I push my M1 Mini pretty hard, but I can’t recall ever hear the fan kick in. I didn’t even realise it had one!
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First review about sound... fan noise
- Thread starter Cape Dave
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All this noise about the fans is quite anti-climactic.
The Mini is such an awesome package. A shame this comes in the way - although to be fair, I’m in a very special demographic.
Pretty sure this is nitpicking for a particular line of work and its workflows.
The Mini is such an awesome package. A shame this comes in the way - although to be fair, I’m in a very special demographic.
Pretty sure this is nitpicking for a particular line of work and its workflows.
Over the past years Apple's Macs have become esteemed in part for their silence, to the point that turning on some PCs can make one wonder if the startup sound ought to be 'Cleared for takeoff!' In that Apple is a victim of its own success; now people expect silent computers from them.
This. I didn't even know my 2020 M1 mini HAD a fan until about 2 months ago, when it came on very lightly during a video game.
I could probably get an M4 Pro Mini and max it out rendering 8K video and it would be a 10th as loud as my horrible HP work laptop running Windows 11. That thing sounds like 2 hair dryers running when I am surfing the internet.
M4 Pro:
www.tomshardware.com
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Other than performance, the biggest difference with high-power mode and auto is fan noise. On automatic, the Mac Mini was silent for two runs, while on high power, the Mac had some fan noise immediately and then sounded like the world's tiniest vacuum cleaner from then on.
During Cinebench, we log Macs with TG Pro. Unfortunately, these new Macs are too new for the software to recognize the chips. But we can learn about average system heat and fan speeds. Interestingly, the high-power mode had the overall system running cooler (62 degrees Celsius versus 65.5 degrees Celsius, when taking measurement from power management sensors, power supply, and SSD). But that may be because of how fast the fans were spinning. On average, the default setting had the fans spin at 3,034.71 rotations per minute, while high power mode put it at 4,548.82 rpm.”
Mac Mini (M4 Pro) tested: Tiny titan
Smaller and more powerful than ever, but the power button moves to the bottom.
“
Other than performance, the biggest difference with high-power mode and auto is fan noise. On automatic, the Mac Mini was silent for two runs, while on high power, the Mac had some fan noise immediately and then sounded like the world's tiniest vacuum cleaner from then on.
During Cinebench, we log Macs with TG Pro. Unfortunately, these new Macs are too new for the software to recognize the chips. But we can learn about average system heat and fan speeds. Interestingly, the high-power mode had the overall system running cooler (62 degrees Celsius versus 65.5 degrees Celsius, when taking measurement from power management sensors, power supply, and SSD). But that may be because of how fast the fans were spinning. On average, the default setting had the fans spin at 3,034.71 rotations per minute, while high power mode put it at 4,548.82 rpm.”
don't know what if anything this tells you but,
on 16" m4 pro running in clamshell mode it takes about 250 tracks of "NewLogicBenchmarkTest" to get the fans audible at all
around 300 tracks, after a few passes, they ramp up to the point you can really hear them
not very scientific by any means but haven't had time to really try anything else and figured I'd share anyway
this is with "high performance mode" on btw
on 16" m4 pro running in clamshell mode it takes about 250 tracks of "NewLogicBenchmarkTest" to get the fans audible at all
around 300 tracks, after a few passes, they ramp up to the point you can really hear them
not very scientific by any means but haven't had time to really try anything else and figured I'd share anyway
this is with "high performance mode" on btw
So it appears that the High Performance mode is the Fan Kicker.
Which makes me wonder if I’ll ever use it at all.
Thanks for documenting.
Maybe not the more scientific, but a genuine test nonetheless !
Agreed. Which is why I wish they didn't shrink it.
Wait… does this mean I can’t run cinebench multicore benchmarks 24/7 in my home studio while doing vocal takes. No deal! 😝
Seriously though, I doubt noise will be much of an issue while doing vocal takes. I have a tiny room but still have over 2.5m separation between mic and PC. Yes a PC with 6 fans and never had an issue with background noise on a recording. Just use a piece of acoustic foam in front of the computer between it and mic to absorb/deflect sound.
It’s the first Mac that’s stood out for me and is enough to make the switch over to macOS. This little thing looks like a beast and will be way smaller and more quiet than the PC it replaces. I’m excited about the space i’m going to gain.
