I bought the Apple Mac Studio M2 Max and since my purchase I've had ZERO problems. This is by far the best computer I've ever owned. I upgraded from a 2012 Mini. My recording sessions usually never exceed thirty tracks. The mini i5 16g ram was struggling however the M2 Max never misses a beat. My thoughts - Cheers
I’ve been on MacBook Air M1 in last 4 years. Still good today! Anyway just got a Mac mini with M4 base version. It’s way more than I need… I have an external Samsung nvme ssd that I use for more storage. I don’t say that is what all should have, just saying what’s is more than enough for me!😊
But the M8 will be more powerful than the M7, so you gotta wait! Don't make the mistake buying something, when something even better is around the corner! 😅
my M1 Max Mac Studio with 32 core gpu is a crazy solid machine for 2 years now. Music recording on Cubase and Video editing colouring in Davinci!!!!! best choice I ever made. I am going keep it at least for 4-5 more years!!!!!
Good point! I am torn between the Mac Mini and the Mac Studio as I'm upgrading my home studio. The Mini is probably more than enough for my purposes, but I am concerned about the fan noise. I saw some reviews showing that the Mac Mini could have issues with heat and fan noise.
Have an M1 Macbook Pro, no plans to upgrade anytime soon, Logic Pro and a Presonus Quantum 2626 Thunderbolt, it does everything I need , tracks all plug-ins with no latency, great combination for my workflow.
MBP M1 Max here, it's a beast! I went all out with 64GB Ram and 8TB SSD from the Refurbished store Cant see myself needing to replace this machine anytime soon as it handles all my vst's amp sims and multicam video with ease. Probably the best value proposition atm along with the M2 on the preowned market. We've hit a plateau with cpu processors particularly with apple silicon when it comes to audio production and the M1M2 pro/max chips have proven themselves to be overly capable for music production for the next 2-3 years imo
I had a huge 6-core Mac Pro tricked out with many upgrades and it's been a great workhorse for many years. About 8 months ago I tried out a basic M2 Mac Mini with 8GB RAM and it blew away my Mac Pro. I then migrated all my hardware and software to this little machine (with Thunderbolt 4 dock and TB 4 hard drive bay) and it absolutely rules. Having said that, I do want even more power and memory [mostly for faster rendering and running many simultaneous tasks] and so I'm either going to get the MacStudio M4 next year or a MacStudio M2 if I see one dirt cheap.
I'm using a Mac Mini M2 w/16gb with a external SSD drive and dock. It's the best computer I've used in my studio. I have no issues or problems. I was thinking about upgrading but my Mini is still serving my needs. I might upgrade to the new Mac Mini M4.
As a fellow CFL person, I appreciate this great information! My fully loaded out (expensive then) 2019 Macbook Pro has done me well but needs to be replaced and I am looking at the M4 Mac Mini (most likely the Pro model) as its replacement. RJ
I run studio one pro 6.6 and plug-ins on my Mac. I have a Windows I5 that I run sound forge, acid pro, and some other software’s but my other platform is Linux Ubuntu with reaper, mixbus 32c, and studio pro beta. With all that’s going on in windows world recently. I will probably go 100% MAC for music and video then use my Linux machine as my daily driver for Internet. The processing power on the M4 and even the M1’s along with software compatibility, makes them a very attractive option. The thunderbolt 5 dual lane data path in each direction is a very intriguing use of bandwidth optimization. Thank you for the video.
Mannnnn back in 2023 I got one of them M2 pro mini’s with 32 gigs of ram and a 1T hd for just under $1500 refurbished (including taxes). It has 4 usb C and 2 usb A, as well as HDMI crammed onto the back and no fan noise. The new M4 minis look great, but we’re at the point where, for audio, you can get a lot of bang for your buck with yesteryears tech. I’m sure you can find my setup even cheaper today. That said, I’m still drooling over that M4 min even through it locks you into the latest OS.
I have used Intel and AMD for Office Work with CPM, Microsoft Cassette Basic Windows and Office for 50 years. I use Macs for all Audio and DAW applications since 2000. We use earlier MACs to automate the Early Analog Audio Consoles at Harrison Systems Inc in Nashville of which I am one off the 3 CoFounders. I now have Over 20 Mac Pros from 2006-2022 Mac Mini M1 which I used daily. Barry is 100% correct here and I plan to buy the M4 Pro Mac Mini for myself for Christmas as soon as time has passed for Apple to optimize the Hardware and MacOS. Claude Hill, CEO Pro Audio Consultants LLC
I’ve been waiting for the new Mac Studio next year. My MacBook M1 Pro Max has been fantastic, but I’m also augmenting it with an HDX and UAD card. Great computers.
Too late of a message for me, for just the music I’m doing, the M2 Studio will do just fine for me for the next few years. But really good message for those who haven’t purchased one, the mini pro looks good as well. Thanks for sharing @Barry
I'm still using a 2012 Ivy Bridge i7 system and it works fine. If you're not working with any virtual instruments you seriously could get by with a core 2 duo.
I was using a Dell XPS 15 with an i7 processor, 32GB RAM, and a 1TB + 2TB SSD setup. My original upgrade goal was to move to a Mac M1 Max, as my research indicated its performance core count would significantly benefit audio processing. However, just as I was ready to purchase, the Mac M4 Pro with 8 performance cores was released. It’s the perfect fit for the light home studio work I do, as well as for editing a few videos with minimal effects. So, I went ahead and pre-ordered it instead, and I can’t wait to get mine tomorrow!
For those needing further info: Single performance affects audio processing more than multi-core performance. And specifically for Mchips, Performance cores affect audio processing more than how many efficiency cores it uses. Refer to James Zhangs video for these findings. SO, basically these single cores are almost twice as fast as M1. It's a HUGE jump in processing power in this Generation refresh.
