I was working with a small budget when I bought my new DJ laptop and home computer. I went with the base model M1 Mac Mini with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage and the base model M1 MacBook Air with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. The MacBook Air runs all DJ software with ease! Serato DJ with Serato Video with Stems, no problem. The battery life is amazing! The Mac mini runs Maschine and Adobe Premiere pretty damn well! If you do go for an M1 Mini or Air, go for 16GB RAM and more than 256GB storage. My 256GB storage is always full. I have never had any issues with the temperature on the M1 MacBook Air. If I were buying a new DJ laptop today, I would probably go for the M2 MacBook Air with 16GB RAM and 512GB or 1TB of storage.
I bought a Macbook Air M1 (16GB/512GB) just for DJing in 2020. And i still LOVE it. It never let me down and it can handle all DJ software with ease. I even sold my desktop PC and now i use this Macbook for everything.
@@demariobrooks3979 Longest one with this Macbook was 6 hours in a very hot environment. No problems at all. That’s one of the reasons why I love the Macbook Air! This is without a doubt the best laptop I can advise for DJing. And I see and use a lot of different laptops since I’m in IT.
M2 MACBOOK AIR USER. is very good, doesnt throttle not even in outdoor summer gig. serato and rekordbox are not CPU intensive. i even did a serato video set for hours no hick ups. i have all other software in there still and so far so good.
doing the video is what makes a newer laptop like M2 shine.. totally overkill for normal audio Serato use but if you can afford the latest laptop all gravy.
I'm still rocking a Mid 2012 13 inch MacBook Pro just for djing and it runs absolutely fine! I've used it with both controllers and cdjs and it has never let me down. Highly upgradable and very shock resistent. They are also cheap to repair and cheap to replace as well in case the damage is beyond repair 😂😂
@@ferfzero4333 I’ve used stems with it and it runs decently well. With rekordbox stems take a while to load but nothing to crazy, with Djay Pro it’s really quick. Although I have to admit that this computer struggles a lot with video mixing.
I still use my 2012 MBP I7 2.9ghz 16gb ram took out the cd drive put in 2tb ssd and I use it with srems no problem with process when drop for stems checked
@@ferfzero4333I also use a mid 2012 mbp and it can certainly handle doing stems, just gets real slow when you're using it on the fly. Serato's display will freeze up while its doing all its compute but it will still output audio. Same thing can happen when you run 4 tracks too but not as much as when youre using stems. i bought the laptop for cheap so i take what i can get out of it.
I got a 2020 M1 Mac air. The perfect combination with my gears. It is perfect for DJing no need for a $2400 book for JUST DJing. But if you want to go for it. Do it
I have a 2019 i7 Macbook pro with the super touch bar 😉 No problem with live Serato stem on the fly. Im on beta 3.1 with Denon sc5000 and it rock solid. No need of M1 or higher!
I bought an M1 MacBook Air 8gb 256gb for $830 a year ago. Here in Argentina was the only model not overprized. I think that for the ones that are in a budget it’s still the best laptop buck for buck today. I would love to have magsafe but you can get an M1 Air right now for $750 so the difference between this one and the M2 is not 100 bucks. I use it 8 or 9 nights a month with a satechi hub, my library in a micro sd and mixers, controllers or cdjs connected. Never had an issue. Love your videos!!!!
Just bought a refurbished M2 Macbook Pro 16Gb, 1TB since stems look like so much fun! I also work on video effects and this one works for me. Ordered some chroma cables and I'm all set...didn't have to twist my arm too much Mojaxx lol. Still have two 2012 MacBook Pros but in the hot summers they struggle without a fan or shade. They shall remain great backup dj laptops when needed.
An interesting note: Luke Miani, who has a great channel talking all about Macs here on RUclips, just shared that he received a new M3 machine with Ventura installed on it. So there is a (slim) chance that if you buy an M3, you won’t be stuck on Sonoma. I’ll be following that with interest.
I just picked up the M2max 32 Memory 2TB I use it for both djing and photography. Stems on the fly, butter. I went from the 2012 which I had been using since 2012. Absolutely love it.
The past weekend im worried because i forgot my mb air m2 charger in my house. I can play a 6 hours set with less than 75% of the battery. I Think MacBook Air M2 is one of the best laptops for djs.
Always used Windows based laptops since I switched to software for DJing in 2011 & never had issues & at a fraction of the price of Apple laptops. Currently using an Asus i5 10th Gen with 16GB RAM & 512GB NvME SSD. Runs smooth as silk with Serato DJ.
There have been some pretty unreasonable changes to Windows 11 on Microsoft’s behalf. Which is why many audio developers are struggling to update software to Windows 11.
For DJ purposes only (on Traktor), I was actually still very happy with my 2012 Macbook Pro (the last upgradable Macbook), which I upgraded to 8GB RAM. Then a friend had a 2018 model Macbook Pro to spare (Intel core i7, 32GB RAM, 500GB SSD) that comes with 4 USB C/Thunderbolt ports, which is awesome because I hate USB hubs, and I can easily hook it up with my two Traktor controllers. There's no Macsafe on it though, but this doesn't bother me too much tbh. So all works very well for DJ-ing I must say. Gaming on a Mac is still too limited so I use a Windows laptop and desktop for all other stuff.
USB hubs are terrible. I can still use an even older MBP without issues as long as you have thunderbolt drives (SSD) and good cooling. My main machine is a GIGABYTE 17" gaming laptop that is suited very well to live gigs . My mirror machines are Macs.
Running a MacBook Air with the M2. Doesn’t get warm even after extended DVS use on RekordBox. Hardly touches the CPU usage so it stays very cool. Would recommend the 512GB over the 256 because of the read/write speeds. The 512 is much much faster. Running macOS Ventura - no issue. Didn’t take the chance updating to Sonoma.
