Biggest factor the Mac Studio has over any PC/Intel alternative is it doesn’t sound like a jet engine when pushed hard. Nice to have in a music studio.
I had no idea what M1 was when I got my laptop and almost decided against it because lack of native support, but after having owned one it would be hard to go back. I definitely prioritized getting another M1 after my first, because it just lasts longer. More convenient. I bet these M1's will be some of the first commercially viable computers that last 15-20 years (instead of the usual 10). Because thats what it feels like. Like it would last twice as long like a hybrid car or something (my prius currently has 330k miles with no signs of slowing down). Lasts longer, charges better, and its super quiet. M1 is a win.
Yah, definitely. Was thinking about holding out some months (or even years?) for a Mac Pro Cube/Mini M1 in hopes of it being spec’d with a couple of PCI supporting expansion slots...but going to confidently settle for the Mac Studio M1 Max now, as compatibility with whatever desired recording gear may very well be able to be alternatively achieved externally via Thunderbolt 4...and also it looks like plenty of DAWs and plugins are now coming online for compatibility with M1, along with Monterey, this machine’s minimal O/S.
Excellent perspective David! I'm still on a 2010 Mac Pro tower and this does look amazing. I am still waiting to see what they do with the Mac Pro. Will we be able to add internal storage ourselves? But at what price? I could easily see 7 or 8 years with the Mac Studio while 10 or more years with a Mac Pro. Again, I'm 11 years into an upgraded Mac Pro running all the latest software and Mojave. Not shabby!
Isn't the Studio desktop more likely to out last the macbook pro? As it has less parts that could become faulty? Or are you referring to how long you personally see yourself comfortably/being happy to use it.? And if went for Studio Ultimate, presumably would get a few more years worth of updates vs the Pro? I'm still using a 2012 macbook pro, that just about works. Get alot more power potential for the money with the studio vs the Pro, but not the all in one portable convienance.
I use VEP6 with DP10 & my template is lean & modest, just EW orchestral lib & other plugins like Omnisphere, Native Insts, UVI Workstation, & similar AU plugins and lets say you have around 100 midi tracks running various instances of these plugins. 1) Do you think with all the power of Ultra & 128gb Unified memory , VEP could be avoided & everything can work well in DP? 2) Is 128 GB needed for such a template? 3) Which did you get David 128 or 64gb?
It's impossible to predict how things will work out for you, because I don't know the quantity of RAM your current orchestral template is currently using, nor your typical polyphony, which affects how much CPU you use. If I can get my head around a good way to explain it, I may do a future video on this topic, so stay tuned. As for myself, I'm planning to do some tests soon with my current M1 MacBook Pro which has 64GB. Based on the results of that, that'll give me a clue as to how much I want in my still-unordered Mac Studio. Again, hopefully it'll make it in to a future video if I feel like it's something I can explain well and will be helpful.
Are you gonna do a video actually using a Mac Studio in a music setting? I am getting tired of watching videos where all we hear are video export speeds and such… Thanks.
IKR! Literally every video I've seen has been finalcut export times, blender renders, or cinebench tests. Do they really think that the only people buying these machines are youtubers or 3D renderers?
But then you’re stuck with the abysmally-slow “intelligent” floppy drives, even with any kind of acceleration, that are still far slower than the brainless Apple ][ disk drives!
I bought the cheapest Mac Studio (32GBRam, 500GB SSD) for 2.300,-€ and this machine is very powerful using Apples own newest Logic Pro X 10.7.4 with some 3rd Party Plugins. The sessions get bigger and the Mac Studio is at 15-20 % CPU Usage. This machine is very quiet, very small and light. No comparison to my old broken Mac Pro 5.1. and still running 6.1. The 1TB and 2 TB Mac Studios were not available at the time of my purchase, so I have to add some external SSDs.
I added a maxed-everything Max Studio last year and posted a review. I’ve been happy with it but there are some issues. I’m holding back on MacOS 13 to avoid incompatibilities. The raw power for video editing is outstanding, and it’s near silent operation is great. Not a huge fan of the form factor but it works.
I definitely will be using sample libraries heavily. Most likely on external drives. Do you think 64GB of ram will be good enough? I definitely don't want to overspend.
Impossible to give you a one-size-fits-all answer but take a look at your RAM usage in Kontakt to see how much RAM you currently use. You can also experiment with Preload Buffer Size which affects how much RAM Kontakt is using. (Video on this coming soon.)
Thanks, David. Could you please compare the EXPANDABILITY you say is included in the new Macs, to that of a vintage MacPro with PCI-e slots? Is that where Thunderbolt steps in? Same bandwidth? As a MOTU user with a totally maxed out PCI-424 PCI-e card and 96 inputs (including optical) connected to it, (2x 24i/o, 2x 2408mkIII, Focusrite Saffire (optically connected to a 2408) an 828mk2 (also optically connected), I'd have to go back to the mall for a bunch of newer MOTU interfaces, AND kiss my AdrenaLinn, SampleTron, Pro-53 and Miroslav, etc, good-bye...Maybe that expansion card slot on the front is comparable to a PCI-e slot? Thanks again.
Broadly speaking, back in 2013, larger setups were more reliant on PCI, which was unfortunately subtracted from the 2013 Mac Pro. Nowadays, I don't know many people still using PCI. Most have migrated to USB3 or Thunderbolt. Even larger arrays of MOTU i/o work great via TB/ethernet. I'm not an expert in these bigger setups, but I know if I was setting ups. larger setup today, I'd be much more interested in TB/ethernet than in PCI. I've used some of MOTU's AVB gear and it is excellent.
I've been SUPER happy with the Macbook Pro with M1 max. Granted, eager for Plugin Alliance to update because they still cause issues even in Rosetta, but the Macbook runs circles around my 2019 Mac Pro 16-core (which I sold as soon as I discovered that the M1 chips were going to make it obsolete, post haste!). I'm hoping they can put an ultra in the Macbook, because I'm now hooked on maintaining just one machine and I need to be able to take a production setup on the road. Nice video, David!
M1 Pro MBP with a new RME Babyface Pro here. It's the most solid and stable audio setup I've had to date. Doubt I'll be upgrading again for many years to come ...it handles everything I throw at it, with plenty of headroom to breath.
My 2013 Mac Pro trashcan is starting to have "problems". I have the D700 video and had those replaced 2 years ago, but now it cant seem to find all of the RAM... Looks like I've found the replacement. Even can get 500 bucks on trade in for the old trash can...
David, great video. I am also still deciding between 64 and 128 GB of RAM. I will be using orchestral templates but not a lot of other plugins. I am not sure if you mean "heavy amount of sample libraries" just an orchestral template ( woodwinds, brass strings percussions). Are you buying the 64GB? will you try your machine loading a ton of samples to test it? Will you update us on the results? Thank you!
"Heavy amount of sample libraries" refers to how many libraries you choose to load simultaneously and how much RAM they occupy (and there are different ways to configure this). It's pretty hard to explain concisely so perhaps I'll do a whole video on it at some point. Some composers work very lean and modest, other composers demand hundreds of gigabytes of samples loaded and want them all loaded simultaneously so that when they're working, they don't have to wait for patches to load. I have a hard enough time determining for myself whether 64 or 128GB is better, because there's yet another bottleneck: CPU. So it's very difficult for me to make a recommendation for someone else. However, I'll brainstorm if there's a way for me to explain this simply in the context of another video.
@@williamtopping Unfortunately it is not as simplistic as you think. There are a lot of factors in it and not just simply adding instruments and doing simple math. That's why I suggest to leave it to a professional...
