9 Best Laptops for Music Production 2021

Today, music drives the air waves. And with the advent of technology and internet, music sharing and posting became an instant hit. And many times, people are simply making their own music at home and share it to the world. And gone are the days where you have to be in the studio to have your music edited. Today, computers work wonders and one of it is in music production. But music production isn’t very demanding such as games, midrange systems could do this job pretty good. And some of the best laptops for music production choices are here in this list.

Choosing the best laptop for music production

Is Price an Issue?

When it comes down to it, not everyone can work on an endless budget. Therefore, you may be required to pick something suitable for a modest budget. If price is an issue, you’ll need to put in a little more effort in order to find the right laptop, but you shouldn’t let this bother you. Instead, take the time to research, read and research some more, until you find the laptop that will improve your music and not hinder your production.

Does Sound Card matter?

Many people will instantly think of the computer’s sound card when attempting to choose a computer for this specific need. The truth of the matter is that a sound card isn’t all that big of a deal. Although it may help to get a better sound when you’re listening to any type of audio, this will not hurt your product value at all. In fact, once you integrate your computer to your audio interface, your sound card will basically be voided. Don’t spend extra here, since it won’t hurt you or help you.

SSD vs. More RAM

In terms of music production, some will suggest that solid-state drives, or SSD, will be tremendously important, but this isn’t always the case. Those, who have a large budget will certainly find benefits of sticking with an SSD hard drive, but they’re not really necessary. The reason some people choose SSD’s is that SSDs are very fast, which enable you to work on large files and will facilitate switching large uncompressed music files. The faster the file transfers are, the more time you can save.

If you are to choose RAM over SSD, you have to get least 8GB-16GB of RAM especially if you’re going to cope with large file libraries. If you want smoother processing, 32GB is recommended. This could look like overkill, however the storage requirements of modern computers and software are of great importance. Instead, you can actually save money and get the exact performance with an upgrade to your laptop’s RAM. Therefore, you have options and your budget will play a major role here.

Choosing a Processor

If you are on the hunt for a good laptop for music production, Your processor should be up to the task. You will need a good processor whatever sort of audio editing application you’re using. Be it, Ableton Live 9, Reaper, Avid Pro tools 11, FL Studio Producer, Adobe Audition CC, or Logic Pro X or perhaps something such like Audacity? It is extremely helpful if you’re able to afford a quad-core processor. This will allow you to produce music without too much difficulty. On the other hand, you’ll be able to perform multiple tasks seamlessly. Still, this will increase the cost a little, but the benefits are certainly with it. You are able to alter audio on almost any computer, but having a robust unit will make your editing and audio or music production task a more pleasant experience. Intel i5 or i7 is highly recommended when choosing your best laptop for music production.

Reading & Recording CDs

If you are an avid music lover, then you will need to purchase a laptop that has a DVD/CD-RW, which provides a diversity of functions. Of course, you will easily be able to listen to your most cherished CDs and watch all of your lovable movie characters on DVD.

The RW will allow you to remove and add data to your hard drive. These disk drives will give you the ability to write your music to CD. So, what happens, if you end up unsatisfied with your tunes? Well, this will not be an issue with the RW, since you will be able to write over it.

Best Laptop for Music Production

Apple Macbook Pro with M1 Chip

MacBook Pro doesn’t only rely on its processor to provide an excellent level of performance. Yes, it’s the new System on Chip (SoC) Apple M1 processor that delivers top efficiency even to one of the most difficult and complex processing tasks, nevertheless, it doesn’t stop there. This laptop comes with a powerful Apple 8-core GPU graphics that will provide you with vibrant colors and high quality image detail. Better yet the 256GB SSD suits the general effect which results in lightning-fast access and writes speeds. One big advantage of SSDs over traditional hard drives is whenever you actually are doing music production and you are pushing your task to the limit, the mechanical drives can spin tremendously to cope with the demand; on the other hand, SSD will simply perform rapidly without displaying pressure even when confronted with high speed, graphics-intensive tasks.

Graphics details

If you wanted a multimedia laptop, you need a superb display that delivers crisp and well-detailed pictures and colors. The Retina display that Apple offers in this 13‑inch model has over 5 million pixels so you can easily retouch photos or edit your movie in HD without sacrificing clarity. More than just filling every detail with enough pixels, it also has great viewing angles so you won’t have problems sharing the screen.