Two M1 16GB Minis in studio audio production for three years. Still work just fine, no mishaps, backups to separate server (old PCs w/ TrueNAS). Windows? Yes, gaming only…
As ever such informative advice Barry, for those who want to go and upgrade now can you answer a puzzle please if you are recording a live vocal performance or a Vst instrument that has larger sample libraries such as superior drummer what uses up more computer processing power ? we often record keyboard triggered virtual bass Roland drums with superior and two vocals all simultaneously live and yup our old 2018 imac struggles, I hear the M4 pro Mac mini upgraded to 48 gb ram may be an answer although it’s been reported the mac mini pro has higher fan noise compared to the standard M4 mini due to the pros processor demands in the same small form factor enclosure Many are on the fence…and late 2025 seems a long old wait many thanks always feel confident advice from you is also well worth the wait
What would you guys suggest for casual video and recording. My projects are usually just small UA-cam videos (5 to 20 minutes, nothing crazy flashy with the videos) and occasional composition recordings (like I don’t expect to do more than 20 tracks, mostly garage band, maybe logic way down the road, only a few projects a year). Would a MacBook Air (hopefully m4 by the time I’m ready) or a Mac mini m4 with base level performance be enough? Not planning on getting into pro level anything here. Nor do a lot of it throughout the year.
2 days ago I bought my Mac Studio M2 Ultra, and I know that in formation but since I am closing my company I put this in the taxes, so I know better thing are coming but actually the computer as it is os extremely fast, no complains at all
Loving this channel. Question. I'm a guitar player that records music. It's usually just Me and my guitar with a virtual drummer and virtual bass. I record all analog through real amps and a analog pre amp. I'm about to upgrade my old apollo and2015 imac. Would the new maxed out 2025 imac be enough to get low latency when recording if I buy an audio interface with no DSP?
I'm inclined to agree with this assessment. The M4 Ultra should be an absolute beast and effectively ensure a ten-year lifespan for most indie shops. Such a system could cause me to switch away from my dual-GPU Windows system to do 3D rendering on Mac, which really hasn't been workable for a good number of years. Options are always good.
Honestly, if I didn’t really have an M1 MacBook Pro that does everything I need and I was looking for a MacBook. I would so go for an M4 max in a 14 or 16 inch model because both of them gorgeous and the power is just unbelievable. I don’t know how Apple does it, but they continue to innovate. Great job on the video.
I'm a massive Kontakt user so RAM is what I need. I have an M2 Base Mac mini and it's great at everything except multiple Kontakt instances. So I have a PC with 32GB Ram to litigate this, but I'd sure like to just use one machine obviously. Thinking I'll opt for the Mac Studio M1 or M2 I don't want anything to do with M4 bc my daw does not take advantagte of Ecores. Ableton/Studio One
10 of the latest generation of P cores in the M4 Pro Mac Mini not good enough for you? Also, it goes up to 64GB of memory. It's looking like a far better choice for audio/music production than either generation of Mac Studio, both in terms of performance and cost. If you're really set on getting a Mac Studio, then you should wait till M4 comes to that lineup.
I need to upgrade but I'm a Studio One 6 Pro user and have read that PreSonus hasn't embraced the Silicon chip set. Are you aware of any issues with Studio One?
What’s up, my neighbor! Yeah, I looked at the weather forecast for winter this year, and we’re gonna have an exceptionally warm winter. I’m not gonna complain about that. I like low 80s low humidity, and a cool breeze. And hopefully a chair at the beach. Now I’m a Clearwater guy, but I’ll go to beach.
@@BarryJohns Winter Haven here we have frequent driver miles in Clearwater beaches and fishing etc ....I must ad great content neighbor glad I follow. Major Kudos for the response
Came, destroyed the west coast and left a few hours later. My home was out of power for 4 days, no water for three, no gas could be found anywhere for a week before and after. Then very spotty for a few more weeks. Typical time of year for Florida. We only lost a section of our fence.
I have an Intel Mac and I want to upgrade to the new M4 Mac Studio when it releases but I’m afraid of having to reprogram all my installations and file pathways. It’s been years since I routed everything, is there a way that I can copy my current Mac exactly as it is into a new Mac Studio?
I always recommend when upgrading a computer. Do not use any kind of restore or anything like that and install everything fresh from the beginning. This is the safest way to ensure that you’re gonna have a rocksolid and stable system. I always set aside anywhere from 4 to 6 hours when I first get a computer to reinstall everything that I need. It’s worth spending that time, as you’re not upgrading computers very frequently.
Yep. Barry is right. It's always best to do a fresh setup. I just moved from my Intel based Mac book to an M2 Mac Studio. It wasn't as painful as you'd think. You just need to set aside the time, and you'll be happy you did.
Hey Barry - Thanks for the video. I have indeed been looking at the new Mac Mini M4. When you say get the "maxed out" one, which do you exactly mean? I was kind of hoping that the basic M4 with a 512 SSD would cover my needs (with a dock and external drives). I just mainly do my own projects now on an old Windows 10 i7 with 32GRAM running PT 12.4, which runs well. I want the Mac Mini to run UA Luna with an Apollo Twin interface. I usually run about 2 to 4 virtual instruments - Superior Drummer and usually SampleTank or NI Kontakt and maybe one or two others and then maybe 4-10 audio tracks. Do you think the regular MM4 will cut it, or do I really need more RAM, or the MM4 Pro/MAX? Thanks ~
Mac studio is awesome I bought an m1 which was new stock never sold or used and saved a huge amount. Works great with all my daws and base model max is way fast enough for anything. Got midi keyboard like Fantom 32 channel in interface and Mackie DLZ audio interface which is an amazing device connected other hardware controllers my hydra synth and I still have free ports.
Im still using a 2011 iMac 🖥 for Logic Pro X, its ok but can’t handle usb synth etc , I’ve been waiting on a proper upgrade like an iMac with a 27” screen, didn’t like the specs on the latest release so im gonna wait for another few months and see what happens
I doubt that they’ll ever come back with a larger iMac screen. If you think about it, they haven’t done it in the last few years. From what I understand, they are about ready to come out with a new display, let’s hope that’s a lot less expensive than the current one.
I used iMacs for many years and loved the form factor, but now use a MacMini M2 with separate Dell U4323QE 42" 4K display with built in USB Hub and it attaches to the Mac with just one USB-C cable for both screen and USB hub. It's better than any iMac at any size, and maybe the same price or cheaper as a hypothetical 27" iMac with similar specs would be. I can actually use it at full resolution (3840x2160) and easily see everything. I couldn't do that with a 32" screen, let alone a 27" screen. So when screen resolutions get really big, it's kind of a "waste" when the screen itself isn't very big, because you have to use it at a lower resolution in order to see everything without hunching very far forward to get your eyes close to the screen. Yes, I understand the principle that a 4K screen set to 2K resolution looks nicer than a 2K screen set to 2K resolution. But the 4K screen set to 4K resolution is best of all (if you can see it), because of all the real estate you get (translation:: you can see more audio tracks vertically, or more timeline horizontally).
i've been rocking a 16" m1 macbook pro with 32gb or ram and I do EDM. TONS of VST's and samples...UAD. Arturia. NI....60 channels...it doesn't matter this thing doesn't stop. 128 buffer tops.
He’s talking about the M4 Ultra chip due next year - the ones we can buy right now are M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max. The Mac Studio is one of two Apple products that can run the Ultra, which is essentially two Max chips joined together.
Spot on so far except for one thing, the next one will be a completely redesigned CPU. I promise you if you go watch the video in the link down in the description you’ll see what I’m talking about.
I have a 2023 14” MBP M2 Pro. I was eyeballing the M4 Mac mini on an trade in that will cost me $0 at base level. I’m not really looking to trade my M2 Pro just yet BUT I know I will NOT get it for free as Apple deprecation is horrid
Speaking audio, the CPU is what matters. There is no difference between the Pro and Max chips. It’s only when you go Ultra that you get a CPU increase, by double. With that said, the leaked benchmarks show the M4 Pro to be more powerful than the M1 Ultra.
To add, so unless you need the M4 Ultra, there is no reason to wait for an M4 Max Mac Studio when it will have the same CPU power as the new M4 Pro Mac Mini. *Again, speaking purely for audio.
@@ilikemyrealname you're 100% right, apart from one exception which is the very top-tier M4 Max, the only version of the chip that offers two more P cores over the top spec M4 Pro. But it's a _big_ price jump to go there on the M4 MacBook Pro, and probably not worth It for the amount of increased performance in audio/music work it would give you.
I looked at buying a Mac Studio to replace my M1 iMac and decided to wait for the next generation Mac Studio. It's more than what I need but I can afford it and too much performance is better than not enough. I have projects which overload the M1 forcing me to freeze tracks. One thing I decided is going for one of the alternatives to Apple's offerings when it comes to a monitor for it. Apple displays are great but extremely expensive.
@ I‘m not sure the Mini Pro is just for home users. It has higher single and multi core power than the M2 Ultra. So - yes, there might be a need for more performance, but that would be something that cannot be fulfilled today.
@@JM_2019 thank you , this is exactly the point I was making in my earlier comment, but for some reason I got yelled at. Oh well, the point still stands unless someone can actually explain otherwise!
That’s not what I said, I do agree with you, but I didn’t say anything like that. The subject of the video had nothing to do with your point as valid as your point is. It’s impossible to cover every possible scenario that someone may bring up in every 10 minute video. It has to be the point of the video. And it’s unfair to try to apply other points even though they may be accurate have absolutely nothing to do with the points and the purpose of the video. Seem reasonable?
You didn’t get yelled at, I challenged your perspective, just because I challenged you doesn’t mean I’m yelling at you. Let’s just have an intellectual stimulating conversation back-and-forth debating the points eventually if we do that objectively, we’ll both come to a conclusion where we may learn something from each other.
For the _home_ studio user? Unless you were specifically talking about a maxed out M4 (not M4 Pro) config, you're kinda off the mark here. The top tier 14 core 14 M4 Pro chip available for the new Mini is currently topping the charts in both single and multicore tests as the fastest desktop Mac ever made - including vs the most expensive Mac Studio or Mac Pro you can buy today. Of course synthetic benchmarks are always to be taken in context, but even so, this does not suggest to me that this machine is "fine" for "home" users. It suggests that it's actually also an _excellent_ choice for high-end pros working in music today. Especially given that you can configure it with 64GB of memory which is enough even for most composers working with large orchestral libraries (like myself). And with Thunderbolt 5, it'll be possible soon enough to add external storage that isn't any slower than the eye-watering expensive internal storage options Apple offer. So yeah, this is far from being just a nice toy for the home studio...! It's quite likely the best buy for most professionals in music/audio productions available today. Of course when the M4 lineup is completed with upcoming Mac Studios and Mac Pros, there will be even more performant options available. But tbh, I would only recommend those to people who _also_ have a need for ludicrous amounts of GPU power, aka, people who do video work as well.
Man come on give me a freaking break. You have absolutely, 1,000,000,000%, missed the entire point of this video. It has completely flown over your head. This is not that video, that’s not what it is. I could’ve swore the term Mac studio was in the title, no?
@@BarryJohns hey man, chill! I guess you read my comment as if I was angry-typing, which I most certainly was not! I enjoyed your video and your take, obviously, otherwise I wouldn't have been subbed here since you started the channel. All I was trying to say was that the fully maxed-out M4 Pro Mini is more than just suitable for the "home" studio, for the reasons I pointed out. Yes, I clearly understood your (valid) point that buying a Mac Studio right now is not the move. I just noticed that you used the term "home studio" many times when referring to the new Mini, which, while of course absolutely true, also seemed to undersell the fact that the fully maxed-out M4 Pro version is actually better than what people _have_ been buying till now for professional studio use.
@@BarryJohns Barry, don't worry. We hear you. There always has to be that person that has to be heard. Expect it. Thank you for your content and keeping it real!
I’m in the Staffordshire Moorlands, England Baz. It’s drizzling and foggy. As it is for approximately 360 days a year. I’d sell my soul for some of your sun!
Well, the Mac mini pro M4 is already the fastest Mac ever. So you don’t need some secret insider tip to figure out that the Mac Studio is just about to be updated. Also, I would say to wait until the new Mac Studio comes out before buying a maxed out Mac mini pro m4 because with the M2 generation, a base Mac Studio was a much better deal than a Mac mini M2 pro when you added more than 2 upgrades.
You got that steam on ya glasses my dude. Thank's for video but watched that thing get bigger throughout. On one of your video's, ya need to keep taking sips of your coffee and get your glasses fully covered and carry on the vid but not mentioning the steam. That shit would B-Fun-E
I used a base 2011 Imac for 9 years and am disappointed the base level RAM is now lower than the 12GB on my 2011 Imac and can’t be expanded. Same with the hard drive and i/o. Honestly, I don’t need any more processor. Apple needs more processor to put AI spyware on the machine. Why can’t Apple just make a feature packed base model that can be updated? It is very annoying, so I switched back to Windows…which is also annoying, but in a different way. Next stop is Bitwig and Linux.
Yeah, a lot of people didn’t quite understand when they made the transition that the entire way memory is handled is radically different in Apple Silicon based CPUs. As an example 16 GB on an Apple Silicon computer would be more equivalent to 32 or 48 on a traditional Windows machine.
