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As an avid home producer, I have used Reaper in the past to record and mix tracks running an 8GB system for many small projects and had much success in doing so.
If you are already a PC or Mac user who is satisfied with your operating system, there’s not real gain to switching between them. Pro Tools is the Industry Standard. It all really depends on the industry. For the music recording industry, Pro Tools is hands down the most common software you will see in studios around the globe. The miniaturization of computer technology has allowed producers to make music on portable devices like laptops and even smartphones (in a limited capacity,) but the king of music production still remains the desktop computer. Let’s take a look at just what goes into a quality desktop for music production. Table of Contents: I.
However, if you are concerned with your current RAM or shopping for a new PC altogether with creating music in mind. Here’s what you need to know about RAM and performance through my experience.
So is 8GB enough or would 16GB of RAM be better for home music production?
8GB is enough for 5-25 audio tracks with multiple instruments, MIDI and many plugins, VSTs and effects (EQ, compression, delay, reverb, etc) for small projects without performance issues. However, 16GB is optimal for larger projects and handling multiple applications at once.
Recommended RAM for Music Production (Watch Video)
What’s the Minimum?
Most DAWs insist on 8GB as the minimum amount for adequate performance (16GB being the recommendation). However, 8GB is plenty of RAM for beginners and entry-level users learning the basics.
It all depends on your level of experience and the size of your projects.
What Will I Need For My Current Usage?
Now you have an idea about RAM and what projects it can roughly handle here’s some RAM and performance estimates. Compare these performance specs against your current system or potential PC.
Beginner
PC or Mac 8GB RAM (running at 1600 MHz) CPU: Dual-Core Intel i5 processor (2.2GHz or above)
- Suited for: entry level producer, small band, podcasters, audio edits, smaller projects
- Workload: 5 – 30 enabled audio tracks with some being MIDI
- Workload: Examples: recording instruments, light mixing, mastering, light plugin use
Experienced
PC or Mac: 16GB RAM (running at 1866 MHz) 512GB fusion/SSD CPU: Quadcore i7 processor (2.6 GHz or above)
- Suited for: bands, musicians, composers, experienced producers, sound engineers
- Workload: 30 – 60 enabled audio tracks with most being MIDI
- Workload: examples: recording multiple instruments and overdubs, mixing, mastering, moderate plugin use, medium sample library use, orchestral compositions
Advanced Producer
PC or MAC: 64 GB RAM (running at 2133 MHz) 1TB SSD CPU: Eight-Core Xeon E5 (running at 3.0 GHz or above)
- Suited for: film composers, sound/mastering engineers
- Workload: 100+ tracks enabled audio and MIDI
- Workload: examples: Orchestral compositions, large sample library use, multiple instruments recording, heavy plugin use, multiple large session use, heavy composition template use.
What about CPU?
We can’t discuss RAM without mentioning the importance of CPU (central processing unit) as both co-exist when it comes to performance. The ‘CPU’ or ‘processor’ plays a large role when it comes to a smooth production experience.
Having a system that can handle plugins, VSTs, MIDI and many heavy applications makes for a good experience.
The minimum processor spec I’m going to recommend is a ‘Dual-Core Intel i5 processor (2.2GHz or above)’ which is powerful enough for use in most DAW’s for smaller projects without crashes or lag.
Dual or Quad-Core Processor?
It’s worth mentioning that the number of cores within the processor will also dictate the CPU performance.
For example, a Quad-Core Intel i5 processor would have better performance than a Dual-Core Intel i7 processor as there is an additional pair of cores to share the workload.
This will benefit music production in a number of ways for some DAWs. When selecting an audio or MIDI track in Ableton, the software will designate its own processing core to each audio/MIDI track you create.
Once you run out of cores, the software will double up on its existing cores meaning the more cores you have the more efficient the system will perform.
With that said It’s very easy to get confused when it comes to processor tech.
So to avoid the confusion and instead create music without any performance issues, you will need to purchase a CPU that meets the benchmark test.
How to Test my Current PC?
www.cpubenchmark.net includes a large database of CPU benchmark test results.
This site regularly updates their database giving you an idea of what performance updates you are likely to receive with an upgrade. Give it a try to see how your system or potential PC line up.