Powerful performer

MacBook Pro does not only rely on its CPU to achieve a great level of performance. Yes, it has the new System on Chip (SoC) Apple M1, with 8-core CPU that delivers top performance even to the most complicated technical computing tasks, but it does not end there. This laptop comes with Apple 8-core GPU graphics that drive every pixel on the screen. Even better, its 256 GB Solid-State drive complements the overall performance which results in lightning-fast access and writes speeds. One huge advantage of SSDs over mechanical drives is when you really are pushing your tasks to its limit, like when you’re doing intense photo editing. While mechanical drives can spin tremendously to cope with the demand, SSD will simply operate fast without showing strain even when exposed to high speed, graphics-intensive tasks.

Mac OS

Apple laptops come with their own proprietary OS. This machine comes with Mac OS. If you think the hardware part will offer seamless performance on its own, most of the time, bug-free software spells a huge difference. In line with Apple’s simple and seamless OS’s of the past, the Mac OS operates buttery smooth under any condition. This is really made up for a lot of goodies during your average daily tasks.

Other details

The style is one thing Apple machines are known for. MacBook Pro is not an exemption. This machine was designed to have a very minimal footprint. With this in mind, engineers have found a way to pack enough power into this thin and lightweight package. Weighing around 3.0 lbs (1.4kg), this machine is among the lightest in its class. And with its .61-inch thickness, it’s also among the thinnest around the corner. Among the usual goodies is its Wi‑Fi wireless networking with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatibility. It also supports Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless technology and stereo speakers.

Although, the higher price tag might be a deal-breaker for most people if you consider value and performance the MacBook Pro is really a very good choice.

Pros:

• Audio Quality (10/10)
• Powerful Performance
• Portable
• Long Battery Life (up to 20 hours)
• Great Audio / Speaker System

Cons:

• Expensive

Best Laptops for Music Production

Apple MacBook Pro 16″

2.6GHz 6-core Intel Core i7 (9th Gen) powers this system so you’ll never have to compromise on performance and multitasking. 4 GB GDDR6 memory is there for all your software’s needs. With 512GB SSD storage space for fast performance, it’s more than enough for your music needs. 16-Inch screen is another good addition so you’ll have better navigation. Six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers is ready for listening to your finished product. With it you’ll hear dynamic bass and soaring highs with less distortion for an unmatched music and movie encounter.

Pros:

• Audio quality (10/10)
• Powerful Performance
• Very quiet
• Great Audio
• Six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers

Cons:

• Expensive

ASUS VivoBook 15

With Intel AMD Ryzen 5 3500U (Beat i7-7500U) that clocks at 2.1 GHz, you can be sure speed is at your disposal. 8 GB DDR4 RAM is more enough for music editing but you’ll never know when you need some extras. 256 GB SSD, storage space is there to cover all your storage anxieties. The 15.6-Inch screen, 1920×1080 resolution and AMD’s Radeon Vega 8 can answer your needs for visual entertainment. Featuring exclusive ASUS SonicMaster technology to give you quality audio you are looking for you music production projects, the ASUS VivoBook 15 can deliver deeper and richer bass, a wider audio range and pristine clarity through larger speakers and specially designed chambers for topnotch clarity. Windows 10 comes pre-installed with a 8-hour battery life for your daily grind.

Pros:

• Audio quality (9/10)
• Fast processor
• backlit keyboard
• long battery life
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Space key needs a little force to function

Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition

Razer Blade’s Intel Core i7-10875H 5.1 GHz Processor is more than capable of casual music editing. 32GB RAM can cater your multitasking needs in a breeze. It’s 1TB SSD deals with long-term storage and all your music files. The 15.6-Inch screen is powered Mobile Intel HD graphics. The audio quality of this laptop is perfect for those into music or gaming. Windows 10 Pro comes pre-installed with thunderbolt 3 / usb charging.