Most daws let you create a template with deactivated tracks that don’t load the VI’s into RAM. Even with a recent orchestral hybrid trailer track I did with 150+ tracks loaded into RAM it used 85gb RAM. However, when I went into each one and unloaded unused articulations I got it down to 55gb ram. When I then purged unused samples I got it down to 36gb ram. What I’m saying is that with a good habit of housekeeping as you go along then you don’t need 128gb ram. Unless you need to work quickly without thought, then go for it. I know composers that do custom trailers on tight turnarounds (like overnight) and they don’t have time to be housekeeping as they go along so they have min 128gb ram in their machines.
@@skipstream2 Yes, you're right. A lot of busier composers don't want to bother with this. But it's a valid approach -- somewhat of a workaround -- as is freezing unused tracks or bouncing them. It totally works and can save significant amount of CPU, but at the tradeoff of convenience.
Great video, David. But you say "expandability is back" - I didn't think it was possible to do anything more with these machines once they're configured, other than connect external drives etc..?
That's a great point that I didn't fully explain. My summary is that now, in 2022, we have a myriad of choices for Thunderbolt and fast USB storage options and hubs, enabling us to connect just about anything to the computer easily and (mostly) economically. This wasn't the case with the 2013 Mac Pro, when Apple took away internal hard drive slots, and forced us to migrate to Thunderbolt which was barely supported at the time.
Yea, I heard that .....but Expandability is different from Upgradability .... More ThunderBolt, USB and SD along with the ability to drive four 6k XDR Displays plus a 4k TV via HDMI ...thats what makes it expandable. Anyway, who knows what cool, future ThunderBolt 4 devices might pop up(?)....Think external GPU...
@@goobfilmcast4239 True. I'm pessimistic that Apple will ever let us upgrade our own memory and drives again. But as for everything else, TB (and the newer faster generations of USB) are likely an effective avenue for expandability.
Some old Neve 1073 pre's and the commodore 64 combo cannot be matched as far as that big warm, vintage sound is concerned. I've heard the Mac goose neck also holds it's own.
The ultimate has 800MB/s memory speed, which the lower priced unit does not have. I will choose the 2tb or 4tb drives to make sure they never get maxed out. Always want to have breathing room on the primary drive. I want a rack mount pro so I can get rid of all the extra/sloppy spaghetti and outboard expansion units.
I'm doubtful that extra memory speed will make much difference for us musicians -- that's not a bottleneck that slows things down for us. The larger drives, yes, are helpful if you have the budget. (My comment was more directed at people who choose to be frugal.)
@@daviddas Absolutely! Don't get me wrong. I don't want to spend anymore than I have to. That being said, I have been waiting for years for computers to get this good/great! This relatively huge investment needs to last for the next half-decade, at least, hopefully! During that time, I want the system to be hick-up-free and as bullet-proof as humanly possible. Expandable/up-gradable. And also, as much as possible, I want it all in the same liquid-cooled rack mount enclosure (PCIe NVMe M.2 Raid - for data security). Add to this the Dante (another PCIe card), ADAT Lightpipe (another PCIe card), 10GB Ethernet, and TB3/4 connectivity. Thankfully, we are now moving beyond the need for outboard DSP. Hopefully by Christmas, when I am going to make this purchase (like buying a new car!!!), things will be even more worked out (harrowed down) in this multimedia Production ecosystem.
Can somebody give me your input on the Mac Studio on this video vs the MacBook M2 Max 64gb 2 tb Can somebody give me your advise which would be better for music artist like Protools and Premier Pro
It really depends on which and how many orchestral libraries you want to use. Some are small, some are humungous, and some people use them lightly (lower polyphony) while others use them very heavily. Some people keep everything loaded at once (which is most taxing) while others load only what they like/need. So there's no one-size-fits-all answer to your question. But if you are starting out, you can do a lot with 32GB. There are also some advanced settings in Kontakt and the other samplers that let you use less RAM in a trade-off for disk access. At some point I'll do a video on that.
@@daviddas since the 64gb version isnt shipping until june (!) i'll stick with 32gb! it's a shame it can't be upgraded... but i think i'll be fine for now
Yeah. It's still not quite there in terms of software compatibility imo. Such a fundamental change in architecture takes years for software manufacturers to catch up. I'm leaving it another year I think. I've got a high spec Intel imac and I'm not suffering performance problems
Good point Rex Effect. I use Kontakt 99% of the time, and now that I check, Kontakt is the only NI app that's Apple Silicon native. I would have mentioned this in the video if I had known it at the time. Well, for many film composers (which is one of my primary audiences) Kontakt IS the only important one. I know NI is working hard on this, so I'm not surprised they prioritized Kontakt first and then I'm sure the others will follow (hopefully quickly).
Normally you're right, it takes a long time, but I will say that this Apple Silicon transition appears to be easier for developers than many other major transitions. I've heard from the mouths of several developers that it was an easier port.
I built an i9 PC a couple years ago based off your prior videos, which I appreciated! Question? Do you think an external i9 will be needed with either THIS Mac studio, or the undoubtedly monster Mac Pro coming? Also, is your external SSD drive speed as fast as using the larger 8 tb internal drive on this new machine, or is the difference negligible for audio use? Thanks, love your vids mano!
External SSD drive performance should be comparable especially if you go m2. As for your other question (if an external machine will still be needed) it's impossible to give a one-size-fits-all answer since everyone uses their setup differently. I'll go out on a limb and say the Mac Studio can likely do a good chunk more than the higher-end Intels that it replaces, but some people who need mega power or have mega templates will still want additional machine(s). The cheapest solution would be a DIY Intel machine for those purposes. We shall see as the high-end Mac Studios start rolling out and people start putting them through their paces!
Hi David, I've been saving doggedly for a couple of years after watching your previous studio configuration videos and was even starting to lean away from Mac completely. However, even the more expensive option you've shown here seems to fit quite well into my projected budget. Thanks for the walkthrough!
One thing I am interested in is the idea of - or the lack of to be precise. In the realm of Samples of Orchestral instruments fast connections are needed between SD’s so that a massive Orchestral setup can be used - in such a set up as the4 Mac Studio with its 128GB ofRAM, is this now the best mock up anyone can have?
How massive is massive? This Mac Studio, at its highest config, could host quite a few major orchestral libraries simultaneously. But not infinite. The best multi-machine setup available now would be putting Vienna Ensemble Pro on 1 or more additional machines (even older machines can handle the load fairly well).
Remember too that the M1 ram is much more efficient than previous ram arrangements. I have 64gig of ram on an M1 max chip and it outperforms my Intel Mac Pro with 160 gigs of ram.
@@Dudadius the latency of the RAM is lower and it uses less power due to being on the package. For music, which isn’t using the GPU and similar things, what you’re gaining from is the speed of the SSD and swapping/memory mapping. The RAM doesn’t store more in it, it’s still that much RAM. Apple has created monsters that are very well-balanced such that they’re largely CPU-bound for many purposes that often handle streams of data, with fast enough internal SSD storage that the CPU cores are the limiting factors for getting data processed, not I/O speed.
Thank you got your video on studio. I want a new Mac. I have an iMac 2015 and it’s ok and I’m new to orchestrating and only have a few free libraries., but I want to upgrade my orchestral library and was thinking of the a new Mac mini pro but since watching what you were showing here about the studio that made my stop and think a little. It seems I would have to purchase a new screen monitor😮. What monitor and size do you work with. Thanks ahead.
