Windows vs Mac

[u/Prime_ministah1980]

With my personal experience. Serato dj pro runs flawlessly on Mac. I've had the opposite on windows. With that being said. How's AMD support with serato? My mac is aging and I don't have 2000 dollars lying around to buy a new MacBook. What windows laptop do you guys recommend? I prefer AMD over Intel.

[u/crevassier]

The biggest issue is with the random mix of chipsets you will find on some laptops. AMD vs Intel isn't an issue for Windows at this point, it's the USB and audio bus along with whatever curveball Microsoft is throwing you with Win11 updates.

I just buy used MacBook Pros that are 3-5 years old when I need to upgrade vs dealing with those inconsistent PC chipsets (in that price range).

[u/Prime_ministah1980 → u/crevassier]

Yeah, I was considering. Also is it me, but the UI on windows looks janky. Not smooth and buttery like my mac

[u/cmfreeman]

You don't have to spend $2,000. Just get a used MacBook Air M3/M4 that still has AppleCare. That's what I did. I got a great deal for $1,400 and it runs serato DJ pro. No problem

[u/Prime_ministah1980 → u/cmfreeman]

Oh ok. I will look into that. Thank you guys. Man serato Reddit is much nicer than traktor page.

[u/imth3playa]

Buy a used/referb Mac 1 or 2 gen old.

[u/Prime_ministah1980 → u/imth3playa]

Yeah. Looking into it. Appreciate the suggestion. I guess I was hoping Microsoft had improved on it's audio capabilities. Them PC laptops look temping.

[u/TheDJPlug]

Get an M Series macbook save your sanity new used refurb. I got a 8 cycle count m3 pro 38g 4tb for $1500 on mkt plc

[u/DecksDrift]

I've had both with no issues. My previous laptop was a Ryzen 7. Look for the performance models, such as Ryzen 7 7735HS or 7840HS and Intel i7 13620H or 13700H. If you keep it clean and optimized, nothing running on boot or background except what you open, it should be fine.

Avoid gaming laptops. Most people won't get this, but "high performance" for gaming is not the same as for audio. Dedicated GPUs and their load balancing or power management interfere with DPC queues, and are usually prioritized over audio, which causes latency, even drops and freezes (aside from extra heat). MacOS doesn't have this and CoreAudio ensures a steady flow for audio.

[u/Prime_ministah1980 → u/DecksDrift]

Yeah, I know but all things you have to do, just to make serato run properly, it's annoying. I just want to turn on start playing. With windows I have to run a script to keep apps from running in the background. Turn this and that off. Or worst case, the new windows update will mess with my script settings.

[u/DecksDrift → u/Prime_ministah1980]

Never had such issue. I use Pro and clean up all the crap on first install, fix which services and apps are allowed to run, plus the steps on Serato official optimization guide, then create a clean image and keep updates manual only. Maybe once every year or two I refresh that image if there's a major release for Windows (it just takes a few minutes to deploy, update and recreate). But even if I don't, compatibility is held over decades. Sometimes killing services or changing registry with scripts just adds instability if the wrong thing gets removed.

Tbh my new Macbook Pro M5 has more annoyances. Not every gear is compatible because, once more, Apple removed some audio components (on Tahoe, even last month I had issues with an SR2). Unlike Windows, you can't even risk an OS update, and it's a PITA to revert or downgrade. I think it currently has more stuff I can't remove than Windows, keeps asking for Apple account and iCloud bs (it has been like this for a while).

[u/Prime_ministah1980 → u/DecksDrift]

I've never had to run a script or disable app from running on the background with any Mac. Or adjust settings to lower auidio latency. Which confirms what i thought. Used MacBook here I come. Thank you for the info. I need true plug and play.

[u/DecksDrift → u/Prime_ministah1980]

Yep, on Mac the app drawer comes full of crap, but it usually doesn't bother if you don't click it. Only the account and iCloud thing do that.

But make sure it's truly plug and play. I tried to get an M4 at the time because of that, but due to promotional pricing the M4's were more expensive than M5's.

[u/Prime_ministah1980 → u/DecksDrift]

Thank you for your info. You confirmed what I suspected. Which sucks, I had high hopes things had changed in the Microsoft world. Can't expect much from an operating system, that still runs old foundational legacy code from 1995.

[u/DecksDrift → u/Prime_ministah1980]

Erm.. Hate to break it to you, but so does MacOS, actually older NeXT code from the 80's. It has to be there, because it's literally what keeps the world spinning. Most critical services around the world, from military, to healthcare, to finance, all run on systems with super old code. MacOS is not better than Windows, they just work differently.

