My son is getting into enough music editing. I need to get him a machine that will work really for Logic X. What specs do you recommend? I'm on a budget. Can a macbook air work? Or a Pro? 13 inch or 16 inch? Sorry I don't use Apple myself.
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Which macbook for the Logic X application?
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Anything can work, the question is how well. It would help if you gave us some numbers regarding what fits into the budget.
I wondered if a Mini would be ok for about two years to get him through high school. Then I can get a Macbook Pro to get him through college. I could pay up to $2000, but again if there is lower cost option for about 2 years that would be great.
LOL, WHAT?!
This logic is how a generation of college students ended up with $2500 Facebook machines...
This is totally backwards. Your needs should determine the machine you buy - full stop. Keep your budget in your back pocket. Figure out your needs. Determine what machine meets those needs. Then determine whether your original budget is appropriate or needs to be re-evaluated. Maybe you realize you can save some money. Or maybe you realize you need to save longer.
Not the answer you might like but:
it depends
Don't buy a Macbook Air though.
What is your son going to do with Logic? Does he plan on using lots of VSTi instruments and sample libraries?
Is he going to use a lot of CPU hungry plugins? How many tracks have his projects?
In general, performance benefits from having a lot of cores/threads. If he uses a lot of sample libraries, the more RAM and SSD storage the better.
If he is just starting out and will only use the stuff that comes with Logic (which is a lot) and maybe wants to scale up later, I would recommend going for a machine with 4 or 6 cores and 8GB, better 16GB of RAM. For storage 512GB or 1TB.
A bigger screen is also always beneficial in Logic but you could hook up an external display.
I wouldn't recommend the 13" MBP at this point tho as the price/performance ratio is looking really bad now with the 16" MBP. The base model 16" is perfectly fine or you wait for the 13" refresh early next year (or look for a cheap used one).
Also keep in mind that most audio interfaces and plugins are not yet fully compatible with Catalina.
it depends
Don't buy a Macbook Air though.
What is your son going to do with Logic? Does he plan on using lots of VSTi instruments and sample libraries?
Is he going to use a lot of CPU hungry plugins? How many tracks have his projects?
In general, performance benefits from having a lot of cores/threads. If he uses a lot of sample libraries, the more RAM and SSD storage the better.
If he is just starting out and will only use the stuff that comes with Logic (which is a lot) and maybe wants to scale up later, I would recommend going for a machine with 4 or 6 cores and 8GB, better 16GB of RAM. For storage 512GB or 1TB.
A bigger screen is also always beneficial in Logic but you could hook up an external display.
I wouldn't recommend the 13" MBP at this point tho as the price/performance ratio is looking really bad now with the 16" MBP. The base model 16" is perfectly fine or you wait for the 13" refresh early next year (or look for a cheap used one).
Also keep in mind that most audio interfaces and plugins are not yet fully compatible with Catalina.
I‘m using Logic on my MacBook Pro from late 13 and it is still running well.
Sure, some 3rd party plugins can cause heavy CPU load, but there are things like ‚freezing a track‘, which will free you some CPU cycles and RAM.
I am sure any entry level MacBook as well as the Pro series entry model will perform more then well for your sons use case
Sure, some 3rd party plugins can cause heavy CPU load, but there are things like ‚freezing a track‘, which will free you some CPU cycles and RAM.
I am sure any entry level MacBook as well as the Pro series entry model will perform more then well for your sons use case
What a bunch of condescending ********. Who said literally anything about a "Facebook machine"? In this case, OP's "needs" are a Mac that runs Logic, which literally applies to every single Mac Apple sells today. Of course the next, and most important, question is about budget. Once you know the price that he can spend, you figure out where compromises can or need to be made.
No, sorry but, again backwards logic (not a pun). Not every Mac will run Logic X well. It was well said before...figure out your needs, then acquire the funds or financing to make it happen. The goal is to get the appropriate machine for a specific need, not just to spend what you have on hand and hope it works. THAT is a waste of money. Knowing what you "can" spend and what you "need" to spend are not the same thing. Here "need" is the constant and "can" is the variable.
Alright, Costco had a deal on 13inch with an i7. I bought the machine. It seems an i7 would run Logic no problem, but I'm an Apple newbie. Thoughts?
https://www.costco.com/new-apple-ma...256gb-ssd---space-gray.product.100519893.html
https://www.costco.com/new-apple-ma...256gb-ssd---space-gray.product.100519893.html
That should be enough to get started.
Costco has a great return policy if it doesn't work out though.
Logic will run just fine on the base 16” i7 model with 16GB RAM. If portability is not a necessity, a Mac Mini would work well too, especially if your son already has a monitor. My only suggestion would be to upgrade the processor to an i7 and possibly the hard drive to 512GB. RAM can be upgraded with an aftermarket kit without paying Apple prices. A similarly specced iMac would also work great.
The only thing I wouldn’t recommend is a laptop with a small screen. While one could certainly be used for Logic, screen real estate is a bonus when using it. Of course, this does not mean a smaller machine could not be used with an external monitor if portability were not required, just it would not be my first choice.
Whatever machine you get, I suspect your son will be very happy. I hope he enjoys using it.
The only thing I wouldn’t recommend is a laptop with a small screen. While one could certainly be used for Logic, screen real estate is a bonus when using it. Of course, this does not mean a smaller machine could not be used with an external monitor if portability were not required, just it would not be my first choice.
Whatever machine you get, I suspect your son will be very happy. I hope he enjoys using it.