That new screen looks amazing. Love the idea of having a decent camera, mics etc also. Are there any cheaper alternatives that can do all that at the same level of quality?
The only 5K alternative is really the LG Ultrafine 5K, and it's not that much cheaper. At that price range, I think just buying an Apple is a better investment. Nobody else really makes a monitor like that, with that combination of resolution and functionality, which is why they can price it the way they do. I really love the 5K resolution for running Logic. More than monitor size, I always want pixels for my workspace.
thank you very much for this review, please, swhat would you recommend for music composition with a lot of orchestral VST instruments in Logic pro? I'm currently working on my Imac pro 2016
Dont tell our college selves… the tape line would finally come off the floor… but i ordered an ultra to finally make the cut from my Windows machine. ;-)
Hi David, Your video is a great help. Actually, my budget allows me to buy Mac Studio M2 Max, 12-core CPU, 30-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, 64GB unified memory, and 1TB SSD storage, I use Logic as my DAW. I know this system is pretty low than the one you are talking about. Any suggestion will be much appreciated. Thank you
Hi David, I was looking at the Apple refurbished site too and I found Refurbished Mac Studio Apple M1 Ultra Chip with a 20‑Core CPU and 48‑Core GPU with a price reaches to $3,779.00 where Max m2 was 2998.99. My goal is only the best performance with Logic Pro + VST like bbc symphony Orchestra Pro (CPU and memory hungry). What would be your advice on that? Thank you
If I'm an absolute beginner looking to finally upgrade from garage band to Logic Pro X do you think 16GB RAM is enough for M1 Pro Macbook Pro 14'? or should I future proof with 32
There's not really a specific relationship between computer and monitor. You should get whatever size monitor fits your space and is comfortable for you, both ergonomically and price wise. More expensive monitors have more features. I did an entire video on how I use a 4k TV as my main monitor and I love it, though of course that's not a solution for everyone.
Such a shame the did not release a version with the M1 Max. When you look at the price difference of the MacBooks, it could cost $1100 while having the same performance in Logic as the M1 Pro.
I disagree external SSDs are significantly cheaper. When you aim on thunderbolt SSD they are about the same price, but not so fast as Apple internal disks.
I believe external m2 drives connected via TB should be equivalent to internal drives. I haven't tested myself, but they should be in the same ballpark.
I think you left off the most important aspect. Most issues I see people having is "single core overloads/spikes". My 2013 trashcan is still about 40% across all 12 threads on very heavy sessions... except now... newer plugins are starting to tax my single core playback. I have run out of headroom (at times) so to speak when it comes to that problem. So it will force me to buy a new machine now/soon. Both machines you showed have the same "single processor benchmarks"... so there is no value paying for top line version. Not to mention these machines have TONS of graphic horsepower we will never use. So if you are like me.. current machine has lots of CPU across the threads/cores, then put your money toward the machine with the best 1 core speed. BTW I did get NINE years out of this machine though... so very happy. Each lifespan seems to get longer and longer for me. Except laptops. Been on Macs since '91.
so what do you recommend? The 10 core or the 20? I don't really understand all that stuff... What I know is that my daw keeps crashing and that I need a computer that can hold large files and plugins while doing it smoothly.
Thanks for this David! That was concise and just what I was looking for. The power and footprint of the ultra make it really appealing...and the price tag esp. when compared to the Intel beasty.
2 grand to 4 grand and it doesn't come with a mouse and a keyboard.. my goodness. for what I need, it's the IMAC M1 16 gigs, 1tb ssd.. but i'll get it once my programs are M1 ready..
Great video. I still have my 2012 MacPro staffed with ram and Harddrives. I oaied around 15.000 euros for it and now Apple will give me back 80 euros in return if i send them the machine haha
LOL. Most musicians will have audio input via external devices (audio interface or USB mic or similar) that provide superior A/D conversion than Apple would include.
Great video! I’ve been running a 2017 5K iMac with an upgraddd 40GB of Ram with relatively no issues but I also don’t do music production to the extent that you do, but this looks like a pretty amazing upgrade for me even at the base specs. While this is fully capable of handling all my video production needs, I’ve got this beast of a PC to handle all that kind of work and should last me at least to Apple updates their Mac Pro lineup which they did tease in the Apple event but I think most people missed it.
newer stuff is relatively good for new production bcoz pushing the updates both software and hardware, but not always better. i wished for the m1 pro mac mini, not the ultra. m1 on the air and imac24 suffers / limited in performance deliberately. now apple try to make the m1 obsolete with m1 ultra and m2 and so on…
That's been the story of computers from the very beginning and probably will be forever. Buy what you need today and upgrade when you outgrow it (or when it's cost-feasible to do so).
This is a reference to the current proliferation of USB 3 and Thunderbolt devices that are currently available. This was not the case in 2013 when Apple subtracted expandability and there were hardly any economical options to replace them. My contention is the 2013 Mac Pro was a few steps backwards regarding expandability. Now in 2022, the market has caught up. (I do still wish Thunderbolt enclosures were cheaper, though.)
@@daviddas Your reply is a fitting description of the Mac Studio. The 2013 Mac Pro offered 6 Thunderbolt ports, the Mac Studio only offers 4 (6 with the Untra, but then you lose the USC-C's). The 2013 Mac Pro offered 4 USB 3 ports, the Mac Studio only offers 2. The 2013 Mac Pro offered 6 Thunderbolt ports, the Mac Studio only offers 4. The 2013 Mac Pro offered 2 Ethernet ports, the Mac Studio only offers 1. Both models only offers one HDMI port. This is a huge issue with DAWs, which could be solved with a thunderbolt eGPU on the 2013 Mac Pro. (see blelow) With the 2013 Mac Pro, you can ugrade the processor (thought it is a bit fiddly). With the Mac Studio you can't. With the 2013 Mac Pro, you can ugrade the RAM. With the Mac Studio you can't. With the 2013 Mac Pro, you can ugrade the Storage. With the Mac Studio you can't. * With the 2013 Mac Pro, you can ugrade the GPU. With the Mac Studio you can't. * * You can upgrade the storage, by using very expensive PCIe expanders, but I've heard that the Mac Studio doesn't support external GPU cards, so if that's true you're screwed. So, the Mac Studio is actually a huge step back-wards, when it come's to expadability and upgradeability. The Mac Studio is missnamed. It should have been called Mac Video, or Mac Graphics. It's actually quite badly suited for audio work! It has already been nick-named the Trashcan 2.0. I don''t care about disgnostic performance tests. My computer is a tool. I don't sit around watching performance graphs all day. So the answer to your question "Is the Mac Studio right for a music studio?", is a resounding NO!! On the other important issue regarding Apple Silicon plug-in compatibility, your estimation is waaaay off! I recently made a "survey" by checking a lot of vendors sites, and contacting them by email (not everyone replied). My result shows that only about 30% support Apple Silicon NATIVELY! This is very important, as not all DWAs can run Native and Rosetta emulated plug-ins simultaneously. I'm told that Logic can, but with huge power penalty. My DAW (Cubase Pro) can't. So as far as I'm concened: Compatible via Rosetta = NOT compatible! So, before you invest in a Mac Studio (despite all the issues listed above), ask yourself the following important questions: Does my DAW support Apple Silicon NATIVELY? Do all my plug-ins support Apple Silicon NATIVELY? Can your DAW load native and Rosetta emulated plug-in simultaneously? If any answer is no, DON'T! It's wasted money! So, why not run the whole thing under Rosetta? I say, what's the point? I estimate that it will take, at least, another two years until all the comptibility issues has been ironed out. I'd rather keep on using my trusty 12 years old 5,1 Mac Pro, until then. At that time, I'll probaly be able to buy an M3 powered Mac Studio (or Mac Pro) for the same money. The Mac Studio (or any M1 Mac) is highly unsuitable for AUDIO work, right now. That's my opinion.
