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First review about sound... fan noise

DankeBrutus said:
My guess is that a hypothetical 5K/120hz Studio Display would have both Thunderbolt 5 and HDMI 2.1. IIRC HDMI 2.1 can handle 5K/120hz with DSC. I am pretty sure the M2 Pro Macs and onward all have HDMI 2.1.
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Yes even the M4 base could handle that…
 
"a hypothetical 5K/120hz Studio Display would have both Thunderbolt 5 and HDMI 2.1."

How would that work with USB ports and the webcam?
Presumably by a bespoke Apple multi-protocol cable?
And the rumour is 5K/90.
 
!!! said:
Thanks, sorry I did not see it.


Are you using Final Cut? It makes use of the hardware encoders and GPU, so it tends to be quieter than, say, Handbrake. But if you're able to play video games without noise, that's a good sign.
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No. I am using DaVinci Resolve.
 
ravenofdoom said:
I may also pass on the new m4 mac mini. I was contemplating the base m4 because I thought it would be perpetually inaudible like the m2 / m2 pro, but that's not true. I may consider the m4 studio when reviews come out once released / early next year. It's a shame though because the overall idle / moderate load energy use of the studio is considerably more than the m4 mini, and I don't really need/want that extra power and heat. I'd gladly buy an m4 in the old m2 mini enclosure or an m4 / m4 pro in a studio enclosure (all things equal in terms of keeping thermals the same). I guess Apple got what they wanted -- segmentation of their desktop market and a possible push of more users to the studio (which has been their most lagging computer in terms of sales).

I do think they will get more folks that are first time desktop buyers or swtich-overs from PC who don't care so much about or aren't into the weeds about fan noise like us -- but that's probably just a good marketing campaign and the price-points for the higher spec base hardware that would have driven people even if they just modestly changed the case design to retain the dB profile of the prior m2 mini
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Seriously the base m4 barely ever makes a noise even exporting video after video in media encoder… to spend 5 times more on a Studio M4 is ridiculous just over a fan.
 
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PaulD-UK said:
"a hypothetical 5K/120hz Studio Display would have both Thunderbolt 5 and HDMI 2.1."

How would that work with USB ports and the webcam?
Presumably by a bespoke Apple multi-protocol cable?
And the rumour is 5K/90.
Click to expand...
It would work the same as any monitor with USB works. You would need an uplink cable. The Thunderbolt port running as USB4, or even 3.2, should be able to provide enough bandwidth for the additional USB-C inputs and webcam.
 
After a week of stress-testing my Mac Mini M4 Pro with intensive music production, I’ve decided to keep it rather than wait for the bigger Mac Studio with all those GPU cores I’ll never need. While I don’t run benchmark tests, I work extensively with my computer, and I haven’t heard the fan once. It’s the perfect computer for music production, where fan noise would be a major distraction. This Mac is simply awesome!
 
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Patrickf73 said:
After a week of stress-testing my Mac Mini M4 Pro with intensive music production, I’ve decided to keep it rather than wait for the bigger Mac Studio with all those GPU cores I’ll never need. While I don’t run benchmark tests, I work extensively with my computer, and I haven’t heard the fan once. It’s the perfect computer for music production, where fan noise would be a major distraction. This Mac is simply awesome!
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Thanks! Is this the 12 or 14 core CPU version?
 
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maluba27 said:
Received a Mac mini M4 Pro with 14‑Core CPU, 20‑Core GPU and 24 GB RAM today. My idea was to replace my Mac Studio with M1 Mac with 10-Core CPU, 24-Core GPU and 32 GB of RAM.

In normal use the Mac mini is not hearable and quieter than my Mac Studio.

I tested both with the KI denoising tool of Camara RAW in Photoshop 2025. To test the devices some time under full GPU load I choose 50 Nikon Z6II RAW files for denoising.

Mac Studio needed 13 minutes and 15 seconds, without spinning the fans higher as in idl.

