I did the switch nearly 2 years ago. From a home build AMD 5800x to an m2 pro (10 core) Mac mini. Performance is about the same, however for me it is the lack of noise in a recording environment that is key. As a Solo musician in a small space (loft room), PC fan noise (and heat) would always come through when using an ultra sensitive microphone. I even have to shut my flatulent dog out at times. It has it's compromises. To keep costs down I've had to go with external hard disks. I had to pay the apple tax with an upgrade to 32GB to keep it future proof and there are a few old legacy VSTs that I can't run. But it is rock solid and small enough to hide so to maximise desk space
I am still using the cakewalk and it is working great don't know why company announced that after sometime it will be again named Sonar. But till it is free i will use it, your videos on cakewalk really helped me during the COVID 19 lockdown and those are wonderful tutorials on it. Lots of thanks from India Regards, Aniruddha Joshi ☺️🙏☺️
I used Cakewalk since the DOS era when I lived in Melbourne 30+ years ago but, after making endless upgrades to it and my PC, I also felt a little uneasy about its future. I went to Acoustica Mixcraft about 6 years ago, bought the most expensive high-end gaming laptop soon after (when I discovered my current laptop at the time couldn’t quite keep up), and the rest is history. I still enjoy and use Macs for watching UA-cam and other little apps (such as guitar amps simulators), but I am very happy with Mixcraft. Thank you for the great video, and good luck with your new direction!
Thanks so much for all your fantastic and very easy to understand videos on cakewalk! Wish you nothing but the best with your MAC journey! I have been thinking about the jump myself, but I am holding out hope with Sonar….
Totally understand your reasoning Mike but will be very sorry to lose your expertise from the Cakewalk community (though hoping you may still find time for the occasional tutorial as you have said you are going to get a machine that will run it). Like you I have some concerns about the direction of Cakewalk and their recent marketing and insistence on the new SONAR being a sub only model. I'll be hanging on to Cakewalk until it no longer works as it does everything I need. I'm glad I got my new PC a couple of years ago before the chip issues started! Hope your adventure with the Mac goes really well and thanks for everything you have taught us over the years! PS I'm hoping you will be keeping the CbB Facebook forum!
I've been on PC and Intel for years. With my latest build I went with AMD AM5 Ryzen 7 7700. It is extremely powerfull. Power use, even when pushed, is less than 100 watts. I use all "quiet" cooling components. I run Cubase Pro and Studio One Pro along with lots of VSTs etc. Also record guitar. This system has been rock solid with silent operation.
You will love it! I went MacBook years ago and I never looked back. I’m a logic pro user as of a couple years ago and I love it as well. However, I love studio one pro. Things just run smoother with the MacBook and I love it.
I'm always worried about Mac OS updates breaking plugins and the DAW until their updated. Waves charges you to update the plugins after an OS update. But even if there isn't a charge to upgrade, it would suck to not be able to open a project til the OS updates. Again, this is only what I've heard as I'm a PC user. I also have nothing that's thunderbolt and haven't needed it, so I can't speak to that.
I am used to Cakewalk and also prefer PCs. Some people believe, that Macs are better than PCs because they are overpriced. They say cost more. But it is the pricing structure that has put me off Macs. In the UK, Macs are twice the price of an equivalent PC. I used Macs for music production at college and the experience was no different to using a PC. Jobs, Wozniack and Wayne gave an alternative, sort of. They were just too greedy when pricing their product. Dearer does not always mean better. A £50000 write-off Porsche is not better than a £3000 Vauxhall in great condition. The Porsche is just an enthusiasts DIY job. I know that there are many Mac user who cannot stand using PCs. That is their choice..
Good luck with MAC's. I had 3 in the past and all 3 ended up in the bin due to major hardware problems, one of them actualy self destructed with heat problems. I'm now using studio one on a Laptop with much more success, we have to be careful with that word success as it is relative to how much you will put up with, suffice to say its a lot easier than a mac. Hope you have better luck than I did. MAC support by the way was terible.
Love my Mac, switched to one 2 years back thanks to a costco deal. It's been simply brilliant, the most surprising aspect are the speakers on the Macbook if you're just having fun on the go. Plus you can use the built in speakers or headphones out across multiple applications, this is something that used to drive me nuts with a PC laptop, the ASIO drive would lock the audio to that app. So many items i've purchased in the past 10 years have left me with a bit of buyers remorse but never had it once with it. Use it 10-12 hours a day as a desktop machine as it's main use, and it's so efficient. The touchpads are also brilliant for navigating DAW timelines.
I just switched to MacBook myself for much the same reasons Mike. I’ve been researching for a year as my PC was old and needed heavy upgrades to move to Win 11. Then the PSU died and I didn’t want to spend the money to replace it when I needed to make major upgrades later anyway. So I was forced to make a quick decision and went with the MacBook Pro M4…just like you. I bought a docking station to link in to my studio gear that makes life better. I’m still learning things and it’s taken a couple of weeks to get up and running but I’m still happy. I’ll be watching for your videos on using Mac with Studio One as I gave up on Calkwalk last year.
As a long time PC user I switched to the Mac Studio a few years back and it's helped me to be more productive so I can focus on the art instead of the tech. One recommendation is go with the CalDigit Thunderbolt docks because they are reliable if you need additional ports on a Mac.
I moved to Mac last year. Like you, noise, rather the lack thereof, was my main motivation. But Logic Pro being such a low one-time cost was the icing on the cake. Like you though, I had Mac experience so there wasn’t much of a learning curve for me. I can understand somebody with zero Mac experience being hesitant. But even then, I still think it’s worth it. Doubly so if they are iPhone users, or willing to switch to iPhone. The integration and cooperation between iPhone and Mac is something the Windows world just doesn’t have.
Best of luck, Mike. I'll be looking forward to your future Mac produced videos. I've also been a PC guy for 30+ years and used Cakewalk since Version 2. However, I reached the same conclusion as you regarding that DAW, and made the switch to Studio One several months ago. I've never looked back and now wish I'd made the change even sooner.
Well, you're certainly not "making a mistake", as is evident by the reasoning being the decision. And if you focus on Studio One, there's probably not much difference. Good luck with it! I'm one of the hardcore Cakewalk users though and will try to support the channel dedicated to this DAW as long as possible 😀
Hello sir! Is there any ways to run UAD Apollo Twin Duo USB (Windows version) on MacOS? I've tried run it through Apple USB 3.0 to TB adapter but it doesn't work. Thank you and have a great day.
I left Windows years ago and only run Mac now with Logic Pro. The Mac ecosystem really shines through if you also use other Apple devices (iPhone / iPad) … things will magically transfer to any other device you own, and in my experience, my MacBook Pro runs flawlessly and quickly the first time, every time. Not once in over a decade have I gotten a pinwheel of death, or even a sluggish response! It simply fires up and goes to work. With the M2 or M3 variants, there is a noticeable increase in speed from the older i7 chips. Like you stated, so long as your MacBook is spec’d correctly (which simply means loading up as much unified memory as you can comfortably afford AND the hard drive space being at least 1TB, you won’t have any issues even with 100+ tracks open with multiple plugins on each track… your MacBook will easily handle it. Not even a question about it… the M-Series chips are honestly workhorses … I Spec’d mine with the M3 Pro chips but you can also go M3 / M4 Max… but even the standard or Pro chips will be enough.
You should roll with whatever computer you vibe well, and which helps you to make music. Its your music that counts, not the -whatever- it was created on. If a machine, OS or DAW doesnt work for you, your creative mood will be ruined. So pick whatever works best for you and focus on what really counts: the end result, music!
