Can you run Pro Tools on Macbook Air? (2023)

Can you run Pro Tools on Macbook Air?

Pro Tools isn't yet supported to run natively on the new Apple Silicon SoC chips, which means this test has been undertaken with Pro Tools and all the plugins running Rosetta 2. Pro Tools also isn't yet supported in macOS 12 Monterey, on either Intel or Apple Silicon powered Macs.

Pro Tools adds support for M1 Macs

With the June 2021 release, you can now run Pro Tools | First, Pro Tools, and Pro Tools | Ultimate as well as Pro Tools | Carbon systems on the latest Macs that use Apple's new M1 silicon processors.

Pro Tools has always run much better on the mac than on PC and I have seen, experienced and heard too many horror stories about trying to deliver and create using a PC. It just does not make any sense to use one from what I have seen.

The MacBook Air is good enough for music production. However, it is only a good choice for a beginner since it doesn't have enough power for much extra software and has few external plug-ins. If you're producing music for professional purposes, it may be too limiting an option for you.

Simon Mills - “Mac is perfect for musicians because you spend more time working on music, rather than ironing out issues all the time, and because each mac is made from exactly the same parts, you can easily solve any problem that might arise... it's easily traceable.

Because of this HDX and HD Native users can now use their Avid hardware on an M1 Mac with Pro Tools running via Rosetta 2 and the driver running natively.

More memory is always better, but it really depends on how you plan to use Pro Tools. 8GB is fine for smaller sessions where you are not using a lot of sample libraries. If you can afford it, get 16 and it will give you room to grow as you get more and more into PT.

What is the best computer to run Pro Tools?

Yes, having 16GB memory is considered bare minimum for smooth workflow.

Pro Tools will run on Mac or PC. For Mac, Pro Tools 12 requires at least OS X 10.8. 5, core i5 processor, 4GB RAM, 15GB disk space. For PC, Pro Tools 12 requires at least Windows 7 64-bit, core i5 processor, 4GB RAM, 15 GB disk space.

You don't want to go too small for a system drive either, sure, you can get by with 256GB, but then you may have issues if you purchase plugins and libraries and it downloads and unzips by default to a location on the system drive before it offers you an option install to another location.

At the bare minimum, you will require 8GB of RAM for basic music production. This would be sufficient for most beginners. Furthermore, this will allow for 5 to 25 music tracks with multiple virtual instruments and plugins.

The MacBook Pro is better than the MacBook Air for music production because it's more powerful than the MacBook Air. The only advantage the MacBook Air has over the Pro when it comes to music production is that it has no fans so it's completely silent and being lighter, it's more portable.

MusicRadar Verdict. It might not be a 'pro' laptop, but the M1 MacBook Air still gives you an awful lot of music production bang for your buck.

MAC computers are considered to come with somewhat better on-board (built in) audio, then a Win PC......but.

Macs run well, crash infrequently, offer a lot of power out of the gate, feature an intuitive interface and design, and live a long time. With fewer maintenance costs, the price of admission is usually worth it. These machines really are perfect for music production and creative endeavours in general.

As a graphic designer there are plenty of reasons to pick either a Mac computer or a PC. However a large majority of graphic designers choose Mac over PC because it is widely used across the industry, it's simple operating system, and the amazing build quality Apple produces.

Is Pro Tools still free?

Pro Tools | First: Pro Tools | First is free but are there any hidden costs. Pro Tools | First (with Xpand! 2 Virtual Instrument and over 20 plug-ins) was free to download and use - no hidden costs. Note that add-on products (such as Plug-Ins and Cloud Collaboration Plans) were available for an additional cost.

Pro Tools is is offered across three pricing plans, outlined below. Pro Tools, First: Pro Tools is available for free Pro Tools, Education: $9.99/month (billed annually) Pro Tools: $29.99/month Pro Tools, Ultimate: $79.99/month Pro Tools, Enterprise & Institutions: Contact Avid Technology for pricing details.

Re: Avid MC on Macbook Air

Well I installed Avid 5.5 and gave it a go and i'm extremely impressed. I transcoded AVCHD 24mbit 1080P video to Avid codecs and editing was completely smooth and flawless.

Pro Tools Tested On M1 Max With Staggering Results - YouTube

How to Install Pro Tools on a Mac M1 Computer - YouTube

Most DAWs insist on 8GB as the minimum amount for adequate performance (16GB being the recommendation). However, 8GB is plenty of RAM for beginners and entry-level users learning the basics. It all depends on your level of experience and the size of your projects.

I don't know if 64gb it's worth! thanks! For most DAW use 16 GB of ram is enough. If you are trying to setup a composer's rig using sample based virtual instruments (Kontakt) then having as much ram as possible will keep more instruments loaded ready to go without having to page to hard disk to load.

While 16 GBs of RAM should be adequate for many gamer use cases, 32 GB can be beneficial for heavy multitasking and some of the most demanding games.

Is 32GB RAM overkill for music production?

If you want to load 4 of those projects in Studio One (not Logic Pro X), you use 32GB of memory for your music production (and still need extra memory for your operating system and other programs).

In most situations, 32GB of RAM can be considered overkill, but this is not always true. There are situations where 32GB is an appropriate amount to have. It is also a good way to futureproof your PC as requirements increase with time.

8 GB is plenty for the majority of music production processing. 16 or 32 GB can help if you plan to work with the large sample libraries that are needed to emulate acoustic instruments realistically. But think twice before you pay steep prices to max out your computer's RAM.

MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021)

The MacBook Pro 14-inch is our top pick as the best laptop for music production. Coming with either an M1 Pro or M1 Max chip, this is an incredibly powerful laptop that can handle even the most complex projects with ease.

The bottom line is, it depends on your use case and storage habits. If you're a professional video editor or animator, 1TB is the way to go. On the other hand, if you're a general user and do data cleanups often, 512GB will do just fine.

The 256GB SSD is not meant to house your music projects. I am assuming you are the owner of a MacBook. Just make sure your external drive can handle the fastest data transfer speeds your computer supports and has a connector that is native to your computer's external interface.

You don't want to go too small for a system drive either, sure, you can get by with 256GB, but then you may have issues if you purchase plugins and libraries and it downloads and unzips by default to a location on the system drive before it offers you an option install to another location.

Installing and Activating AVID Pro Tools on Windows - Beginners Guide

Which Mac laptop is best for music production?

MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021)

The MacBook Pro 14-inch is our top pick as the best laptop for music production. Coming with either an M1 Pro or M1 Max chip, this is an incredibly powerful laptop that can handle even the most complex projects with ease.

The bottom line is, it depends on your use case and storage habits. If you're a professional video editor or animator, 1TB is the way to go. On the other hand, if you're a general user and do data cleanups often, 512GB will do just fine.

More memory is always better, but it really depends on how you plan to use Pro Tools. 8GB is fine for smaller sessions where you are not using a lot of sample libraries. If you can afford it, get 16 and it will give you room to grow as you get more and more into PT.

Yes, having 16GB memory is considered bare minimum for smooth workflow.

Pro Tools Ultimate is worth the money if you know how to use it or if you have the patience to learn. It's also beneficial for audio recording and post-production work. The platform is packed with inputs, tracks, plugins, and other special features that you wouldn't get from other DAWs.

With standard Pro Tools and Pro Tools Ultimate, you have the choice between subscribing or purchasing a perpetual license. Subscriptions are paid month-to-month or up front for a 1-year commitment. Pro Tools will no longer work once your subscription has expired.