Base here. Silent during setup and update, and onwards. Like 'miracle' silent. LOL
So there. Maybe I got lucky.....or it's throttling, or it's something else, just saying. It's not like I'm going to go looking for trouble, cuz I'm sure I could make it make noise. Btw, I wonder what the speaker is like? God awful most likely.
So there. Maybe I got lucky.....or it's throttling, or it's something else, just saying. It's not like I'm going to go looking for trouble, cuz I'm sure I could make it make noise. Btw, I wonder what the speaker is like? God awful most likely.
Only if you are recording live off the floor in the same room with extremely sensitive mics. If you put this in a control room or in a ventilated isolating case (we used to do this with Mac Pros) it is not an issue. I suspect the problem lies with the low-budget use case. I mean, it is a mini after all…
I’m curious about the tracking comment. Why would you not use closed-back headphones where you can literally isolated everything in the playback? Or are you referring to noise in the signal chain prior to mic input?
Hitting the play button on your Mac is not going to make the fan kick in.
Tracking and recording with headphones is convenient and it’s generally a good way to do so. Monitoring your levels and signals is not the issue here - although during mix sessions, this can quickly become an issue. A faint noise in the studio will wear you down easily.
As for recording, depending on the fan noise level and the mic placement, it could be an issue on the way in.
Without getting too technical, let’s say it’s a possibility for many home studios and podcasters set-ups. A faint but loud noise could be recorded.
Granted, it’s a limited scenario.
But if you’re serious about your activity, it may be a deal breaker for some.
I, for one, am worried that the M4 Pro Mac Mini would be too loud too often for my use cases. Recording is not my main grip here - I should not pick up the fan noise when working at my desk.
But when repairing audio, mixing and mastering, I’d say it’s critical for me to have a quiet environment.
I ditched many gear over the years just for that reason.
But it’s still a solid option. Just maybe not for me
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I think at this point my question is
What tool is currently in use to do what the mini would replace that is quieter than the mini?
I’m on an MBP M1 Max and regards to sounds working daily with several intense programs, it’s dead quiet — but try turn a game on it, like “no man’s sky” and the sky/space is the limit of those fans, since they’ll join your space ship for full throttle on Your way out of the atmosphere 😂
Just wanted to chip in that under heavy GPU stress like a game, the M1 Max can get MAX loud fans — but most work task like video, design etc it’s silent
And on topic, I’m loving the input so far on noise of the M4 mini’s, considering a non pro model, which matches the M1 Max performance on some levels 😄
Just wanted to chip in that under heavy GPU stress like a game, the M1 Max can get MAX loud fans — but most work task like video, design etc it’s silent
And on topic, I’m loving the input so far on noise of the M4 mini’s, considering a non pro model, which matches the M1 Max performance on some levels 😄
I’m guessing MacBooks, Studios and Pros.
Which means next year - or right now for the MacBooks.
Since I don’t care for portability, I’m gonna wait.
There are worst things to endure, I’d say.
And I’m the first to admit that a) my use case is specific, b) my needs even more and c) I’m probably being picky!
I'd say you answered your own question here, just don't buy one. Though I still don't understand your reasoning. Not trying to be disrespectful but you are making a mountain out of a molehill.
The only times it seems any mac gets actually obstrussive in noise is when cpu/gpu are both taxed, or as pointed out above, 300 tracks after a few passes of Logic benchmark test and that was a m4 16" macbook. I'd wager the thermals are better in the mac mini over a macbook too. You've pointed out recording is not an issue, so what is so computationally intensive in mixing that is going to stress such a powerful machine out? I doubt audio restoration and mastering is going to do it.
Remember when we had real issues like having to defrag your hard drives every week and before every recording session. Having to use send fx aux and sending channels to busses so you could apply fx without bogging the system down or using stupidly high buffers, and this was only a few fx. Trying to record multiple channels at anything over 16/44 or 24/44, forget about 24/196 in a home studio. These were real issues, and do you think the PCs/Macs were silent back then, lol. Now we have so much power and can run a hundred tracks at 24/96, running softsynths and dozens of individual fx on tracks, all in your home and these tiny systems don't even break a sweat. As nathansz asked above, what are you actually using now that is quiter? I use 6 big fans at very low rpm to keep my PC cool and quiet (still around 30-35bd) but the tower is simply huge and I want space.
