Hello all!
Logic Pro X remains popular for recording work, as do the cross-platform Cubase, Ableton Live and Pro Tools. As we noted above, when Apple updates the Mac to run on the new Apple processors. Logic Pro X 10.5.0 macOS Catalina (10.15.4) Mac mini (2018) 3.2 GHz Intel Core i7 32GB RAM.
I'd like to start out by saying this has been the worst experience I have ever had with any Apple product. I've been using Mac's since they had floppy discs. Anyways.... I bought a new I7 32gb 512GB Mac mini to replace my 2012 Mac mini dual core i5. The old machine was just getting really slow, and figured this upgrade would be night and day. This machine is 95% Logic Pro X dedicated.
First issue, right out the box, can't sign into the App Store. On the phone with customer service for an hour, finally figure it out, and can finally start to download Logic Pro X.... ok super annoying but ok. Download all my software, samples, etc.
Finally get Logic up and running and it keeps having core audio disconnects. Super slow and keep getting the spinning ball. Restart a few times and it seems to smooth out a bit. An hour of working in Logic I decide to try and hook up my usb-c dock and hook up my second monitor. BAAM! Logic Pro X complete takes a dump. I re-open Logic and it can't even muster the power to play a 2 track Logic session that it was easily tackling 30 min ago. Keep getting a system overload message after 5 min of spinning balls....
Ok.... maybe the dock and second monitor was an issue. Shut down, and reconfigure to the single monitor and lose the dock. Restart the computer fire up Logic..... same thing. It won't play any session. Bump the Buffer all the way up, play with some more setting and finally get this powerful rig to muster through a two track session. This is a joke, my 7 year old i5 Mac mini would breeze through this.
Even when it was working it was super laggy and slow. This machine should be able to breeze through these sessions.
The good news is, knock on wood, I haven't had any bluetooth or wifi issues. That being said my apple keyboard and mouse are within 1-2 feet of the mini. I'm also on a 5ghz wifi network. My external SSD is hooked up to one of the usb-c ports and is positioned as far away from the mini as I can.
Anyone have similar issues with Logic? This is seriously a let down and am debating returning this machine. I'm sure things will get ironed out but when? Seems like these should have been held back in product testing for a bit longer...
Mac mini 2018 or later
Posted on Feb 21, 2019 7:15 PM
There's little debate as to whether a PC or a Mac is better for music production. So we're not going to even get into that one as it's a non-starter and we'll save you the research by letting you know that Mac is the number one choice for music producers at all levels. But with such a variety of Macs to choose from it can be difficult deciding on which range of Macs is the best for you.
Logic Pro X is Apple's premium music production software. Out of the box, every Mac comes with Apple's free Music production software GarageBand. Whilst GarageBand is definitely a sweet bit of kit and can be used to create impressive work in the right hands, compared to Logic Pro X, GarageBand is simply a children's toy, whereas Logic Pro X is strictly for the big boys and professionals. This means that to run such a powerful piece of software you're going to need the hardware to match. But just which Mac is the best to create your masterpieces on Logic Pro X? Well, that depends a lot on what your uses are and you as an individual. In this blog, we will take a look at the different options available and let you make an informed decision on which is the best choice for you.
MacBook Pro
If you're looking to make music on the go then your only option is the MacBook Pro. With Logic Pro X being so processor-intensive we recommend avoiding the low-end Pro models or 13 inch models and opting for upgraded ranges. If you can, then you would ideally like to get your model with 16GB of memory. When purchasing a MacBook Pro to create music we recommended opting for a MacBook with a dedicated graphics card, this is an optional extra which takes the task of running your graphics away from the CPU to free up performance.
Although the fans can get loud, the lightweight but powerful MacBook Pro is perfect for musicians who are constantly travelling/working with other artists and need to be taking their music from one place to another regularly. An issue with the newer models though is the lack of ports, with only Thunderbolt 3 ports and a 3mm port for your earphones, you will need dongles galore if you want to connect any other devices to your MacBook. If you're not a fan of dongles then we recommend our personal favourite, the 2015 Macbook Pro.
Mac Mini
If you're looking to make music on a budget then the Mac Mini could be the best option for you. This small Mac can be upgraded to be a rather powerful beast for a far cheaper price than some of its more fancy cousins. However, if you do opt to go with the Mac Mini then be aware that you will also need to buy a monitor, keyboard and mouse too. We would avoid purchasing a Mac Mini from 2014 and instead would favour a top spec 2012 system. A high-spec current generation model with the 6 core is also an ideal small desktop for audio, giving you a range of choice between the models depending on your budget and requirements.
