Are you looking for the best computer for a home studio? Here is our complete guide to help you pick out the one that’s right for you.
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Let’s say you’re setting up a home recording studio. You’ve given it the acoustic treatment, and you have most of what you need–multi-track recording equipment, a multi-room audio interface, condenser microphones, open-back headphones and closed-back headphones, a digital audio workstation, and other essential high-resolution audio recording equipment, and pro tools to get your studio up and running.
The one thing that is missing, however, is a decent home recording studio computer to pull it all together. And choosing the computer is one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make. This is also one of the things you’ll find people are really divided on.
We’re going to try to show you the pros and cons of all the different choices out there and tell you some of the important specs you need to consider before making up your mind. Let’s get started.
IN A HURRY? HERE’S OUR TOP PICKS!
1. Apple Mac Mini with Apple M1 Chip
- Apple-designed M1 chip for a giant leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance
- 8-core CPU packs up to 3x faster performance to fly through workflows quicker than ever*
- 8-core GPU with up to 6x faster graphics for graphics-intensive apps and games*
- 16-core Neural Engine for advanced machine learning
- 8GB of unified memory so everything you do is fast and fluid
This is our pick for best mac desktop for a home studio (for the money).
2. Apple MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Chip
- Apple-designed M1 chip for a giant leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance
- Get more done with up to 20 hours of battery life, the longest ever in a Mac
- 8-core CPU delivers up to 2.8x faster performance to fly through workflows quicker than ever
- 8-core GPU with up to 5x faster graphics for graphics-intensive apps and games
- 16-core Neural Engine for advanced machine learning
This is our pick for best mac laptop for a home studio (for the money).
3. HP Envy Desktop Computer
- YOUR CREATIVE SIDEKICK: Render, edit, game and stream better than ever before
- FAST PROCESSOR: 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10700 Processor, 8-Core, 2.90 GHz base frequency, up to 4.8 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology
- MEMORY: 16 GB DDR4-2933 SDRAM memory (2 x 8 GB) (upgradable to 32 GB)
- INTERNAL STORAGE: 1 TB 7200RPM SATA hard drive & 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive (HDD 3.5" expansion bay available)
- CONNECTIVITY: Realtek Wi-Fi 5 (1x1) and Bluetooth 4.2 Combo, MU-MIMO supported, 0/100/1000 Base-T Network, 3.5mm Headphone/Microphone combo, 4 SuperSpeed USB Type-A (front), 1 SuperSpeed USB Type-C(R) (front), 4 USB 2.0 Type-A (rear), HDMI Out (rear), VGA (rear)
This is our pick for best desktop PC for a home studio (for the money).
4. Dell Inspiron 15 3593 Laptop
No products found.
This is our pick for best laptop PC for a home studio (for the money).
Is the Computer I Already Have Good Enough?
If you’re just setting up your studio, you’ll be happy to know that the computer you already have is probably enough to get you started. As long as it’s working properly, up to date, and doesn’t have too many other programs running on it.
This gives you time to figure out whether or not you really want to make a large monetary investment in music production. Plus, it gives you time to think about what you really want and need in your studio.
We’ll explore Mac vs. PC a bit later but if you already own a MacBook Pro, you might consider yourself to be a little ahead of the game. Why? Most Macs come with GarageBand software which is great for a beginner.
On the other hand, if you’re using a Windows operating system, don’t worry. You can find inexpensive and even some free software to get you started.
As you get more serious and gain more experience, you will eventually need to invest in a new computer. Ideally, you can get one that you can devote solely to recording and producing music.
Do I Need a Laptop or a Desktop?
That depends on what you want to be able to do with it. Something to keep in mind as we move forward is that there are no right and wrong choices. It’s really all about what will work best for you and what you can use to produce the best product.
That said, as Joe Stachowiak puts it, there are good and bad things about each. Laptops are portable which is great if you ever need to work off-site or in another studio. If you plan to record music at festivals or live shows, a laptop is the only way you’re going to be able to do it.
Desktops are good, too, because they sit in one place and have much less risk of damage or, worse, theft. You’ll get more memory and power upfront but upgrading them can mean opening them up and digging into the internal components. Not everyone is going to feel comfortable with that.
E-Home Recording Studio points out that most recording pros still use desktops even though laptops have become so popular everywhere else. There are a few reasons for that.
First of all, desktops are generally faster machines. They’ll be able to keep up with everything without any issues. They also have more ports which give you more options for routing or growing your setup.
In the end, the biggest factor to consider is portability. If you ever want your computer to leave your studio, go with a laptop. Because you can’t just toss your desktop in your bag and carry it around with you.
That said, if you want a faster machine that you plan to use exclusively in the studio, you can’t go wrong with a good desktop.
Do I Have to Buy a Mac?
No, you do not have to buy a MacBook Pro. A lot of people might tell you otherwise. This is one of the most hotly debated topics about this subject. The Mac vs. PC debate has been going on as long as there have been computers, and everyone has a preference.
The first piece of advice we have is to use what you’re comfortable with. If you’ve always used a Mac, stick with a Mac. If you’re a PC user through and through, stick with a PC. At the end of the day, it’s really about how you interact with the computer.
Remember, your computer is only a tool. It doesn’t make the music, you do. Don’t think you have to run out and buy a Mac to be successful. Use whatever works for you.