I recorded and mixed in Windows starting in the '90s, and I switched too. I actually switched may daily machine to Linux, but switched my media production to Mac. Logic is just more fun and feature-rich than all the other DAWs. It's not even close.
I am eying a switch as well. Two things that hold me off for the moment 1. the mental (mental!) Apple prices for SSD storage and RAM 2. I actually like to build PCs and be able to open the box and switch things around. This has often extended the lifetime of my PCs and Laptops (SSD, RAM, Battery) where the closed Apple approach would have meant EOL.
I just changed my main DAW two months ago. I used Cakewalk since it was DOS… and loved it. But recently I switched to Luna but on the PC platform. It’s very fast and with 64 gig memory. A new PC is still way cheaper than a Mac.
Thanks for your thoughts! I moved to Mac in 2017 and have used Studio One Pro since then. I've never had a problem. A new Mac Mini M4 Pro is in house and awaiting its monitor and will hopefully up and running this weekend. (The bigger change is moving to Logic Pro. I can't bring myself to buy into the new Presonus pricing structure.)
Mike, first of all thank you for your excellent videos, both here and on the Studio One channel. I am a PC user also, since Windows 3.1 and DOS. I've thought about trying a Mac for some of the same reasons, but 2 things always stop me. One is the price. If the initial switch was a one time thing, it wouldn't be as much of an issue, but that brings me to my second reason. As I look around in UA-cam, I always notice things about existing software either being incompatible with the latest OS update, or with the latest processor. This seems to be a VERY common problem (seems like every major OS update or processor update), that I would think may force people to upgrade. On my PC I can still run software that was made for Windows XP if I want (as long as it isn't 16 bit) and it works just fine. I have never had a program that wouldn't run on the latest processor, and I have gone from a 286 to my current 12th gen I9. And like you said, Windows has been very stable for many years. From an outsider viewpoint, it seems Mac users are forever having to update either hardware or software, or both. At the price of a hardware update, this would seem quite expensive, at something like 3 or 4 times the cost of a PC. I may be wrong... but that has always been a showstopper for me.
The thing is - you can use both. I have both in the studio- and each have their pros, and cons. I had a pro-built hi-end machine built to my spec to run Nuendo/Cubase- and it is utterly silent, it hasn't crashed at all. Ever. In 3 years. The Macbook M2 was a must for live shows, as I need to run Mainstage - do I like it? Not really, I don't like the OS and it seems a very clumsy way to get from A-B. I also got the Mac Studio for the production, and It's brilliant, it's fast, and again silent, but I prefer the workflow using Windows. Both machines are necessary tools - I think the answer is ' you generally get what you pay for'.
You may regret it. I've switched between the 2 for ages but finally settled on the PC. Apple's proprietary ethos just doesn't cut it even though I have the latest MacBook.
I can confirm. It could be a case but the best achievements, including the platinums, always produced with Windows...and I switched back and forth at least 5 times...🎉🎉🎉
@@djki2565 The Mac's core audio and OS is undoubtedly better but with the right set up and no proprietary limitations I've had a better experience with the PC. Probably no right or wrong answer though.
@@CreativeSaucePlease don’t let anyone talk you out of the switch. There are a lot of music/audio producers/creators who have documented their switch to the Mac on this platform and are satisfied with the decision. Just take your time and reach out to the Mac community to help you resolve any problems you might face. After all, everyone should just use what best suits their use case. And there is no harm in trial.
@rns325 I’m not even sure I understand what you’re complaining about? How does the Apple proprietary ethos limit you? What’s actually missing or not working?
Excellent points Mike. I'm not switching to Mac anytime soon. PCs are working well for me. I'm right there with you when it comes to SONAR. Loved it and have used it for more than 20 years, but it doesn't feel (to me) like there's a solid foundation under it anymore. Not sure I can explain it any more than that. I recently switched to Studio One and am happy so far. I love and will continue watching your well thought out and presented videos. Thank you for all you give!
I just started a very similar journey with the M4 Mac Pro mini. I’ve also been a cakewalk user since windows 3.1 and absolutely loved that journey all the way up until present time. I am very curious and optimistic about the M4 Mac Pro and music production.
I'm also someone who has done the switch back and forth. I know that the backbone of an Apple should make it better but I've just had bad experiences. Plus, i REALLY don't like apples attempts to force a lack of choice onto users. However, your argument makes complete sense for your particular requirements and position. So fingers crossed that it works for you. 🤞🤞
Mike I feel ya with the Cakewalk stuff I have no idea why they didnt make a mac version they had over a year to make the shift and didnt even try Next is not good enough to bring Mac users to Cakewalk .. I feel like you.. I might be moving on to another DAW for my chammel as well it feels like im beating a dead horse at this point. im really glad you said something about it I felt like I was the only one who felt that way.. Have fun with that Mac.. Will you be trying Logic as well?
Great video Mike! You helped me with a lot of my PC performance optimization with your videos, so I think you get a pass to go to whatever suits you best lol stay well mate 👍
On a more constructive note, I was interested with the new ARM M1 architecture but tbh the new Ryzen CPU ran all cores at a stable 5.2ghz with a 5.7 boost, it uses less power and has better thermals than the last generation and in a couple of years they'll be $200 and this is just the first of the new Ryzen generation, imagine that with 16 cores, that's insane....appreciate the video and I'm not a professional so I dunno, but for the cost....it's a no brainer....Intel are looking to be bought out as they are completely out of the game now...
I've had success in the past running Windows on a Mac (dual boot) to use Sonar. I don't know if it is feasible anymore but I'd certainly consider that route rather than running two computers...
I have a friend who is into music production as his second job (so to speak) and he's been using AMD Phenom for the last... well, I don't even know how many years - but it served him very well. He once borrowed a M1 laptop from a friend and said this would be the only update hardware-wise he would consider (but would rather buy M2). Personally, I used win-pc most of the time and it was bit of a struggle, and once I even went for Ubuntu Linux - and that was the most enjoying experience I had, once I set it up the way I wanted it to work. But then I had HDD failure and went back to Win, sadly. Good luck with Mac and I hope Cakewalk finds some sense finally! 🙋🏼♂️
I've really been enjoying your content, Mike. I spent thirty years in the IT industry as a hard core Windows and Unix user. I dove into music production after retiring and, based on the advice of a friend and much research, chose to go with an iMac running Pro Tools in 2015. While I've since switched to Studio One, I've stuck with the iMac across multiple generations and have been very pleased with the results. However, I'm not a pro and my music productions have rarely exceeded 30 tracks. That's important because based on the link I've provided below, there can be a real issue running Studio One on an M4 with larger productions (80+ tracks). This is because Studio One apparently does not make good use of the efficiency cores, making it the lowest performer when compared to the other DAWs tested. Did you come across this issue in your research of the Mac OS and M4 CPU? Here's the link to the test I'm referring to: ua-cam.com/video/hccy19Hm6M8/v-deo.html. The Studio One evaluation starts at 12:37.
I’m not qualified to evaluate whether you’re making a mistake. My own experience is similar to yours, as my main machine is a Pc build about 5 years old. I use both Apple & Windows devices and have been educating myself on the latest versions of M4 machines so I can make an informed decision when it becomes necessary. I don’t do video so no concerns there and my interface is an RME that works perfectly with Widows and uses USB rather than thunderbolt. I’ll be watching your journey closely Good Luck
I have both a mac and lots of pc (inux/win). Modern OSX and hardware is amazing, fast, good at AI, runs vms, good apps, great display and font rendering. My desktop runs windows+WSL for AI development and everything else. The biggest issue is I have windows keyboard shortcuts on the brain, and everytime I use the mac, home/end, and other shortcuts dont work natively.