Best Mac Mini For Logic Pro X Review
iMac
When it comes to making music in the studio there really isn't a better option than the iMac. A powerful iMac has all the capabilities to perform smoothly and quietly to produce the music industry's finest work, all while presenting on a crisp retina display that now comes in 4k or 5k options. Add to this the multiple ports that make it great for external storage and attaching accessories, the iMac is a fantastic studio option and has everything necessary to effortlessly create real art using Logic Pro X.
In terms of specs, some iMac model's accept 32GB, a good option depending on your requirements and budget. We favour the 27-inch models as these tend to be spec up higher, with newer models going up to 8 core i9! But whatever iMac you choose, be sure to avoid all Fusion Drive models. With a history of mechanical failures, we suggest the risk of your valued work ending up unreadable is not worth it in the long run.
Buy Logic Pro
MacBook Pro
If you're looking to make music on the go then your only option is the MacBook Pro. With Logic Pro X being so processor-intensive we recommend avoiding the low-end Pro models or 13 inch models and opting for upgraded ranges. If you can, then you would ideally like to get your model with 16GB of memory. When purchasing a MacBook Pro to create music we recommended opting for a MacBook with a dedicated graphics card, this is an optional extra which takes the task of running your graphics away from the CPU to free up performance.
Although the fans can get loud, the lightweight but powerful MacBook Pro is perfect for musicians who are constantly travelling/working with other artists and need to be taking their music from one place to another regularly. An issue with the newer models though is the lack of ports, with only Thunderbolt 3 ports and a 3mm port for your earphones, you will need dongles galore if you want to connect any other devices to your MacBook. If you're not a fan of dongles then we recommend our personal favourite, the 2015 Macbook Pro.
Mac Mini
If you're looking to make music on a budget then the Mac Mini could be the best option for you. This small Mac can be upgraded to be a rather powerful beast for a far cheaper price than some of its more fancy cousins. However, if you do opt to go with the Mac Mini then be aware that you will also need to buy a monitor, keyboard and mouse too. We would avoid purchasing a Mac Mini from 2014 and instead would favour a top spec 2012 system. A high-spec current generation model with the 6 core is also an ideal small desktop for audio, giving you a range of choice between the models depending on your budget and requirements.
Best Mac Mini For Logic Pro X Review
iMac
When it comes to making music in the studio there really isn't a better option than the iMac. A powerful iMac has all the capabilities to perform smoothly and quietly to produce the music industry's finest work, all while presenting on a crisp retina display that now comes in 4k or 5k options. Add to this the multiple ports that make it great for external storage and attaching accessories, the iMac is a fantastic studio option and has everything necessary to effortlessly create real art using Logic Pro X.
In terms of specs, some iMac model's accept 32GB, a good option depending on your requirements and budget. We favour the 27-inch models as these tend to be spec up higher, with newer models going up to 8 core i9! But whatever iMac you choose, be sure to avoid all Fusion Drive models. With a history of mechanical failures, we suggest the risk of your valued work ending up unreadable is not worth it in the long run.
Buy Logic Pro
MacPro
If you're shopping without a budget and money is no object then we would recommend the MacPro. Easily the most powerful of all of Apple's Mac offerings. When configured to its maximum capabilities the sheer power of this beast is every music producer's dream. The 12 core 5,1 is a good option which can go up to 128GB. The new Mac Pro is a monster and if your budget allows and you want the very best that Apple has to offer then the new Mac Pro would certainly smash any audio work flow. If you're looking for a 6,1 2013 model then you want the 3.0 GHz 8 Core rather than the 2.7 GHz 12 core as the drop in clock speed hurts performance more than what the extra cores add.
Logic Pro X Mac Torrent
If you're happy to spend as much as is necessary and want the most powerful device that Apple has to offer, and have no need to travel with your music, then the Mac Pro is the whisper-quiet machine for you. However, the power of the MacPro is really not necessary for music production and we would choose to opt for one of the above devices, but if it's out-and-out power that you're looking for then you won't find an Apple computer more powerful than the MacPro. Whichever device you opt for we always recommend going SSD based and getting as much RAM and CPU power as your budget permits.
