professional use is not a difficult decision. However, selecting which Mac to buy can pose more of a dilemma.

Apple computers have been popular with professional audio users for decades.

There are many reasons for this solid reputation but one of the most obvious is the user-friendly nature of the Mac operating system (which includes the Core Audio interface application).

Mac OS X is also a very stable and reliable environment for hosting all the different third-party digital audio workstation software, audio editing software and virtual instruments for recording, editing, mixing and playing back of digital audio.

Choosing the best Mac computer to house this audio software depends largely on the digital audio demands of each individual user. Notwithstanding, there are two basic types of Mac computer systems: desktop and laptop.

New Mac Desktop Computers for Digital Audio Users

Mac desktop computer systems are the best choice for audio engineers and music producers who need the fastest performance and increased expandability. There are three Apple desktop pro audio solutions: the Mac Pro, iMac and to some extent, the Mac Mini.

The Mac Pro is the most powerful Apple computer currently on the market. With Quad-Core processors, up to 32 GB of memory and hard drive storage of up to 4TB, there is no doubt that these machines will excel in any pro audio application that does not require portability. Besides the lack of portability, the main drawbacks of the Mac Pro are its expensive price tag and the need to supply a separate display.

For those audio users seeking an all-in-one desktop solution, the iMac is easily the best value for the money. A 24-inch widescreen display with plenty of built in processing power and memory expansion make the iMac more than capable in most pro audio situations. The iMac also has the added bonus of costing roughly half as much as a Mac Pro.

Although the relatively low price tag of the Mac Mini is very appealing, this model leaves much to be desired for professional audio users. For example, the two Mac Mini models have limited memory expansion options and low CPU speeds in comparison to the other Mac desktop computers. The Mac Mini can function in some less-demanding digital audio applications but most users will find that it is not a complete pro audio solution.

New Apple Laptops for Professional Digital Audio Users

The new Mac Laptops (excluding the MacBook Air) will appeal to most mobile audio professionals such as audio engineers working in remote locations or music producers who frequently find themselves on the road.

These Mac laptops do not have over-the-top processing power or excessive memory expansion of the Mac Pro but they are incredibly powerful and complete audio solutions that can be used almost anywhere.

There are three Mac laptop models currently available but only two of them are viable options for most pro audio applications: the MacBook and the MacBook Pro.

Of the two, the MacBook Pro is the most powerful and comes in a selection of configurations. The MacBook Pro is availible in three different screen sizes with four different processor speeds, all of which are upgradeable to 8GB of memory. The only major disadvantage of the MacBook Pro is the steep price tag for any configuration beyond the basic 13-inch model.

Although the MacBook comes in just one size (13-inch) and with relatively few configurations, it is still a very popular laptop computer because it costs significantly less than a MacBook Pro.

Other Less Expensive Mac Pro Audio Computer Options

For those on a tight budget, buying a brand new Mac Pro or a MacBook may not be an option. However, there are other options to consider. One very popular alternative is to buy a quality used or refurbished Mac computer. These refurbished Apple computers cost hundreds of dollars less than new stock and are seldom very different outside of some minor cosmetic wear.

Due to some innovative iPhone audio apps, the Apple iPhone is now capable of professional audio recording and is a viable solution for those users looking for a simple high-quality portable audio recorder.

Regardless of the model or if it is new or refrubished, the newer generation of Apple Mac desktop and laptop computers continue to be a popular choice among professional audio engineers and music producers. And with the additon of the iPhone, Apple's pro audio appeal does not seem to waning at all.

The copyright of the article Best New Mac Computer for Pro Audio Engineers in Analog & Digital Audio is owned by Clayton Worbeck. Permission to republish Best New Mac Computer for Pro Audio Engineers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.