This is the right video at the right time!!! I have a 2013 Mac Book Pro, it is perfect and has never given me any problems but... now I can't get the stems update, so I'm thinking of buying a Mac Book Pro M2 8gb 256gb I think this can work well for just DJing
Im a bedroom guy.....running Dell Precision M6800 17" + 32GB Ram and 3 SSD disks....pretty solid with windows 10 + Serato DJ Pro + SL3box + vestax rotary mixer - No internet connections, no firewall, no updates....nothing- Total dadicated for audio
I’m still on my old 2012 MacBook Pro updates SSD hardrive and 16 gig memory. It does fine for what it do and what event I dj .. but this guide will help as I will be finally upgrading near future … thank you
I just upgraded to a 13' MBA M2 (16/1TB/8C GPU) and run it with Sonoma, Traktor, Traktor x1 MK3 and a Pioneer DJM 750 mk2. Everything works perfectly fine. I was able to perform a 4,5h set without any issue. IMO the MBA config is the perfect compromise between specs and price.
im on a crossroad what to choose, to safe $$$ and go for MBA m2 16/512 or tighten the belt and get MPro M3 18/512..... its 700eur difference here. So you recommend MBA??? How does it analyze tracksin RB or Traktor, with ease or getting warm and unresponsive?
Thank you! I have been on a 2012 mbpro with 16g ram and running mojave... no issues... but i think i will go for a new m3 16" with 38g ram... mostly for ableton.
I had a 16 inch MacBook Pro 2019 and it went out on me about an hour before a show back in February so I ran out to the local Best Buy and bought an M2 16 GB MacBook Air and in Texas we had some of the hottest weather we’ve ever had this summer and I did several pool parties and never had an issue. I don’t think I’m going back to a MacBook Pro, especially DJing out at beaches and stuff. I’m not as worried if my MacBook Air gets damaged for my Home set up I just ordered the iMac M3 today. Replacing my 2017 iMac Pro so looking forward to trying that out. Great video.
Thanks for the review - I am considering buying the m2 or m3 macbook air this year, if it can survive DJing in Texas heat, it will be juuuust fine out here in Canada lol
Running an M1 Air 8gb 512 gb runs Serato with my S5 no issues with stems ect great little laptop prefer the smaller size of the airs would have liked more ram but all working great
I had a M1 MacBook Air, (2020, 8gb/512), Running Rekorbox DVS I found that it was fine for about 30-40 minutes but after that started to mess up....I also found that if I was recording I would get audio drop outs in the recording that were not evident while playing...not sure if it was just a Rekordbox issue or perhaps using DVS caused the problem. These problems were evident with bluetooth, wifi and all other non-essential processes turned off. I sold it got an M1 MBP (2021,16gb/512).No issue at all with the MDP of course :)
I am a DJ who mixes videos on a weekly basis using Mix Emergency with Serato. On the side I do Post Production work for TV, Documentaries and Movies. The last movie I did needed at least 64GB ram cause I had about 800 Pro Tools tracks.
you've never heard of bouncing? you're running 800 audio tracks? Is that a typo kid? Pro tools has a limit under 800 to run tracks last I heard it was around 256 Mono tracks.. . Maybe you're not speaking english properly , define what you mean by 800 Pro Tools tracks and how are you using them in context with Serato.
Been using Windows forever, and right now I am on a 2 year old Asus Zephyrus G15. It's still going great, and I can use it both for work and for DJing without any issues. The only problem that I encountered in Windows is related to driver conflicts (just twice in my life), but they are always very easy to solve. So yeah, definitely recommend it.
I use my macbook 14” M1, to play, produce and for my professional design and 3D tasks, and i can say… this machine is a beast. I have absolutelly no issues.
Transcend SD cards you can get additional storage option with flush SD card storage /reader. Very good and cheap way of adding storage . 512gb card £30 flush reader £5 and a 1TB transcend set yoy back £80-£90. Been using these for a couple of years.
In my controller days, i had a 2011 MBP with the i7 which was fine when it wasn't cooking itself into oblivion. It had it's logic board replaced twice for that reason! Since then i've only ever used computers when I do DVS and i've done that on a 2012 Mac Mini which i still use in the studio today and a ThinkPad W541 from 2015 to 2021 and currently use a Surface Pro 7+ when i'm using DVS out somewhere. I'll also use the Surface for any on the fly library management with Rekordbox if i'm on the road since I have the cloud library stuff turned on. I do most of my library management from my main desktop in the studio.
I'm rocking a Razer Blade 15 with the nvidia 3060. Had to spend some time with some driver issues and making sure all the settings were right but it's been a really stable experience on Rekorbox DJ. I DJ for hours on it doing VJing and I don't notice any issues. I do have to use a USB hub but only if I am video mixing (might be a windows issue with latency, they have always been iffy with USB 2 vs USB 3 conversion, don't know why). Audio (which most djs do) is an extremely solid experience in both outdoors in the heat or indoors.
I’ve been waiting a while for someone to make this video so thanx Mo Jaxx!! I like to future proof as my as I can so is an M3, 12-core CPU, 18GB Unified Memory enough for Serato Stems and Serato Studio?
Hey, great video, as for what I'm using... MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 and it handles Serato perfectly, not sure about stems as I've not got into that but for regular djing, it rocks. Can't see that I'll need an j upgrade anytime soon so I'm sticking with this machine untill it dies. I think you can pick this model up for around £500 now.
I personally recommend getting a quality vinyl wrap instead of a clip-on clear case. With those kind of shells, you'll end up with a lot of dust & dirt getting caught inside it and you'll actually damage the machine more than without.
An interesting perspective, but I’m going to disagree, as I’ve been using similar cases since 2007 (starting with my white plastic MacBook - classic!) and have never had any issues like that with them.
I own 2019 i9 battery life sucks, then I have 13” 2022 MacBook Air M1 and it is super quick, and 2023 MacBook Pro and absolutely love it. With my 13” MacBook Air I picked up a usb c hub!!
6th most influential DJ in the world right here! I'm not even in the market for a new laptop, but he's talking macbooks so I better think about upgrading🤣
I've been using a MacBook Pro 14 (M2, Ventura) and it works perfectly with DJ software and with Ableton Live. For a while I tried to get a Windows 11 laptop to work but it had so many problems with high latency and USB audio drop-outs, I could never get it to work no matter what I did. As soon as I switched to the MacBook Pro 14 everything ran perfectly with no latency issues or USB audio drop-outs. I found the part about "modern standby" in your video very interesting, I did not realize there is a power savings SoC hardware governor built into Windows laptops, it certainly would explain why I had so much trouble trying to get a Windows 11 machine to work with DJ software. Thanks!
