2023 is the most appropriate time to enter into music production with the market reaching new heights.
The number of Americans with paid streaming subscriptions has increased from 7.9 million in 2014 to 82.1 million in 2021.
According to a report published by Goldman Sachs, the music industry is projected to reach about $131 billion by 2030.
The first thing you require is a good laptop for all your music production requirements.
And finding a well performing laptop with the perfect mix of hardware and the required software specs can be tricky.
Specifications of a laptop for music production
Unlike other common laptops, music laptops are built with more power and efficiency in mind. They are required to process heavy software like Ableton Live, and Bitwig Studio quickly without any lag.
At minimum, the laptop should have a 2.4Ghz i5 or i7 quad-core processor. Anything lower than that would not be sufficient for music production.
It should also have an excellent battery life, high quality speakers, and a minimum of 16gb RAM to be able to seamlessly run music production software.
Go with SSD drives, as they are quieter and faster for recording and rendering purposes.
A lightweight laptop is always better, be it for animation or for music production, so that your shoulders don’t hurt while carrying it.
The latest MacBook Pro 14 is one of the best laptops for music production in 2023. With a 14 inch Liquid Retina screen and 256gb of storage, it is a dream come true for all music producers.
You get a 16gb RAM but it can be expanded to 32gb, depending on how extensive your work is.
Powered by the M1 pro chip, this laptop can handle all heavy software. You can even multi-task, and the processor won’t break a sweat.
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09/25/2023 03:53 am GMT
Since it’s Apple, we know the battery life is going to be beyond par. This laptop can offer you a complete 12 hours of battery life while using high-intense applications.
The Dell XPS 13 comes with 12th generation Intel core i5 and Iris XE graphics. While on paper this may not look like enough, when you begin using the laptop you will realize its true potential.
The 256gb storage can be expanded to 1tb per your needs. The 13 inch display provides enough room to work with and open multiple windows.
However, the 32gb RAM is the highlight of this laptop and an important reason why it can match with other music laptops in the market.
If you are looking for something sleek, professional, and powerful, you need not look further than the Dell XPS 13 OLED.
If the Pro version of Apple’s MacBook seems too bulky, the new MacBook Air M2 can be your perfect companion on your music production journey.
Weighing at only 1.24kg, this laptop is one of Apple’s lightest and most powerful.
The quality of speakers is very important for a music laptop. The MacBook Air M2 has powerful speakers that play crisp and clear sound.
In terms of battery life, Apple claims a full 18 hours of heavy use without any problems.
Additionally, the added benefit of Thunderbolt USB 4 means you can connect other devices to your laptop such as external speakers, etc., for a better experience.
The 16gb RAM on the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro with 512gb storage is a reasonable laptop for all music producers.
You get a thin, lightweight, and great-performing laptop for a budget-friendly price.
The laptop was designed with media production in mind, since it offers USB-C ports, audio jack, USB-A ports and HDMI, so you can connect all external peripherals easily.
The laptop can handle multiple applications with ease and you will never struggle with the battery.
All in all, it’s a good option to consider if you are looking for the best music laptop.
This 13.3 inch full HD display with Intel core i7 is the latest edition in ASUS ZenBook line up.
Built with performance and design in mind, the 16gb RAM gives you enough horse-power to run extensive software while its thin bezels and sleek design make the laptop look like a futuristic device.
It has a 2 in 1 design, enabling you to use it as a laptop and as a tablet, depending on how you want to use it.
The ASUS ZenBook Flip S would be a fantastic addition to your music production workflow, helping you to be more creative and productive.
David Adler is an entrepreneur and freelance blog post writer who enjoys writing about business, entrepreneurship, travel and the influencer marketing space.
2023 is the most appropriate time to enter into music production with the market reaching new heights.
The number of Americans with paid streaming subscriptions has increased from 7.9 million in 2014 to 82.1 million in 2021.
According to a report published by Goldman Sachs, the music industry is projected to reach about $131 billion by 2030.
The first thing you require is a good laptop for all your music production requirements.
And finding a well performing laptop with the perfect mix of hardware and the required software specs can be tricky.
Specifications of a laptop for music production
Unlike other common laptops, music laptops are built with more power and efficiency in mind. They are required to process heavy software like Ableton Live, and Bitwig Studio quickly without any lag.
At minimum, the laptop should have a 2.4Ghz i5 or i7 quad-core processor. Anything lower than that would not be sufficient for music production.
It should also have an excellent battery life, high quality speakers, and a minimum of 16gb RAM to be able to seamlessly run music production software.
Go with SSD drives, as they are quieter and faster for recording and rendering purposes.
A lightweight laptop is always better, be it for animation or for music production, so that your shoulders don’t hurt while carrying it.
10 best laptops for music production
The latest MacBook Pro 14 is one of the best laptops for music production in 2023. With a 14 inch Liquid Retina screen and 256gb of storage, it is a dream come true for all music producers.