Mac mini in automatic mode needed 13 minutes and 45 seconds. After around 1 minute of denoising, the fans start to spin faster and faster and get clearly hearable. It sounds a little bit like a small vacuum cleaner. Recorded a small Video with the sound.


Mac mini in low power mode needed 24 minutes and 45 seconds, but the fans did not start spinning faster.

So I will stay with my Mac Studio M1 Max and maybe get a Mac Studio M4 Max next year.
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Thx, my use case.
 
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Please rename this thread to… “ I paid too much for a Mac mini… and now a little noise is bothering me… therefore I must turn it!”
Buyers remorse.

What do you expect the M4 Pro uses 40 watts more power than a M2 Pro in a case that is almost half the size! Wow
 
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Please rename this thread to… “ I paid too much for a Mac mini… and now a little noise is bothering me… therefore I must turn it!y
ravenofdoom said:
I may also pass on the new m4 mac mini. I was contemplating the base m4 because I thought it would be perpetually inaudible like the m2 / m2 pro, but that's not true. I may consider the m4 studio when reviews come out once released / early next year. It's a shame though because the overall idle / moderate load energy use of the studio is considerably more than the m4 mini, and I don't really need/want that extra power and heat. I'd gladly buy an m4 in the old m2 mini enclosure or an m4 / m4 pro in a studio enclosure (all things equal in terms of keeping thermals the same). I guess Apple got what they wanted -- segmentation of their desktop market and a possible push of more users to the studio (which has been their most lagging computer in terms of sales).

I do think they will get more folks that are first time desktop buyers or swtich-overs from PC who don't care so much about or aren't into the weeds about fan noise like us -- but that's probably just a good marketing campaign and the price-points for the higher spec base hardware that would have driven people even if they just modestly changed the case design to retain the dB profile of the prior m2 mini
Click to expand...
the M4 is inaudible… the M4 Pro is not. What do you expect this case is tiny!
 
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Patrickf73 said:
After a week of stress-testing my Mac Mini M4 Pro with intensive music production, I’ve decided to keep it rather than wait for the bigger Mac Studio with all those GPU cores I’ll never need. While I don’t run benchmark tests, I work extensively with my computer, and I haven’t heard the fan once. It’s the perfect computer for music production, where fan noise would be a major distraction. This Mac is simply awesome!
Click to expand...

Would you be kind enough to describe your workflow?
I’m rocking the bare bones M4 base model right now for same purposes. And even tho it holds its grounds pretty well, it has some limitations in the end.
Namely, some heavy processing, some busy mixes with loads of automations and complex routings. Not even talking about some heavy CPU/Memory loads when working on a creative session with many processes at once (automations, pitch flex on many tracks, track/project alternatives, etc).
 
Gezellig said:
Would you be kind enough to describe your workflow?
I’m rocking the bare bones M4 base model right now for same purposes. And even tho it holds its grounds pretty well, it has some limitations in the end.
Namely, some heavy processing, some busy mixes with loads of automations and complex routings. Not even talking about some heavy CPU/Memory loads when working on a creative session with many processes at once (automations, pitch flex on many tracks, track/project alternatives, etc).
Click to expand...


And yes, the mix also includes some automations.
 
I need a Mac Mini to make music. I am a guitarist, I played many years in rock bands and now I want to create songs recording guitars on electronic music.
I am a beginner, so I will need to learn Logic Pro and how to produce electronic music, but I have some experience as DJ of techno.

I would like to have your advice to decide between 3 possible configurations with also different price:

Mac Mini M4

10-core CPU

10-core GPU

24 GB RAM

1TB SSD

or

Mac Mini M4 Pro

12-core CPU

16-core GPU

24 GB RAM

1TB SSD

or

Mac Mini M4 Pro

12-core CPU

16-core GPU

48 GB RAM

1TB SSD

I am motivated to learn and I want to produce music of high quality, but I know there will be a learning curve. I would like something to be able to work for next 5-6 years, but not overkill.