Cloud service is the worst possible method of back up . Always backup locally not remotely unless you have a gig that requires remote service (rare) .. Never give your library away to these cloud providers and what happens when they cut off access.. just buy 3 of the same and have your local, and 2 mirror drives or on mirror computers of similar capability. Thank me later but I doubt any thanks at all because most people support this cloud storage garbage.
@@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777 you want your music data in three different spots. 1. On site 2. Offsite 3. Online good luck when you lose your physical drives🤷🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️ lol
@@bboymac84 Offsite is least reliable - it's optional . You bought into it though, and that's fine I'm into freedom of choice 100% . I'm talking physical redundancy with backup - never 'lost' data in 35 years of using computers - due to data redundancy when I lost 1 SCSI drive... in 1996 .. I know my comment isn't popular but I could care less. Maybe you don't remember those days of carrying records you didn't store them in Florida if you lived in Ohio . Owning, cataloguing storing my digital media locally is just part of the professionalism and what makes a standout DJ due to 'your set is your set' . I rip all my own stuff as well. Google inc (or whoever owns the servers) doesn't need copies of my rare sides. I understand we live in the convenience generation but it's really not convenient it's an illusion - kinda like how people are 'djing' now.. should be called button jockey not disc jockey. Cheers dude it's an intersting topic .
I have a MBA M1 w/ 16 gb RAM. It is a bit annoying having to tote around a hub & lack of magsafe is irritating but aside from that, I've never had any issues with overheating & it doesn't even break a sweat running Serato or VDJ Stems alongside Ableton. I've had multiple i🎉nstances of of power hungry VSTs...Sytrus, Massive, Omnisphere on FL Studio w/ audio tracks that I didn't bother bouncing & took everything I've thrown at it. Doesn't flinch for Final Cut Pro where my MBP i9 would. In hindsight I wish I hadn't jumped on it so quick & waited around for an M2 but it is what it is
just a note I use a 15" MacBook pro mid 2012 2.3 Ghz quad core intel core i7 Catalina 10.15.7, 16gb ram,1tb ssd Samsung runs Traktor 3.8 and serato dj pro 3.0.12 stems and video fully loaded , and serato dj pro 2.55/rane sl3 I also run dmx lighting software this computer has a lot of options ports/including cd /audio in/out /video /sd card and more original's battery still on normal operation cycles for those that think these computers are obsolete I run davinci resolve 18 for video and capture one for photography , all I can say still going strong no screen or keyboard problems with this model bonus I can upgrade the cd writer to an additional internal ssd drive bootable . back up / mirror or music/video library
If you use the Mac only for djing, I’d recommend 1 To and if you use it for production as well, an external SSD will do the job perfectly. But if you use your Mac also to work with and have large amounts of files, I would recommend 2 To if you want to have your music library in your Mac OR use an external SSD for your music library as I do for many years. I use 80% of my 1 To for work, so really think of your actual and future needs. But Apple does not help with their insane upgrade SSD prices. And really think ahead for the memory, because storage can be resolved with external SSD but memory is not upgradable
I use a 6 year old Gigabyte 17" machine and have a few Macbook Pros mirrored..all of the Macs are around 10 years old. The windows machine is better with heat disappation than the macs and see no difference in use with any of the machines. I use Rane 72 with Turntables and Serato , I don't do stems as I'm not happy with how they sound currently (muddy murky artifacts) . I come from stem production and other things... with certain software that I compare these on the fly stems .
I have the M1 MacBook Air (8GB/512GB) for djing and university purposes and it's capable for everything I'm doing and runs serato and Traktor great. I haven't seen though rising temperature when playing in a bar or nightclub cause the booths I've played with were kinda cool
Thank you !!!! Lots of useful details for someone discoververing Apple ecosytem.... I kinda like the Apple quality but I'm still still sceptical about theyr phylosophy, Apple is definitely not for people with a tight budget... It have some pros and some cons.... Your videos is really precise and useful !! Thanks again ;)
i have had bigger screens as i am old so i have text enlarged but a bright 14inch might be ok but not if there is only one fan.I feel more secure with two.
Thanks for the video. This is very helpful. I'd be interested to know what people think about the acclaimed "overheating" issue on the new M3s. Or rather that the M3s run a bit hotter than the M2.
I’m a Traktor user and run an early 2011 MacBook Pro that still works for my DJing needs. I’ve just about reached the end of life point as it won’t recognise the new X1 mk3 controller however.
The USB are also Thunderbolt, a lot of bandwidth to handle, another monitor, network, and midi controllers. And CHARGING at the same time. Not issue with a USB3.1 hub. But with a thunderbolt dock I handle more devices, USB external audio , 4k monitor at 60Hz and storage with a single port. The ports are not an issue
That’s a very fair point, but Thunderbolt hubs are pricey… For me, I’d prefer to (and did) spend more to get a MacBook Pro to begin with, and get extra TB ports, HDMI etc, then never have to worry about using an extra hub. But that’s very much a personal decision!
@@Mojaxx Sure, but a USB hub it’s cheaper for less than 30 USD you can buy one with more USB ports (even type A) and charge at the same time. You save more money, and you get more flexibility using USB type A peripherals. I use an Air M1 and a 2019 pro (Intel). I have no issues using two single Thunderbolt ports. I connect two or three controllers during my performances.
Another great video sir!!, also not forgetting that the M1 air can also handle music stress free up to 58 tracks editing in Logic before it shits the bed as well as all of the usual suspects for our live sets.....I did however because of Sky and their new affiliation with apple got a deal on a M2 pro 13" through their mobile store to save having to splurge our 2 bags on a new machine
pro all the way and i prefer two fans at full pelt.With the m3s we shall see.Serato or final cut are pretty heavy on the cpu so as much as i can afford
Speaking of M1s (i assume the same goes for M2&3 but havent tried those) i used to have one with 512/8gb config and it has been used outdoors in open air with no tents and around 40C+ next to a lake while under a late afternoon sun. I do remember monitoring max temps at about 50 deegres C more or less, with Serato v2 back then. I agree that a fan always sounds like a better idea, but really....that fanless M1 stood like a champ and seemed to be as good as a fan cooled model. Only thing that gets hot with this kind of setup are those freaking type c metal hubs you always need (and those do get quite hot indeed, no matter which brand and type i ever tried.)
ive been using my macbook Pro with Sonoma, on both Rekordbx and Serato without problems. Sure, they claim its not compatible yet, but it seems to work fine. btw, both Rekordbox and Serato are still being extremely slow and lazy about updating their software, and it still DOES NOT natively support the Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3) processors. Those two apps only run in emulation mode using Rosetta 2, and are Intel applications. (Its been 3 years since Apple launched the M series processors and they havnt shipped any Intel Macs for ages) Just imagine the performance these Macs would get if Rekordbox and Serato actually did their job properly and supported the Apple Silicon processors natively. The performance would be insane ! Exporting or Analysing tracks or processing Stems in bulk could be a lot faster!