The CPU benchmark test is simply the overall power and efficiency of the CPU unit displayed in numbers.
7000 is the minimum that is recommended for most music production tasks. Image Line (the creators of Fruity loops) recommend a CPU score of 6000 for a smooth experience. Anything around 9000 is classed as a powerful CPU.
Will 8GB be Enough for Projects?
If you are looking to use applications such as heavy amounts of orchestral samples, then a 16GB may be ideal. Mainly because samples are very RAM heavy compared to standard plugins and VSTs.
Should I upgrade to 16GB?
Good Computers For Music Production
If you have the budget to upgrade to a 16GB system there’s no harm in doing so. The benefit being that your system will improve when handling multiple programmes and applications at once.
For example, if you edit videos you will be able to render video projects quicker whilst still using software and applications.
Having the extra RAM will also enable you to use multiple plugins in your DAW simultaneously on a medium-sized project without any crashes or lag.
RAM is not a majorly expensive upgrade and is an investment for the future. allowing you to load and increase ‘usage headroom’ without any performance issues.
On the other hand, if you’re happy with the current performance, you can wait for the price of 16GB SSD sticks to lower in price then upgrade later.
Is 32GB Overkill?
In my experience, the only time you will need to consider 32GB, is when you are using a large number of samples and virtual instruments such as orchestral simulators.
These eat a ton of space! A general way of testing this would be to take the file size of your sample library and halve it, which is a good indicator if you have enough space.
For example, I have a sample library of 16GB, I’m not going to use every patch so dividing it would give me ‘8GB of RAM’ as a good indicator to how much is ideal.
It’s worth noting, some operating systems have a limit to how much RAM can be installed. Some systems only allow a maximum of 16GB or 32GB.
Before buying a system, check that your laptop or PC can actually be upgraded, as some manufacturers solder the RAM to the motherboard.
This meaning upgrading is impossible without heavy modifications. Secondly, check how many slots the current RAM is using and what’s available (i.e a single 8GB stick or 2x 4GB sticks).
The Bottom Line
- 8GB is plenty of RAM for beginners and entry-level users learning the basics.
- 8GB is enough for 5-25 audio tracks with guitars, bass, drums, vocals, MIDI keys with a few plugins, VST’s and effects (EQ, compression, delay, reverb, limiter)
- 16GB would benefit the user for projects with 30-60 audio/MIDI tracks with heavy use of plugins or orchestral samples whilst running other programmes simultaneously.
- CPU and processor take more importance over RAM when it comes to speed and performance.
- Quad-Core Intel i5 processor is a minimum standard to currently have
- Invest in a system that has the best processor (i5 i7 etc) as RAM can be upgraded at a later date whilst the CPU cannot be upgraded.
Have Fun Creating Music!
If you enjoyed this post, check out my interesting read… ‘do different audio interfaces affect sound quality?” Learn whether the quality and price of your audio interface can affect your recording quality.
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You’ll be amazed to hear the music quality recorded from home recording studios.
That being said, should you go for a Windows PC or a Mac? There is a war going on because of this subject itself, but having produced on a Mac & Windows before, let me give you my insights.
Should You Buy A Mac?
Apple Mac computers are beautifully designed and you feel good owning one. I started producing music on a Mac on Logic Studio. Logic Studio was made by the same company, Apple, so I figured I shouldn’t have any problems using them both.
I’d be honest. It was much easier to work on a Mac as compared to Windows. Installing my first software was pretty easy. I could depend on the Mac at all times. All I had to do whenever I wanted to make music is just power the computer on, launch my DAW and then make music. Good when inspiration strikes and you must put down ideas quickly.
With a Mac, you get Core Audio as your built-in audio driver. Core Audio is brilliant and you have close to no issues using it with your favourite DAW or when doing screencasting. On the other hand, Windows Audio is horrible when it comes to music production and screen casting. (I even had to find a new solution when doing screencasting on a Windows PC).
My second Mac machine was the iMac. I bought an iMac for my recording studio and continue to finish many productions on it.
Another reason why I liked the iMac a lot is because it was almost near silent-less. No noisy fans or loud spinning hard disks. That made it a perfect machine for recording in the same room if you’re recording in your home studio.
