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Logic Pro X - Which Mac to upgrade to ?

Hi all,

My hardware is now over 10 years old, both my imac and Macbook pro will no longer run the latest version (or at least a latest enough version) to allow me to update my version of Logic Pro X to the latest version. I am therefore missing out on a lot of features that would help my workflow.


I've no experience of the apple silicone devices but I'm wondering which new device to upgrade to. I'd like portability and either an M1 or new M2 macbook pro will definitely do the job, my current Macbook pro has the fan on most of the time. I'm therefore interested in whether the M2 iPad air with no fan would be powerful enough to run say 20 odd tracks with softsynths and effect all running without it throttling back on performance. I find it very hard to find real world tests that help to confirm performance with Logic - I would have thought Apple might feature it in one of their benchmark comparisons but they never do. If, however an M1 Macbook pro is so powerful as to likely not need to use the fan I could spend the difference on more ram and larger hard drive. I used native instruments Komplete, and Arturia softsynths mostly. I know this is a difficult question to answer, but some real world examples would help me immensely. Cheers


Posted on Jun 7, 2022 6:24 AM

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Posted on Jun 7, 2022 3:41 PM

Hi there, I'd go for a new 13" MBP, just to be on the safe side re CPU load. In my opinion, 14" and 16" machines are way too bulky and heavy (not to mention the price lol).


Also, be aware of potential issues folks have been facing when running Logic on M1 16" MBP: Terrible performance on M1 Pro 16 inch Macbook Pro


As for the M2 MBA with no fan, please, see what octopi says in this thread: new macbook air m2 perfect for pro studio

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Jun 7, 2022 3:41 PM in response to Starsky101

Hi there, I'd go for a new 13" MBP, just to be on the safe side re CPU load. In my opinion, 14" and 16" machines are way too bulky and heavy (not to mention the price lol).


Also, be aware of potential issues folks have been facing when running Logic on M1 16" MBP: Terrible performance on M1 Pro 16 inch Macbook Pro


As for the M2 MBA with no fan, please, see what octopi says in this thread: new macbook air m2 perfect for pro studio

Jun 12, 2022 9:43 AM in response to Starsky101

Same position here!

I think the "Terrible performance on M1 max MacBook Pro 16" has finally been resolved by 'resetting all preferences except key commands' in Logic Pro preferences. though non one seems to have confirmed this? anyone?


The Macbook Air looks amazing, especially with no fan, but that potentially can be a problem, pointed out by Octopi in JotaGi's reply.


I wouldn't personally go for the 13" macbook pro, and I am not a fan of the touch bar.


Doesnt leave much choice!





Jun 12, 2022 1:06 PM in response to kerochan

I think it would be good if some proper apple benchmarking was done. How many track with software synths and effects can be run effectively on each machine, surely it wouldn’t be that hard to come up with some sort of real world test. I’m an enthusiastic amateur but I still don’t want to spend approx £1600 on a device with memory upgrades etc only to find 20 tracks in its falling over. Then there’s the upgrade dilemma. Is an air M2 with 8gb ram better than a MacBook Pro M1 with 16gb. I mean if someone could categorically say the M2 Air would run faultlessly and without any heat throttling with say 50 tracks all using a combination of samples and soft synths with effects and automation then I’d go for that knowing I would have the fan kicking in. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Logic Pro X - Which Mac to upgrade to ?

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