Thank you for not dismissing the M2 MacBook Air. So many people think that you have to get a spec'd out $5000 MacBook Pro which is not true at all. I have the 15" M2 MacBook Air and it works great, including with Stems.
i will be going from an eight core intel machine to an M3 Mac of some sort.That is a major jump .I waited because as it stands my intel machine has served me well and i was in no hurry to fork out over two grand when my old Mac as long as the fans are clean is holding up quite well .I dont bother with live stemming just yet but in Serato Studio i am all over that.The future though is going to require major grunt so it will soon be time for an M3 based Mac.Should be fun
I have the same machine and Rekordbox is the only app causing my fans to kick in :') (or heavy Ableton Live projects) Pioneer has a lot of optimising left to do!!
I finally upgraded my 2014 MBP to the 16” MBP M2 Max with all the bells and whistles for almost $4500 lol Way more than necessary but I basically maxed everything out. Mac Store refurbished option is the way to go cuz it would’ve costed over 6K
I have a 2017 MB Air right now with an upgraded 1TB SSD. The throttling in the sun/heat is an issue due to no fans. I've been looking at upgrading to either a new M3 or used M1 or M2. 16GB would be the minimum for ram, and I'd need 2tb bc I play so much different genres. Half way through, great video so far.!
Not having that fan with the Air is my apprehension, I'm upgrading from Macbook Pro 2015 15' which is truly a champion amongst champions. Stuck between Air to save some $$$ or Pro to cover all bases. I do alot of FCPX and Adobe editing as well during the week.
11:36 I use a macbook air late 2019 with 121 GB and 8 GB of RAM and its currently overheated and loud right now. I had a gig outside (under a tent) but in 80 degree weather and it was the worst performance ive seen from my laptop. Although i cleared enough space to have 20GB of storage free, it still took 1hr + to even open any DJ softwares and get started only to have gliches and pops most of the night. im currently looking fo an upgrade cause it obviously is time...
PS: additional i also connect to 10inch touch display full hd ( for touch drag and drop function not great everything else work good ) maybe need bit bigger size for the screen
Great video dear Mojaxx!!! Super useful!!! Thank you!!! Meanwhile I'm here I'd like to ask you if you could suggest a serious DJ school online. Thank you man!!!
Great review on the MacBook laptops. Any where you can do a PC laptop for 2023 soon? Just for someone who don't use MacBook laptops. Stay blessed keep up the great work on Dj / Beat source tech reviews.
I was working with a small budget when I bought my new DJ laptop and home computer. I went with the base model M1 Mac Mini with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage and the base model M1 MacBook Air with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. The MacBook Air runs all DJ software with ease! Serato DJ with Serato Video with Stems, no problem. The battery life is amazing! The Mac mini runs Maschine and Adobe Premiere pretty damn well! If you do go for an M1 Mini or Air, go for 16GB RAM and more than 256GB storage. My 256GB storage is always full.
I have never had any issues with the temperature on the M1 MacBook Air.
If I were buying a new DJ laptop today, I would probably go for the M2 MacBook Air with 16GB RAM and 512GB or 1TB of storage.
I bought a Macbook Air M1 (16GB/512GB) just for DJing in 2020. And i still LOVE it. It never let me down and it can handle all DJ software with ease. I even sold my desktop PC and now i use this Macbook for everything.
How long are your Dj sets
@@demariobrooks3979 Longest one with this Macbook was 6 hours in a very hot environment. No problems at all. That’s one of the reasons why I love the Macbook Air! This is without a doubt the best laptop I can advise for DJing. And I see and use a lot of different laptops since I’m in IT.
Do you find the screen is large enough for Serato font?
@@mangadoloyou can adjust your font sir
I use the same macbook also but i don't think it's advisable for outdoor play. It's macbook air without air (Fans) haha
I ordered a MacBook Air M2 16 GB 1TB two years ago for my DJING career best money I ever spent good video man
M2 MACBOOK AIR USER. is very good, doesnt throttle not even in outdoor summer gig. serato and rekordbox are not CPU intensive. i even did a serato video set for hours no hick ups. i have all other software in there still and so far so good.
doing the video is what makes a newer laptop like M2 shine.. totally overkill for normal audio Serato use but if you can afford the latest laptop all gravy.
What memory you rocking - 8 or 16gb ?
How much ram do you have? 8gb or 16gb
@@adamproctor7554 8GB
@@thijnenninga6109 8GB
I'm still rocking a Mid 2012 13 inch MacBook Pro just for djing and it runs absolutely fine! I've used it with both controllers and cdjs and it has never let me down. Highly upgradable and very shock resistent. They are also cheap to repair and cheap to replace as well in case the damage is beyond repair 😂😂
No way it’s able to keep up with live stem processing…
Like, if I agree you can use an older machine, IF you know the limitations.
I've done it on Rekordbox and it seems to work just fine. Perhaps it takes a little longer though...@@ferfzero4333
@@ferfzero4333 I’ve used stems with it and it runs decently well. With rekordbox stems take a while to load but nothing to crazy, with Djay Pro it’s really quick. Although I have to admit that this computer struggles a lot with video mixing.
I still use my 2012 MBP I7 2.9ghz 16gb ram took out the cd drive put in 2tb ssd and I use it with srems no problem with process when drop for stems checked
@@ferfzero4333I also use a mid 2012 mbp and it can certainly handle doing stems, just gets real slow when you're using it on the fly. Serato's display will freeze up while its doing all its compute but it will still output audio. Same thing can happen when you run 4 tracks too but not as much as when youre using stems. i bought the laptop for cheap so i take what i can get out of it.
I got a 2020 M1 Mac air. The perfect combination with my gears. It is perfect for DJing no need for a $2400 book for JUST DJing. But if you want to go for it. Do it
I have a 2019 i7 Macbook pro with the super touch bar 😉 No problem with live Serato stem on the fly. Im on beta 3.1 with Denon sc5000 and it rock solid. No need of M1 or higher!