M4 Mac "STUDIO" ...worth the WAIT! ( BUT NEEDED IT LIKE 1-1/2 YRS AGO ) Barry's going to be making some $$$ if we ALL buy our M4 "STUDIO" through SWEETWATER :)
I still don’t understand why Apple staggers the release of their computers especially when new processors are updated. Like this upcoming Studio slated for release next year and then a new Mac Pro after that. They should just release them all simultaneously and let the end user chose which is best for his/her particular needs.
They don’t always do that, and if you think about it, they released five new devices five straight days last week. The only thing that hasn’t been updated this point that I can think of, is the Mac studio and the Mac Pro. If you watch the video, it will become very clear to you why it’s taking a little bit longer for those computers. It’s an entirely redesigned CPU. It’s pretty exciting, but does require patience. All good things come with patience.
Releasing them simultaneously means artificially delaying the ones that would have been ready earlier. I like the idea of releasing the higher end iterations of something later, in that some bugs could be fixed and some features could be refined by then. It's similar with software: GarageBand often gets many features before Logic Pro does, but by the time Logic Pro gets them they are much more refined and robust. In general, professionals don't need the newest thing right away; that whole "gear lust" thing isn't a smart business decision.
With Apple upgrades there’s always a price point between the Mac Mini and The Mac Studio where the former starts to cost more than the latter. I wouldn’t max out the Mac Mini, it’s a waste of money.
I’m not saying the coming M4 isn’t going to be awesome, but I often do see a lot of people always thinking that unless they get the absolute newest and fastest that they are shooting them selves in the foot and will sorely regret their decision. This is a complete fallacy. Even though the M4 will be great, if you decide to save a few bucks and go with a brand new m3 or even an m2, you’re still getting an extremely powerful computer that will smoke any Mac that came before the m1. I bought a Mac Studio with an m2max chip even after the m3 became available and “I should have spent the extra money on the m3” has never flashed through my mind even for a nanosecond. It’s only the users whose work is pushing their hardware to the absolute limit will see any difference, and those people are actually quite rare in the grand scheme of things.
People need to understand exactly what level of computing power they need today and what they’re likely to need five years from now. If they’re looking to buy a computer, they should only be upgrading that computer if it absolutely cannot do what they need anymore. So when at that point, they should be buying a computer Specked out for anticipated five years from now needs. This way you’ve got something that can grow as you grow. But to your point, a lot of people just want the newest and greatest, and I never recommend that unless the actually “NEED” it.
I bought the Apple Mac Studio M2 Max and since my purchase I've had ZERO problems. This is by far the best computer I've ever owned. I upgraded from a 2012 Mini. My recording sessions usually never exceed thirty tracks. The mini i5 16g ram was struggling however the M2 Max never misses a beat.
My thoughts - Cheers
I got the 1st M1 Max studio been loving it for the last couple years such a beast of a machine
I got the M1 Ultra, and that shit is going solid! Very happy with my purchase.
i have a 2022 m1 studio and it absolutely blazes
Same
Me too. Love it!
Got the M1 ultra and can’t bring it to its limit…
I’ve been on MacBook Air M1 in last 4 years. Still good today! Anyway just got a Mac mini with M4 base version. It’s way more than I need… I have an external Samsung nvme ssd that I use for more storage. I don’t say that is what all should have, just saying what’s is more than enough for me!😊
Have a M2 Ultra. It’s a beast. I don’t need more for now. 😊
👍
Bought the M1 Max studio when it came out. Great! I will buy a new Studio in 2027. M7!
But the M8 will be more powerful than the M7, so you gotta wait! Don't make the mistake buying something, when something even better is around the corner! 😅
I have done some music on my M1 Max MBP .. not even a single fan noise when I did 36tracks .. very SLAY!
I'm sure the next M4 Mac Studios will be amazing. Me? I'm moving from a M1 Max Mac Studio --> M4 Pro 14 core Mac Mini. I no longer do much video work.
my M1 Max Mac Studio with 32 core gpu is a crazy solid machine for 2 years now. Music recording on Cubase and Video editing colouring in Davinci!!!!! best choice I ever made. I am going keep it at least for 4-5 more years!!!!!
Good point! I am torn between the Mac Mini and the Mac Studio as I'm upgrading my home studio. The Mini is probably more than enough for my purposes, but I am concerned about the fan noise. I saw some reviews showing that the Mac Mini could have issues with heat and fan noise.
I updated from M1 Max Laptop to a M4 Pro Mac mini. It'll be here tomorrow, should do me well for a long time
Have an M1 Macbook Pro, no plans to upgrade anytime soon, Logic Pro and a Presonus Quantum 2626 Thunderbolt, it does everything I need , tracks all plug-ins with no latency, great combination for my workflow.
New M4 Minis are awesome - a M4 Pro is more than enough for music.
Have you experienced any fan noise with music production on the MacMini M4-Pro?
@@GaryClaggett Nope as i don't need to push it to their limit - audio usually doesn't need that much CPU /GPU usage.
I recently got a M2 Pro at a very cheap price and so far it's great for use in my studio. I doubt I'll be upgrading for another five years at least.
M2 Max studio here. Can’t see needing another one anytime soon. Nothing I do comes close to making it break a sweat.
Amen, I have the same machine! It'll be awhile before I upgrade mine.
I’m in the market but can’t go later than m4 thanks to apples support posture. My 5,1 im has been a brick for a few years. Waste.
Nice shirt Barry! Great content as usual. 🙌🙌
I just purchased and received the M4 Pro Mac Mini can’t wait to set it up. An upgrade from the now outdated 2017 iMac with the 3.6 Intel chip
MBP M1 Max here, it's a beast!
I went all out with 64GB Ram and 8TB SSD from the Refurbished store
Cant see myself needing to replace this machine anytime soon as it handles all my vst's amp sims and multicam video with ease.
Probably the best value proposition atm along with the M2 on the preowned market.
We've hit a plateau with cpu processors particularly with apple silicon when it comes to audio production and the M1M2 pro/max chips have proven themselves to be overly capable for music production for the next 2-3 years imo
I use an M1 mini.. and it works just fine for audio..
