Calling all musical artists! Whether or not you intend on growing the sickest bass drops or just a few sit back lo-fi jams, you’re going to want a cast computer to get the task performed. There are a couple of key issues you want to appear out for when opting for a computer for song manufacturing. A top quality processor is really necessary for clean recording efficiency, and a tight quantity of RAM will let you juggle a couple of plugins and tracks concurrently. Portability is a large issue, too—if you happen to’re taking your display at the street to a neighborhood marriage ceremony or the entire approach to Ibiza, you’ll want one thing this is simple to hold round.
In the event you’re now not positive which computer is best for you, don’t concern. The mavens right here at PCWorld have examined a ton of laptops and we have now rounded up the most efficient alternatives particularly for song manufacturing.
Additionally, take a look at our best possible laptops roundup, the place you are going to in finding a good larger number of fashions at a spread of costs and for a lot of wishes!
Up to date 01/08/2023: Take a look at our newest assessment of the Dell G16. It would possibly not have probably the most thrilling design, but it surely’s reasonably priced and with a Core i7 and RTX 3060, it’s one of the most quickest midrange choices to be had.
Asus VivoBook Professional 16X OLED – Perfect general
Professionals
- Gorgeous 4K OLED show
- Lengthy battery existence
- Helpful DialPad instrument
Cons
- Design lacks aptitude
- Lackluster webcam
In the event you’re on the lookout for a just right all-arounder, the Asus VivoBook Professional 16X OLED is a superb guess, because it ticks numerous containers. For one, the 4K OLED show is very good. Now not handiest does it produce crisp photographs, but it surely’s additionally a just right possibility for many who be afflicted by eye pressure and rigidity complications. In the event you spend unending hours searching at a display as you edit and blend tracks, you may as neatly spend money on one with a crystal-clear image. The VivoBook additionally packs a major punch in relation to processing chronic.
The Ryzen 9 5900HX CPU is lots rapid sufficient for fundamental song manufacturing wishes and on a regular basis use. This computer could also be packing 32GB of reminiscence and a whopping 1TB of PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD garage. That’s lots for firing up a couple of programs and storing audio information. There are a pair drawbacks you will have to pay attention to: The webcam isn’t nice (now not unexpected) and the fingerprint reader will have a thoughts of its personal. Total, then again, the VivoBook Professional is an incredible device that any musician or DJ would like.
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Assessment Asus VivoBook Professional 16X OLED
Acer Swift 3 SF316-51 – Perfect finances possibility

Professionals
- Cast chassis and construct high quality
- Huge, sexy 16-inch 1080p display
- Stress-free keyboard and touchpad
- USB-C with charging and DisplayPort
Cons
- Webcam, microphone, and audio system don’t galvanize
- Intel processor falls in the back of AMD choices
- Disappointing battery existence
- A lot of bloatware
In the event you’re running with a restricted finances, the Acer Swift 3 is a brilliant possibility. It has an Intel Core i7-11370H with 4 cores, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. That’s a just right quantity of chronic and house for many song manufacturing duties. The construct high quality is cast, the keyboard is relaxed to make use of, and the show delivers “wealthy, sensible colour.” The only knock we have now by contrast device is the battery existence. Sadly, the computer died after about 5 hours. That’s the kind of consequence we’d be expecting from a gaming computer, which drains simply because of the power-sucking elements. That mentioned, if you happen to don’t thoughts sticking with reference to an outlet, than this a just right finances purchase for many musicians.
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Assessment Acer Swift 3 SF316-51
Samsung Galaxy Book2 Professional 360 – Perfect battery existence

Professionals
- Huge, high-contrast OLED display
- Implausible battery existence
- Most sensible-notch Twelfth-gen Core efficiency
Cons
- Moderate keyboard
- Webcam doesn’t relatively ship as anticipated
- Fingerprint reader wanted re-authentication
- Lots of extra apps
In the event you’re an on-the-go musician, the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Professional 360 gives fantastic battery existence in addition to a flexible 2-in-1 design. Once we put this computer via our battery rundown take a look at, it lasted a complete of 14 hours. That’s lovely rad, proper? Along with the superior battery existence, you’re additionally getting a high-contrast 15.6-inch OLED display and zippy efficiency due to its Twelfth-gen Intel Core i7-1260P processor. The type we reviewed got here supplied with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD garage. That’s lots enough for working a couple of programs and dealing with uncompressed audio information. Even if we weren’t tremendous inspired with the keyboard or webcam, we really feel the professionals a long way outweigh the cons, particularly the place efficiency and battery existence are involved.
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Assessment Samsung Galaxy Book2 Professional 360
Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (2022) – Perfect 2-in-1 design