That said there are differences between the two. Let’s take a closer look.
Why a Mac?
If you’re looking for a good argument for using a Mac, Joe Gilder makes a lot of good points.
For one thing, Macs have a reputation for being very stable. They rarely crash and tend to run very smoothly. Why is that? Because all Macs are built with parts that came directly from Apple. They are the only company that makes them.
To see why that matters, let’s look at PCs. Think about how many different brands of PCs there are. You can even build one yourself if you had the technical know-how. You can’t bank on uniformity when PCs come from so many different factories.
Now, think about software. Software designed for a Mac will work on any Mac. Why? Because they’re all the same.
So, what about software that’s supposed to work on a dozen different PC brands and the one you build by yourself in your basement? There’s a lot less consistency between all those different systems which can cause a lot of problems with uniformity.
As Joe Gilder points out, most PCs are designed for office use, performing tasks like running spreadsheets, data entry, or company emails. Recording software is very demanding and there’s a chance you’ll need to do some serious upgrades with a PC.
So, even if Macs are more expensive, they won’t require as many upgrades. Your software will probably run smoother too, which will prevent any lost time.
Why a PC?
Reuben Chng makes a great argument as to why PCs are a better choice. One huge complaint people have about Macs is the lack of control. You have to do things the way Apple wants you to do them, and there’s not much you can do about it. That’s the downside of uniformity.
With a PC, you have a lot of control. As we mentioned before, you can actually build your own PC to the exact specifications you need. You can customize your PC in a way that you can’t even come close to with a Mac.
Of course, there’s the price factor, too. PCs are much less expensive than Macs. If you’re on a tight budget or need to buy additional equipment, PCs are much more budget-friendly.
So… seriously, Should I Get a Mac or PC?
We know, we know… we haven’t given you a straight answer. And, honestly, that’s because there isn’t one.
Joe Gilder puts it perfectly. If you put a Mac and a good PC built for recording next to each other, you probably wouldn’t see much difference in their performance. It may have taken different amounts of money and work to get them ready for recording, but once you’re there, they’re pretty equal.
So, how should you decide? One of the best things you can do is leave it to the software. By figuring out what kind of software you want to use, the decision could be made for you. Some of the best programs are only for Macs; some are only for PCs.
Alternatively, just go with what you’re familiar with. If you’ve never touched a Mac before, a PC is probably your best bet and vice versa.
What Specs Should I Look for in a Hard Drive?
Regardless of what computer you choose, there are some specs you should look for to make sure you get the best performance. Let’s take a look at the hard drive first.
Joe Stachowiak gives a great rundown of the various components that affect a hard drive’s performance.
For the main hard drive you will be working from, you should make sure it is a SSD or Solid State Drive. All Macs and almost all new PCs come with SSDs as their main drive. Nonetheless, make sure this is the case if you buy a PC.
Solid State Drives (SSD) in your computer makes everything even faster. Why? Because they have no moving parts.
So, what’s a good home studio storage hard drive?
If you will be adding a second drive into your computer to store your audio projects and files then you have a few options.
There are two types of hard drives, HDDs (hard disk drives) and SSDs (Solid State Drives). HDDs are always cheaper than SSDs so that can make them appealing if you need a large amount of storage.
If you are going to buy a HDD as your storage drive then the first thing to consider is the rotational speed. This is the measurement of how quickly your hard drive actually rotates and is measured in rotations-per-minute (RPM). The faster the RPM, the faster information can be written and read from it.
5400 RPM is on the low-end of HDD drive speeds. It may work fine for storing your projects but it will be slow if you are working from it. If you have more in your budget or if you plan on doing multiple large projects, you should consider something faster.
The next step up for HDDs are 7200 RPM. This will be noticeably faster than a 5400 RPM drive. So if you can’t afford a large SSD then get a 7200 RPM HDD hard drive.
What about using an external hard drive in your home studio?
Yes, you can always opt to use external hard drives. But like the explanation above, they will either be a HDD or SSD.
Most HDD external hard drives are only 5400 RPM. So if the drive will purely be used for storage then that may be fine. However, if you will be working from the drive then I highly recommend getting an external SSD.
You’ll also want to make sure that it has a fast connection to to the computer. The most common standard right now is USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 Type-C. Make sure your computer has these connections.
What about RAM?
According to Joe Stachowiak, you really want to have as much random access memory (RAM) as possible. RAM stores information about the programs that are currently being used. You should get a computer with at least 8 GB of RAM but if you can afford 16 GB, get 16 GB.
Make sure that you only get as much RAM as your computer can handle. The more ram you have then the faster you’ll be able to work.
What about the Processor?
Another thing to consider is the processor. There are two primary brands, Intel and AMD. If you are looking at a machine with an Intel process then get an “i” series processor, preferably an i5, i7, or i9.
If you are looking at a machine with a AMD process then get one with a Ryzen 5, 7, or 9. Even better than those is AMD’s Threadripper processor.
What’s the Best Fit
You might have come here looking for a definitive answer, but there really isn’t one when it comes to what kind of computer you should get for your home studio. Remember, you make the music. The right computer is the one that helps you do the best work.
That said, there is certainly a lot to consider when it comes to picking one. We hope that by giving you this information, we at least made it a little less confusing and provided you with the tools you need to make the right decision.