Best Notebook for music making?

The Lounge Other Gear
#1

Hi there,

What’s the best solution?

What do I need and what I don’t need?

Big SSD?
Good processor?
Win 10 ???

Which company? Dell, Lenovo etc.?

I also use plugins like U-He Diva… CPU hungry beast :slight_smile:

Greetings from Hamburg

Knut

4 Likes
#2

I would say:

More and faster everything, always.

5 Likes
#3

It depends a bit. Most of the questions can be answered by yourself.

  • do i use CPU hungry plugins/applications?

seems so, because you mentioned Diva

  • do i use a lot of samples and how does my DAW and/or my plugins handle them?

DAW/plugins keep them in RAM: you’ll need more RAM
DAW/plugins stream them from harddisk: you need a fast HDD or better SSD, because a Notebook is made for portability and you don’t have to worry about bumps or shakes when using a SSD

  • which resolution do i need?

if you use a tracker or something small, you may be fine with 720p, but with a fat DAW and a lot of tracks, you may need a lot bigger resolution

  • how long should the battery last?

depends on how mobile you need to be with the Notebook

  • what else would i like to do with it

maybe you also like to use it for video editing or gaming or…
…

What do you like to do and how much can you spend? :wink:

1 Like
#4

Hey spktkpkt,

I would spend about 1200€…

Battery ist not important
No Gaming or Videos editing
I will use an extra monitor… so big resolution isn’t important

#5

The dell xps 13 might be in you price range. It seems pretty great for music production, at least something to have a look at.

Edit: And CPU is important if you are using as intensive VSTs as Diva. You can get cheaper laptops than the dells and the lenovos with better specs, but build quality is a factor you might regret not considering enough when purchasing.

2 Likes
#6

importance in order

  • cpu
  • quality usb I/O (true 3.1 these days)
  • memory (16GB)
  • ssd (at least 256Gbyte, m.2 is the best)
  • clean windows(pro/enterprise) and ableton (or your DAW)

GPU?
in some cases like VCV Rack is needed but very rare

#7

I guess you’ll find a Notebook for 1200€ that will fit your needs. If you don’t need a brand new one, you could look for some “B-Ware” or “show piece” Notebooks, this can spend you a lot of money.

I don’t know what other hardware you use (storage, other PC), but i personally would, specs wise, consider something like the X series from Lenovo. If you don’t need the newest from the new, than maybe a X260 with a Intel i7 could fit? I would look for a sub-model with a fast CPU with at least four Cores, enough RAM (16GB) and a 1GB 1TB (or so) HDD (because most companies sell cheap HDDs/SSDs in there Notebooks). The HDD would be replaced for a good SSD (Samsung Pro series or similar, size is up to you and depends on your sample libraries, recordings, bounces and other files.). You could buy a external case for the HDD and use it to create backups.

It doesn’t need to be a Lenovo (it just came to mind, because i know them), it was just a example regarded to the specifications.

Some things to consider:

  • You stated that you don’t do video editing, gaming and such, so a actual CPU/GPU combination should be fine. I wouldn’t buy a Notebook with a dedicated graphics module anymore, because i had some trouble with them (Nvidia Optimus to name them), but this is another story.
  • Do you already have a good external soundcard? If not, don’t spend all your money for the Notebook and get one.
#8

You are right!

#9

Good point!

#10

I gonna check out lenovos x series… thanks :ok_hand:

I already own a 8channel interface… reminds me, that the new book should have a firewire connection… :face_with_raised_eyebrow:

@all what do you think about intels Gen. 8 CPUs? Does it makes sense to get one of these?

#11

MacBook with 16 gig ram and good cpu is my vote also SSD’s.

#12

No apple stuff :rofl:

1 Like
#13

I’d go with a high tier Lenovo then. I have had the beat experience with them and midi usb devices. :slight_smile:

#14

what is your budget and daw? I love my Macbook Pro for Ableton with my Push 2 controller. But I went down the Elektron path and use those now for live events.

#15

about 1200- max 1400€

I use studio one… what else? :smiley:

#16

Okay thanks for your advice

#17

Just get OT mkii instead :wink:

2 Likes
#18

less expensive as well especially if you get an OT MK1 or Digitakt!

#19

I also have an a4 and a digitakt :D… and a lot others keys… so it’s time to leave the flat and move to my own rehearsal room. That’s why I need a notebook. I also think about a maschine mk3…

#20

Pair those with the digitone and OT mki :wink: