In the past, music production was done on a computer using a combination of hardware and software. Nowadays, many people are looking for ways to produce music without having to buy expensive equipment.
Music production on computers has grown tremendously over the past few years and with it, so has the number of software tools that are available. These software tools have made it possible for anyone to produce music without any prior experience or knowledge in music production.
A mini PC is a computer that has been designed to be portable and can be used to create music. Alright, Do a mini PC that makes them ideal for music production on your computer? Let’s Start.
Are mini PC good for music production?
Unlike AAA games or high-end video rendering, music production typically does not need incredibly high processing power or clock speeds.
With the rapid development of mini PCs over the past few years, a decent one has all that is required to make good quality music. So, is it better to use it for music production?
Yes, mini Pcs are good for music production. They can be used as a cost-effective and portable solution for music producers. Mini Pc has made it possible to produce professional-quality tracks with a low budget. It is also convenient to carry around when you are on the go.
It is not just limited to music production, but can also be used for other tasks such as video editing and graphic design work.
Do they have decent enough processing power?
Primarily, and most importantly, for good music production, a decent processor would be required to smoothly run the advanced DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) and to simultaneously run those multiple plugins.
Usually, high-end industry-standard DAWs will run decently on a core i5 processor. Many budget mini PCs, which are usually very cheap, come with processors that rival the power of Core i5s, which makes them suitable to run that software decently.
On the other hand, more advanced mini PCs have incredibly powerful processors so they will effortlessly run almost anything that gets thrown at them. Hence, a good mini Pc should not have any problem when it comes to the processor requirements.
Do they have enough RAM?
Music production by its nature runs multiple processes at once, so it requires at least 8 GB of RAM for smooth functioning. Lesser RAM means annoying lags and program crashes that can hinder the production process.
Fortunately, good mini PCs come with enough primary memory that running multiple tasks at once will not be a problem. Moreover, almost every mini Pc comes with an option of upgrading the RAM.
So even if any problem arises, a small purchase should be able to solve it. Although it does not have much space and only a couple of sticks can be added, that much addition will be more than enough.
Is their secondary storage enough?
When it comes to storage, it is very important to mention that secondary storage is as crucial as primary one when it comes to music production. It is required for software, backups, and much more.
A mid-range budget mini PC might not have much storage, but just like the RAM, the secondary storage can be upgraded as well.
However, when it comes to more advanced options, those mini PCs come with even a TeraByte of storage that can serve an artist for years to go by without a need for upgrading.
Moreover, as is recommended, a mini Pc can be customized to have a hybrid secondary storage setup: a smaller SSD as the main software for music blending and mixing, while the much larger but slower HDD has all the backups and recordings.
A lot of mini PCs come with an SSD, so an HDD( usually of 500GB-1TB) can be added for the backups.
Furthermore, most mini PCs have an sd card reader and several USB ports, so an sd card or a flash drive can be connected as a very cheap and portable alternative to an HDD.
Since flash drives these days come with as much as 256 GB of storage capacity, they can function as a smaller HDD.
What about other requirements?
Finally, music production may require an artist to connect several pieces of equipment to the computer. Usually, mini PCs have enough ports; some even have advanced Thunderbolt ports, so the high-end music interfaces, a monitor, and other peripherals can easily be connected to them.
So, in conclusion, a good mini Pc has everything a music artist needs to produce high-quality music without any technical hindrances or dreadful bottlenecks. They are more than “good enough” for music production.
Also, read these posts:
- Can you play games on a Mini PC?
- Are Mini PC good for Streaming?
- Is Mini PC good for Programming?
- Is Mini pc good for Video Editing?
Benefits of music production in Mini Pc
Choosing a computer for music production is a very situational decision, and a Mini Pc has some benefits which makes it, in certain conditions, a much better choice than a desktop or a laptop.
The biggest advantage of a mini Pc is that it’s much cheaper than a laptop and much cheaper, smaller, and portable than a desktop.
Some mini PCs are so small that they are the size of a small book, and can be connected behind a monitor, creating that clutter-free look.
Moreover, a mini Pc can be connected to much larger monitors and tv sets, which make it easy to observe the intricate details one has to deal with while using that music production software.
Most of the time, it also comes without a fan so it does not produce that disturbing noise a desktop produces during music production sessions. They also consume much less electricity which will save money in the long run as well.
So, if someone is low on funds and wishes to buy a new computer for music production, then a mini Pc can be a much better option than a cheaper laptop.
Also, it is a much more convenient option for artists who have multiple studios and need a portable Pc to carry along everywhere.
What General configuration is needed for Music Production?
Generally, decent music production requires a minimum of a Core i5 or an equivalent processor, while a core i7 or an equivalent is recommended.
When it comes to storage, at least 4 GB DDR3 of RAM and 250 GB of HDD are required, while an 8 or even 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of hybrid( SSD and HDD) are recommended.
Moreover, a bunch of USB ports, at least a 16-18 inch display, a decent audio interface, good headphones, microphones if the artist also wants to record some vocals, and some cables would be a minimum requirement.
Disadvantages of using Mini Pc for Music Production?
Mini PCs do not have an option for GPUs, and using integrated graphics is the only option for a user. Now, this might not affect the music production itself, but if the artist wants to record and upload videos of himself composing music, then he might not get the best experience editing videos using a mini Pc.
Secondly, most mini PCs come with a mini HDMI port, which may cause some problems when it comes to connecting the older monitors which do not support HDMI.
Furthermore, a lot of mini PCs come as barebones: they do not have some essential internal peripherals included or even an OS, so you will need to buy and install them separately.
Unlike laptops, mini PCs do not come with a screen, a keyboard, or a mouse, so you will need to buy them separately as well.
Although it does seem like a good thing as they are much more customizable, many people dread dealing with peripherals and prefer a ready-made thing when they open the box.
Final Thoughts
Buying new tech has always been a tricky thing, and with all sorts of new technologies getting released every single month it has become much trickier.
However, as mentioned above, a mini Pc is somewhat of a situational buy. Just like a laptop and a desktop, it has got its perks, and it has got its flaws.
If you are in a situation where you can benefit from the advantages of a mini Pc without its minor negatives undermining the quality of music production, then it can be the ideal addition to your new music studio.