I bought an M1 MacBook Air 8gb 256gb for $830 a year ago. Here in Argentina was the only model not overprized. I think that for the ones that are in a budget it’s still the best laptop buck for buck today. I would love to have magsafe but you can get an M1 Air right now for $750 so the difference between this one and the M2 is not 100 bucks. I use it 8 or 9 nights a month with a satechi hub, my library in a micro sd and mixers, controllers or cdjs connected. Never had an issue. Love your videos!!!!
Does yours work perfectly with serato stems
Just bought a refurbished M2 Macbook Pro 16Gb, 1TB since stems look like so much fun! I also work on video effects and this one works for me. Ordered some chroma cables and I'm all set...didn't have to twist my arm too much Mojaxx lol. Still have two 2012 MacBook Pros but in the hot summers they struggle without a fan or shade. They shall remain great backup dj laptops when needed.
An interesting note: Luke Miani, who has a great channel talking all about Macs here on RUclips, just shared that he received a new M3 machine with Ventura installed on it. So there is a (slim) chance that if you buy an M3, you won’t be stuck on Sonoma. I’ll be following that with interest.
Just chiming in to say that I have had 0 issues with Sonoma using Rekordbox & Ableton Live! :)
I just picked up the
M2max
32 Memory
2TB
I use it for both djing and photography.
Stems on the fly, butter.
I went from the 2012 which I had been using since 2012. Absolutely love it.
the best mid 2012 last one upgradable by users
The past weekend im worried because i forgot my mb air m2 charger in my house.
I can play a 6 hours set with less than 75% of the battery.
I Think MacBook Air M2 is one of the best laptops for djs.
Always used Windows based laptops since I switched to software for DJing in 2011 & never had issues & at a fraction of the price of Apple laptops.
Currently using an Asus i5 10th Gen with 16GB RAM & 512GB NvME SSD. Runs smooth as silk with Serato DJ.
There have been some pretty unreasonable changes to Windows 11 on Microsoft’s behalf. Which is why many audio developers are struggling to update software to Windows 11.
@@kevinochoa6429 what 'unreasonable changes' are you talking about?
Im going to Acer Predator for my next buy . Im using Apple now ,but im gonna switch at some point
I switched to an M2 Air 512gb storage and I love it.
same , had mine for a bout a month. So fast , so lightweight , works FLAWLESSLY with Serato Stems too.
My dongles didn’t work so I returned it but I LOVE THE m2 air
This is the best review at the moment on youtube
If you’re getting an m1 air go after used/openbox options. Listings for $600-700 are often available for even 16gb 512
For DJ purposes only (on Traktor), I was actually still very happy with my 2012 Macbook Pro (the last upgradable Macbook), which I upgraded to 8GB RAM. Then a friend had a 2018 model Macbook Pro to spare (Intel core i7, 32GB RAM, 500GB SSD) that comes with 4 USB C/Thunderbolt ports, which is awesome because I hate USB hubs, and I can easily hook it up with my two Traktor controllers. There's no Macsafe on it though, but this doesn't bother me too much tbh. So all works very well for DJ-ing I must say. Gaming on a Mac is still too limited so I use a Windows laptop and desktop for all other stuff.
Hi, could you please give feedback for MacBook Pro 2019 model to be used only for Traktor pro 3 and RUclips. Is it safe for gigs?
USB hubs are terrible. I can still use an even older MBP without issues as long as you have thunderbolt drives (SSD) and good cooling. My main machine is a GIGABYTE 17" gaming laptop that is suited very well to live gigs . My mirror machines are Macs.
@@gamesheat The 2019 Macbook Pro is the same model, just with updated specs. So you should be excellent to go.
Running a MacBook Air with the M2. Doesn’t get warm even after extended DVS use on RekordBox. Hardly touches the CPU usage so it stays very cool. Would recommend the 512GB over the 256 because of the read/write speeds. The 512 is much much faster. Running macOS Ventura - no issue. Didn’t take the chance updating to Sonoma.
My Macbook air worked like a charm 2 days in a row, in blazing sun. Love it.
was it hot to the touch after or normal heat? I just grabbed a maxed out m2 15 air, still faster and better than my i9 16"
👍🏾👏🏾🤟🏾Have the some MacBook air m2 love it
My 2015 macbook 15 inch runs like a monster still to this day.
same brother. same...
I have the same but stems doesn’t work great
Same, it doesnt even support the newest OS which i think is required for Serato Stems to work well.@@GamingDJ
I upgraded from a MBP 2012 to a 2021 M1 32/ gb with 2tb Ssd. I own all of my music. I gotta say.. I love it
This is the right video at the right time!!!
I have a 2013 Mac Book Pro, it is perfect and has never given me any problems
but...
now I can't get the stems update, so I'm thinking of buying a Mac Book Pro M2 8gb 256gb
I think this can work well for just DJing
Brooo i got the 14 pro m1 16gb unified and 1TB hard drive is a beast….. coming from the 2012 pro 13”
2023 Mbp m2 pro ,16’ I use it for producing beats. Works like magic 💪🏾
I have a 2017 and 2014 mac book air running rekordbox traktor and serato and djay on both of them and having no problems
Awesome guide
Im a bedroom guy.....running Dell Precision M6800 17" + 32GB Ram and 3 SSD disks....pretty solid with windows 10 + Serato DJ Pro + SL3box + vestax rotary mixer - No internet connections, no firewall, no updates....nothing- Total dadicated for audio
I have a 2022 MacBook Pro M1 (16g/1tb) for my DJing and I LOVE IT!!!! Hands down I will buy another one very soon!!
The fact the mac air don't have fan is a good feature - as smoke fluid and moisture in clubs kills everything over time
I’m still on my old 2012 MacBook Pro updates SSD hardrive and 16 gig memory. It does fine for what it do and what event I dj .. but this guide will help as I will be finally upgrading near future … thank you
Got the same mbp 2012 is a beast especially with the upgrades but unfortunately it’s starting to show its age and brought a Mac air m1
I just upgraded to a 13' MBA M2 (16/1TB/8C GPU) and run it with Sonoma, Traktor, Traktor x1 MK3 and a Pioneer DJM 750 mk2. Everything works perfectly fine. I was able to perform a 4,5h set without any issue. IMO the MBA config is the perfect compromise between specs and price.