I had a huge 6-core Mac Pro tricked out with many upgrades and it's been a great workhorse for many years. About 8 months ago I tried out a basic M2 Mac Mini with 8GB RAM and it blew away my Mac Pro. I then migrated all my hardware and software to this little machine (with Thunderbolt 4 dock and TB 4 hard drive bay) and it absolutely rules. Having said that, I do want even more power and memory [mostly for faster rendering and running many simultaneous tasks] and so I'm either going to get the MacStudio M4 next year or a MacStudio M2 if I see one dirt cheap.
I had a very similar experience when I made the transition.
I'm using a Mac Mini M2 w/16gb with a external SSD drive and dock. It's the best computer I've used in my studio. I have no issues or problems. I was thinking about upgrading but my Mini is still serving my needs. I might upgrade to the new Mac Mini M4.
Great plan!
As a fellow CFL person, I appreciate this great information! My fully loaded out (expensive then) 2019 Macbook Pro has done me well but needs to be replaced and I am looking at the M4 Mac Mini (most likely the Pro model) as its replacement. RJ
I run studio one pro 6.6 and plug-ins on my Mac. I have a Windows I5 that I run sound forge, acid pro, and some other software’s but my other platform is Linux Ubuntu with reaper, mixbus 32c, and studio pro beta. With all that’s going on in windows world recently. I will probably go 100% MAC for music and video then use my Linux machine as my daily driver for Internet. The processing power on the M4 and even the M1’s along with software compatibility, makes them a very attractive option. The thunderbolt 5 dual lane data path in each direction is a very intriguing use of bandwidth optimization. Thank you for the video.
Mannnnn back in 2023 I got one of them M2 pro mini’s with 32 gigs of ram and a 1T hd for just under $1500 refurbished (including taxes). It has 4 usb C and 2 usb A, as well as HDMI crammed onto the back and no fan noise. The new M4 minis look great, but we’re at the point where, for audio, you can get a lot of bang for your buck with yesteryears tech. I’m sure you can find my setup even cheaper today. That said, I’m still drooling over that M4 min even through it locks you into the latest OS.
I hate they got rid of the usba and still don't allow SSD or ram diy upgrades
It is possible to do both even on Apple silicon.
From where?
I have used Intel and AMD for Office Work with CPM, Microsoft Cassette Basic Windows and Office for 50 years.
I use Macs for all Audio and DAW applications since 2000.
We use earlier MACs to automate the Early Analog Audio Consoles at Harrison Systems Inc in Nashville of which I am one off the 3 CoFounders.
I now have Over 20 Mac Pros from 2006-2022 Mac Mini M1 which I used daily.
Barry is 100% correct here and I plan to buy the M4 Pro Mac Mini for myself for Christmas as soon as time has passed for Apple to optimize the Hardware and MacOS.
Claude Hill, CEO
Pro Audio Consultants LLC
I’m now thinking of getting the new Mac mini. Such a powerful little computer for just $599.
I have a Macbook M1Pro, still going great for me. I am impressed with the new m4. I am considering upgrading when M5 Ultra comes out.
My M1 Max MacStudio has been rock solid fast for 2 years.....! M2 MacBook rock solid fast......!
aaaaaaah sooooooooo close to purchasing!!!! I will wait for the M4
I’ve been waiting for the new Mac Studio next year.
My MacBook M1 Pro Max has been fantastic, but I’m also augmenting it with an HDX and UAD card. Great computers.
Too late of a message for me, for just the music I’m doing, the M2 Studio will do just fine for me for the next few years. But really good message for those who haven’t purchased one, the mini pro looks good as well. Thanks for sharing @Barry
I got an M2 mini pro 12 core 32 gig/1 Tb. Use a CalDigit, ACASIS USBC 4 4TB, ACASIS 16 slot USB3 switched & powered strip. It’s great.
I'm still using a 2012 Ivy Bridge i7 system and it works fine. If you're not working with any virtual instruments you seriously could get by with a core 2 duo.
Any concerns about the fan noise on the MacMini M4-Pro?
No, not at all. Actually it’s quite impressive.
I was using a Dell XPS 15 with an i7 processor, 32GB RAM, and a 1TB + 2TB SSD setup. My original upgrade goal was to move to a Mac M1 Max, as my research indicated its performance core count would significantly benefit audio processing. However, just as I was ready to purchase, the Mac M4 Pro with 8 performance cores was released. It’s the perfect fit for the light home studio work I do, as well as for editing a few videos with minimal effects. So, I went ahead and pre-ordered it instead, and I can’t wait to get mine tomorrow!
For those needing further info: Single performance affects audio processing more than multi-core performance. And specifically for Mchips, Performance cores affect audio processing more than how many efficiency cores it uses. Refer to James Zhangs video for these findings. SO, basically these single cores are almost twice as fast as M1. It's a HUGE jump in processing power in this Generation refresh.
Two M1 16GB Minis in studio audio production for three years. Still work just fine, no mishaps, backups to separate server (old PCs w/ TrueNAS).
Windows? Yes, gaming only…
As ever such informative advice Barry, for those who want to go and upgrade now can you answer a puzzle please
if you are recording a live vocal performance or a Vst instrument that has larger sample libraries such as superior drummer what uses up more computer processing power ?
we often record keyboard triggered virtual bass Roland drums with superior and two vocals all simultaneously live and yup our old 2018 imac struggles, I hear the M4 pro Mac mini upgraded to 48 gb ram may be an answer although it’s been reported the mac mini pro has higher fan noise compared to the standard M4 mini due to the pros processor demands in the same small form factor enclosure
Many are on the fence…and late 2025 seems a long old wait
many thanks always feel confident advice from you is also well worth the wait
I need a computer now
What would you guys suggest for casual video and recording. My projects are usually just small UA-cam videos (5 to 20 minutes, nothing crazy flashy with the videos) and occasional composition recordings (like I don’t expect to do more than 20 tracks, mostly garage band, maybe logic way down the road, only a few projects a year). Would a MacBook Air (hopefully m4 by the time I’m ready) or a Mac mini m4 with base level performance be enough? Not planning on getting into pro level anything here. Nor do a lot of it throughout the year.
it would be great if you could do the protools benchmark you did for the m2 mini for the m4 pro. :)
2 days ago I bought my Mac Studio M2 Ultra, and I know that in formation but since I am closing my company I put this in the taxes, so I know better thing are coming but actually the computer as it is os extremely fast, no complains at all
I’ve got m1 mini, still handles everything I throw at it. M4 pro mini looks awesome tho
This is good info! Yes, I will wait until after the New Year to look into purchasing another Mini! Thanks!!!
