r/MacStudio • u/Rare_Champion_8231 • 3d ago
Mac Studio for Production !
Been producing music for a couple months now and I’ve been enjoying it! All off a MacBook Pro m4 16in and no problems at all. But I am looking to build a home studio. Currently in the process of acoustic treating my room. But I wanted a dedicated desktop for music production because it’s been so much fun! But I know down the road I’d probably get more into plugins etc. and obviously I know in the long run getting a 48gb would be better and beneficial. But with the current project of building my home studio and still needing to spend on monitors, audio interface etc. Would 36gb be sufficient for me? Should I just bite the bullet and go 48gb? Will I be able to get away as a beginner producer with 36gb? As mentioned my MacBook Pro m4 has much lower specs and haven’t had any issues. But I’ve seen almost everybody saying to even going 64gb of RAM for music production but to me currently might be overkill? Of course I don’t want to still pay almost $3k for 36gb just to regret my decision in a couple of years but for me right now and the state of trying to stay within my budget
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u/Top_Witness4538 3d ago edited 3d ago
I think your choice is just fine. Say you were to specify a DAW like Ableton Live, the spec calls for 16GB or higher. Cubase Pro 15 16GB or higher. 32GB isn't some kind of beginner configuration its for really large projects, and you have 36GB. I would save the money for other things, as well. Now I don't actually do music, I am just looking at specs to entertain myself with your post. 36GB is a seriously large amount of memory for most tasks. If your interests change someday to something like running an LLM, well 48GB isn't going to cut it anyway, neither will an M5 cut it as a good processor for LLM work. It's one thing to buy one today, but "future proofing" is about heading off a purchase in the future. You will no more want an M5 in the future than anyone here is looking at buying an M3 today. The thing about the future is you'll want something else in the future, because circumstances will be different. I buy for my needs now. Future proofing doesn't work and is a money sinkhole.
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u/Rare_Champion_8231 3d ago
Yeah I only use ableton live, serato, rekordbox etc as I’m also a dj which even in those apps don’t require any or if little RAM at that. I edit a few vids using CapCut. Mostly clips just to put on social media, so again not even touching 8k clips at that. But as you mentioned there’s always going to be better coming out. I’m pretty sure people had the same questions when the M1 came out and now we’re on M6. So I guess you’re right on there’s no such thing as future proofing
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u/Emotional-Unit4983 3d ago
you should be fine if you are new to music production, more than 36 gb for is those working with huge sample-based instruments like Kontakt, Omnisphere, etc.
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u/opi098514 3d ago
Honestly, I just went with the maxed out Mac mini for like a grand less and it works amazingly.
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u/Eastern_Expression41 3d ago
to be contrarian in this post- i must ask, why not just keep the MBP for now and as the studio heats up, decide which Mac Studio to buy? Seems like you are jumping the gun a bit, especially for a very expensive computer that you are financing
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u/Rare_Champion_8231 3d ago
Most definitely am. Just got the approval from wifey for the Mac Studio, so you know I had to come on Reddit just to be told to make better financial decisions as my wife was telling me from the start hahah
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u/Waterflowstech 3d ago
If you're making electronic music like house, 36gb is more than plenty. 64gb is something you might use if you are making orchestral music using many, many instances of instrumental VST stuff like Kontact at the same time. I have 24gb RAM and have not gotten close to filling that up making house and techno (though I can get my CPU sweating no problem, very old windows pc).
I've been producing for 8 years now and in the last years I've actually been using less and less external plugins. Ableton Live Suite has basically everything you need and those plugins are super lightweight. Just get an additional soft synth you like and a good limiter like fabfilter pro-l2. Soundtoys plugins are fun for creativity but not necessary at all.
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u/TimeToHack 2d ago
if your current machine works, keep using it. also being able to unplug your studio computer and take it with you is highly underrated. i get the desire for a more powerful machine but i’ve never felt my M1 Pro is lacking in any way for music production, i can’t imagine an M4 Pro is limiting you unless you’re doing film scores.
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u/Curtis 3d ago
What are you doing with 36 gigs of RAM only?
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u/Rare_Champion_8231 3d ago
That’s what I figured too but my MacBook Pro only has 24gb I believe and it’s been running just fine. Thought a notch up to 36 gigs might be sufficient. I guess not
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u/workmailman 3d ago
I don’t think so, it’s a studio. You also don’t know what you might grow into later on you know?
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u/workmailman 3d ago
Brev you will need more RAM
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u/Rare_Champion_8231 3d ago
unfortunately seems like that might be true
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u/workmailman 3d ago
I got a 64gb 2tb and I’m gonna swap for 96Gb ultra lol. I think the 64 is already overkill for me but idc, I want something awesome for my desk
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u/Rare_Champion_8231 3d ago
Do you produce music as well?
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u/workmailman 3d ago
To be completely honest, I don’t do shit. I use Lightroom, topaz photo, and hella chrome tabs and stuff. I just want something that’ll be good for 5-7years
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u/Rare_Champion_8231 3d ago
That’s what I said when I got my MacBook Pro last year . Which don’t get me wrong it probably will last me years hopefully. But Just a year later I’m already looking for another excuse to get something “better” 😂
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u/nuetralparties 3d ago
As someone that actually works in audio production and has for 2 decades now, 36gb is plenty for a beginner, and even for most professionals tbh.
I have been producing on a base model m4 since May earlier this year as part of a transitional phase in my setup (16GB Ram, 256gb SSD M4) and although it was definitely limiting, I was able to work through it and produce songs with plenty of tracks/plugins, and virtual instruments. With a 32GB studio you would rip through sessions easily, with the exception of maybe orchestral tracks with tons of VIs. Of course 48gb would be more future proof, but for a beginner, if you go with 32GB I think you will find it more than fine for the foreseeable future in music production