It's possible, but I think Apple will probably re-use and expand the M1 before making a big deal about a quantum leap forward with an M2 (presumably next year). If they figure out a way to combine multiple M1 Ultras, I think that's what they'll build the Mac Pro on. (Note, too, that they have significant supply chain issues with the current chips, due to the current state of the world, so that factor will play into their plans.) I'm thinking of doing a video on this entire issue.
I have my doubts about Apple leaving Intel on the Mac Pro anytime soon. A Mac Pro has to have PCIe support and they haven't demonstrated that they can even do that with the M1.
⚠️ WARNING ABOUT MAC STUDIO I own a Mac Studio and 64 gig ram system. It is full of bugs for music software, including video editing. It has turned into an absolute nightmare on various levels. Play back glitching and Looping when it’s not supposed to be Looping. System crashes that are never ending. Despite I have sent seven or eight system crashes now to Apple nothing has ever been resolved why my system keeps crashing. They’ve had a half a year to resolve this issue‼️ And the processor is easily overloaded once you start adding video software such as final cut pro. Even when you start a brand new music project that’s only one track, I get a message saying that the internal SSD is too slow. I receive that message frequently as it’s a real headache because then you’re music software no longer works. You have to close and reboot and hope for the best. I use my Mac Studio about 50 to 70 hours a week. Had anyone done a genuine review of the problems that I have listed which are far more than listed here, as I actually use the Mac Studio nearly every day… I would’ve never bought one. DO NOT BUY A MAC STUDIO UNTIL THE NEXT GENERATION COMES OUT IN EARLY 2023? I will be selling my current first generation when the next one comes out. Again do not buy this if you’re going to be using it for professional projects. Mac Studio cannot handle professional use. The problem is so bad that twin processors would never resolve all these issues. DO NOT BUY A MAC STUDIO UNTIL THE NEXT GENERATION‼️ Consider yourself warned.
Oh no! Really? What are your thoights on refurbished? I'm looking into the M1 Max chip Mac Studio* 64gb 1TB 10 core 32 core GPU comparing prices to the M2 Max Mac Studio with less storage and memory...I was leaning towards the M1*
I don't see the point of yet another specs video, particularly when actual hands-on reviews are about to be published. Given the audience, the decision to focus on the M1 Ultra configuration is just weird.
As usual, Apple have come up with a great computer, but then sting people for the extras that many will need. The ram and ssd upgrades are really overpriced and to not even give you a keyboard and mouse is dreadful. Having said that, my 2015 iMac is due to be replaced as it won’t run some of the software I want to use or update macOS anymore so I’ll be getting a Mac Studio next year when I’ve saved up the cash. I do wish they had put 4 usb 3.0 ports on it. Most synths and audio interfaces use the old usb A connectors but I guess I’ll be buying a hub or dock of some kind too. Oh, and a monitor of course - doubt I can afford the Studio display😪
It’s hilarious to see random people acting like product specialists for big corporations like Apple. You are even wearing the shirt LMAO I don’t see the point of yet another specs video, what a disappointment. If you are a composer, ignore the bad advices in this video and wait for the Mac Pro. Thank me later.
What a total waste of my time. How can you possibly recommend this machine for music production, and do an entire video about, without even opening a single daw or a plug in? This is literally like doing a car review video without driving it. At the very least, open logic and throw 3-400 tracks at it with reverbs and whatever.
Mitch Gallagher at Sweetwater did a video on his MacBook Pro with M1 Max in December of 2021. He puts it thru the paces using 1000 tracks with EQ, compression, etc.
What's the point of buying an overpriced computer with an M1 chip which is incompatible with 95 percent of the music software out there? So that new software can force you to pay a SUBSCRIPTION fee for their software? So that musicians can keep continuing to pursue to be uncreative by using cheap subscription software and produce uncreative songs? Why do we have to re-learn new software when Pro Tools and Ableton Live works fine on Intel based PCs and Macs? They do the same thing! Professional Studios STILL use G5s running Pro Tools for recording! This Mac Studio is unnecessary!
for me wanting a template of 200 tracks of vsts is ideal. But the compatibility is stupid, you are right. I never update my mac anymore , is a hell. I would love to run Catalina in a M1 lol
@@emanuel_soundtrack it's not ideal for that, a pc is way better, if you want a huge template ready immediately. The pc's can have more storage (m2, nvme) can have (with some motherboards) have 265GB ram if needed, performs better overall (e.g. faster motherboards: north/south bridge speeds). The studio is for people who want to remain in the apple eco system (and logic e.g.), and that is a valid reason, sure. But from performance, storage and ram, the pc always wins. Not saying pc's are nicer to work with, or don't have issues... but... it's true: pc's are more future proof, and can take heavier loads more easily.
No Apple machines can grow. The switch to M1 was the last straw for me. I don’t care how fast the processor is. I. Am. Out. I went back to PC and switched from Logic to Cakewalk. Apple sucks now for audio creators. Logic is stale.
Just purchased Mac Studio … was using 27 in iMac previously but can’t wait to see what the Mac S can do … thanks for info … peace ✅
Biggest factor the Mac Studio has over any PC/Intel alternative is it doesn’t sound like a jet engine when pushed hard. Nice to have in a music studio.
Very good point.
Super important. My I mac 2020 is hoorible for sound
The M1's strength is definitely efficiency. Yes you can brute force your way with a PC, but it'll double as a space warmer for your studio.
I had no idea what M1 was when I got my laptop and almost decided against it because lack of native support, but after having owned one it would be hard to go back. I definitely prioritized getting another M1 after my first, because it just lasts longer. More convenient. I bet these M1's will be some of the first commercially viable computers that last 15-20 years (instead of the usual 10). Because thats what it feels like. Like it would last twice as long like a hybrid car or something (my prius currently has 330k miles with no signs of slowing down). Lasts longer, charges better, and its super quiet. M1 is a win.
Love the new Mac Studio. Finally I can choose my own monitors instead of iMac's fixed monitor...
Yes THIS. So nice to have the various options so we can really customize what we need.
Nice walk through. Helped alot with my purchase
Yah, definitely. Was thinking about holding out some months (or even years?) for a Mac Pro Cube/Mini M1 in hopes of it being spec’d with a couple of PCI supporting expansion slots...but going to confidently settle for the Mac Studio M1 Max now, as compatibility with whatever desired recording gear may very well be able to be alternatively achieved externally via Thunderbolt 4...and also it looks like plenty of DAWs and plugins are now coming online for compatibility with M1, along with Monterey, this machine’s minimal O/S.
Excellent perspective David! I'm still on a 2010 Mac Pro tower and this does look amazing. I am still waiting to see what they do with the Mac Pro. Will we be able to add internal storage ourselves? But at what price? I could easily see 7 or 8 years with the Mac Studio while 10 or more years with a Mac Pro. Again, I'm 11 years into an upgraded Mac Pro running all the latest software and Mojave. Not shabby!
Isn't the Studio desktop more likely to out last the macbook pro? As it has less parts that could become faulty?
Or are you referring to how long you personally see yourself comfortably/being happy to use it.?