A good power supply and cutting down out the crap software is key to stability. If you have good power delivery to your components, they last longer and tend not to do freaky things. But many issues are caused by errant software, no matter what OS. Windows has so many users, that it tends to attract more software to be developed so more likely to have negative interactions with other programs. And the more programs you install the more risk to stability. There's a good chance that a music studio has only the bare minimum software installed of their DAW workstations. And they probably don't use them to browse the Internet.
I am an S1 user and honestly, they have not coded the software well at all to work with any of the Apple Silicon chips. It´s true, M4 gives more performance but, Reaper, Protools and Cubase get about 30% to 40% more out of the same machine. The reason is, they use the efficiency cores and not just the performance cores. Studio One , Ableton and I think Fruity loops do not. Logic kind of half does which is crazy as it is Apples own software. It is not really cool that the first 3 DAWs will give you more "or around" the same VSTI and Plugin counts on an M1 system than the latter will on M4 machines. Still though, I couldn´t be arsed learning Reaper ;)
I''m in the same boat. Started with Cakewalk too. I've had no real stability issues on PC over the past 30 plus years, and also no issues with tunderbolt/USB4, even on AMD Ryzen, but Microsoft has really pissed me off recently with the new bloat they keep addding to Windows 11 and their lack of care for privacy. Apple isn't perfect there, but they are certainly better. I also see Apple going the right direction with their hardware. A little over a week ago I bought a Mac Mini for my studio for music software as well as for video editing. The audio and midi stack on MacOS is a joy to use. I've run into no single host MIDI driver issues, and Core Audio runs perfectly with no dropouts at 64 buffer samples in the same projects, using the same audio interface I had to run with at least 128 samples on my Windows machine. And my Windows machine was no slouch. It's a 2023 AMD Zephyrus G14, with a Ryzen 9 7940HS and an NVidia RTX 4090 and 32GB RAM. Besides music and video editing, i do a fair amount of DevOps stuff for work, as well as gaming, so I can't fully switch to Mac. That being said, I loaded up Fedora Linux on my G14, and gaming with Proton works perfectly. I even get better framerates in games like Cyberpunk 2077 than I did in Windows. So now I do my DevOps work and gaming on my Linux laptop, and I use the Mac (and an iPad Pro M2) for music and video production. I'm happier than I've ever been with this setup. I have a Windows VM in case I need it, but haven't touched it in over a week. Time will tell how this all works out for me, but it's great so far! BTW, DAWs for me are Reaper, Bitwig, and FLStudio, with a bit of Maschine thrown in there, depending on what workflow I want. Those all work great on the base model M4 Mac Mini, as does Davinci Resolve. Best $500 I've spent in a long timel
Long as you get a very good cooling system, pc not a problem, fact you can get better performance. The issue depends if you change your hardware like audio interface as thunderbolt 4 does out perform USB C or 3 etc but still depends on if there is any benefit to audio hardware latency 🤷😊
I'm puzzled. You're going to spend a lot of money to buy a Mac laptop that is as powerful as your three year old PC? Or am I missing something? As for upgrade problems, it sounds like you won't be able to upgrade your Mac AT ALL. So... problem solved?
Did buy a MacBook some years ago, as my industries main software only runs on Mac. Despite my best efforts I ended up installing Bootcamp, and gradually the MacBook got used far more as a Windows machine. For someone who likes to get elbows deep into an OS, I found the MacBook constantly frustrating tbh. Just my take, Mike
I've been thinking the exact same thing. The M4 is looking really sweet, but waiting to see what Mac Studio looks like, even though I may still opt for a bit of portability in a Macbook Pro. I've been a systems administrator and have worked with Windows and Linux systems, with what feels like my entire life, but also support some Macs these days. We also have iPhone 16 Pros and the wife has an iPad. While I realize they are different OS's, they do work well together. I built a mid tier system and a high end system, that I will be selling, as the Macs will replace both. For me though - changing over to Mac is more about form factor, than anything. I'd love to build a SFF system, but they can run fairly hot. Mac seems to have solved this, much better than PCs, in general. When a CPU hits its heat limit, it is called throttling. It happens so you don't end up frying it. A Mac also gives me the addition of using Logic Pro.
I was a cakewalk user exclusively until Gibson screwed everyone. I started on a MAC with studio one pro Shortly there after. I continue to use cakewalk on a pc with acid pro and sound forge. I track with cakewalk but I then export files to my MAC via a shared NAS and finish everything up on Studio One Pro with my VST’s like IZATOPE etc. The only thing I miss on the MAC is a good wave editor like Sound Forge (I use WAVEPAD as a poor substitute). BTW; I also run a development machine with linux Ubuntu with Studio One Beta, Reaper, and Mixbus 32c, but MAC is my main production platform and I have not looked back. Thank You
Mike Well thought out video. I think what ever works for you. With any big change / upgrade it takes me forever to settle in. My biggest bitch about studio one on mac is the magic mouse is not smooth. Believe it or not this stops me from enjoying studio one. The magic mouse is butter smooth on logic. Stupid i know! Hope it all works out for ya. But all your points sound like good points and I cant find any negatives i guess. Be Safe
Maybe I'm lazy, but I can't use Mac, I just can't. With Windows, I feel like I'm in a giant playground and I can do whatever I want. With a Mac you can do as much as a resident of North Korea. Windows all apps available for free not to mention gaming. But if you don't mess with your PC and you are one of the super-rich, then you should go for Mac.
I switched to Mac Mini M4 Pro this past week 🙋🏾♂️It’s pretty snappy. Biggest thing is needing compatibility for plugins. My Waves Horizon bundle doesn’t work unless I buy the update 😅
Unfortunately, Studio One can NOT utilize all the cores efficiently on the M1, M2, M3 and M4 processors. I'm a Studio One user on a MacBook M1 and it hurts to see that Presonus did not improve this issue from version 6 to 7. Avid Pro Tools on the other hand has improved this area greatly to now support the M chip sets much better than previously.
My studio is my workplace office, because that's the only computer thar runs Windows. Linux guy here, but I wouldn't bother with music production since the vast majority of .VSTs I've purchased won't run natively in it.
@CreatveSauce - I'm sure you've done your research, so why not? I trust you are keeping your current rig until you are sure. As a Logic PC refugee, I'd always toyed with the idea, but Macs always seemed more expensive, but as a hobbyist, other PC DAWs have met or exceeded the capabilities of Logic. I don't like the feeling of limited upgradability with Macs, but there is something to be said for standardized hardware components. For Calkwalk users, you should always make your choices based on software first, platform second.
The Snapdragon X chip has been getting a lot of attention, but perhaps the performance you want isn't there yet. Hardware is one thing, but software is the main driver. If the DAW and plug-ins you want to use are supported, then go for it. Me, I don't like MacOS. But I also don't like Windows 11 or Linux. I will eventually have to bite the Windows 11 bullet, but this may be the key opportunity for people to switch OSes.
I don’t really enjoy the Mac environment because it’s so closed off and presents an idealized experience to users, even though it can have issues just like any PC. Things like downscaled resolutions with blurry pixels or the lack of flexibility. That said, I understand why you’re switching, it sounds reasonable specially because of the battery life! As for Thunderbolt compatibility, it might just depend on getting a good-quality, compatible motherboard, but I can’t say for sure since I don’t use Thunderbolt myself. Good luck with your Mac! I’d be interested to see videos on your experience using it as your main computer in contrast to a windows pc
I don’t like Mac I find the OS way too hard to use. I am however thinking of switching to a Linux OS only because of the way windows is going, I have only just upgraded my PC to a 12th gen cpu and motherboard so won’t be doing it again for quite awhile. I’m not a business I’m just a simple musician/songwriter, I think though for your business you’re doing the right thing😊
Hi Mike, may the force be with you!! haha Seriously, thanks for sharing your experience. Considering your experience you will be fine. In the worst case you would have to redistribute tasks between devices/OS (musical or audiovisual production, mastering...). In no case will it be a lost investment. Regarding vst, fx, etc. libraries... Do you have all the versions for Mac or was it left behind? A hug from Argentina!