And if noise is really that much of an issue, put the mac in another room, you can use wireless keys/mouse and run a cable for the monitor, or just do what I do and have a box lined with some acoustic foam sit over my PC with the opening facing away. You either need this much power in which case there is solutions (though I believe there is no issue here and is why i am actually buying a Mac for the first time ever), or you simply do not need this power so trying to justify it by making this a big issue for you, which is fine. Noise in a studio is not a new thing and there are many workarounds that have been made over the decades, but one thing is for certain, computers today are much quiter than they were in studios 10 years ago, let's not even start on 20 years ago.
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Ignore me...
Turns out it was the Time Machine external HDD noise. Have removed that and can't hear a thing!
I’ll try to not derail the thread as much as I can.
Never compared the « back in the days » situations with « today’s non-issues ». Really. I’m 42 yo. I’ve been in studios where money and time had to be spend to solve the issues you mentioned. Wouldn’t go back then, for sure.
Although, taking your point into consideration, I don’t know how relevant it is to the main (little, personal) grip and/or discussion here.
I’m currently using a MacBook Pro M1 Pro. Silent as it is. It’s a beast. So yeah. I answered my question a long time ago : this MacMini is probably not for me but it’s a great machine. Can’t emphasize this enough.
Just because you asked, here is, for instance, the latest session that put the M1 Pro in overdrive.
A 60+ tracks project for a theatre. 10 multiouts Omnispheres/Trilians. 10 Kontakt instances. 7 ARCADE libraries. About 25 audio tracks (vocals, guitars, etc). And about 10 stock instruments.
Every single track with complex automations. About 25 different buses.
The project contains about 11 alternatives (half for incremental variations, half for multiple purposes such as studio mix, live mix, pre master, promotional mix, etc).
And multiple I/O insert/return points with some digitally recalled hardware.
The MBP struggles a bit but stays quiet - even when bouncing realtime with a heavy mastering chain.
Now. I might be wrong. But should the MacMini go into fan noise mode during these sessions, it would be a pain at the end of the day.
Again. My use case. My issue. Not ranting, not demanding. Just saying!
The MacMini M4 appears to be a mini studio on its own right. And I’m pretty sure it’s up to the task. Just not mine!
Yeah, this is what I expected for the M4 Pro model. The heatsink/heatpipe solution seems very small for the M4 Pro. I'm also doing audio work with Logic Pro, and having a noisy fan ramping up and down during projects is not ideal.
"So what? Get a Mac Studio then!" Well, this is an issue that should't be, if Apple hadn't been overly aggressive with their design, as neither the M1 or M2 Pro Mac Mini hardly ever made a sound.
I got a lot of hate for pointing out the obvious in my other thread, but there you go..
Still looking forward to some more youtube reviews. I want to ditch my i7 Mac Mini, but might be forced to wait another 6 months for the M4 Mac Studio (even though I don't need the added GPU cores on the M4 Max chip).
"So what? Get a Mac Studio then!" Well, this is an issue that should't be, if Apple hadn't been overly aggressive with their design, as neither the M1 or M2 Pro Mac Mini hardly ever made a sound.
I got a lot of hate for pointing out the obvious in my other thread, but there you go..
Still looking forward to some more youtube reviews. I want to ditch my i7 Mac Mini, but might be forced to wait another 6 months for the M4 Mac Studio (even though I don't need the added GPU cores on the M4 Max chip).
I’ll admit, I didn’t think my remarks and very needs would be so up for debate. But to each his own, I guess.
I’m gonna have to wait and see.
Almost took the plunge on either a Mac Studio M2 Max or a MBP M4 Pro. But I’d better be patient and wait for the Studio. Gives me time to document its design and noise - if any.
Still curious about reports and reviews. Pretty sure it’s gonna be a non-critical issue for 90% of the people out there.
Do you need the Pro? I run Ableton with Maschine as a plug-in sometimes (two DAW's at once!), which is a pretty hefty workload and my M1 Mini handles it fine. I run Logic with a bunch of plugins too, again without any issues.
It's a major step-up from my Intel based MBP, and although (aside from a couple of plug-ins, but I think they're the issue rather than the M1) the M1 does everything I want, I've got my eye on the M4 base Mini with the 512 upgrade - which looks perfect for budget music making. From what I've read so far that one seems to be pretty quiet - and I've never heard a peep from my M1.