And if went for Studio Ultimate, presumably would get a few more years worth of updates vs the Pro?
I'm still using a 2012 macbook pro, that just about works. Get alot more power potential for the money with the studio vs the Pro, but not the all in one portable convienance.
I think the original poster was talking about the Mac Pro(desktop), not the MacBOOK Pro(Laptop)
@@tay.joh.6326 Indeed he was. Thanks for your input, it made me read again and was instantly clear.
I use VEP6 with DP10 & my template is lean & modest, just EW orchestral lib & other plugins like Omnisphere, Native Insts, UVI Workstation, & similar AU plugins and lets say you have around 100 midi tracks running various instances of these plugins.
1) Do you think with all the power of Ultra & 128gb Unified memory , VEP could be avoided & everything can work well in DP?
2) Is 128 GB needed for such a template?
3) Which did you get David 128 or 64gb?
It's impossible to predict how things will work out for you, because I don't know the quantity of RAM your current orchestral template is currently using, nor your typical polyphony, which affects how much CPU you use. If I can get my head around a good way to explain it, I may do a future video on this topic, so stay tuned. As for myself, I'm planning to do some tests soon with my current M1 MacBook Pro which has 64GB. Based on the results of that, that'll give me a clue as to how much I want in my still-unordered Mac Studio. Again, hopefully it'll make it in to a future video if I feel like it's something I can explain well and will be helpful.
@@daviddas thanks, got it, will wait for your video.
Are you gonna do a video actually using a Mac Studio in a music setting?
I am getting tired of watching videos where all we hear are video export speeds and such…
Thanks.
IKR! Literally every video I've seen has been finalcut export times, blender renders, or cinebench tests. Do they really think that the only people buying these machines are youtubers or 3D renderers?
@@sgeggbub1008 hahah exactly. I want a Richard Strauss mockup test!
Nothing beats the sound of my Commodore 64! Thanks David.
LOL well played.
But then you’re stuck with the abysmally-slow “intelligent” floppy drives, even with any kind of acceleration, that are still far slower than the brainless Apple ][ disk drives!
I'm building a home studio at the moment and hope to purchase a Mac Studio for it!
I bought the cheapest Mac Studio (32GBRam, 500GB SSD) for 2.300,-€ and this machine is very powerful using Apples own newest Logic Pro X 10.7.4 with some 3rd Party Plugins. The sessions get bigger and the Mac Studio is at 15-20 % CPU Usage. This machine is very quiet, very small and light. No comparison to my old broken Mac Pro 5.1. and still running 6.1. The 1TB and 2 TB Mac Studios were not available at the time of my purchase, so I have to add some external SSDs.
That's great to hear.
did you get the 10 core or the 20 core of cpu? I'm afraid to buy the 10 core just to find that it's not enough
I added a maxed-everything Max Studio last year and posted a review. I’ve been happy with it but there are some issues. I’m holding back on MacOS 13 to avoid incompatibilities. The raw power for video editing is outstanding, and it’s near silent operation is great. Not a huge fan of the form factor but it works.
I definitely will be using sample libraries heavily. Most likely on external drives. Do you think 64GB of ram will be good enough? I definitely don't want to overspend.
Impossible to give you a one-size-fits-all answer but take a look at your RAM usage in Kontakt to see how much RAM you currently use. You can also experiment with Preload Buffer Size which affects how much RAM Kontakt is using. (Video on this coming soon.)
Great take on our music making future, especially as it’s here now!
Thanks for this video, David! Super helpful!!! Obviously I'm late to the party, but... MUCH obliged!!
🤘❤🤘
Thanks, David. Could you please compare the EXPANDABILITY you say is included in the new Macs, to that of a vintage MacPro with PCI-e slots? Is that where Thunderbolt steps in? Same bandwidth? As a MOTU user with a totally maxed out PCI-424 PCI-e card and 96 inputs (including optical) connected to it, (2x 24i/o, 2x 2408mkIII, Focusrite Saffire (optically connected to a 2408) an 828mk2 (also optically connected), I'd have to go back to the mall for a bunch of newer MOTU interfaces, AND kiss my AdrenaLinn, SampleTron, Pro-53 and Miroslav, etc, good-bye...Maybe that expansion card slot on the front is comparable to a PCI-e slot? Thanks again.
Broadly speaking, back in 2013, larger setups were more reliant on PCI, which was unfortunately subtracted from the 2013 Mac Pro. Nowadays, I don't know many people still using PCI. Most have migrated to USB3 or Thunderbolt. Even larger arrays of MOTU i/o work great via TB/ethernet. I'm not an expert in these bigger setups, but I know if I was setting ups. larger setup today, I'd be much more interested in TB/ethernet than in PCI. I've used some of MOTU's AVB gear and it is excellent.
@@daviddas thank you, i see. Appreciated.
Great Video which ticked all of the boxes for me
I still use my 2012 i7 quad core Intel macmini it works fine.
Can’t wait to see your review as soon as you pop all the good plugins on a s session ✌🏻
I've been SUPER happy with the Macbook Pro with M1 max. Granted, eager for Plugin Alliance to update because they still cause issues even in Rosetta, but the Macbook runs circles around my 2019 Mac Pro 16-core (which I sold as soon as I discovered that the M1 chips were going to make it obsolete, post haste!). I'm hoping they can put an ultra in the Macbook, because I'm now hooked on maintaining just one machine and I need to be able to take a production setup on the road. Nice video, David!
Really interesting to read this firsthand experience! Especially from a last-gen Intel to a first-gen M1.
@@daviddas Looks like Plugin Alliance just updated to M1! Downloading now...
Ultra will never be used any time soon in a MacBook due to thermal issues. Maybe in 3-5 years when technology and heat management gets smaller/better.
M1 Pro MBP with a new RME Babyface Pro here. It's the most solid and stable audio setup I've had to date. Doubt I'll be upgrading again for many years to come ...it handles everything I throw at it, with plenty of headroom to breath.
Thanks David
My 2013 Mac Pro trashcan is starting to have "problems". I have the D700 video and had those replaced 2 years ago, but now it cant seem to find all of the RAM... Looks like I've found the replacement. Even can get 500 bucks on trade in for the old trash can...
David, great video. I am also still deciding between 64 and 128 GB of RAM. I will be using orchestral templates but not a lot of other plugins. I am not sure if you mean "heavy amount of sample libraries" just an orchestral template ( woodwinds, brass strings percussions). Are you buying the 64GB? will you try your machine loading a ton of samples to test it? Will you update us on the results? Thank you!
"Heavy amount of sample libraries" refers to how many libraries you choose to load simultaneously and how much RAM they occupy (and there are different ways to configure this). It's pretty hard to explain concisely so perhaps I'll do a whole video on it at some point. Some composers work very lean and modest, other composers demand hundreds of gigabytes of samples loaded and want them all loaded simultaneously so that when they're working, they don't have to wait for patches to load.
I have a hard enough time determining for myself whether 64 or 128GB is better, because there's yet another bottleneck: CPU. So it's very difficult for me to make a recommendation for someone else. However, I'll brainstorm if there's a way for me to explain this simply in the context of another video.
@@williamtopping Unfortunately it is not as simplistic as you think. There are a lot of factors in it and not just simply adding instruments and doing simple math. That's why I suggest to leave it to a professional...