Question: will we ever reach HDX latency without HDX card? What’s your opinion?
I’m buying used M1 Pro all pimped out for my daw. I’ll buy the m4 studio if I get into video as I plan to.
Good plan.
Loving this channel. Question. I'm a guitar player that records music. It's usually just Me and my guitar with a virtual drummer and virtual bass. I record all analog through real amps and a analog pre amp. I'm about to upgrade my old apollo and2015 imac. Would the new maxed out 2025 imac be enough to get low latency when recording if I buy an audio interface with no DSP?
Yes
Your video editing has got so good… thanks for the content
Just like anything else in life, brother, I never stopped trying to improve. Thank you very much for noticing. I really appreciate it!
I'm inclined to agree with this assessment. The M4 Ultra should be an absolute beast and effectively ensure a ten-year lifespan for most indie shops. Such a system could cause me to switch away from my dual-GPU Windows system to do 3D rendering on Mac, which really hasn't been workable for a good number of years. Options are always good.
Thanks again for all you do….argggg..now I need to wait until next year !!! (I wanted to go out and get a new Studio this month)
The question for me is M4 Max MBP now or M4 Max Studio sometime in the next 6-8 months. I’m replacing a 2017 iMac Pro with a powerful eGPU.
Apple Silicon changes the game
I’m in the same boat - Studio M1 Max , and I’m waiting for the M4 max to drop in 2025!
Honestly, if I didn’t really have an M1 MacBook Pro that does everything I need and I was looking for a MacBook. I would so go for an M4 max in a 14 or 16 inch model because both of them gorgeous and the power is just unbelievable. I don’t know how Apple does it, but they continue to innovate. Great job on the video.
I'm a massive Kontakt user so RAM is what I need. I have an M2 Base Mac mini and it's great at everything except multiple Kontakt instances. So I have a PC with 32GB Ram to litigate this, but I'd sure like to just use one machine obviously. Thinking I'll opt for the Mac Studio M1 or M2 I don't want anything to do with M4 bc my daw does not take advantagte of Ecores. Ableton/Studio One
10 of the latest generation of P cores in the M4 Pro Mac Mini not good enough for you? Also, it goes up to 64GB of memory. It's looking like a far better choice for audio/music production than either generation of Mac Studio, both in terms of performance and cost.
If you're really set on getting a Mac Studio, then you should wait till M4 comes to that lineup.
"massive" Kontakt user... I see what you did there!
@@AdamElteto lol yes 🤣
That's the same reason I jumped to the M4. The M2 would kind of bog down, and the base memory on the new one is more usable.
I need to upgrade but I'm a Studio One 6 Pro user and have read that PreSonus hasn't embraced the Silicon chip set. Are you aware of any issues with Studio One?
I use it all the time with no issues.
Central Florida Rezy here and we're expecting another hot one tomorrow also....Major thanks for the tip much appreciated. 💪🏾💯
What’s up, my neighbor! Yeah, I looked at the weather forecast for winter this year, and we’re gonna have an exceptionally warm winter. I’m not gonna complain about that. I like low 80s low humidity, and a cool breeze. And hopefully a chair at the beach. Now I’m a Clearwater guy, but I’ll go to beach.
@@BarryJohns Winter Haven here we have frequent driver miles in Clearwater beaches and fishing etc ....I must ad great content neighbor glad I follow. Major Kudos for the response
You’re kidding, I live in Haines city.
@ Unbelievable Wow…Cliche “Small World “
I am from Europe. I can only wait til January the 20th. I will buy something before that date.
Barry your videos really look amazing, may i ask what camera and lenses you are using? And what for post editing? Thanks!
I have a maxed out m3 max mbp and it’s lightning fast I’ll wait until the m5 ultra
Great enthusiasm Barry ! Your videos are awesome !
Thanks a bunch!
I thought there was a hurricane Milton messing with Florida. Where did that go ?
Came, destroyed the west coast and left a few hours later. My home was out of power for 4 days, no water for three, no gas could be found anywhere for a week before and after. Then very spotty for a few more weeks. Typical time of year for Florida. We only lost a section of our fence.
I have an Intel Mac and I want to upgrade to the new M4 Mac Studio when it releases but I’m afraid of having to reprogram all my installations and file pathways. It’s been years since I routed everything, is there a way that I can copy my current Mac exactly as it is into a new Mac Studio?
I always recommend when upgrading a computer. Do not use any kind of restore or anything like that and install everything fresh from the beginning. This is the safest way to ensure that you’re gonna have a rocksolid and stable system.
I always set aside anywhere from 4 to 6 hours when I first get a computer to reinstall everything that I need. It’s worth spending that time, as you’re not upgrading computers very frequently.
But in case you want to 😅 you can port it to a new Mac
Yep. Barry is right. It's always best to do a fresh setup. I just moved from my Intel based Mac book to an M2 Mac Studio. It wasn't as painful as you'd think. You just need to set aside the time, and you'll be happy you did.
@@BarryJohns thank you for the sound advice!
@@TimTheTomato thank you 🙏🏽
Hey Barry - Thanks for the video. I have indeed been looking at the new Mac Mini M4. When you say get the "maxed out" one, which do you exactly mean? I was kind of hoping that the basic M4 with a 512 SSD would cover my needs (with a dock and external drives). I just mainly do my own projects now on an old Windows 10 i7 with 32GRAM running PT 12.4, which runs well. I want the Mac Mini to run UA Luna with an Apollo Twin interface. I usually run about 2 to 4 virtual instruments - Superior Drummer and usually SampleTank or NI Kontakt and maybe one or two others and then maybe 4-10 audio tracks. Do you think the regular MM4 will cut it, or do I really need more RAM, or the MM4 Pro/MAX? Thanks ~
Their basic version will easily cover your needs.
I'd get an external drive. They get alot of $ when you buy through them, nearly what the computer costs.
FYI...your noise gate / expander is aggressive in this video and a bit distracting.
Nice video ❤real talk I seen that video to and you are right
Mac studio is awesome I bought an m1 which was new stock never sold or used and saved a huge amount. Works great with all my daws and base model max is way fast enough for anything. Got midi keyboard like Fantom 32 channel in interface and Mackie DLZ audio interface which is an amazing device connected other hardware controllers my hydra synth and I still have free ports.