Professionals
- Strong and swish all-metal chassis
- Lengthy battery existence
- Spectacular audio output
- Relaxed keyboard
Cons
- 16:9 display feels cramped
- Incorporated stylus is just too thin
- Undersized touchpad
- Restricted ports all on left facet
In the event you desire the portability and flexibility of a convertible computer, you might need to select up the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14. You’ll be able to prop it up like a painter’s easel or swing the display round and use the computer like a pill. It options 16GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD garage, and robust battery existence. You’ll be able to additionally be expecting dependable efficiency due to the Twelfth-gen Intel Core i7 processor. It has 4 efficiency cores and 8 potency cores. The extra cores, the simpler, particularly if you happen to’re running with multi-track songs.
The 74 watt-hour battery could also be strangely huge for the sort of slender device. It lasted 12 hours all through our battery rundown benchmark, which is greater than a complete paintings day. The audio system are strangely punchy, too. That is vital if you happen to’re modifying a tune and aren’t in a position to plug into exterior audio system. Whilst this convertible computer has so much to provide, we had a couple of nitpicks with it.
The show’s 16:9 facet ratio could also be an issue, because it makes for a squashed-looking image. It’s now not a deal breaker, however we generally tend to desire taller shows. The trackpad could also be smaller than we adore, which takes time being used to. The port variety is a bit of restricted as neatly. That mentioned, if you happen to don’t thoughts the ones small elements, then the Yoga 9i is a wonderful device value making an allowance for.
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Assessment Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (2022)
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022) – Maximum transportable

Professionals
- Tough CPU and GPU efficiency in an overly compact design
- AniMe Matrix screams distinctive
- It has a webcam
Cons
- Part everlasting RAM
- Keyboard backlighting is subpar
In the event you’re on the lookout for a computer that’s each transportable and strong, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 will without a doubt are compatible the invoice. It weighs somewhat over 3 kilos, which places it within the ultraportable class. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS processor delivers zippy outstanding. Plus, you’re getting 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 1TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD garage. That’s an epic mixture for heavy-duty song manufacturing classes. The keyboard is less-than-stellar, despite the fact that. It feels a bit of comfortable and the backlighting is not anything to write down house about. That mentioned, if you happen to’re out there for a light-weight computer that delivers dependable efficiency, you actually can’t cross flawed with the Zephyrus G14.
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Assessment ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022)
How we examined
The PCWorld group places every Home windows computer via a chain of benchmarks that take a look at GPU and CPU efficiency, battery existence, and so forth. The theory is to push the computer to its limits after which evaluate it in opposition to others we’ve examined. Beneath, you’ll discover a breakdown of each and every take a look at and the the reason why we run them.
Home windows laptops
- PCMark 10: PCMark 10 is how we resolve how neatly the computer handles lighter duties like internet surfing, phrase processing, spreadsheets, and so forth. That is how we simulate on a regular basis use.
- HandBrake: HandBrake is extra in depth than PCMark 10. It measures how lengthy a computer’s CPU takes to encode a beefy 30GB document. Recall to mind it as a CPU pressure take a look at.
- Cinebench: Cinebench is a temporary pressure take a look at of the CPU cores. It does this by way of rendering a 2D scene over a brief time frame. This take a look at presentations us how the CPU splits a workload.
- 3DMark: 3DMark tests if 3-d efficiency stays constant through the years by way of working graphic-intensive clips. Those benchmarks are particularly vital in relation to checking out gaming laptops.
- Video rundown take a look at: To gauge battery existence, we loop a 4K video the usage of Home windows 10’s Films & TV app till the computer dies. In the event you trip a host, you’ll desire a battery that may last more than a complete paintings day.
FAQ
How a lot processing chronic will I want?
Whether or not you’re recording a couple of tracks or modifying songs, you’re going to want a rapid processor to stay issues working clean. That’s why we propose springing for an Intel Core i5 or i7 with six to 8 cores. A processor with a couple of cores will assist higher divide the workload. For AMD choices, opt for a Ryzen 5 or 7. If you want further chronic, a Ryzen 9 will do you simply wonderful.
What about reminiscence and garage?
Tune manufacturing device normally eats up numerous chronic, so that you’re going to wish no less than 16GB of RAM. As for garage, it actually relies on the dimensions of your mission. For extra fundamental wishes, 512GB of SSD garage is appropriate. In the event you’re coping with uncompressed audio tracks, opt for a 1TB SSD, as the ones information can soak up a ton of house.
Do I actually want a high-end GPU?
You don’t actually want a tough graphics card for song manufacturing. A computer with built-in graphics is greater than enough. A device with discrete graphics is extra suitable for players or graphic designers.
Does port variety subject?
Is portability vital?
In the event you’re a marriage DJ, you’re almost definitely going to want a computer that’s gentle sufficient to take with you. You’ll desire a computer that weighs 3 kilos or much less. The one downside is {that a} slimmer computer manner much less room for larger and extra tough elements.
How tough will have to my audio system be?
Maximum if now not all the laptops in this roundup produce crisp sound. Then again, to actually listen the ones mid tones, we’d suggest plugging into exterior audio system, as laptops aren’t designed to have tough audio system. (See our roundup of the most efficient finances pc audio system if you wish to avoid wasting cash right here.) In the event you’re not able to plug into exterior audio system, the laptops with upward-facing audio system have a tendency to be extra punchy.
How lengthy will have to the battery closing?
A computer that lasts any place from 10 to twelve hours on a unmarried price is a superb baseline, particularly if you happen to’re touring and there’s no outlet in sight. That’s greater than a complete paintings day.
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