Thank you in advance for your help.
 
spacefuzz said:
I need a Mac Mini to make music. I am a guitarist, I played many years in rock bands and now I want to create songs recording guitars on electronic music.
I am a beginner, so I will need to learn Logic Pro and how to produce electronic music, but I have some experience as DJ of techno.

I would like to have your advice to decide between 3 possible configurations with also different price:

Mac Mini M4

10-core CPU

10-core GPU

24 GB RAM

1TB SSD

or

Mac Mini M4 Pro

12-core CPU

16-core GPU

24 GB RAM

1TB SSD

or

Mac Mini M4 Pro

12-core CPU

16-core GPU

48 GB RAM

1TB SSD

I am motivated to learn and I want to produce music of high quality, but I know there will be a learning curve. I would like something to be able to work for next 5-6 years, but not overkill.

Thank you in advance for your help.
Click to expand...
M4 mini not the pro.
 
spacefuzz said:
I need a Mac Mini to make music. I am a guitarist, I played many years in rock bands and now I want to create songs recording guitars on electronic music.
I am a beginner, so I will need to learn Logic Pro and how to produce electronic music, but I have some experience as DJ of techno.

I would like to have your advice to decide between 3 possible configurations with also different price:

Mac Mini M4

10-core CPU

10-core GPU

24 GB RAM

1TB SSD

or

Mac Mini M4 Pro

12-core CPU

16-core GPU

24 GB RAM

1TB SSD

or

Mac Mini M4 Pro

12-core CPU

16-core GPU

48 GB RAM

1TB SSD

I am motivated to learn and I want to produce music of high quality, but I know there will be a learning curve. I would like something to be able to work for next 5-6 years, but not overkill.

Thank you in advance for your help.
Click to expand...

I have the Mac Mini M4 Pro with 12-core CPU, 48 GB of RAM and 1 TB SSD and it is perfect for music production!
 
spacefuzz said:
I need a Mac Mini to make music. I am a guitarist, I played many years in rock bands and now I want to create songs recording guitars on electronic music.
I am a beginner, so I will need to learn Logic Pro and how to produce electronic music, but I have some experience as DJ of techno.

I would like to have your advice to decide between 3 possible configurations with also different price:

Mac Mini M4

10-core CPU

10-core GPU

24 GB RAM

1TB SSD

or

Mac Mini M4 Pro

12-core CPU

16-core GPU

24 GB RAM

1TB SSD

or

Mac Mini M4 Pro

12-core CPU

16-core GPU

48 GB RAM

1TB SSD

I am motivated to learn and I want to produce music of high quality, but I know there will be a learning curve. I would like something to be able to work for next 5-6 years, but not overkill.

Thank you in advance for your help.
Click to expand...
As you mention "next 5-6 years," your last on the list would make the most sense ... The caveat is that some have noticed audible fan noise under certain conditions due to the small formfactor/footprint. Apple is going to probably be introducing far more over the next few years in terms of OS, AI and software. Getting a fair amount of RAM makes a lot of sense and the 1 TB SSD gives space for work or apps and you can always exploit external drives and enjoy the upcoming Thunderbolt 5 SSD offerings. For me, my Mac sits very close to me and rarely do I get any real audible issues. However, it is a Studio Max M1 1TB/64GBRAM. My next Mac will be the M4 Studio Max similarly spec'd.
 
spacefuzz said:
I need a Mac Mini to make music. I am a guitarist, I played many years in rock bands and now I want to create songs recording guitars on electronic music.
I am a beginner, so I will need to learn Logic Pro and how to produce electronic music, but I have some experience as DJ of techno...
Click to expand...
I will strongly suggest that you don't worry about Logic as your first move, but start out in Garageband, which has a more stripped-down interface, but can operate any plugin that you'd use in Logic Pro. It very much is Logic Lite.
 
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Spacefuzz --

Before you settle on Logic, you might try a demo version of Cubase.
I've never seen a DAW that makes moving selections around as easy.
 
Regarding the thread title, I am very interested on knowing if someone experienced a difference in thermals and noise between M4 and M4 Pro when under load.
 
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