Pros:

• Audio quality (10/10)
• Fast Processor
• Sturdy
• Innovative cooling
• Lightweight

Cons:

• Expensive

ASUS ROG Strix Scar III

Powering this machine is 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750h Processor running at 4.5GHz. It comes with 16GB RAM with DDR3L and operating at 2666MHz. These specs indicate that multitasking would be a breeze. Storage-wise, this computer has 1TB SSD worth of space which helps in ensuring smooth operation and big enough to accommodate your music production files. Display is operated by its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 which projects to its 15.6-inch HD Display 1920 x 1080. It comes with preinstalled Windows 10 Home, 64-bit OS which is upgradable to Windows 10 Professional x64.

Pros:

• Audio quality (9/10)
• Fast processor
• 16GB memory
• Enhanced cooling system

Cons:

• Heavy
• No webcam

Dell G3 15 3500

This one boasts an Infinity Display of 15.6-inch 144Hz 300 nits WVA Anti-Glare LED Narrow Border Backlit Display at maximum 1920 x 1080 resolution through its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060. Driving this machine is a 10th generation Intel Core i7-10750H clocked at 5.0 GHz. It comes with 16GB DDR4 memory running at 2933Mhz. Storage is big enough at 512GB with SSD technology, it is able to operate fast and smooth. Other notable features are backlit Keyboard, bluetooth 5.1, 3 USB 3.0 and thunderbolt 3 ports. To top it all, its battery can operate up to 8 hrs. before needing a recharge. Windows 10 Home, 64-bit, comes preinstalled with it.

Pros:

• Audio quality (8/10)
• decent battery life
• 16GB memory

Cons:

• colors are bit off at times
• build quality is poor

MSI GF63

This Windows 10 system is quite a performer. It starts with its Intel Core i5-9300H clocking at at 2.4 – 4.1 MHz max CPU. RAM space is catered by 8GB module with DDR4 technology. Hard drive space is more than enough for average music production as it comes with 256 GB SSD. Graphics duties are done by NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR5 which then projects to its 15.6-inch display capable of 1920 x 1080 of max resolution.

Pros:

• Audio quality (8/10)
• inexpensive
• great video quality
• sturdy

Cons:

• no optical drive
• 256GB Storage

Dell XPS 13 (2020)

The next laptop on our list of best laptop for music production is the Dell XPS 13 (2020). It comes with Intel Quad-Core i5-10210U (beats i7-8550U) with 6MB Cache, clocked up to 4.2 GHz. This may not sound much but this is coupled by 8GB RAM clocked at 1.6MHz so you’ll have enough speed at any angle. Storage is catered by 8GB DDR4 1TB PCIe SSD for your rendering and other performance intensive projects. The 13.3-Inch touchscreen display, powered by Intel® HD Graphics, comes with it so navigation will not be a burden. To top it, waves Maxx Audio 4.0 is there when you need crisp sounds, ideal for your music production and recording and to top that, It’s most notable feature is that, this laptop can last up to 12 hours. This also comes with Windows 10 Home 64-bit installed.

Pros:

• Audio quality (8/10)
• Huge Memory
• lightweight
• long battery life

Cons:

• memory not upgradeable
• no optical drive

Lenovo Yoga C740

This may not be latest from Lenovo but this system can deliver most of your needs in music production. Intel 4-Core i5-10210U (Beats i7-8550U) rated at 1.6 up to 4.2 GHz, with 6MB cache makes this system more than capable. With a memory of 8GB DDR4 and 1TB PCIe SSD storage, this laptop will surely have enough space for your editing and multitasking needs. It’s 14.0 inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS Touchscreen display will surely provide you with the vivid images you are expecting for. With a nice surround sound quality, Lenovo Yoga C740 is definitely one of the best laptop for making music.

Pros:

• Audio quality (9/10)
• Fast Processor
• lightweight
• multi-purpose laptop

Cons:

• too many pre-installed programs
• Short Battery Life (6 hours)

Final Words

A portable laptop is definitely important to all musicians, whether they are newbies or veterans. It is vital for your art that you purchase a computer with all the components that are needed for recording and listening to your most treasured melodies, whether it is rap, rock, or bebop.

Finding good laptops for music production might somehow be easy, but choosing the best one for the job is a little bit tricky. And may our list of best laptops for music production help you in choosing the right one for you.