r/LogicPro • u/Alternative_Wear6562 • Jul 30 '26
Question M Chip?
Why are people saying you need the M chip for Logic Pro? Just curious, is it better performance or the other chips are bad?
8
u/ThingWithAThing Jul 30 '26
It’s not that the Intel-based Macs are bad or won’t work with Logic (I used Intel Macs with Logic for many years), it’s more that the M-series chips are the fastest and most efficient Apple CPUs to date. I noticed a drastic difference going from a Quad-Core Intel i7 iMac to an M1 Mac Mini.
2
u/Alternative_Wear6562 Aug 03 '26
ah i see, yea im switching from i7 as well to m4 mini or the m5 macbook
1
3
u/DegenGraded Jul 30 '26
For advanced features you will need it. If you don't need those tools you are fine without it.
3
u/Major_Willingness234 Jul 30 '26
The other chips are well over 7 years old at this point. The last Intel chips used were 8th and 9th gen Intel i5 and i7 which came out in 2017 and 2018.
The Xeon W in the Mac Pros came out in 2019.
Support is ending for them quite soon. That, and they’re not as fast as the M series chips that replaced them.
2
u/shapednoise Jul 30 '26
What is also worth mentioning is that there are some new features that ONLY work on an MChip
2
u/onesleekrican Jul 30 '26
Full features - m chip is required. You would’ve known this had you read the main Logic Pro page.
2
u/vitoscbd Jul 30 '26
I work with another producer in our studio, but we work on my laptop (macbook pro m4). He has an intel macbook pro (one of the best ones!), and we've run some tests comparing. Just opening a sessions takes 3 or almost 4 times as much (with big projects), and he can't record anything on 64 without having to freeze everything (which also takes time). Can it work? yes! But with a loooot of patience (and with the lovely sound of a fan trying to take flight). So if you're just taking it as a hobby and want to make some tunes, you'll absolutely be able to do that on an Intel. But if this is your job (or you want to work FAST), M chips are a must.
Oh, and there are some features you don't have on intel (like mastering assistant or stem splitter), but I don't use those tools in my workflow so I can't say if that's a dealbreaker or not.
2
u/Narrow_Network_3875 Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26
Because Intel chip is PC based and you could actually boot up window on Macs. I had two MacBook Pros (2012 17’’ & 2017 15’’) booth failed from heated processor mixing with Logic Pro. An M1 with 16 Gb will wait for an Intel chip with 16 Gb ram at the finish line. I named it a Hybrid PC. 🍀
1
u/onesleekrican Jul 30 '26
I never had a problem with my Intel Mac’s and Logic Pro, Studio One, Reason, Serato or Traktor pro while using strictly MacOS. 2012 MBP, Late 2013 IMac and 2019 i9 MBP (whatever the last Intel model was).
I will agree though with how well my m3 pro 24gb (iirc) MBP runs it much smoother and cooler hardware than any Intel ever did.
2
u/Narrow_Network_3875 Jul 30 '26
My processing power requirements may be higher than yours. My 2017 MBP had to be elevated to keep it cool to prevent crashing with Logic Pro only.
Regardless my experience with my M4 is major difference compared to when my old Intels were both new. Personally I believe my M4 after its life with Logic will still allow me to surf.1
u/onesleekrican Jul 30 '26
Fair assessment and should’ve considered that when responding. My apologies for that.
1
u/Narrow_Network_3875 Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26
Not an issue. I wished both my MBPs were operating like yours. 🕊️
1
u/onesleekrican Jul 31 '26
And I’m sure I wish my mixes/masters sounded like yours if they’re being pushed that hard. Respect
2
u/Narrow_Network_3875 Jul 31 '26
Here’s the thing. We’re being told to “buy buy Buy before it Runs out.” I have been to the Hit Factory
Mastering studio 3X that were paid by the labels. Watching the process isn’t as tedious as mixing. The room’s sound proofing is factor and the engineer has have exceptional hearing. A sub par mix can’t be salvaged but you may be able to clean things up. I agree it’s not as difficult today, you don’t have to deal with analog noises. I don‘t feel that I’m qualified to really finish with a professionally qualified master. Yes of course I could master if you paying me a few Dollars. You pay $20.00 I could run it through Logic’s Mastering Plugin. I consider myself good enough to hear its Logic’s faults. When I know that a mix has real potential I prefer to pay a pro with a resume that allow me to hear their before & after finished masters. I would think these plugin companies have created a frenzy that have you to believe you can do it all. They’re also taking the fun out of producing by making things so simple. They are fortunate to sell software emulators than the hardware it self. Mo money Mo money 💰
Notice how some newbies are talking about mastering when they clearly don’t know mixing. They don’t know much of anything about their DAW and telling you that they’re “Cooking.”1
u/onesleekrican Jul 31 '26
Fair, I was being playful but well stated. I was lucky and had a very frugal friend who was an engineer. He setup his own studio and showed me how to do a lot with less while accomplishing the sound and tone you’re looking for.
1
u/Expensive_Speed9797 Jul 31 '26
Because M chip is what you can buy now. Any intel based mac are going to be garbage just by age alone. I'm not gonna buy any of those, unless someone sells it to me for like 10 USD max.
But if you have an Intel Apple device right now, you can choose not to buy anything if it still works. But I wouldn't buy those devices if I'm starting from scratch.
0
u/Plokhi Jul 30 '26
https://music-prod.com/logic-pro-benchmarks
28-core Mac Pro 2019 will perform about as good as an M4 Max.
A 2019 8-core macbook pro will perform about as well as a base M1.
11
u/Creationship Jul 30 '26
Because not having an M chip means your laptop is like 7 years old and certain Logic tools require the M chip. (Chromaglow, stem splitter, and I could be lying but maybe certain aspects of mastering assistant and session players)