You get a 16gb RAM but it can be expanded to 32gb, depending on how extensive your work is.
Powered by the M1 pro chip, this laptop can handle all heavy software. You can even multi-task, and the processor won’t break a sweat.
Since it’s Apple, we know the battery life is going to be beyond par. This laptop can offer you a complete 12 hours of battery life while using high-intense applications.
The Dell XPS 13 comes with 12th generation Intel core i5 and Iris XE graphics. While on paper this may not look like enough, when you begin using the laptop you will realize its true potential.
The 256gb storage can be expanded to 1tb per your needs. The 13 inch display provides enough room to work with and open multiple windows.
However, the 32gb RAM is the highlight of this laptop and an important reason why it can match with other music laptops in the market.
If you are looking for something sleek, professional, and powerful, you need not look further than the Dell XPS 13 OLED.
If the Pro version of Apple’s MacBook seems too bulky, the new MacBook Air M2 can be your perfect companion on your music production journey.
Weighing at only 1.24kg, this laptop is one of Apple’s lightest and most powerful.
The quality of speakers is very important for a music laptop. The MacBook Air M2 has powerful speakers that play crisp and clear sound.
In terms of battery life, Apple claims a full 18 hours of heavy use without any problems.
Additionally, the added benefit of Thunderbolt USB 4 means you can connect other devices to your laptop such as external speakers, etc., for a better experience.
Ideally speaking, the Razer Blade 15 is a gaming laptop that can be used as a music production laptop as well.
Since gaming laptops contain all the necessary specifications for music production, you will find all your needs met with this device.
Powered by the 8th generation Intel core i7 and 1tb of SSD storage, this laptop is a powerhouse that can grind through everything you throw at it.
The battery can last up to 7 hours, which is decent considering the heavy software used for music production.
The sleek design with thin bezels makes the laptop look more premium and classy than any other gaming laptop.
If you are a Microsoft user who is also a music producer, a hybrid laptop such as the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 will be perfect for you.
One great advantage of having this device is the ability to use it as a tablet. As a music producer, this is a nifty feature to have.
To add external devices for music production, the laptop gives you USB 4, which also means you don’t have to spend extra for this accessibility.
Unlike other devices, this laptop can stretch its storage up to 2tb and RAM to 32gb.
The Surface Pro 8 is Microsoft’s most powerful and efficient laptop yet. It will cater to all your music production needs very well.
The 16gb RAM on the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro with 512gb storage is a reasonable laptop for all music producers.
You get a thin, lightweight, and great-performing laptop for a budget-friendly price.
The laptop was designed with media production in mind, since it offers USB-C ports, audio jack, USB-A ports and HDMI, so you can connect all external peripherals easily.
The laptop can handle multiple applications with ease and you will never struggle with the battery.
All in all, it’s a good option to consider if you are looking for the best music laptop.
Gaming laptops provide raw power. That’s why they are perfect for music producers. The Asus Rog Strix Scar is a formidable contender in this respect.
With Intel core i7 and 16gb RAM, you can be certain this device can handle any music production task you throw at it.
The 15.6 inch full HD display is great for staring at the screen for a long time.
Additionally, you’ll find the 1tb SSD storage to be plenty for saving all your tracks and software on this laptop.
The MSI GF63 offers spectacular performance primarily because it rocks 9th generation Intel core i7 capable of handling the most extensive tasks.
The laptop is also a blend between performance and aesthetic, a killer combination if you perform on-stage or in front of an audience.
In terms of battery life, it could be better. However, we are confident you won’t be running around for a charger during your day.
If you like to keep all your tracks with you on your device, the 256gb SSD storage will serve you very well.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 is the most budget-friendly laptop in Lenovo’s Yoga line-up.
Since it runs Windows software, you can run almost all major music production software without lag.
In addition to HDMI 2.0, you receive Thunderbolt 4 USB ports and type-A ports in case you want to attach external musical peripherals.
If you are looking for a laptop with enough functionality, portability, and sleek design, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 should be your go-to device.
This 13.3 inch full HD display with Intel core i7 is the latest edition in ASUS ZenBook line up.
Built with performance and design in mind, the 16gb RAM gives you enough horse-power to run extensive software while its thin bezels and sleek design make the laptop look like a futuristic device.
It has a 2 in 1 design, enabling you to use it as a laptop and as a tablet, depending on how you want to use it.
The ASUS ZenBook Flip S would be a fantastic addition to your music production workflow, helping you to be more creative and productive.
Final Lines
Choosing a laptop capable of running CPU-intensive music production software can be tricky.
The laptops recommended above are well-equipped for the challenge.
If you want to see a few economical options check out LG Gram 17 and Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15.
To learn how to choose the right tracks for your recordings and all music-related tips and tricks, check out our vast content library here.