Let’s Look At Some Mac Computers You Might Buy
Macbook / Macbook Pro
Macbook Retina 2015First of all, please do not buy the new Macbook Retina 2015 for music production. Despite what people say, the Macbook Retina are not made for music production. It may be good for writers or web users on the go but not for a music producer.
On the other hand, Macbook Pros are fair for music production. Besides being portable, it has the power to take on many recording projects you throw at it. I’m not talking about big film scoring projects. For that, you’ll need a desktop machine, which we’ll get into later.
Macbook Pros also ships with a number of ports, like the Thunderbolt which is recognized by many audio hardware companies. It’s easy to find an audio interface with a thunderbolt connection.
There are a few things you have to watch before investing in a Macbook Pro. First, while it’s really fast, most Macbook Pros ship with very little hard disk storage. I find this limiting because I normally install lots of sample instruments into my computer. A Komplete Ultimate installation will take up to 320GB of space on your computer, more than what most Macbook Pros ship with.
Macbook Pros don’t ship with large hard disk space sizesA solution to this would be to install all your samples into a portable hard disk in which you carry with you.
Second, Macbooks are not upgradable. That is to say you have to upgrade your Macbook to the fullest specifications you can afford on the day you purchase it. You’ll need a lot of RAM for music production and you really have no choice but to upgrade the RAM on your Macbook to 16GB.
iMac
An iMac in a home recording studioI like the iMac a lot not because it’s really quiet, but because you get a large screen real estate. Trust me, I’ve tried working on a film scoring project with over 60 tracks on small laptop screen and though it’s do-able, I found myself squinting and scrolling all over my DAW.
As you fill your DAW with tracks, you’ll start to crave for more screens to work upon. The iMac also has lots of ports for connectivity. I like to think of the iMac as a big laptop. And oh, you have to buy as much as RAM as your budget allows when you buy the iMac. Sucks, I know.
Which iMac Should You Buy?
It is always better to get a computer with the fastest processor, but if your budget won’t allow. Sketches expert 2 0. You should be fine with starting off with an Core i5 at bare minimum. RAM however should be upgraded to the max. As for screens, having a big screen is nice but you can always add another screen later on.
My iMac 09′ lasted me for about 4 years before I finally grew sick of it’s sluggishness in coping with the latest softwares and projects size.
Mac Pro
All the computing power you’ll ever need in the studioGot all the budget and want to go big? Then get the Mac Pro.
I’ve never got my hands to actually finish a music piece on a Mac Pro, but looking at its specifications I’d say it’s worth a go if you want the best on a Mac platform.
The Mac Pro is actually an overkill for music production. Why? I’ll lay down the pros for you.
- Speed – You have everything you need to record loads of tracks and plugins
- Storage no longer an issue – We talked about having storage issues when it comes to samples. Not anymore on a Mac Pro
- Mac Pros are customizable – Yes they are giving you more space for future proofing your computer.
- Multiple Video Cards – Multiple outputs for your screens. You’ll need more screen real estate when you go bigger.
And oh, enjoy watching the jealousy on people’s faces when they visit your studio.
Check the complete list of Mac Computers here
It said that that Mac is the industry standard for recording and music production. But that isn’t the case. Even big time composers such as Hans Zimmer and Tom Holkenberg, uses multiple linked PCs for their work. Read Inside Track – Sci-Fi Movie Divergent
Maybe a Windows PC is something never considered for music production back in the days. However Windows OS have evolved so much that it’s not an excuse not being able to make music on a Windows machine anymore.
People have been asking why I made the switchWhen I made the switch to Windows, many people wondered why. The first reason I made the change was because I had lots of students who were making music on the Windows platform. I figured I had to be on the Windows platform too, so I’d be able to help them on the VSTs, softwares and plugins as we go about the music production classes.
![Best Best](https://allthingsgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/mac-vs-pc.jpg)
And oh please. A Mac DO NOT sound better. Your skills makes the difference regardless of what OS you’re making music on. Period.
Call me a semi geek, but I like to have control over my computer and the systems I’m working on. In short, I love being able to customize.
When I made the switch, I had to look for a new DAW because Logic Studio doesn’t run on Windows machines. I then chose to go for Steinberg Cubase, which I bought over in Amazon.