Most daws let you create a template with deactivated tracks that don’t load the VI’s into RAM. Even with a recent orchestral hybrid trailer track I did with 150+ tracks loaded into RAM it used 85gb RAM. However, when I went into each one and unloaded unused articulations I got it down to 55gb ram. When I then purged unused samples I got it down to 36gb ram. What I’m saying is that with a good habit of housekeeping as you go along then you don’t need 128gb ram. Unless you need to work quickly without thought, then go for it. I know composers that do custom trailers on tight turnarounds (like overnight) and they don’t have time to be housekeeping as they go along so they have min 128gb ram in their machines.
@@skipstream2 very helpful tip. It makes sense. Thank you so much!
@@skipstream2 Yes, you're right. A lot of busier composers don't want to bother with this. But it's a valid approach -- somewhat of a workaround -- as is freezing unused tracks or bouncing them. It totally works and can save significant amount of CPU, but at the tradeoff of convenience.
Great video, David. But you say "expandability is back" - I didn't think it was possible to do anything more with these machines once they're configured, other than connect external drives etc..?
That's a great point that I didn't fully explain. My summary is that now, in 2022, we have a myriad of choices for Thunderbolt and fast USB storage options and hubs, enabling us to connect just about anything to the computer easily and (mostly) economically. This wasn't the case with the 2013 Mac Pro, when Apple took away internal hard drive slots, and forced us to migrate to Thunderbolt which was barely supported at the time.
Yea, I heard that .....but Expandability is different from Upgradability .... More ThunderBolt, USB and SD along with the ability to drive four 6k XDR Displays plus a 4k TV via HDMI ...thats what makes it expandable. Anyway, who knows what cool, future ThunderBolt 4 devices might pop up(?)....Think external GPU...
@@goobfilmcast4239 True. I'm pessimistic that Apple will ever let us upgrade our own memory and drives again. But as for everything else, TB (and the newer faster generations of USB) are likely an effective avenue for expandability.
Thanks for the bit where you show us whats what on the apple store pages :) Nice video man :) they look cool!
Some old Neve 1073 pre's and the commodore 64 combo cannot be matched as far as that big warm, vintage sound is concerned. I've heard the Mac goose neck also holds it's own.
Another excellent and very helpful video. Great to get your perspective. But now it looks like around a 12 week wait for delivery…:(
The ultimate has 800MB/s memory speed, which the lower priced unit does not have. I will choose the 2tb or 4tb drives to make sure they never get maxed out. Always want to have breathing room on the primary drive. I want a rack mount pro so I can get rid of all the extra/sloppy spaghetti and outboard expansion units.
I'm doubtful that extra memory speed will make much difference for us musicians -- that's not a bottleneck that slows things down for us. The larger drives, yes, are helpful if you have the budget. (My comment was more directed at people who choose to be frugal.)
@@daviddas Absolutely! Don't get me wrong. I don't want to spend anymore than I have to. That being said, I have been waiting for years for computers to get this good/great! This relatively huge investment needs to last for the next half-decade, at least, hopefully! During that time, I want the system to be hick-up-free and as bullet-proof as humanly possible. Expandable/up-gradable. And also, as much as possible, I want it all in the same liquid-cooled rack mount enclosure (PCIe NVMe M.2 Raid - for data security). Add to this the Dante (another PCIe card), ADAT Lightpipe (another PCIe card), 10GB Ethernet, and TB3/4 connectivity. Thankfully, we are now moving beyond the need for outboard DSP. Hopefully by Christmas, when I am going to make this purchase (like buying a new car!!!), things will be even more worked out (harrowed down) in this multimedia Production ecosystem.
Can somebody give me your input on the Mac Studio on this video vs the MacBook M2 Max 64gb 2 tb
Can somebody give me your advise which would be better for music artist like Protools and Premier Pro
are 32 gb enough for orchestral programming? 🙈 i´m not professional yet. i don´t know how much i´m going to need :/
It really depends on which and how many orchestral libraries you want to use. Some are small, some are humungous, and some people use them lightly (lower polyphony) while others use them very heavily. Some people keep everything loaded at once (which is most taxing) while others load only what they like/need. So there's no one-size-fits-all answer to your question. But if you are starting out, you can do a lot with 32GB. There are also some advanced settings in Kontakt and the other samplers that let you use less RAM in a trade-off for disk access. At some point I'll do a video on that.
@@daviddas thanks for taking the time to reply :) a video on that would definitely be interesting!
@@daviddas since the 64gb version isnt shipping until june (!) i'll stick with 32gb! it's a shame it can't be upgraded... but i think i'll be fine for now
Hey, will you update us on the results? I am also using an orchestral template. Thanks.
@@dksellou surely i can give an update! it's coming in april though
Native instruments, hasn’t scratched the surface of moving on to apple silicon, most of my software is native instruments, what a bummer!
Yeah. It's still not quite there in terms of software compatibility imo. Such a fundamental change in architecture takes years for software manufacturers to catch up. I'm leaving it another year I think. I've got a high spec Intel imac and I'm not suffering performance problems
Good point Rex Effect. I use Kontakt 99% of the time, and now that I check, Kontakt is the only NI app that's Apple Silicon native. I would have mentioned this in the video if I had known it at the time. Well, for many film composers (which is one of my primary audiences) Kontakt IS the only important one. I know NI is working hard on this, so I'm not surprised they prioritized Kontakt first and then I'm sure the others will follow (hopefully quickly).
Normally you're right, it takes a long time, but I will say that this Apple Silicon transition appears to be easier for developers than many other major transitions. I've heard from the mouths of several developers that it was an easier port.
Thanks mate, yesterday I almost buy one, but the issue with Vienna is a big problem for me. Great!!!
Yep, Vienna still lagging here...
I built an i9 PC a couple years ago based off your prior videos, which I appreciated! Question? Do you think an external i9 will be needed with either THIS Mac studio,
or the undoubtedly monster Mac Pro coming? Also, is your external SSD drive speed as fast as using the larger 8 tb internal drive on this new machine, or is the difference negligible for audio use? Thanks, love your vids mano!
External SSD drive performance should be comparable especially if you go m2. As for your other question (if an external machine will still be needed) it's impossible to give a one-size-fits-all answer since everyone uses their setup differently. I'll go out on a limb and say the Mac Studio can likely do a good chunk more than the higher-end Intels that it replaces, but some people who need mega power or have mega templates will still want additional machine(s). The cheapest solution would be a DIY Intel machine for those purposes. We shall see as the high-end Mac Studios start rolling out and people start putting them through their paces!
Hi David, I've been saving doggedly for a couple of years after watching your previous studio configuration videos and was even starting to lean away from Mac completely. However, even the more expensive option you've shown here seems to fit quite well into my projected budget. Thanks for the walkthrough!
One thing I am interested in is the idea of - or the lack of to be precise. In the realm of Samples of Orchestral instruments fast connections are needed between SD’s so that a massive Orchestral setup can be used - in such a set up as the4 Mac Studio with its 128GB ofRAM, is this now the best mock up anyone can have?
How massive is massive? This Mac Studio, at its highest config, could host quite a few major orchestral libraries simultaneously. But not infinite. The best multi-machine setup available now would be putting Vienna Ensemble Pro on 1 or more additional machines (even older machines can handle the load fairly well).
Remember too that the M1 ram is much more efficient than previous ram arrangements. I have 64gig of ram on an M1 max chip and it outperforms my Intel Mac Pro with 160 gigs of ram.
