Laptops are used for various purposes today, including music production and recording. A laptop for music production/recording should carry certain features such as a powerful processor (preferably an i5 or i7), at least 8GB of RAM, a 13" screen or more extensive, a large SSD (Solid State Drive), and 500GB of internal storage at minimum for efficient operations.
How to Choose a Laptop for Music Production and Recording
It Should Have the Right Specifications
A laptop for music production and recording should have a lucid performance. These laptops are all about the CPU (Central Processing Unit) and RAM, as they dictate how much work can be done and how quickly.
The CPU controls how quickly your device will process things and how much you can multitask, i.e., work on different things simultaneously. To ensure smooth and fast performance while operating on multiple tracks and processing large audio files, it is advisable to have a Core i5 or above. When choosing a processor, you should also consider the clock speed, thread count, and number of cores.
On the other hand, the RAM controls how much data your short-term memory can hold. This means how many tracks you can have in your music production and recording arrangement. It is advisable to have at least 8GB of RAM or above in your laptop; otherwise, working with equipment and software such as digital audio workstations (DAWs) will become a frustrating task.
Storage Capacity
As a music professional, you should have plenty of laptop storage, as audio files are heavy and take up substantial space. Since crucial audio files are stored internally for quick access, it is better to have ample storage than to rely on external hard drives.
It is also advisable to have at least 1TB of storage. If you cannot afford 1TB, go for 512GB SSD. There are many benefits to a large SSD, such as lag-free operations while loading sample libraries and using audio plugins.
Portability
Sure, laptops for music creation, production, and recording should be powerful, but they should also be portable. It may be hard to find the right mix between high-end specifications and a portable device, but laptops fulfill these criteria, so be mindful.
When choosing a laptop, pay heed to its chassis size, battery size, thickness, and weight. Go for a machine that is not over 2 kg in weight and 2cm in thickness. You should also make sure that the battery is compact to avoid excessive addition to the total weight of the device.
Battery Life
Since music producers and recorders use their laptops on the move, having a fast-charging notebook with at least 10 hours of battery life is advisable.
I/O Ports/Speaker/Headphone Jacks
Of course, you will be connecting many microphones, instruments, and audio gear to your laptop. Still, for that, you will need many ports to connect the audio interface at hand effectively.
Music production requires connecting a USB, keyboard, DJ controllers, and MIDI pads. Remember, your laptop should have at least two USB ports, a Thunderbolt port, and an HDMI port. You will need more ports to connect to an external hard drive or mouse.
On the other hand, if you want to attach high-quality monitor speakers for sound mixing, you should have a speaker/headphone jack on board. Speaker/headphone jacks are crucial to every music production/recording, and a laptop should always feature them for seamless interaction and flawless integration.
Budget
It is not necessary to spend a generous sum of money on ‘recording studio laptops’ or ‘laptops for managing music.’ However, if you can afford it, why not get it?
If you are starting music production and have a limited budget, it is advisable to use a laptop that costs between £400 and £900 and use it to produce incredible discs or music. Keep in mind that you will be incurring other costs with your music production laptop, as you will have to spend a heavy amount on setting up a digital audio workstation, getting studio headphones, employing an audio interface, and buying a microphone, so keep it low and increase the cost as you go.
Drivers
The compatibility of audio drivers is also crucial for ‘laptops for recording,’ as most of the audio equipment and software you will use employ ASIO drivers for audio streaming. The support for these drivers depends on the laptop you use. They can be as smooth as a breeze with a compatible laptop and a nightmare with an incompatible one. This is why driver support and compatibility are crucial when buying a laptop for music production and recording. Apple is good with drivers, while Windows can sometimes be problematic, so choose wisely.
Two Top Laptops for Music Production and Recording
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go
Specifications
- Intel Core i5 10th Gen. Processor
- 12.4 in., 1536 x 1024 Maximum Resolution
- 4 GB RAM, 64 GB SSD
- Intel UHD Graphics
- Windows 10 Pro
- USB 3.0, USB-C
- Platinum Colour
- 1-Year Warranty
- New Condition
Features
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go is an ultra-light and portable laptop, perfect for everyday use by music producers and recorders. Made from premium materials, it boasts incredible features to complete production and recording easy. For instance, the laptop is powered by a robust Intel Core i5 10th Generation Processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 64GB SSD, enough to store large music files easily. Let us not forget that you can also connect an external SSD with it if the storage capacity falls short. Also at hand is a 12.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen with a 1536 x 1024 maximum resolution display screen and a 3:2 aspect ratio. Operations are further improved by the Intel UHD graphics that let you connect four HDR displays simultaneously and support Intel’s Quick Sync video technology and Microsoft application programming interface. The laptop is also perfect for collaboration with other artists over audio and video calls, as its built-in HD (High Definition) cameras seamlessly support software such as Skype and Teams. At the same time, Studio Mics is a fantastic addition to fun and interactive music recordings. It is also incredible for listening to music and podcasts. It is multi-purpose, lets you stream movies in 4K, offers fast and reliable connectivity, and is incredibly useful for working with creative programs and large files.
Lenovo ThinkPad T14
Specifications
- AMD Ryzen 3 PRO Processor
- 14 in., 1366 x 768 Maximum Resolution
- 16 GB of RAM, 256 GB of SSD
- AMD Radeon Graphics
- Windows 10 Pro
- HDMI, USB 3.2
- Black Colour
- 1-Year Warranty
- New Condition
Features
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is an innovative and intuitive laptop that runs on the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO processor, which offers leadership performance, responsiveness, optimised speed, and long battery life for uninterrupted music production and recording experience. Graphically, the laptop is powered by AMD Radeon Graphics, which exhibits incredible power efficiencies, carries multitasking leadership, offers excellent performance, contains leading VRAM configurations, and provides next-generation features. Screen-wise, the laptop has a 14-inch, 1366 x 768 maximum resolution screen, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD, which is not a wrong choice for beginner-level producers and recorders. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is supportive, as it runs on Windows 10 Pro, contains necessary I/O ports such as HDMI and USB 3.2 for connectivity, and is available with a 1-year warranty. The laptop is available for a £425 discount on Laptop Outlet for £374.99.
Conclusion
Music production and recording is an emerging niche requiring users to hold critical laptop features for efficient results. If you are looking for laptops for music production and recording or laptops in music creation, we recommend choosing Laptop Outlet, which offers plenty.
So why wait?
Head over to the company, browse the options available, and find your device today!
No comments yet