I absolutely agree
Im still using a 2011 iMac 🖥 for Logic Pro X, its ok but can’t handle usb synth etc , I’ve been waiting on a proper upgrade like an iMac with a 27” screen, didn’t like the specs on the latest release so im gonna wait for another few months and see what happens
I doubt that they’ll ever come back with a larger iMac screen. If you think about it, they haven’t done it in the last few years. From what I understand, they are about ready to come out with a new display, let’s hope that’s a lot less expensive than the current one.
I used iMacs for many years and loved the form factor, but now use a MacMini M2 with separate Dell U4323QE 42" 4K display with built in USB Hub and it attaches to the Mac with just one USB-C cable for both screen and USB hub. It's better than any iMac at any size, and maybe the same price or cheaper as a hypothetical 27" iMac with similar specs would be. I can actually use it at full resolution (3840x2160) and easily see everything. I couldn't do that with a 32" screen, let alone a 27" screen. So when screen resolutions get really big, it's kind of a "waste" when the screen itself isn't very big, because you have to use it at a lower resolution in order to see everything without hunching very far forward to get your eyes close to the screen. Yes, I understand the principle that a 4K screen set to 2K resolution looks nicer than a 2K screen set to 2K resolution. But the 4K screen set to 4K resolution is best of all (if you can see it), because of all the real estate you get (translation:: you can see more audio tracks vertically, or more timeline horizontally).
i've been rocking a 16" m1 macbook pro with 32gb or ram and I do EDM. TONS of VST's and samples...UAD. Arturia. NI....60 channels...it doesn't matter this thing doesn't stop. 128 buffer tops.
Yep
I’m guessing your guy was talking about the new M4 chips that we can pre order or is there something else?
He’s talking about the M4 Ultra chip due next year - the ones we can buy right now are M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max. The Mac Studio is one of two Apple products that can run the Ultra, which is essentially two Max chips joined together.
Spot on so far except for one thing, the next one will be a completely redesigned CPU. I promise you if you go watch the video in the link down in the description you’ll see what I’m talking about.
Good morning, brother. Thanks for the review! Have a great day.
FH Atlanta
I have a 2023 14” MBP M2 Pro. I was eyeballing the M4 Mac mini on an trade in that will cost me $0 at base level. I’m not really looking to trade my M2 Pro just yet BUT I know I will NOT get it for free as Apple deprecation is horrid
You should never upgrade your computer until it simply cannot do what you needed to do anymore.
@ absolutely agree.
Hey Barry. What thunderbolt Dock are you using?
I have a Caldigit and and OWC Thunderbolt docks
Speaking audio, the CPU is what matters. There is no difference between the Pro and Max chips. It’s only when you go Ultra that you get a CPU increase, by double. With that said, the leaked benchmarks show the M4 Pro to be more powerful than the M1 Ultra.
To add, so unless you need the M4 Ultra, there is no reason to wait for an M4 Max Mac Studio when it will have the same CPU power as the new M4 Pro Mac Mini. *Again, speaking purely for audio.
@@ilikemyrealname you're 100% right, apart from one exception which is the very top-tier M4 Max, the only version of the chip that offers two more P cores over the top spec M4 Pro. But it's a _big_ price jump to go there on the M4 MacBook Pro, and probably not worth It for the amount of increased performance in audio/music work it would give you.
Great tip. You just sold me.
I looked at buying a Mac Studio to replace my M1 iMac and decided to wait for the next generation Mac Studio. It's more than what I need but I can afford it and too much performance is better than not enough. I have projects which overload the M1 forcing me to freeze tracks. One thing I decided is going for one of the alternatives to Apple's offerings when it comes to a monitor for it. Apple displays are great but extremely expensive.
I always recommend never upgrading your computer until you absolutely have to.
What dock do you recommend?
Caldigit or OWC.
With the new M4 Pro mini, there‘s actually no need for the Mac Studio anymore for audio production.
Well, I would be careful presuming that you know everybody’s needs, that said, in the video I make your very point.
@ I‘m not sure the Mini Pro is just for home users. It has higher single and multi core power than the M2 Ultra. So - yes, there might be a need for more performance, but that would be something that cannot be fulfilled today.
@@JM_2019 thank you , this is exactly the point I was making in my earlier comment, but for some reason I got yelled at. Oh well, the point still stands unless someone can actually explain otherwise!
That’s not what I said, I do agree with you, but I didn’t say anything like that. The subject of the video had nothing to do with your point as valid as your point is. It’s impossible to cover every possible scenario that someone may bring up in every 10 minute video. It has to be the point of the video. And it’s unfair to try to apply other points even though they may be accurate have absolutely nothing to do with the points and the purpose of the video. Seem reasonable?
You didn’t get yelled at, I challenged your perspective, just because I challenged you doesn’t mean I’m yelling at you. Let’s just have an intellectual stimulating conversation back-and-forth debating the points eventually if we do that objectively, we’ll both come to a conclusion where we may learn something from each other.
For the _home_ studio user? Unless you were specifically talking about a maxed out M4 (not M4 Pro) config, you're kinda off the mark here.
The top tier 14 core 14 M4 Pro chip available for the new Mini is currently topping the charts in both single and multicore tests as the fastest desktop Mac ever made - including vs the most expensive Mac Studio or Mac Pro you can buy today. Of course synthetic benchmarks are always to be taken in context, but even so, this does not suggest to me that this machine is "fine" for "home" users. It suggests that it's actually also an _excellent_ choice for high-end pros working in music today. Especially given that you can configure it with 64GB of memory which is enough even for most composers working with large orchestral libraries (like myself). And with Thunderbolt 5, it'll be possible soon enough to add external storage that isn't any slower than the eye-watering expensive internal storage options Apple offer.
So yeah, this is far from being just a nice toy for the home studio...! It's quite likely the best buy for most professionals in music/audio productions available today. Of course when the M4 lineup is completed with upcoming Mac Studios and Mac Pros, there will be even more performant options available. But tbh, I would only recommend those to people who _also_ have a need for ludicrous amounts of GPU power, aka, people who do video work as well.
Man come on give me a freaking break. You have absolutely, 1,000,000,000%, missed the entire point of this video. It has completely flown over your head. This is not that video, that’s not what it is. I could’ve swore the term Mac studio was in the title, no?
@@BarryJohns hey man, chill! I guess you read my comment as if I was angry-typing, which I most certainly was not! I enjoyed your video and your take, obviously, otherwise I wouldn't have been subbed here since you started the channel.
