Should I buy a MBP for production if I already have an iMac?

[tekboi]

I run two side businesses. One in Sound Design and another in Web Development.

I currently have a 2017 5K imac (base model) that I'm using for development along w/ a thunderbolt display for even more screen space. I also do lightweight video editing, nothing too intensive. I love it for design (which I do alot of).

My studio for music is currently using a 2011 macbook pro that I will soon be replacing with 2017 or 2018 model 15".

My initial plans were to simply use the newly purchased laptop for my music studio, but now i'm thinking that maybe the iMac might be better suited for the studio and maybe the mbp would be better suited for web dev? I like that I will have an i7 in the mbp (whichever one I choose

FWIW, the specs on my iMac are:

3.4GHz i5 Quad-Core
24GB of Ram (i upgraded it)
256 flash storage
Radeon Pro 570 with 4GB of VRAM

While the macbook pro i'm currently looking is the following:

2.9GHz i7 Quad-Core (w/ turboboost to 3.8)
16 of Ram (can't upgrade it)
256 flash storage
Radeon Pro 550 with 2GB of VRAM

 

[tekboi]

Changed title. Leaning more towards getting the MBP anyways...

 

[Hater]

Why wouldn't you run both off the same machine? Makes it so much easier when combining elements, as i'm assuming the audio production streams into the video production.

I hate the new MBP's. I've been using a 2012 MBP and as with all video production, it's all about space. Can't even run a secondary internal HDD in the new ones (let alone the lack of SD card slot, lack of USB-A etc), absolutely useless. iMac all the way.

 

[tekboi]

Why wouldn't you run both off the same machine? Makes it so much easier when combining elements, as i'm assuming the audio production streams into the video production.

I hate the new MBP's. I've been using a 2012 MBP and as with all video production, it's all about space. Can't even run a secondary internal HDD in the new ones (let alone the lack of SD card slot, lack of USB-A etc), absolutely useless. iMac all the way.

It's kind of an issue with space for me. I mean physical space. As I have an office and a studio and they are both perfectly setup for the most part. It's just a matter of is it really practical. My mind is telling me Noooooo. But my bodyyyyy......my boddyyyyyyy is telling me Yeesssssssss!!!!

Also, the two businesses are unrelated for the most part. Although on occasion I have used my iMac for elements of the music business like branding design etc.

 

[Fishrrman]

For a music studio, I would want a 27" iMac (doesn't have to be "over-powered").

There's nothing that beats that 27" display for long timelines and extra windows displayed onscreen.