However, just because you chose a computer with a core i7 or Ryzen 9, doesn’t mean your getting a good processor.
The strongest and most expensive will be the i9 / Ryzen 9. The weakest least expensive option will be the i3 / Ryzen 3. When shopping for a computer, you’ll likely have a few processors you can choose from.
How to Compare CPUsįor music production, most people categorize different groups of processors based on experience level: What’s important is knowing how to analyze and compare different CPUs to find the best one for your budget. In terms of PC, there’s a lot of debate over which company offers the best CPUs, AMD or Intel.
Three product lines currently dominate in the CPU market: Intel Core and AMD Ryzen for PC, and Apple Silicon for Mac.Īpple Silicon M1 (or M1 Pro / Max) MacBooks are currently the best option for Apple users. For a fast processor, 2.4 GHz is the lowest speed you should aim for. In general, the higher the clock speed the better. On the other hand, clock speed (GHz) measures how fast your CPU processes information and sends commands to other parts of your computer. The standard in music production is a processor with at least four cores (quad-core). Increasing the number of cores in a CPU substantially increases processing power, especially when each core has high single-core performance. Therefore, a multi-core CPU has multiple processors working together. The main two components that influence a CPU’s performance are cores and clock speed.Ī core is a single processor within a CPU. In general, the more intensive your workflow, the more power and speed you’ll need from your processor. This is why every DAW has a CPU meter that tells you how much CPU you’re using at a given time. In music production, the CPU is the main factor that influences efficiency and performance in your DAW. Like the brain in your body, every action that takes place in a computer is initiated through the CPU. The central processing unit (CPU) is the brain of a computer. Processor: Best CPUs for Music Production How do you determine whether a computer has a fast processor? Do you need 16 GB or 32 GB of RAM? What’s the best type of storage SSD or HDD? Lets breakdown each spec so you know exactly what to look for.
As you can see, you’ll need a powerful processor, at least 4 GB of RAM, and plenty of free storage space to run each on your computer. Below are examples from five of the most popular DAWs. DAW Minimum Spec RecommendationsĮach DAW developer has minimum spec requirements and recommendations for computers running their software. To help you avoid these issues, DAW creators provide minimum spec requirements for their programs. Overall, using a computer with weak components will cause constant interruptions and inhibit your creativity. Using 85-90% of your storage will cause your system to lag, leading to longer load times and potential crashes. Limited Storage – DAWs, plug-ins, VSTs, audio files, and samples take up a considerable amount storage on a computer. Insufficient RAM – Not having enough RAM will limit the number of tracks, plug-ins, and VSTs you can use at the same time. There are a number of ways to manually reduce your CPU usage, all which take time and restrict your creative process. Weak CPU – Using too many plug-ins and VSTs will cause to lags, freezes, crashes, and longer load/save times. Here’s an overview for how suboptimal specs can limit you as a music producer: Music production software, plug-ins, and VSTs, are very demanding on a CPU. Why it’s Important to Have the Right Specs These components influence the speed and performance of digital audio workstations (DAWs), virtual instruments (VSTs), and plug-ins. The most important specs for music production are processing power, memory, and internal storage capacity. Storage: 512 GB of SSD storage + 1 TB of external storage What are Specs?Ī computer’s specifications or “specs” is a description of its components and capabilities.
Best Computer Specs for Music ProductionĬPU: 2.4 GHz Quad-Core Processor – (10th generation or better) Intel Core i7 / AMD Ryzen 7 (3000 series or better) / M1 (Pro, Max) for Apple users This guide will help you find the ideal computer for your production style. How can you tell if a processor is powerful enough for your workflow? Is 8 GB of RAM enough? How much storage will you need? Every producer is different. With so many options, finding a computer with the right specs (specifications) for music production can be difficult.