I was upgrading my portable platform and did consider M4 Macbook Pro, but it was about 3500 quid for 24GB RAM and 512GB ssd with Logic pre-installed, instead I got a 8-core Ryzen Zen 4 laptop with 32GB/1TB for 1100 quid on "Black Month" I installed Windows 11 Pro 24H2 and can keep using Cubase Artist. It's actually rather quiet, and very snappy, it's a Thinkpad Mobile Workstation. A noticeable price difference, and no learning curve.
I have used Cakewalk for many years and have several 'Lifetime' Sonar licences from the days Gibson owned it under that name. As the new owners made it free when they purchased Cakewalk/Sonar I couldn't really complain as I still had access to what I paid for but now that support for that is ending and they are branding back to Sonar there is a huge issue. Legally in Australia under consumer law the purchasing company must honor any legacy deals when they take over a company/product. The fact the company is based overseas is not relevant as our consumer laws apply to any company doing business here. Therefore I should be getting the new product under my 'lifetime' licences. It seems the new owners are not going to honor their legal obligations and I may have to go to our Department of Fair Trading to put a boot up their butts to force them to provide what I have paid for.
I wonder what the cost difference is pound for pound between a top level music PC and Mac? Obviously the cash penalty isn't just a one off, it will be every time you upgrade again and again. 🤔
So what do we learn from this video: Windows user: Has to do plenty of research and build his own system always at risk that things might go south. Mac user: Orders Mac. Unboxes it, turns it on, tadaa. Ready.
Biggest myth ever. Mac OS update and then the 3rd party developer emails on now broken plugins until they fix it. Don't need no video to "learn" from this. I've built systems and never go south. More like far north, not having to replace a whole unit, drives, PSU, VGA, Cases, ect. Rarely does a hardware upgrade cost over $1000.
As Studio One user, I had GAS for new mac mini M4, but new test about perfomance on multicore in this daw are annoying. SO 7 woud have been improved on that aspect, not focus on producer tools. So, I think change has sense on dependig what DAW you use. Mac M4 with Reaper is absolute beast. And it seems it works nice on Protools and Cubase, but compared with all daws, SO is worst. For now, Apple still waiting for me as It wouldn't improve anything with the change
I got given a 2013 imac recently (was going in bin otherwise). I upgraded hdd and new ram and put software on it to make it look like new mac OS. Put studio 1 on it and logic and running fine. Just as good as Windows and i somehow have less issues with latency and choking when project gets large. I like both and if the mac does cos its old no big deal.
If I could get a mac with 64gb of ram and easily upgradable storage for less than $2500, I might switch, but that doesn't seem to be the case, so I'll stick with my PC for half that price that can do all that and more.
It is really sad, but I have landed at the same conclusion. Abut Cakewalk. Not because I don't like Cakewalk anymore, but it is that about investing more time into something that has such a vague future. I also do not know what to switch to. I consider Pro Tools, but I am not sure. For instance I hate that I must use a third part layer for my favorite VST plugins. I also consider Ableton, but find the interface so unpleasant. Also I am not sure about features. This is so hard.
I have a 12 years old PC towerstation. UPgraded a few monts ago with 4 NVMe drives (total of 8TB storage), 64GB Ram, RTX 3080 and MOTU M6. Could not ever be doing this with a Mac model from 12 yers ago. Absurd! Apple are not anything special. They just had the funding from M. Makkula and Sequoia VC back in the '70s.
I use both ( Macbook Pro M2 and Ryzen 9 PC ) , the only real difference is Apples core audio is superb and PC's ASIO is rubbish in comparison. You _can_ get around this though. Much prefer Windows file management over Apples too. Backward compatibility on a Mac sucks big time.
Mike, there has NEVER been a better time to be a Mac user...and by a wide margin. Unfortunately , recent DAW tests by James Zhan on YT have shown Studio One CPU utilization performance to be quite poor in comparison to other DAWs. And these S1 issues are not new.
What about running windows on mac? There is option for that. Then you could use Cakewalk there with no need of second laptop for windows. Btw I share your opinion on how recently Bandlab is handling Cakewalk's story :(
Yeah! I've subscribed to the "new" Sonar DAW, but there is absolutely nothing new that came with it - as in NADA! SONAR has become a huge disappointment over the years. No new vst effects/synths, no new features. Its Pro channels is out of date and can't really use outboard gear to it. It's a shame. I too have moved to Studio One. They actually listen to their users.
If it weren't for certain compatibility reasons, I'd already be on Linux. Some Linux distributions are so transparent that you'd almost forget there was an SO installed on the machine. Ideal. As for Mac, I'm sorry, but it's definitely too, too expensive for my means. Good products? Well, maybe. But luxury. In any case, all this talk of compatibility, formats, versions, etc., is nothing but a money-making scheme. Imagine if someone had the idea of patenting the wheel! Ridiculous. We haven't invented anything since the computer. We've improved, okay, but invented, no. Why not? Too busy counting your money? Steve Job was a charlatan.
Well Intel screwed off big time and their new stuff are expensive yet slower than AMD, yet they get hotter, so you technically could've gone for AMD PC which is cheaper, cooler and pretty much does better than the new top of the line Intel stuff at everything. And on top you use S1 which is an amazing DAW but from my experience and seeing DAW tests online, it performs the worst when it comes to CPU utilization and performance, especially compared to DAWs like Reaper, Cubase and even Pro tools because they have so much bells and whistles and pretty UI etc. so hopefully the new apple chips are gonna be a worthy upgrade.
What I appreciate about this person is the way he reasons and thinks! Truly admirable! His perspective is very healthy and reasonable.
I did the switch nearly 2 years ago. From a home build AMD 5800x to an m2 pro (10 core) Mac mini. Performance is about the same, however for me it is the lack of noise in a recording environment that is key. As a Solo musician in a small space (loft room), PC fan noise (and heat) would always come through when using an ultra sensitive microphone. I even have to shut my flatulent dog out at times. It has it's compromises. To keep costs down I've had to go with external hard disks. I had to pay the apple tax with an upgrade to 32GB to keep it future proof and there are a few old legacy VSTs that I can't run. But it is rock solid and small enough to hide so to maximise desk space
Look into audiogridder and parallel but look into audiogridder mainly to run legacy plugins
I am still using the cakewalk and it is working great don't know why company announced that after sometime it will be again named Sonar. But till it is free i will use it, your videos on cakewalk really helped me during the COVID 19 lockdown and those are wonderful tutorials on it.
Lots of thanks from India
Regards,
Aniruddha Joshi ☺️🙏☺️
I used Cakewalk since the DOS era when I lived in Melbourne 30+ years ago but, after making endless upgrades to it and my PC, I also felt a little uneasy about its future. I went to Acoustica Mixcraft about 6 years ago, bought the most expensive high-end gaming laptop soon after (when I discovered my current laptop at the time couldn’t quite keep up), and the rest is history. I still enjoy and use Macs for watching UA-cam and other little apps (such as guitar amps simulators), but I am very happy with Mixcraft. Thank you for the great video, and good luck with your new direction!
Thanks so much for all your fantastic and very easy to understand videos on cakewalk! Wish you nothing but the best with your MAC journey! I have been thinking about the jump myself, but I am holding out hope with Sonar….