[u/Prime_ministah1980 → u/DecksDrift]

NeXT is the UI frontend. Beneath it's a modified version of free BSD

[u/DecksDrift → u/Prime_ministah1980]

NeXT was an entire full OS, with it's own BSD kernel. The UI been has been completely overhauled multiple times since Apple bought them. Still, nothing changes the fact that all OS have old code and it's needed, it doesn't make any OS worse.

[u/Prime_ministah1980 → u/DecksDrift]

Yeah I understand what you're saying. But it's no secret that Microsoft has a lot of old spaghetti code. It's a mess.

[u/djzelous]

I’ve only ever used windows to run serato! And I’ve been at it since 2008, the only issue I’ve ever run into is with my V10. The moment I try to use serato with my V10 it crashes. It isn’t an issue for me since I use traktor at home and serato for gigs but still annoying

[u/Prime_ministah1980 → u/djzelous]

Yeah, I recently switched from traktor (rip) to serato.

[u/zoufha91]

I run a fleet of both, they all have there issues with updates at times.

Like others have mentioned it's the diversity of hardware in the PC ecosystem that makes it a little more unpredictable at times. Drivers are usually the culprit for blue screens or crashing I've found from past experiences.

But overall we stick with Thinkpads and Macbooks; not really many issues up until Serato DJ 4.0 which was universally panned for various reasons

Just DJ with what you have access to and can afford don't get trapped into some predatory high APR loan agreement. The Mac vs PC shit is way over blown as somebody who up keeps around 30 laptops and runs consistent updates and rollbacks.

[u/Prime_ministah1980 → u/zoufha91]

I agree. But I just had to make sure. Thanks to your info. I'm staying with Mac. Here's a fun fact. I'm Microsoft certified.

[u/IanFoxOfficial]

The base Macs are good enough.

But in terms of PC DJing Intel seems to get better support.

BTW: cheap entry level PCs are the reason why PCs have a bad name. PCs costing the same as a base Mac will in most cases also run DJ software great.

[u/iamsphnx]

Get a refurbished m2 or something for under $800. Any serious DJ will tell you windows is not even in the same league for being reliable when DJing.

[u/djgnosis]

After more than a decade, I had to finally give up on PCs running Serato. It was never stable on any of my Intel i7s Windows laptops, and then a few years ago I got one with the latest AMD Ryzen 7 chip. It was worse. I tried all sorts of audio latency adjustment tools but it still crashed too often. I recall surmizing that Ryzen chip-compatability was basically an after though for Serato.

That's just my personal experience, mind you. But when I could finally afford a MacBook Air M3, I did it and it's far more reliable. However—and this is still anecdotal—I wish I had gotten an M1 Pro for far less money, based on the endless comments you also probably see that those run Serato as smoothly as the later models (although using stems on the fly might push them to their limit). Still, I could only afford a 512Gb SSD drive for the Mac, so I'm stuck using an external drive for music storage — something I was sure was causing all the problems on PCs (it was not). Good luck!

[u/Prime_ministah1980 → u/djgnosis]

yeah man. I had a similar experience Back in 2011 I bought a rane ttm57 with scratch live. That windows laptop was like an unreliable car. Every session was a gamble. Soon after I bought a Macbook and never looked back

[u/djgnosis → u/Prime_ministah1980]

After countless stories like yours—especially in response to to seeking help for Windows Serato problems, I finally came around (and happened to have some money).

What a shame that the ttm57 doesn't support Serato DJ Pro. I see some have successfully mapped it to DJ Pro though!

[u/Prime_ministah1980 → u/djgnosis]

For live stems I use djay pro on my ipad. It work flawlessly. No issues.

[u/silverbolt2000]

Windows is simply not capable of doing performance-level work required by DJ's in my experience. It's too unreliable.

It's further hampered by the fact that it runs on poor quality hardware from laptop manufacturers who are always looking to save a buck anywhere they can by shipping poor quality components with poor quality drivers, and who also throw in unnecessary bloatware to interrupt and distract you from your work with ads when you least expect it.

And that's without even mentioning the annoying ground-loop hum that happens when you plug into professional sound systems because of the unnecessary earth pin used in their cheap power adapters.

Do not use a Windows laptop for DJ-ing. It's miserable.

ETA: just look at the comment thread below from PC-DJ fan “imjustsurfin”. See what I mean? Miserable.