Do you use STEMS with it? If so, how does it run using STEMS?
im on a crossroad what to choose, to safe $$$ and go for MBA m2 16/512 or tighten the belt and get MPro M3 18/512..... its 700eur difference here. So you recommend MBA??? How does it analyze tracksin RB or Traktor, with ease or getting warm and unresponsive?
Thank you! I have been on a 2012 mbpro with 16g ram and running mojave... no issues... but i think i will go for a new m3 16" with 38g ram... mostly for ableton.
Como te fué con eso ?
Needed this video.
Best buy also has certified Apple refurbished Macs. Mine was Just like new.
I had a 16 inch MacBook Pro 2019 and it went out on me about an hour before a show back in February so I ran out to the local Best Buy and bought an M2 16 GB MacBook Air and in Texas we had some of the hottest weather we’ve ever had this summer and I did several pool parties and never had an issue. I don’t think I’m going back to a MacBook Pro, especially DJing out at beaches and stuff. I’m not as worried if my MacBook Air gets damaged for my Home set up I just ordered the iMac M3 today. Replacing my 2017 iMac Pro so looking forward to trying that out. Great video.
Thanks for the review - I am considering buying the m2 or m3 macbook air this year, if it can survive DJing in Texas heat, it will be juuuust fine out here in Canada lol
Running an M1 Air 8gb 512 gb runs Serato with my S5 no issues with stems ect great little laptop prefer the smaller size of the airs would have liked more ram but all working great
been waiting for this
I had a M1 MacBook Air, (2020, 8gb/512), Running Rekorbox DVS I found that it was fine for about 30-40 minutes but after that started to mess up....I also found that if I was recording I would get audio drop outs in the recording that were not evident while playing...not sure if it was just a Rekordbox issue or perhaps using DVS caused the problem. These problems were evident with bluetooth, wifi and all other non-essential processes turned off. I sold it got an M1 MBP (2021,16gb/512).No issue at all with the MDP of course :)
I am a DJ who mixes videos on a weekly basis using Mix Emergency with Serato. On the side I do Post Production work for TV, Documentaries and Movies. The last movie I did needed at least 64GB ram cause I had about 800 Pro Tools tracks.
you've never heard of bouncing? you're running 800 audio tracks? Is that a typo kid? Pro tools has a limit under 800 to run tracks last I heard it was around 256 Mono tracks.. . Maybe you're not speaking english properly , define what you mean by 800 Pro Tools tracks and how are you using them in context with Serato.
@@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777 Dude, seems like you haven't used Pro Tools Ultimate, it has over 2000 tracks.
So if you are basically dj only with Serato you only need the bae model m1 . If you’re recording or streaming that’s when you need the heavy guns
I’m on the latest Mac OS, and Rekordbox with usb Link working fine. About 3 weeks ago it was broken, but performance mode was working.
Getting a refurbished Macbook Pro isn’t a bad idea. Mine is. You save a decent amount of money
Thats what I did I ordered a refurbished MacBook pro 16 gb 1tb 2017 was £270 from eBay
I’m still rocking my very first Mac Pro 2012 but looking to upgrade soon. Looking to get a Air but not sure how it performs in the sun vs a pro
Been using Windows forever, and right now I am on a 2 year old Asus Zephyrus G15. It's still going great, and I can use it both for work and for DJing without any issues. The only problem that I encountered in Windows is related to driver conflicts (just twice in my life), but they are always very easy to solve. So yeah, definitely recommend it.
I use my macbook 14” M1, to play, produce and for my professional design and 3D tasks, and i can say… this machine is a beast. I have absolutelly no issues.
Transcend SD cards you can get additional storage option with flush SD card storage /reader. Very good and cheap way of adding storage . 512gb card £30 flush reader £5 and a 1TB transcend set yoy back £80-£90.
Been using these for a couple of years.
In my controller days, i had a 2011 MBP with the i7 which was fine when it wasn't cooking itself into oblivion. It had it's logic board replaced twice for that reason! Since then i've only ever used computers when I do DVS and i've done that on a 2012 Mac Mini which i still use in the studio today and a ThinkPad W541 from 2015 to 2021 and currently use a Surface Pro 7+ when i'm using DVS out somewhere. I'll also use the Surface for any on the fly library management with Rekordbox if i'm on the road since I have the cloud library stuff turned on. I do most of my library management from my main desktop in the studio.
I'm rocking a Razer Blade 15 with the nvidia 3060. Had to spend some time with some driver issues and making sure all the settings were right but it's been a really stable experience on Rekorbox DJ. I DJ for hours on it doing VJing and I don't notice any issues. I do have to use a USB hub but only if I am video mixing (might be a windows issue with latency, they have always been iffy with USB 2 vs USB 3 conversion, don't know why). Audio (which most djs do) is an extremely solid experience in both outdoors in the heat or indoors.
I’ve been waiting a while for someone to make this video so thanx Mo Jaxx!! I like to future proof as my as I can so is an M3, 12-core CPU,
18GB Unified Memory enough for Serato Stems and Serato Studio?
That will be plenty!
I ordered a MacBook Pro m3 pro with 11-core CPU and 36GB unified memory
Thanks again
Hey, great video, as for what I'm using... MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 and it handles Serato perfectly, not sure about stems as I've not got into that but for regular djing, it rocks. Can't see that I'll need an j
upgrade anytime soon so I'm sticking with this machine untill it dies. I think you can pick this model up for around £500 now.
Will the new M2 Air or 14 Pro process stems well?
I have a m2 air Maxed out and its seamless just annoying having 2 usb ports for L/R & mixer
I personally recommend getting a quality vinyl wrap instead of a clip-on clear case. With those kind of shells, you'll end up with a lot of dust & dirt getting caught inside it and you'll actually damage the machine more than without.
An interesting perspective, but I’m going to disagree, as I’ve been using similar cases since 2007 (starting with my white plastic MacBook - classic!) and have never had any issues like that with them.
I own 2019 i9 battery life sucks, then I have 13” 2022 MacBook Air M1 and it is super quick, and 2023 MacBook Pro and absolutely love it. With my 13” MacBook Air I picked up a usb c hub!!