Totally understand your reasoning Mike but will be very sorry to lose your expertise from the Cakewalk community (though hoping you may still find time for the occasional tutorial as you have said you are going to get a machine that will run it). Like you I have some concerns about the direction of Cakewalk and their recent marketing and insistence on the new SONAR being a sub only model. I'll be hanging on to Cakewalk until it no longer works as it does everything I need. I'm glad I got my new PC a couple of years ago before the chip issues started!
Hope your adventure with the Mac goes really well and thanks for everything you have taught us over the years!
PS I'm hoping you will be keeping the CbB Facebook forum!
I've been on PC and Intel for years. With my latest build I went with AMD AM5 Ryzen 7 7700. It is extremely powerfull. Power use, even when pushed, is less than 100 watts. I use all "quiet" cooling components. I run Cubase Pro and Studio One Pro along with lots of VSTs etc. Also record guitar. This system has been rock solid with silent operation.
You will love it! I went MacBook years ago and I never looked back. I’m a logic pro user as of a couple years ago and I love it as well. However, I love studio one pro. Things just run smoother with the MacBook and I love it.
Both systems are great. The human who controlled the Maschine defines his own benefit. The same like daw war.
I'm always worried about Mac OS updates breaking plugins and the DAW until their updated. Waves charges you to update the plugins after an OS update. But even if there isn't a charge to upgrade, it would suck to not be able to open a project til the OS updates. Again, this is only what I've heard as I'm a PC user. I also have nothing that's thunderbolt and haven't needed it, so I can't speak to that.
I am used to Cakewalk and also prefer PCs.
Some people believe, that Macs are better than PCs because they are overpriced. They say cost more. But it is the pricing structure that has put me off Macs. In the UK, Macs are twice the price of an equivalent PC.
I used Macs for music production at college and the experience was no different to using a PC.
Jobs, Wozniack and Wayne gave an alternative, sort of. They were just too greedy when pricing their product. Dearer does not always mean better. A £50000 write-off Porsche is not better than a £3000 Vauxhall in great condition. The Porsche is just an enthusiasts DIY job.
I know that there are many Mac user who cannot stand using PCs. That is their choice..
Well thought out and considered video. Best of luck with your Mac plans.
Thanks Dave ;)
Welcome home to Mac. We have been waiting for you. I hope you enjoy the switch. I think you will find it a good change for you
The thing with apple is they just work, no nonsense, ready to go, better security, I can just focus on what's important.
Good luck with MAC's. I had 3 in the past and all 3 ended up in the bin due to major hardware problems, one of them actualy self destructed with heat problems. I'm now using studio one on a Laptop with much more success, we have to be careful with that word success as it is relative to how much you will put up with, suffice to say its a lot easier than a mac. Hope you have better luck than I did. MAC support by the way was terible.
Love my Mac, switched to one 2 years back thanks to a costco deal. It's been simply brilliant, the most surprising aspect are the speakers on the Macbook if you're just having fun on the go. Plus you can use the built in speakers or headphones out across multiple applications, this is something that used to drive me nuts with a PC laptop, the ASIO drive would lock the audio to that app.
So many items i've purchased in the past 10 years have left me with a bit of buyers remorse but never had it once with it. Use it 10-12 hours a day as a desktop machine as it's main use, and it's so efficient.
The touchpads are also brilliant for navigating DAW timelines.
I just switched to MacBook myself for much the same reasons Mike. I’ve been researching for a year as my PC was old and needed heavy upgrades to move to Win 11. Then the PSU died and I didn’t want to spend the money to replace it when I needed to make major upgrades later anyway. So I was forced to make a quick decision and went with the MacBook Pro M4…just like you. I bought a docking station to link in to my studio gear that makes life better. I’m still learning things and it’s taken a couple of weeks to get up and running but I’m still happy. I’ll be watching for your videos on using Mac with Studio One as I gave up on Calkwalk last year.
As a long time PC user I switched to the Mac Studio a few years back and it's helped me to be more productive so I can focus on the art instead of the tech. One recommendation is go with the CalDigit Thunderbolt docks because they are reliable if you need additional ports on a Mac.
I moved to Mac last year. Like you, noise, rather the lack thereof, was my main motivation. But Logic Pro being such a low one-time cost was the icing on the cake.
Like you though, I had Mac experience so there wasn’t much of a learning curve for me. I can understand somebody with zero Mac experience being hesitant. But even then, I still think it’s worth it.
Doubly so if they are iPhone users, or willing to switch to iPhone. The integration and cooperation between iPhone and Mac is something the Windows world just doesn’t have.
Best of luck, Mike. I'll be looking forward to your future Mac produced videos. I've also been a PC guy for 30+ years and used Cakewalk since Version 2. However, I reached the same conclusion as you regarding that DAW, and made the switch to Studio One several months ago. I've never looked back and now wish I'd made the change even sooner.
Well, you're certainly not "making a mistake", as is evident by the reasoning being the decision. And if you focus on Studio One, there's probably not much difference. Good luck with it!
I'm one of the hardcore Cakewalk users though and will try to support the channel dedicated to this DAW as long as possible 😀
Hello sir! Is there any ways to run UAD Apollo Twin Duo USB (Windows version) on MacOS? I've tried run it through Apple USB 3.0 to TB adapter but it doesn't work. Thank you and have a great day.
I left Windows years ago and only run Mac now with Logic Pro. The Mac ecosystem really shines through if you also use other Apple devices (iPhone / iPad) … things will magically transfer to any other device you own, and in my experience, my MacBook Pro runs flawlessly and quickly the first time, every time. Not once in over a decade have I gotten a pinwheel of death, or even a sluggish response! It simply fires up and goes to work. With the M2 or M3 variants, there is a noticeable increase in speed from the older i7 chips. Like you stated, so long as your MacBook is spec’d correctly (which simply means loading up as much unified memory as you can comfortably afford AND the hard drive space being at least 1TB, you won’t have any issues even with 100+ tracks open with multiple plugins on each track… your MacBook will easily handle it. Not even a question about it… the M-Series chips are honestly workhorses … I Spec’d mine with the M3 Pro chips but you can also go M3 / M4 Max… but even the standard or Pro chips will be enough.
You should roll with whatever computer you vibe well, and which helps you to make music. Its your music that counts, not the -whatever- it was created on. If a machine, OS or DAW doesnt work for you, your creative mood will be ruined. So pick whatever works best for you and focus on what really counts: the end result, music!
Trust me on this. You will not regret the switch. Especially if you're already familiar with MacOS. The M chips are truly amazing.
Unless I missed it, you didn't mention the cost of buying Mac versions of all the software you use. That would be a big hurdle for me.
I recorded and mixed in Windows starting in the '90s, and I switched too. I actually switched may daily machine to Linux, but switched my media production to Mac. Logic is just more fun and feature-rich than all the other DAWs. It's not even close.
I am eying a switch as well. Two things that hold me off for the moment 1. the mental (mental!) Apple prices for SSD storage and RAM 2. I actually like to build PCs and be able to open the box and switch things around. This has often extended the lifetime of my PCs and Laptops (SSD, RAM, Battery) where the closed Apple approach would have meant EOL.
I just changed my main DAW two months ago. I used Cakewalk since it was DOS… and loved it. But recently I switched to Luna but on the PC platform. It’s very fast and with 64 gig memory. A new PC is still way cheaper than a Mac.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I moved to Mac in 2017 and have used Studio One Pro since then. I've never had a problem.
A new Mac Mini M4 Pro is in house and awaiting its monitor and will hopefully up and running this weekend.
(The bigger change is moving to Logic Pro. I can't bring myself to buy into the new Presonus pricing structure.)
Mike, first of all thank you for your excellent videos, both here and on the Studio One channel.