Upon switching to Windows I quickly realized that there was so much customizing I could do. I was using the M-Audio Profire 2626 as my audio interface. So what I did was I purchased a Firewire card for my desktop PC, and voila I’m able to use the audio interface to record. The M-Audio Profire 2626 connects to the computer with a Firewire cable.
You may argue that Firewire is outdated, but being able to customize my computer to run with legacy hardware and devices was very much appreciated. So the PC allows for lots of customization and networking. You could use that to your advantage in future proofing your production computer and also to add more computing power to your recordings.
The Downside Of Windows
There are few things I dislike about Windows. There’s always going to be pros and cons, right?
Firstly, Windows Audio. Windows Audio driver is great for your everyday uses on the computer from watching videos, playing games and listening to music. But not when it comes to music production. It’ll be hard to produce music on a Windows PC without actually investing in an audio interface, acting as your main audio driver.
Secondly, there are various of motherboards and chipsets controlling things when you buy a PC, conflicts are most likely to occur. With a Mac however, you get one motherboard and everything configured for you out of the box. The solution to this problem is to do more research and make sure you know your stuff. If you’re more of a person who just want things done out the box, go for a Mac.
What Type of Windows PC Should You Buy?
I suggest going for PC makers who specialize in building PC desktops & laptops made for audio production. Browse for computers from sites such as Scan.Co.UK or ProAudioLabs. With them you’ll be sure to get a system that simply works for music production.
However that is not to say you can’t build your PC yourself. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when building your PC for music production.
1. Silent PC Casing
Best Macbook For Audio Production
Cooler Master Silencio 352Try to get a silent casing with built in padding when you built your PC. A good case not only helps with the cooling of the computer, but it should also be silent enough. Noises are usually emitted from hard disks and fans in your computer system. If you have a one room home recording studio, getting a silent case is so every crucial.
There are many silent PC cases in the market from all ranges. If you want something that works and isn’t very expensive, I’d recommend the Cooler Master Silencio silent case.
Ia writer pro 1 5 1 – professional writing suite. 2. Power Supply
Cooler Master 800W Silent Pro GoldNever skimp on power supply for your computer. Go for a cheaply made PSU unit for your computer and you might risk getting hums whenever you record. True story.
You’ll also have to look at the output capacity of your the power supply unit. It depends on the number of devices you’ll be plugging in into your computer. The more devices you plug in, the more power you’ll need. For a music production system, going for a 800W power supply will be more than enough.
A silent and efficient power supply is what you need for a good music production PC. I’d recommend going for the Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold 800W 80 PLUS Gold Power Supply with Modular Cables (RS800-80GAD3-US)
3. Motherboard
There are various kinds of motherboards you can get out there – no restrictions for this. A rule of thumb when getting a motherboard for music production. Lower temperatures of CPU means a quieter PC – the coolers need not work so hard to cool the CPU. Get a motherboard with good voltage regulations.
4. RAM
As always, get as much RAM as you can. Sampler instruments and plugins are always RAM-hungry, so you make sure you have enough RAM for a smooth producing experience. There are few things to look into RAM. Make sure it has a frequency of at least 1600Mhz.
Audio Mentor prefers the Crucial 16GB Kit (8GBx2) DDR3/DDR3L-1600 MHz Cookie 4 4 – protect your online privacy.
5. Hard Disk Drives
Other than just SSD, normal Hard Disk does a great job for storing dataIf you have budget, use an SSD for your main operating system and DAW. Then use HDD with at least 7200rpm for your project files and samples.
I find this to be the best setup for music production on a PC. This setup ensures your system is blazing fast while you have enough space for the other samples. Audio Mentor recomends the WD Green 2TB Desktop Hard Drives
6. Processor
Always go for Intel processors. They seem to work the best with DAWs and you’re better of with an Intel processor over and AMD processor. For recording music, I always advise getting an i5 processor as a minimum.
I hope I covered enough for you to get started in recording and producing music in your home studio. There would be an endless debate on which operating systems and hardwares are better for producing music, but most importantly, you should focus on your music and skills.
Don’t waste time meddling with too much technical stuff when buying or building a computer. Get one that works for you then jump in right in to producing.
What are your current setup? What are some hardware or setup you can recommend? Comment below.