6th most influential DJ in the world right here! I'm not even in the market for a new laptop, but he's talking macbooks so I better think about upgrading🤣
😂
I've been using a MacBook Pro 14 (M2, Ventura) and it works perfectly with DJ software and with Ableton Live. For a while I tried to get a Windows 11 laptop to work but it had so many problems with high latency and USB audio drop-outs, I could never get it to work no matter what I did. As soon as I switched to the MacBook Pro 14 everything ran perfectly with no latency issues or USB audio drop-outs. I found the part about "modern standby" in your video very interesting, I did not realize there is a power savings SoC hardware governor built into Windows laptops, it certainly would explain why I had so much trouble trying to get a Windows 11 machine to work with DJ software. Thanks!
Macbook Air 15" in Texas heat 100 plus Fahrenheit and no issues. I did have issues with my 16" 2019 Macbook Pro running on Intel processors.
Recently bought a refurbed 2021 M1 Pro and it works flawlessly. Less than £1500
Oh and 96 degrees. No issues in the Jersey heat
1TB is enough to hold mudic your actually gonna play. Get a back up drive. Then back up files in your cloud service. Done! Moving on!💪🏽
Cloud service is the worst possible method of back up . Always backup locally not remotely unless you have a gig that requires remote service (rare) .. Never give your library away to these cloud providers and what happens when they cut off access.. just buy 3 of the same and have your local, and 2 mirror drives or on mirror computers of similar capability. Thank me later but I doubt any thanks at all because most people support this cloud storage garbage.
@@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777 you want your music data in three different spots.
1. On site
2. Offsite
3. Online
good luck when you lose your physical drives🤷🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️ lol
@@bboymac84 Offsite is least reliable - it's optional . You bought into it though, and that's fine I'm into freedom of choice 100% . I'm talking physical redundancy with backup - never 'lost' data in 35 years of using computers - due to data redundancy when I lost 1 SCSI drive... in 1996 .. I know my comment isn't popular but I could care less. Maybe you don't remember those days of carrying records you didn't store them in Florida if you lived in Ohio . Owning, cataloguing storing my digital media locally is just part of the professionalism and what makes a standout DJ due to 'your set is your set' . I rip all my own stuff as well. Google inc (or whoever owns the servers) doesn't need copies of my rare sides. I understand we live in the convenience generation but it's really not convenient it's an illusion - kinda like how people are 'djing' now.. should be called button jockey not disc jockey. Cheers dude it's an intersting topic .
Thanks for your video. Love your videos. Really good explanation and tips. 👍👍
I have a MBA M1 w/ 16 gb RAM. It is a bit annoying having to tote around a hub & lack of magsafe is irritating but aside from that, I've never had any issues with overheating & it doesn't even break a sweat running Serato or VDJ Stems alongside Ableton. I've had multiple i🎉nstances of of power hungry VSTs...Sytrus, Massive, Omnisphere on FL Studio w/ audio tracks that I didn't bother bouncing & took everything I've thrown at it. Doesn't flinch for Final Cut Pro where my MBP i9 would.
In hindsight I wish I hadn't jumped on it so quick & waited around for an M2 but it is what it is
just a note I use a 15" MacBook pro mid 2012 2.3 Ghz quad core intel core i7 Catalina 10.15.7, 16gb ram,1tb ssd Samsung runs Traktor 3.8 and serato dj pro 3.0.12 stems and video fully loaded , and serato dj pro 2.55/rane sl3 I also run dmx lighting software this computer has a lot of options ports/including cd /audio in/out /video /sd card and more original's battery still on normal operation cycles for those that think these computers are obsolete I run davinci resolve 18 for video and capture one for photography , all I can say still going strong no screen or keyboard problems with this model
bonus I can upgrade the cd writer to an additional internal ssd drive bootable . back up / mirror or music/video library
If you use the Mac only for djing, I’d recommend 1 To and if you use it for production as well, an external SSD will do the job perfectly.
But if you use your Mac also to work with and have large amounts of files, I would recommend 2 To if you want to have your music library in your Mac OR use an external SSD for your music library as I do for many years. I use 80% of my 1 To for work, so really think of your actual and future needs.
But Apple does not help with their insane upgrade SSD prices.
And really think ahead for the memory, because storage can be resolved with external SSD but memory is not upgradable
I use a 6 year old Gigabyte 17" machine and have a few Macbook Pros mirrored..all of the Macs are around 10 years old. The windows machine is better with heat disappation than the macs and see no difference in use with any of the machines. I use Rane 72 with Turntables and Serato , I don't do stems as I'm not happy with how they sound currently (muddy murky artifacts) . I come from stem production and other things... with certain software that I compare these on the fly stems .
Using Apple Macbook Pro 2017 13 inch i5 2.3ghz 8GB 128GB SSD
I’m running a late 2021 MBPro M1Pro Max w/ 64GB of ram and 1TB internal SSD. I hope to not need an upgrade for a lonnng while.
I have a MacBook Air i3 from 2020 and never a problem, Traktor in my case doesn't use too much power to use, audio its ok, video its way more heavy
I have the M1 MacBook Air (8GB/512GB) for djing and university purposes and it's capable for everything I'm doing and runs serato and Traktor great. I haven't seen though rising temperature when playing in a bar or nightclub cause the booths I've played with were kinda cool
Owesome research!
Thank you !!!! Lots of useful details for someone discoververing Apple ecosytem.... I kinda like the Apple quality but I'm still still sceptical about theyr phylosophy, Apple is definitely not for people with a tight budget... It have some pros and some cons.... Your videos is really precise and useful !! Thanks again ;)
m3pro MacBook user just bought a club thought I was going to need something powerful. relieved thank you
i have had bigger screens as i am old so i have text enlarged but a bright 14inch might be ok but not if there is only one fan.I feel more secure with two.
Thanks for the video. This is very helpful. I'd be interested to know what people think about the acclaimed "overheating" issue on the new M3s. Or rather that the M3s run a bit hotter than the M2.
I’m a Traktor user and run an early 2011 MacBook Pro that still works for my DJing needs. I’ve just about reached the end of life point as it won’t recognise the new X1 mk3 controller however.
The venue I dj at outdoors here in Vegas has a AC next the laptops
Most of them do, or should at least because its absolutely necessary.