I am a PC user also, since Windows 3.1 and DOS.
I've thought about trying a Mac for some of the same reasons, but 2 things always stop me. One is the price. If the initial switch was a one time thing, it wouldn't be as much of an issue, but that brings me to my second reason. As I look around in UA-cam, I always notice things about existing software either being incompatible with the latest OS update, or with the latest processor. This seems to be a VERY common problem (seems like every major OS update or processor update), that I would think may force people to upgrade.
On my PC I can still run software that was made for Windows XP if I want (as long as it isn't 16 bit) and it works just fine. I have never had a program that wouldn't run on the latest processor, and I have gone from a 286 to my current 12th gen I9. And like you said, Windows has been very stable for many years.
From an outsider viewpoint, it seems Mac users are forever having to update either hardware or software, or both. At the price of a hardware update, this would seem quite expensive, at something like 3 or 4 times the cost of a PC. I may be wrong... but that has always been a showstopper for me.
The thing is - you can use both. I have both in the studio- and each have their pros, and cons. I had a pro-built hi-end machine built to my spec to run Nuendo/Cubase- and it is utterly silent, it hasn't crashed at all. Ever. In 3 years. The Macbook M2 was a must for live shows, as I need to run Mainstage - do I like it? Not really, I don't like the OS and it seems a very clumsy way to get from A-B. I also got the Mac Studio for the production, and It's brilliant, it's fast, and again silent, but I prefer the workflow using Windows. Both machines are necessary tools - I think the answer is ' you generally get what you pay for'.
I just ordered the new Mac Mini M4. Kind of anxious to make the switch myself.
You may regret it. I've switched between the 2 for ages but finally settled on the PC. Apple's proprietary ethos just doesn't cut it even though I have the latest MacBook.
Oh my... you're making me nervous!!
I can confirm. It could be a case but the best achievements, including the platinums, always produced with Windows...and I switched back and forth at least 5 times...🎉🎉🎉
@@djki2565 The Mac's core audio and OS is undoubtedly better but with the right set up and no proprietary limitations I've had a better experience with the PC. Probably no right or wrong answer though.
@@CreativeSaucePlease don’t let anyone talk you out of the switch. There are a lot of music/audio producers/creators who have documented their switch to the Mac on this platform and are satisfied with the decision. Just take your time and reach out to the Mac community to help you resolve any problems you might face.
After all, everyone should just use what best suits their use case. And there is no harm in trial.
@rns325 I’m not even sure I understand what you’re complaining about? How does the Apple proprietary ethos limit you? What’s actually missing or not working?
Excellent points Mike.
I'm not switching to Mac anytime soon. PCs are working well for me.
I'm right there with you when it comes to SONAR. Loved it and have used it for more than 20 years, but it doesn't feel (to me) like there's a solid foundation under it anymore. Not sure I can explain it any more than that. I recently switched to Studio One and am happy so far.
I love and will continue watching your well thought out and presented videos.
Thank you for all you give!
I just started a very similar journey with the M4 Mac Pro mini. I’ve also been a cakewalk user since windows 3.1 and absolutely loved that journey all the way up until present time. I am very curious and optimistic about the M4 Mac Pro and music production.
I'm also someone who has done the switch back and forth. I know that the backbone of an Apple should make it better but I've just had bad experiences. Plus, i REALLY don't like apples attempts to force a lack of choice onto users.
However, your argument makes complete sense for your particular requirements and position. So fingers crossed that it works for you. 🤞🤞
Mike I feel ya with the Cakewalk stuff I have no idea why they didnt make a mac version they had over a year to make the shift and didnt even try Next is not good enough to bring Mac users to Cakewalk .. I feel like you.. I might be moving on to another DAW for my chammel as well it feels like im beating a dead horse at this point. im really glad you said something about it I felt like I was the only one who felt that way.. Have fun with that Mac.. Will you be trying Logic as well?
Great video Mike! You helped me with a lot of my PC performance optimization with your videos, so I think you get a pass to go to whatever suits you best lol stay well mate 👍
Welcome to the world of Apple, Mike! I’ve used both PC and Mac, and for me there’s just no better than a Mac. They seldom freeze up.
I did the switch 3 years ago after 30+ years on Windows. Will never look back.
On a more constructive note, I was interested with the new ARM M1 architecture but tbh the new Ryzen CPU ran all cores at a stable 5.2ghz with a 5.7 boost, it uses less power and has better thermals than the last generation and in a couple of years they'll be $200 and this is just the first of the new Ryzen generation, imagine that with 16 cores, that's insane....appreciate the video and I'm not a professional so I dunno, but for the cost....it's a no brainer....Intel are looking to be bought out as they are completely out of the game now...
Yeah, they havnt been going the best :(
I've had success in the past running Windows on a Mac (dual boot) to use Sonar. I don't know if it is feasible anymore but I'd certainly consider that route rather than running two computers...
I have a friend who is into music production as his second job (so to speak) and he's been using AMD Phenom for the last... well, I don't even know how many years - but it served him very well. He once borrowed a M1 laptop from a friend and said this would be the only update hardware-wise he would consider (but would rather buy M2).
Personally, I used win-pc most of the time and it was bit of a struggle, and once I even went for Ubuntu Linux - and that was the most enjoying experience I had, once I set it up the way I wanted it to work. But then I had HDD failure and went back to Win, sadly.
Good luck with Mac and I hope Cakewalk finds some sense finally! 🙋🏼♂️
I've really been enjoying your content, Mike. I spent thirty years in the IT industry as a hard core Windows and Unix user. I dove into music production after retiring and, based on the advice of a friend and much research, chose to go with an iMac running Pro Tools in 2015. While I've since switched to Studio One, I've stuck with the iMac across multiple generations and have been very pleased with the results.
However, I'm not a pro and my music productions have rarely exceeded 30 tracks. That's important because based on the link I've provided below, there can be a real issue running Studio One on an M4 with larger productions (80+ tracks). This is because Studio One apparently does not make good use of the efficiency cores, making it the lowest performer when compared to the other DAWs tested. Did you come across this issue in your research of the Mac OS and M4 CPU?
Here's the link to the test I'm referring to: ua-cam.com/video/hccy19Hm6M8/v-deo.html. The Studio One evaluation starts at 12:37.
Shit in Shit out with PC or Mac it's not a debate to do good music!
True dat
I’m not qualified to evaluate whether you’re making a mistake. My own experience is similar to yours, as my main machine is a Pc build about 5 years old.
I use both Apple & Windows devices and have been educating myself on the latest versions of M4 machines so I can make an informed decision when it becomes necessary. I don’t do video so no concerns there and my interface is an RME that works perfectly with Widows and uses USB rather than thunderbolt.
I’ll be watching your journey closely
Good Luck
I have both a mac and lots of pc (inux/win). Modern OSX and hardware is amazing, fast, good at AI, runs vms, good apps, great display and font rendering. My desktop runs windows+WSL for AI development and everything else. The biggest issue is I have windows keyboard shortcuts on the brain, and everytime I use the mac, home/end, and other shortcuts dont work natively.
I just switched from win 2 weeks ago, and man I can confirm that macos is way better for me. I had intel 10Gen 32Gb moved to M2 pro 12c 32Gb 1t.
Good to hear thanks!
A good power supply and cutting down out the crap software is key to stability. If you have good power delivery to your components, they last longer and tend not to do freaky things. But many issues are caused by errant software, no matter what OS. Windows has so many users, that it tends to attract more software to be developed so more likely to have negative interactions with other programs. And the more programs you install the more risk to stability. There's a good chance that a music studio has only the bare minimum software installed of their DAW workstations. And they probably don't use them to browse the Internet.