@@Dudadius the latency of the RAM is lower and it uses less power due to being on the package. For music, which isn’t using the GPU and similar things, what you’re gaining from is the speed of the SSD and swapping/memory mapping. The RAM doesn’t store more in it, it’s still that much RAM. Apple has created monsters that are very well-balanced such that they’re largely CPU-bound for many purposes that often handle streams of data, with fast enough internal SSD storage that the CPU cores are the limiting factors for getting data processed, not I/O speed.
Thank you got your video on studio. I want a new Mac. I have an iMac 2015 and it’s ok and I’m new to orchestrating and only have a few free libraries., but I want to upgrade my orchestral library and was thinking of the a new Mac mini pro but since watching what you were showing here about the studio that made my stop and think a little. It seems I would have to purchase a new screen monitor😮. What monitor and size do you work with. Thanks ahead.
That new screen looks amazing. Love the idea of having a decent camera, mics etc also.
Are there any cheaper alternatives that can do all that at the same level of quality?
Check my video description for a monitor alternative -- I named one possibility. (And there are likely several others in this class too.)
The only 5K alternative is really the LG Ultrafine 5K, and it's not that much cheaper. At that price range, I think just buying an Apple is a better investment. Nobody else really makes a monitor like that, with that combination of resolution and functionality, which is why they can price it the way they do. I really love the 5K resolution for running Logic. More than monitor size, I always want pixels for my workspace.
thank you very much for this review, please, swhat would you recommend for music composition with a lot of orchestral VST instruments in Logic pro? I'm currently working on my Imac pro 2016
Dont tell our college selves… the tape line would finally come off the floor… but i ordered an ultra to finally make the cut from my Windows machine. ;-)
hahaha
Hi David, Your video is a great help. Actually, my budget allows me to buy Mac Studio M2 Max, 12-core CPU, 30-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, 64GB unified memory, and 1TB SSD storage, I use Logic as my DAW. I know this system is pretty low than the one you are talking about. Any suggestion will be much appreciated. Thank you
I think that'll be a GREAT computer.
Thank you
Hi David, I was looking at the Apple refurbished site too and I found Refurbished Mac Studio Apple M1 Ultra Chip with a 20‑Core CPU and 48‑Core GPU with a price reaches to $3,779.00 where Max m2 was 2998.99. My goal is only the best performance with Logic Pro + VST like bbc symphony Orchestra Pro (CPU and memory hungry). What would be your advice on that? Thank you
Quick answer yes.
I agree.., but it's the o.s. for me it's not capable with older stuff...some manufacturers just and still catching up with big sir
If I'm an absolute beginner looking to finally upgrade from garage band to Logic Pro X do you think 16GB RAM is enough for M1 Pro Macbook Pro 14'? or should I future proof with 32
If you had to, you could get by on 16, but I'd rather go for the 32 just to be sure I have some nice breathing room for the future.
If it's not about the money, always go with the "higher spec". You'll never complain "oh, I have too much RAM"......"oh, my Mac is too fast".....
What’s a great monitor screen to use with this new Mac Studio?
There's not really a specific relationship between computer and monitor. You should get whatever size monitor fits your space and is comfortable for you, both ergonomically and price wise. More expensive monitors have more features. I did an entire video on how I use a 4k TV as my main monitor and I love it, though of course that's not a solution for everyone.
Such a shame the did not release a version with the M1 Max. When you look at the price difference of the MacBooks, it could cost $1100 while having the same performance in Logic as the M1 Pro.
Wouldn't that effectively be a Mac Mini?
I disagree external SSDs are significantly cheaper. When you aim on thunderbolt SSD they are about the same price, but not so fast as Apple internal disks.
I believe external m2 drives connected via TB should be equivalent to internal drives. I haven't tested myself, but they should be in the same ballpark.
I think you left off the most important aspect. Most issues I see people having is "single core overloads/spikes". My 2013 trashcan is still about 40% across all 12 threads on very heavy sessions... except now... newer plugins are starting to tax my single core playback. I have run out of headroom (at times) so to speak when it comes to that problem. So it will force me to buy a new machine now/soon. Both machines you showed have the same "single processor benchmarks"... so there is no value paying for top line version. Not to mention these machines have TONS of graphic horsepower we will never use. So if you are like me.. current machine has lots of CPU across the threads/cores, then put your money toward the machine with the best 1 core speed. BTW I did get NINE years out of this machine though... so very happy. Each lifespan seems to get longer and longer for me. Except laptops. Been on Macs since '91.
so what do you recommend? The 10 core or the 20? I don't really understand all that stuff... What I know is that my daw keeps crashing and that I need a computer that can hold large files and plugins while doing it smoothly.
@@vd12 Me too
Thanks for this David! That was concise and just what I was looking for. The power and footprint of the ultra make it really appealing...and the price tag esp. when compared to the Intel beasty.
I want a Richard Strauss mockup test!
2 grand to 4 grand and it doesn't come with a mouse and a keyboard.. my goodness. for what I need, it's the IMAC M1 16 gigs, 1tb ssd.. but i'll get it once my programs are M1 ready..
Great video. I still have my 2012 MacPro staffed with ram and Harddrives. I oaied around 15.000 euros for it and now Apple will give me back 80 euros in return if i send them the machine haha
If they really wanted to think of musicians when configuring this, where’s the line-in jack?
LOL. Most musicians will have audio input via external devices (audio interface or USB mic or similar) that provide superior A/D conversion than Apple would include.
They expect you to add one via PCIe... Oh, wait!
Great video! I’ve been running a 2017 5K iMac with an upgraddd 40GB of Ram with relatively no issues but I also don’t do music production to the extent that you do, but this looks like a pretty amazing upgrade for me even at the base specs. While this is fully capable of handling all my video production needs, I’ve got this beast of a PC to handle all that kind of work and should last me at least to Apple updates their Mac Pro lineup which they did tease in the Apple event but I think most people missed it.
newer stuff is relatively good for new production bcoz pushing the updates both software and hardware, but not always better. i wished for the m1 pro mac mini, not the ultra. m1 on the air and imac24 suffers / limited in performance deliberately. now apple try to make the m1 obsolete with m1 ultra and m2 and so on…
That's been the story of computers from the very beginning and probably will be forever. Buy what you need today and upgrade when you outgrow it (or when it's cost-feasible to do so).
"Expansability is back". What are you smokin'???
This is a reference to the current proliferation of USB 3 and Thunderbolt devices that are currently available. This was not the case in 2013 when Apple subtracted expandability and there were hardly any economical options to replace them. My contention is the 2013 Mac Pro was a few steps backwards regarding expandability. Now in 2022, the market has caught up. (I do still wish Thunderbolt enclosures were cheaper, though.)
@@daviddas Your reply is a fitting description of the Mac Studio.
The 2013 Mac Pro offered 6 Thunderbolt ports, the Mac Studio only offers 4 (6 with the Untra, but then you lose the USC-C's).
The 2013 Mac Pro offered 4 USB 3 ports, the Mac Studio only offers 2.
The 2013 Mac Pro offered 6 Thunderbolt ports, the Mac Studio only offers 4.
The 2013 Mac Pro offered 2 Ethernet ports, the Mac Studio only offers 1.
Both models only offers one HDMI port. This is a huge issue with DAWs, which could be solved with a thunderbolt eGPU on the 2013 Mac Pro. (see blelow)
With the 2013 Mac Pro, you can ugrade the processor (thought it is a bit fiddly). With the Mac Studio you can't.
With the 2013 Mac Pro, you can ugrade the RAM. With the Mac Studio you can't.