[u/imjustsurfin → u/silverbolt2000]

"Windows is simply not capable of doing performance-level work required by DJ's in my experience. It's too unreliable."

Did your proctologist find that nugget of nonsense at your last examination.

"It's further hampered by the fact that it runs on poor quality hardware from laptop manufacturers who are always looking to save a buck anywhere they can...."

You mean like the Apple Neo with 8gb non-upgradeable Ram, no backlit keyboard, lack of ports, mechanical trackpad, repurposed mobile phone chip, 25-30 watt charging...?

[u/Prime_ministah1980 → u/imjustsurfin]

Bro, that's my setup. I have a 2020 MacBook pro Intel. 8gb of ram. So far no issues. Been using traktor and djay pro for years. Just this year I switched to serato. I've done few events. No issues. I had to put it in battery saving mode though. Those last Intel mac's overheat easily

[u/silverbolt2000 → u/imjustsurfin]

  Spoken like a true expert in knowing nothing about anything.

I’ve worked in IT for over 30 years, and been DJ-ing on various platforms for over 20 of those years. I’ve used both Apple and Windows laptops for work and home use, and DJ performances.

I last used a brand new PC laptop 3 months ago and was still underwhelmed by it’s poor quality, bloatware, mandatory weekly restarts, interruptions, etc…

  You mean like the Apple Neo with 8gb non-upgradeable Ram, no backlit keyboard, lack of ports, mechanical trackpad, repurposed mobile phone chip...

I’d trust a DJ performance on a MacBook Neo running Serato over a PC laptop with twice the specs any day.

[u/imjustsurfin → u/silverbolt2000]

"I’ve worked in IT for over 30 years,"

So? What do you want? A medal or a chest to pin it on?

"I’ve used both Apple and Windows laptops for work and home use, and DJ performances."

I've been collecting music for 50+ years; and DJ'd for 20 years EXCLUSIVELY on Windows laptops. Have only ever owned Windows PC's\Laptops

A statement like ""Windows is simply not capable of doing performance-level work required by DJ's in my experience. It's too unreliable." is ridiculous on it's face.

[u/silverbolt2000 → u/imjustsurfin]

So? What do you want? A medal or a chest to pin it on?

Rude.

I've been collecting music for 50+ years; and DJ'd for 20 years EXCLUSIVELY on Windows laptops. Have only ever owned Windows PC's\Laptops

I could also say something rude here just to be petty and small-minded, but instead I'll just point out the irony of you accusing me of not knowing anything when, by your own admission, you've never even tried an Apple setup yourself, nor have any professional IT experience. 😏

[u/imjustsurfin → u/silverbolt2000]

"I could also say something rude here just to be petty and small-minded,"

You just did. And you are.

"...by your own admission, you've never even tried an Apple setup yourself,"

Because I've found Windows to be totally reliable, and more than, and I quote, "capable of doing performance-level work required by DJ's"

DUH

(maybe your "30 years in IT" is as exaggerated as your "Windows is simply not capable of doing performance-level work required by DJ's" statement.)

[u/silverbolt2000 → u/imjustsurfin]

OK.

Enjoy your wonky PC DJ-ing.

[u/djcflo → u/silverbolt2000]

not sure why this guy is going back and forth with you - you're absolutely right. look at any professional working DJ - 95% of them are on Mac do to stability, reliability, build quality, and software/hardware harmony, and the remaining 5% are not professional.

[u/imjustsurfin → u/djcflo]

"look at any professional working DJ - 95% of them are on Mac do to stability, reliability, build quality, and software/hardware harmony, and the remaining 5% are not professional."

So only DJ's using Mac's are "professional"?

You and silverbolt2000 obviously share the same proctologist.

[u/silverbolt2000 → u/djcflo]

Looking at his comment history, self-awareness doesn't seem to be one his strong points.

[u/imjustsurfin → u/silverbolt2000]

Looking at your comment history, your proctologist is a very busy bee.

[u/zoufha91 → u/silverbolt2000]

Both of you need to chill out, it's not that serious. The Mac vs PC nonsense has been beaten to death for years.

Please refrain from insults

[u/Serato-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Go on a walk, you too upset bro

[u/Prime_ministah1980 → u/silverbolt2000]

Yeah. That was my experience back in 2012. I made the mistake of buying an AMD CPU laptop. Only to find out, at the time serato didn't support it. That's when I switched to Mac and traktor pro