What is it about Cakewalk that's making you feel uneasy? I haven't used it for a long time so I haven't noticed anything new or different
Not the DAW. More the way they have handled the marketing of all the changes.
@@CreativeSauce got it, thanks Mike, I love your content
I am an S1 user and honestly, they have not coded the software well at all to work with any of the Apple Silicon chips. It´s true, M4 gives more performance but, Reaper, Protools and Cubase get about 30% to 40% more out of the same machine. The reason is, they use the efficiency cores and not just the performance cores. Studio One , Ableton and I think Fruity loops do not. Logic kind of half does which is crazy as it is Apples own software.
It is not really cool that the first 3 DAWs will give you more "or around" the same VSTI and Plugin counts on an M1 system than the latter will on M4 machines.
Still though, I couldn´t be arsed learning Reaper ;)
I''m in the same boat. Started with Cakewalk too. I've had no real stability issues on PC over the past 30 plus years, and also no issues with tunderbolt/USB4, even on AMD Ryzen, but Microsoft has really pissed me off recently with the new bloat they keep addding to Windows 11 and their lack of care for privacy. Apple isn't perfect there, but they are certainly better. I also see Apple going the right direction with their hardware. A little over a week ago I bought a Mac Mini for my studio for music software as well as for video editing. The audio and midi stack on MacOS is a joy to use. I've run into no single host MIDI driver issues, and Core Audio runs perfectly with no dropouts at 64 buffer samples in the same projects, using the same audio interface I had to run with at least 128 samples on my Windows machine. And my Windows machine was no slouch. It's a 2023 AMD Zephyrus G14, with a Ryzen 9 7940HS and an NVidia RTX 4090 and 32GB RAM. Besides music and video editing, i do a fair amount of DevOps stuff for work, as well as gaming, so I can't fully switch to Mac. That being said, I loaded up Fedora Linux on my G14, and gaming with Proton works perfectly. I even get better framerates in games like Cyberpunk 2077 than I did in Windows. So now I do my DevOps work and gaming on my Linux laptop, and I use the Mac (and an iPad Pro M2) for music and video production. I'm happier than I've ever been with this setup. I have a Windows VM in case I need it, but haven't touched it in over a week. Time will tell how this all works out for me, but it's great so far! BTW, DAWs for me are Reaper, Bitwig, and FLStudio, with a bit of Maschine thrown in there, depending on what workflow I want. Those all work great on the base model M4 Mac Mini, as does Davinci Resolve. Best $500 I've spent in a long timel
Perfect video for a religious war. I'm getting popcorn, hold my beer
I'll take your old PC !!🙂
Long as you get a very good cooling system, pc not a problem, fact you can get better performance. The issue depends if you change your hardware like audio interface as thunderbolt 4 does out perform USB C or 3 etc but still depends on if there is any benefit to audio hardware latency 🤷😊
It's called CPU throttling not choking... and there are ryzen build that don't overheat.
I'm puzzled. You're going to spend a lot of money to buy a Mac laptop that is as powerful as your three year old PC? Or am I missing something?
As for upgrade problems, it sounds like you won't be able to upgrade your Mac AT ALL. So... problem solved?
Did buy a MacBook some years ago, as my industries main software only runs on Mac. Despite my best efforts I ended up installing Bootcamp, and gradually the MacBook got used far more as a Windows machine. For someone who likes to get elbows deep into an OS, I found the MacBook constantly frustrating tbh. Just my take, Mike
I've been thinking the exact same thing. The M4 is looking really sweet, but waiting to see what Mac Studio looks like, even though I may still opt for a bit of portability in a Macbook Pro. I've been a systems administrator and have worked with Windows and Linux systems, with what feels like my entire life, but also support some Macs these days. We also have iPhone 16 Pros and the wife has an iPad. While I realize they are different OS's, they do work well together. I built a mid tier system and a high end system, that I will be selling, as the Macs will replace both. For me though - changing over to Mac is more about form factor, than anything. I'd love to build a SFF system, but they can run fairly hot. Mac seems to have solved this, much better than PCs, in general. When a CPU hits its heat limit, it is called throttling. It happens so you don't end up frying it. A Mac also gives me the addition of using Logic Pro.
I switched to MacBook Pro after my pc died there super smooth to run never had a daw crash on me
thinking of switching myself to mac, I'm wondering what you use to zoom in a piticular area on studio one whith windows?? Something third party??
I was a cakewalk user exclusively until Gibson screwed everyone. I started on a MAC with studio one pro Shortly there after. I continue to use cakewalk on a pc with acid pro and sound forge. I track with cakewalk but I then export files to my MAC via a shared NAS and finish everything up on Studio One Pro with my VST’s like IZATOPE etc. The only thing I miss on the MAC is a good wave editor like Sound Forge (I use WAVEPAD as a poor substitute). BTW; I also run a development machine with linux Ubuntu with Studio One Beta, Reaper, and Mixbus 32c, but MAC is my main production platform and I have not looked back. Thank You
Mike Well thought out video. I think what ever works for you. With any big change / upgrade it takes me forever to settle in. My biggest bitch about studio one on mac is the magic mouse is not smooth. Believe it or not this stops me from enjoying studio one. The magic mouse is butter smooth on logic. Stupid i know! Hope it all works out for ya. But all your points sound like good points and I cant find any negatives i guess. Be Safe
Maybe I'm lazy, but I can't use Mac, I just can't. With Windows, I feel like I'm in a giant playground and I can do whatever I want. With a Mac you can do as much as a resident of North Korea. Windows all apps available for free not to mention gaming. But if you don't mess with your PC and you are one of the super-rich, then you should go for Mac.
I switched to Mac Mini M4 Pro this past week 🙋🏾♂️It’s pretty snappy. Biggest thing is needing compatibility for plugins. My Waves Horizon bundle doesn’t work unless I buy the update 😅
Yeah, waves ain't the best like that :(
Unfortunately, Studio One can NOT utilize all the cores efficiently on the M1, M2, M3 and M4 processors. I'm a Studio One user on a MacBook M1 and it hurts to see that Presonus did not improve this issue from version 6 to 7. Avid Pro Tools on the other hand has improved this area greatly to now support the M chip sets much better than previously.
My studio is my workplace office, because that's the only computer thar runs Windows. Linux guy here, but I wouldn't bother with music production since the vast majority of .VSTs I've purchased won't run natively in it.
@CreatveSauce - I'm sure you've done your research, so why not? I trust you are keeping your current rig until you are sure. As a Logic PC refugee, I'd always toyed with the idea, but Macs always seemed more expensive, but as a hobbyist, other PC DAWs have met or exceeded the capabilities of Logic. I don't like the feeling of limited upgradability with Macs, but there is something to be said for standardized hardware components. For Calkwalk users, you should always make your choices based on software first, platform second.
Hi Mike. Hope you're well. Congratulations on the new Mac. Can I have your old fashioned PC? Please? Thanks.
🤣
The Snapdragon X chip has been getting a lot of attention, but perhaps the performance you want isn't there yet. Hardware is one thing, but software is the main driver. If the DAW and plug-ins you want to use are supported, then go for it. Me, I don't like MacOS. But I also don't like Windows 11 or Linux. I will eventually have to bite the Windows 11 bullet, but this may be the key opportunity for people to switch OSes.
I don’t really enjoy the Mac environment because it’s so closed off and presents an idealized experience to users, even though it can have issues just like any PC. Things like downscaled resolutions with blurry pixels or the lack of flexibility. That said, I understand why you’re switching, it sounds reasonable specially because of the battery life!
As for Thunderbolt compatibility, it might just depend on getting a good-quality, compatible motherboard, but I can’t say for sure since I don’t use Thunderbolt myself.