With the 2013 Mac Pro, you can ugrade the Storage. With the Mac Studio you can't. *
With the 2013 Mac Pro, you can ugrade the GPU. With the Mac Studio you can't. *
* You can upgrade the storage, by using very expensive PCIe expanders, but I've heard that the Mac Studio doesn't support external GPU cards, so if that's true you're screwed. So, the Mac Studio is actually a huge step back-wards, when it come's to expadability and upgradeability.
The Mac Studio is missnamed. It should have been called Mac Video, or Mac Graphics. It's actually quite badly suited for audio work! It has already been nick-named the Trashcan 2.0.
I don''t care about disgnostic performance tests. My computer is a tool. I don't sit around watching performance graphs all day.
So the answer to your question "Is the Mac Studio right for a music studio?", is a resounding NO!!
On the other important issue regarding Apple Silicon plug-in compatibility, your estimation is waaaay off! I recently made a "survey" by checking a lot of vendors sites, and contacting them by email (not everyone replied). My result shows that only about 30% support Apple Silicon NATIVELY! This is very important, as not all DWAs can run Native and Rosetta emulated plug-ins simultaneously. I'm told that Logic can, but with huge power penalty. My DAW (Cubase Pro) can't. So as far as I'm concened: Compatible via Rosetta = NOT compatible!
So, before you invest in a Mac Studio (despite all the issues listed above), ask yourself the following important questions:
Does my DAW support Apple Silicon NATIVELY?
Do all my plug-ins support Apple Silicon NATIVELY?
Can your DAW load native and Rosetta emulated plug-in simultaneously?
If any answer is no, DON'T! It's wasted money!
So, why not run the whole thing under Rosetta? I say, what's the point? I estimate that it will take, at least, another two years until all the comptibility issues has been ironed out. I'd rather keep on using my trusty 12 years old 5,1 Mac Pro, until then. At that time, I'll probaly be able to buy an M3 powered Mac Studio (or Mac Pro) for the same money.
The Mac Studio (or any M1 Mac) is highly unsuitable for AUDIO work, right now. That's my opinion.
Well... is not a Pro Mac! It's a Studio Mac!
I'm planning a future video to address this exact topic...
My Mac Pro theory: choice of M1 Ultra or M2 Ultra.
It's possible, but I think Apple will probably re-use and expand the M1 before making a big deal about a quantum leap forward with an M2 (presumably next year). If they figure out a way to combine multiple M1 Ultras, I think that's what they'll build the Mac Pro on. (Note, too, that they have significant supply chain issues with the current chips, due to the current state of the world, so that factor will play into their plans.) I'm thinking of doing a video on this entire issue.
The mac pro could have 4 M1 ultra chips and 3d stacked.
I have my doubts about Apple leaving Intel on the Mac Pro anytime soon. A Mac Pro has to have PCIe support and they haven't demonstrated that they can even do that with the M1.
⚠️ WARNING ABOUT MAC STUDIO
I own a Mac Studio and 64 gig ram system. It is full of bugs for music software, including video editing. It has turned into an absolute nightmare on various levels. Play back glitching and Looping when it’s not supposed to be Looping. System crashes that are never ending. Despite I have sent seven or eight system crashes now to Apple nothing has ever been resolved why my system keeps crashing. They’ve had a half a year to resolve this issue‼️
And the processor is easily overloaded once you start adding video software such as final cut pro. Even when you start a brand new music project that’s only one track, I get a message saying that the internal SSD is too slow. I receive that message frequently as it’s a real headache because then you’re music software no longer works. You have to close and reboot and hope for the best.
I use my Mac Studio about 50 to 70 hours a week. Had anyone done a genuine review of the problems that I have listed which are far more than listed here, as I actually use the Mac Studio nearly every day… I would’ve never bought one.
DO NOT BUY A MAC STUDIO UNTIL THE NEXT GENERATION COMES OUT IN EARLY 2023? I will be selling my current first generation when the next one comes out. Again do not buy this if you’re going to be using it for professional projects. Mac Studio cannot handle professional use. The problem is so bad that twin processors would never resolve all these issues.
DO NOT BUY A MAC STUDIO UNTIL THE NEXT GENERATION‼️
Consider yourself warned.
Oh no! Really? What are your thoights on refurbished? I'm looking into the M1 Max chip Mac Studio* 64gb 1TB 10 core 32 core GPU comparing prices to the M2 Max Mac Studio with less storage and memory...I was leaning towards the M1*
I don't see the point of yet another specs video, particularly when actual hands-on reviews are about to be published. Given the audience, the decision to focus on the M1 Ultra configuration is just weird.
Ethernet 10 Giga bit not byte.
As usual, Apple have come up with a great computer, but then sting people for the extras that many will need. The ram and ssd upgrades are really overpriced and to not even give you a keyboard and mouse is dreadful. Having said that, my 2015 iMac is due to be replaced as it won’t run some of the software I want to use or update macOS anymore so I’ll be getting a Mac Studio next year when I’ve saved up the cash. I do wish they had put 4 usb 3.0 ports on it. Most synths and audio interfaces use the old usb A connectors but I guess I’ll be buying a hub or dock of some kind too. Oh, and a monitor of course - doubt I can afford the Studio display😪
It’s hilarious to see random people acting like product specialists for big corporations like Apple. You are even wearing the shirt LMAO I don’t see the point of yet another specs video, what a disappointment. If you are a composer, ignore the bad advices in this video and wait for the Mac Pro. Thank me later.
What a total waste of my time. How can you possibly recommend this machine for music production, and do an entire video about, without even opening a single daw or a plug in? This is literally like doing a car review video without driving it. At the very least, open logic and throw 3-400 tracks at it with reverbs and whatever.
Mitch Gallagher at Sweetwater did a video on his MacBook Pro with M1 Max in December of 2021. He puts it thru the paces using 1000 tracks with EQ, compression, etc.
My 2012 Mbp has that vinyl, vintage, warm tone about it. NO THANKS LOL. The new pro will be quad M2 chip.
What's the point of buying an overpriced computer with an M1 chip which is incompatible with 95 percent of the music software out there? So that new software can force you to pay a SUBSCRIPTION fee for their software? So that musicians can keep continuing to pursue to be uncreative by using cheap subscription software and produce uncreative songs? Why do we have to re-learn new software when Pro Tools and Ableton Live works fine on Intel based PCs and Macs? They do the same thing! Professional Studios STILL use G5s running Pro Tools for recording! This Mac Studio is unnecessary!
It's wildly overpowered for most musicians needs. It's perfect for soundtrack work though as that often involves rendering video too
for me wanting a template of 200 tracks of vsts is ideal. But the compatibility is stupid, you are right. I never update my mac anymore , is a hell. I would love to run Catalina in a M1 lol
@@marcyd700 and still screenrecord and stream it if needed!
@@emanuel_soundtrack it's not ideal for that, a pc is way better, if you want a huge template ready immediately. The pc's can have more storage (m2, nvme) can have (with some motherboards) have 265GB ram if needed, performs better overall (e.g. faster motherboards: north/south bridge speeds).
The studio is for people who want to remain in the apple eco system (and logic e.g.), and that is a valid reason, sure. But from performance, storage and ram, the pc always wins. Not saying pc's are nicer to work with, or don't have issues... but... it's true: pc's are more future proof, and can take heavier loads more easily.
No Apple machines can grow. The switch to M1 was the last straw for me. I don’t care how fast the processor is. I. Am. Out. I went back to PC and switched from Logic to Cakewalk. Apple sucks now for audio creators. Logic is stale.
alot of upset people , incompatible with alot