All I was trying to say was that the fully maxed-out M4 Pro Mini is more than just suitable for the "home" studio, for the reasons I pointed out. Yes, I clearly understood your (valid) point that buying a Mac Studio right now is not the move. I just noticed that you used the term "home studio" many times when referring to the new Mini, which, while of course absolutely true, also seemed to undersell the fact that the fully maxed-out M4 Pro version is actually better than what people _have_ been buying till now for professional studio use.
@@BarryJohns Barry, don't worry. We hear you. There always has to be that person that has to be heard. Expect it. Thank you for your content and keeping it real!
@@pendulumdistinction2494 I'd genuinely like to know what was incorrect about what I pointed out.
Thanks Barry great info!!!!
M1 Max MBP w/32GB of RAM. Rock solid!
All day long!!!!
I’m in the Staffordshire Moorlands, England Baz. It’s drizzling and foggy. As it is for approximately 360 days a year. I’d sell my soul for some of your sun!
❤️
studio has more gpu cores so prob still better for video editing, color-grading, effects, etc.
Well, the Mac mini pro M4 is already the fastest Mac ever. So you don’t need some secret insider tip to figure out that the Mac Studio is just about to be updated. Also, I would say to wait until the new Mac Studio comes out before buying a maxed out Mac mini pro m4 because with the M2 generation, a base Mac Studio was a much better deal than a Mac mini M2 pro when you added more than 2 upgrades.
Workin' on that 14 billion input Neve ;)
be like Nike, just do it!
Mac Mini M4 64 GB is the way to go!
Beast
You got that steam on ya glasses my dude. Thank's for video but watched that thing get bigger throughout.
On one of your video's, ya need to keep taking sips of your coffee and get your glasses fully covered and carry on the vid but not mentioning the steam. That shit would B-Fun-E
I used a base 2011 Imac for 9 years and am disappointed the base level RAM is now lower than the 12GB on my 2011 Imac and can’t be expanded. Same with the hard drive and i/o. Honestly, I don’t need any more processor. Apple needs more processor to put AI spyware on the machine. Why can’t Apple just make a feature packed base model that can be updated? It is very annoying, so I switched back to Windows…which is also annoying, but in a different way. Next stop is Bitwig and Linux.
Yeah, a lot of people didn’t quite understand when they made the transition that the entire way memory is handled is radically different in Apple Silicon based CPUs. As an example 16 GB on an Apple Silicon computer would be more equivalent to 32 or 48 on a traditional Windows machine.
M4 Mac "STUDIO" ...worth the WAIT! ( BUT NEEDED IT LIKE 1-1/2 YRS AGO ) Barry's going to be making some $$$ if we ALL buy our M4 "STUDIO" through SWEETWATER :)
I heard about that!
unless you’re doing FX you don’t need an m4 ultra… If you have money to throw away or you’re putting out 3 videos a week… ❤
I addressed this in great detail in the video.
thanks for the tip sir god bless you
Wait for the Mac Studio M4 - I bought a Asus ROG since they haven't released it yet. Mac Mini - nope! I got more computer for the same price.
Have you tried the Mac Mini Pro? It’s a beast.
I still don’t understand why Apple staggers the release of their computers especially when new processors are updated. Like this upcoming Studio slated for release next year and then a new Mac Pro after that. They should just release them all simultaneously and let the end user chose which is best for his/her particular needs.
They don’t always do that, and if you think about it, they released five new devices five straight days last week. The only thing that hasn’t been updated this point that I can think of, is the Mac studio and the Mac Pro. If you watch the video, it will become very clear to you why it’s taking a little bit longer for those computers. It’s an entirely redesigned CPU. It’s pretty exciting, but does require patience. All good things come with patience.
Releasing them simultaneously means artificially delaying the ones that would have been ready earlier. I like the idea of releasing the higher end iterations of something later, in that some bugs could be fixed and some features could be refined by then. It's similar with software: GarageBand often gets many features before Logic Pro does, but by the time Logic Pro gets them they are much more refined and robust. In general, professionals don't need the newest thing right away; that whole "gear lust" thing isn't a smart business decision.
Nah, just wait for the M10 Pro Ultra chip! It is coming out in 2030 and it slays! LOL!
NAH, we need the M3042. Let’s test our patients.
Too late, I already did (M2 Ultra, 128GB) 😭
Rockin machine. !!!
Noted barry thanks
With Apple upgrades there’s always a price point between the Mac Mini and The Mac Studio where the former starts to cost more than the latter. I wouldn’t max out the Mac Mini, it’s a waste of money.
Not the M4, watch the video I referenced.
I’m not saying the coming M4 isn’t going to be awesome, but I often do see a lot of people always thinking that unless they get the absolute newest and fastest that they are shooting them selves in the foot and will sorely regret their decision. This is a complete fallacy. Even though the M4 will be great, if you decide to save a few bucks and go with a brand new m3 or even an m2, you’re still getting an extremely powerful computer that will smoke any Mac that came before the m1. I bought a Mac Studio with an m2max chip even after the m3 became available and “I should have spent the extra money on the m3” has never flashed through my mind even for a nanosecond. It’s only the users whose work is pushing their hardware to the absolute limit will see any difference, and those people are actually quite rare in the grand scheme of things.
People need to understand exactly what level of computing power they need today and what they’re likely to need five years from now. If they’re looking to buy a computer, they should only be upgrading that computer if it absolutely cannot do what they need anymore. So when at that point, they should be buying a computer Specked out for anticipated five years from now needs. This way you’ve got something that can grow as you grow. But to your point, a lot of people just want the newest and greatest, and I never recommend that unless the actually “NEED” it.
I have a Mac Studio M2 128 Gb ram and 2 TB SSD. I am good! lol
I am still using a 2018 Mac Mini with 32gb of ram. It is working for me, but these new Macs really give me GAS.
About to buy a M2 Ultra in a couple of weeks,that bad boy going to last me a while i dont see the need to wait to whenever next year for the M4 Ultra.
You’d be better off with an m4 Pro
Right now amd and intel have xeons thread ripper that have close to 200 cores and upgradeable ssd and memory.
Check out the video I referenced, I think you’ll be impressed.
@@BarryJohns impressive just missing upgradeability SSD ram gpu npu and some ports
Why when you won’t need to
Ultra has a 40 or 80 core gpu = rtx4090