Thank you sir!!!!❤
i use skylake hackintosh i7 6700k,32gb ram,super stable with traktor and ableton
The USB are also Thunderbolt, a lot of bandwidth to handle, another monitor, network, and midi controllers. And CHARGING at the same time. Not issue with a USB3.1 hub. But with a thunderbolt dock I handle more devices, USB external audio , 4k monitor at 60Hz and storage with a single port. The ports are not an issue
That’s a very fair point, but Thunderbolt hubs are pricey…
For me, I’d prefer to (and did) spend more to get a MacBook Pro to begin with, and get extra TB ports, HDMI etc, then never have to worry about using an extra hub.
But that’s very much a personal decision!
@@Mojaxx Sure, but a USB hub it’s cheaper for less than 30 USD you can buy one with more USB ports (even type A) and charge at the same time. You save more money, and you get more flexibility using USB type A peripherals. I use an Air M1 and a 2019 pro (Intel). I have no issues using two single Thunderbolt ports. I connect two or three controllers during my performances.
Very helpful, thank you. Especially the note on macOS 14 Sonoma.
Another great video sir!!, also not forgetting that the M1 air can also handle music stress free up to 58 tracks editing in Logic before it shits the bed as well as all of the usual suspects for our live sets.....I did however because of Sky and their new affiliation with apple got a deal on a M2 pro 13" through their mobile store to save having to splurge our 2 bags on a new machine
I ordered a Mac m3 pro with 11-core CPU and 36GB unified memory trying to future proof. What do ya’ll think?
pro all the way and i prefer two fans at full pelt.With the m3s we shall see.Serato or final cut are pretty heavy on the cpu so as much as i can afford
M1 air purchased in early 2021 and still going strong. Only annoying thing is the charge cable hogging one of the usb ports.
You can use a cheaper hub and the same port can handle data and power at the same time
Can you do another video, but for "video DJs" and which is best for them?
Speaking of M1s (i assume the same goes for M2&3 but havent tried those) i used to have one with 512/8gb config and it has been used outdoors in open air with no tents and around 40C+ next to a lake while under a late afternoon sun. I do remember monitoring max temps at about 50 deegres C more or less, with Serato v2 back then. I agree that a fan always sounds like a better idea, but really....that fanless M1 stood like a champ and seemed to be as good as a fan cooled model. Only thing that gets hot with this kind of setup are those freaking type c metal hubs you always need (and those do get quite hot indeed, no matter which brand and type i ever tried.)
ive been using my macbook Pro with Sonoma, on both Rekordbx and Serato without problems. Sure, they claim its not compatible yet, but it seems to work fine. btw, both Rekordbox and Serato are still being extremely slow and lazy about updating their software, and it still DOES NOT natively support the Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3) processors. Those two apps only run in emulation mode using Rosetta 2, and are Intel applications. (Its been 3 years since Apple launched the M series processors and they havnt shipped any Intel Macs for ages) Just imagine the performance these Macs would get if Rekordbox and Serato actually did their job properly and supported the Apple Silicon processors natively. The performance would be insane ! Exporting or Analysing tracks or processing Stems in bulk could be a lot faster!
Fantastic video Mojaxx. Thank you for this!
Thank you for not dismissing the M2 MacBook Air. So many people think that you have to get a spec'd out $5000 MacBook Pro which is not true at all. I have the 15" M2 MacBook Air and it works great, including with Stems.
same BUT I did spec my air out like a pro I just hate that hot pro and fan lol so I paid extra tab for thiness and cooler body
i will be going from an eight core intel machine to an M3 Mac of some sort.That is a major jump .I waited because as it stands my intel machine has served me well and i was in no hurry to fork out over two grand when my old Mac as long as the fans are clean is holding up quite well .I dont bother with live stemming just yet but in Serato Studio i am all over that.The future though is going to require major grunt so it will soon be time for an M3 based Mac.Should be fun
ironic that the *Air doesnt have fans....
My next laptop for djing would definitely be a Acer Predator . Yes im using Apple now , i will make the switch
i have a m1 pro, it's absolutely amazing, sometimes have recordbox and obs and websites and bunch of other apps open. Not a sweat.
I have the same machine and Rekordbox is the only app causing my fans to kick in :')
(or heavy Ableton Live projects)
Pioneer has a lot of optimising left to do!!
Windows 11 currently having problems with the audio on AIFF files. Lots of volume fluctuation during playback!
Rekordbox stems need 16GB RAM minimum to be stable
I finally upgraded my 2014 MBP to the 16” MBP M2 Max with all the bells and whistles for almost $4500 lol Way more than necessary but I basically maxed everything out. Mac Store refurbished option is the way to go cuz it would’ve costed over 6K
Your 2014 probably runs better.
I have a 2017 MB Air right now with an upgraded 1TB SSD. The throttling in the sun/heat is an issue due to no fans. I've been looking at upgrading to either a new M3 or used M1 or M2. 16GB would be the minimum for ram, and I'd need 2tb bc I play so much different genres. Half way through, great video so far.!
2017 MacBook Air had a fan. Do you mean the 12'' MacBook with the Intel Y Chip?
Not having that fan with the Air is my apprehension, I'm upgrading from Macbook Pro 2015 15' which is truly a champion amongst champions. Stuck between Air to save some $$$ or Pro to cover all bases. I do alot of FCPX and Adobe editing as well during the week.
I have a spec'd out m2 air 15 inch and I love it. I paid a pro price but I don't have that pro weight and fan that blows hot air thru the computer
11:36 I use a macbook air late 2019 with 121 GB and 8 GB of RAM and its currently overheated and loud right now. I had a gig outside (under a tent) but in 80 degree weather and it was the worst performance ive seen from my laptop. Although i cleared enough space to have 20GB of storage free, it still took 1hr + to even open any DJ softwares and get started only to have gliches and pops most of the night. im currently looking fo an upgrade cause it obviously is time...
PS: additional i also connect to 10inch touch display full hd ( for touch drag and drop function not great everything else work good ) maybe need bit bigger size for the screen
Great video dear Mojaxx!!! Super useful!!! Thank you!!!
Meanwhile I'm here I'd like to ask you if you could suggest a serious DJ school online.
Thank you man!!!
Great review on the MacBook laptops. Any where you can do a PC laptop for 2023 soon? Just for someone who don't use MacBook laptops. Stay blessed keep up the great work on Dj / Beat source tech reviews.