Good luck with your Mac! I’d be interested to see videos on your experience using it as your main computer in contrast to a windows pc
I don’t like Mac I find the OS way too hard to use. I am however thinking of switching to a Linux OS only because of the way windows is going, I have only just upgraded my PC to a 12th gen cpu and motherboard so won’t be doing it again for quite awhile. I’m not a business I’m just a simple musician/songwriter, I think though for your business you’re doing the right thing😊
Hi Mike, may the force be with you!! haha Seriously, thanks for sharing your experience. Considering your experience you will be fine. In the worst case you would have to redistribute tasks between devices/OS (musical or audiovisual production, mastering...). In no case will it be a lost investment. Regarding vst, fx, etc. libraries... Do you have all the versions for Mac or was it left behind? A hug from Argentina!
I was upgrading my portable platform and did consider M4 Macbook Pro, but it was about 3500 quid for 24GB RAM and 512GB ssd with Logic pre-installed, instead I got a 8-core Ryzen Zen 4 laptop with 32GB/1TB for 1100 quid on "Black Month" I installed Windows 11 Pro 24H2 and can keep using Cubase Artist. It's actually rather quiet, and very snappy, it's a Thinkpad Mobile Workstation. A noticeable price difference, and no learning curve.
It's not a myth. Never had a PC that didn't come with annoyance. Still on PC at the moment.
I have seen S1 Mac users querying the ability of the software to make use of the power cores efficiently. No idea if its really an issue.
I have used Cakewalk for many years and have several 'Lifetime' Sonar licences from the days Gibson owned it under that name.
As the new owners made it free when they purchased Cakewalk/Sonar I couldn't really complain as I still had access to what I paid for but now that support for that is ending and they are branding back to Sonar there is a huge issue.
Legally in Australia under consumer law the purchasing company must honor any legacy deals when they take over a company/product.
The fact the company is based overseas is not relevant as our consumer laws apply to any company doing business here.
Therefore I should be getting the new product under my 'lifetime' licences. It seems the new owners are not going to honor their legal obligations and I may have to go to our Department of Fair Trading to put a boot up their butts to force them to provide what I have paid for.
I wonder what the cost difference is pound for pound between a top level music PC and Mac? Obviously the cash penalty isn't just a one off, it will be every time you upgrade again and again. 🤔
So what do we learn from this video:
Windows user: Has to do plenty of research and build his own system always at risk that things might go south.
Mac user: Orders Mac. Unboxes it, turns it on, tadaa. Ready.
Biggest myth ever. Mac OS update and then the 3rd party developer emails on now broken plugins until they fix it. Don't need no video to "learn" from this. I've built systems and never go south. More like far north, not having to replace a whole unit, drives, PSU, VGA, Cases, ect. Rarely does a hardware upgrade cost over $1000.
You might consider doing Reaper tutorials as well.
As Studio One user, I had GAS for new mac mini M4, but new test about perfomance on multicore in this daw are annoying. SO 7 woud have been improved on that aspect, not focus on producer tools. So, I think change has sense on dependig what DAW you use. Mac M4 with Reaper is absolute beast. And it seems it works nice on Protools and Cubase, but compared with all daws, SO is worst. For now, Apple still waiting for me as It wouldn't improve anything with the change
I got given a 2013 imac recently (was going in bin otherwise). I upgraded hdd and new ram and put software on it to make it look like new mac OS. Put studio 1 on it and logic and running fine. Just as good as Windows and i somehow have less issues with latency and choking when project gets large. I like both and if the mac does cos its old no big deal.
You have a PC that runs Mac OS. 2013 macs run intel hardware and the upgradability is pretty much the same as any standard PC, minus the gpu.
If I could get a mac with 64gb of ram and easily upgradable storage for less than $2500, I might switch, but that doesn't seem to be the case, so I'll stick with my PC for half that price that can do all that and more.
Apples $130 usb-c cable? When you hear that giant sucking sound coming from your bank account the sound of a loud PC fan will be hardly noticeable.
It is really sad, but I have landed at the same conclusion. Abut Cakewalk. Not because I don't like Cakewalk anymore, but it is that about investing more time into something that has such a vague future.
I also do not know what to switch to. I consider Pro Tools, but I am not sure. For instance I hate that I must use a third part layer for my favorite VST plugins. I also consider Ableton, but find the interface so unpleasant. Also I am not sure about features. This is so hard.
The new intel cpu's are beastley for audio. I have the intel ultra 7 265k and it has windows feeling like mac os 😂
Oh no Mike… say it ain’t so 😢
TBH, I shocked myself.
Windows for life
Is there no chance of parole?
I have a 12 years old PC towerstation. UPgraded a few monts ago with 4 NVMe drives (total of 8TB storage), 64GB Ram, RTX 3080 and MOTU M6.
Could not ever be doing this with a Mac model from 12 yers ago. Absurd!
Apple are not anything special. They just had the funding from M. Makkula and Sequoia VC back in the '70s.
Glad you can afford it Mike
I had to sell a few things. I mean, who needs kids anyway :p
@@CreativeSauce 😂
@@CreativeSauce 🤣
@@CreativeSauce 🤣
I use both ( Macbook Pro M2 and Ryzen 9 PC ) , the only real difference is Apples core audio is superb and PC's ASIO is rubbish in comparison.
You _can_ get around this though.
Much prefer Windows file management over Apples too.
Backward compatibility on a Mac sucks big time.
@billB101 Bill can you point me to something that helps to explain how to get around ASIO limitations? Thanks.
@@fsharp6575 ASIO4ALL
@@fsharp6575 Google ASIO4ALL
Mike, there has NEVER been a better time to be a Mac user...and by a wide margin. Unfortunately , recent DAW tests by James Zhan on YT have shown Studio One CPU utilization performance to be quite poor in comparison to other DAWs. And these S1 issues are not new.
Just the time wasted with fixing Windows updates problems is worth switching to Mac.
What about running windows on mac? There is option for that. Then you could use Cakewalk there with no need of second laptop for windows. Btw I share your opinion on how recently Bandlab is handling Cakewalk's story :(
Oh, that's a good point actually - but not sure it works on Apple silicon
Yeah! I've subscribed to the "new" Sonar DAW, but there is absolutely nothing new that came with it - as in NADA! SONAR has become a huge disappointment over the years. No new vst effects/synths, no new features. Its Pro channels is out of date and can't really use outboard gear to it. It's a shame. I too have moved to Studio One. They actually listen to their users.
Nooooooooo..... Now i have to switch to MAC.
If it weren't for certain compatibility reasons, I'd already be on Linux. Some Linux distributions are so transparent that you'd almost forget there was an SO installed on the machine. Ideal.
As for Mac, I'm sorry, but it's definitely too, too expensive for my means. Good products? Well, maybe. But luxury. In any case, all this talk of compatibility, formats, versions, etc., is nothing but a money-making scheme. Imagine if someone had the idea of patenting the wheel! Ridiculous.
We haven't invented anything since the computer. We've improved, okay, but invented, no. Why not?
Too busy counting your money? Steve Job was a charlatan.
Well Intel screwed off big time and their new stuff are expensive yet slower than AMD, yet they get hotter, so you technically could've gone for AMD PC which is cheaper, cooler and pretty much does better than the new top of the line Intel stuff at everything. And on top you use S1 which is an amazing DAW but from my experience and seeing DAW tests online, it performs the worst when it comes to CPU utilization and performance, especially compared to DAWs like Reaper, Cubase and even Pro tools because they have so much bells and whistles and pretty UI etc. so hopefully the new apple chips are gonna be a worthy upgrade.
Music production is the only real use case for a MAC. Everything else can be done just as well for way less money using a PC.