9+ Best Laptops for Music Production and Recording 2023 | Products Overview & Guide

How lucky are we today?

Until a few decades ago, in order to produce and record music, one had to turn to professional studios which, due to the cost of the equipment and the enormous amount of work, we’re asking for figures that were not really affordable.

Today, technology allows you to create and record your own music at home with a very affordable investment in equipment.

The computer thus becomes one of the fundamental elements for music production: it must be powerful enough to be able to carry the required workload.

Usually, a fixed is preferred, but for various reasons and for its practicality, some prefer to buy the Best Laptop for Music Production and Recording.

Best Laptops for Music Production and Recording

Undoubtedly with certain models and brands, we can “play it safe”, but the truth is that often much less is enough to be able to work on your own music.

There are laptops with different features and it is important to know which ones interest us for our purpose.

This ensures a suitable product, which can be different according to personal needs.

If you just need to compose in MIDI format and use sounds and plug-ins, you will have different needs than those who want to record multiple live instruments.

In this article, we will learn how to read a laptop datasheet and understand how the various components will affect our productions.

Below we introduce you to the best laptops for music production and Recording :

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Best Laptops for Music Production and Recording | Comparison Table 2023

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Best Laptops for Music Production and Recording | 2023 Products Overview

Product Overview:

The MSI GL65 Leopard 10SFK-062 is a high-performance gaming laptop designed for serious gamers and professionals. With a 15.6″ FHD IPS-Level display and a 144Hz refresh rate, it provides a smooth and immersive gaming experience. The screen has a thin bezel and supports 72% NTSC color gamut, which is close to 100% Srgb. The laptop is powered by a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 graphics card, which delivers fast and reliable performance for demanding tasks.

The laptop comes with 512GB NVMe SSD storage and 16GB DDR4 RAM, which is expandable up to 64GB. The RAM is organized in two sockets and provides fast memory access and multitasking capabilities. For connectivity, the laptop has a USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port, three USB 3.2 Gen1 ports, and an Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 module. The keyboard is a SteelSeries per-Key RGB with Anti-Ghost key and a silver lining, which provides a comfortable typing experience. The laptop also features a 720p HD webcam and giant speakers that deliver clear audio.

The laptop runs on Windows 10 Home and comes with a 6 cell (51Wh) Li-Ion battery that provides up to 6 hours of battery life. The laptop is also equipped with a 230W power adapter that provides fast charging capabilities. The laptop has a sleek and stylish design and comes in a black color.

Product Overview:

The Acer 2022 New Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop is a high-performance laptop designed for gamers and power users who demand the best in terms of speed and performance. This laptop comes with an Intel 6-Core i7-9750H processor that operates at a base speed of 2.6GHz and can turbo boost up to 4.5GHz. The 15.6-inch FHD IPS display has a 144Hz refresh rate and provides a smooth and seamless visual experience, making it ideal for fast-paced gaming and video playback.

The laptop is equipped with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics with 6GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM. This provides gamers with the ability to play the latest games at high settings and enjoy immersive visuals. The laptop comes with 16GB of DDR4 2666MHz memory and a 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD, providing ample storage for all your games, applications, and files. The two PCIe M.2 slots provide expandability and make it easy to upgrade your storage capacity.

The Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop runs on the Windows 10 Home operating system and features a LAN port that supports 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN. The laptop also features wireless connectivity through the Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX200 802.11ax. The backlit keyboard makes it easy to use the laptop in low light conditions and the Acer CoolBoost technology with twin fans and dual exhaust ports helps to keep the laptop cool during extended gaming sessions.

In conclusion, the Acer 2022 New Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop is a top-of-the-line laptop that provides the speed, performance, and graphics capabilities that gamers and power users demand. The laptop is designed for use in the US and may require an adapter or converter for use in other countries. Please check compatibility before purchasing.

Product Overview:

The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581 is a powerful and versatile laptop designed for multitasking and productivity. It boasts a 15.6-inch 4K UHD NanoEdge touch display that is both vibrant and sharp, providing an excellent viewing experience. The main display is also glossy and touch-enabled, making it easy to navigate through the Windows 10 Pro operating system.

The laptop is powered by the latest 10th generation Intel Core i7-10750H processor, which delivers fast and efficient performance. The processor is coupled with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card, making the laptop capable of handling demanding tasks such as video editing and gaming. The laptop also features 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD, ensuring quick and smooth storage and memory.

One of the most innovative features of the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581 is the ScreenPad Plus. This 14-inch 4K matte touch screen acts as a secondary display, allowing you to extend your main screen or split windows and apps across both displays. This feature makes multitasking much easier and more efficient. The laptop also comes with a detachable palm rest and an ASUS active stylus pen, making it even more versatile and user-friendly.

The laptop is also built to last, with a military-grade US MIL-STD 810G standard, ensuring durability and protection against accidental drops or impacts. In terms of connectivity, the laptop comes with USB-C and HDMI ports, allowing you to connect to a variety of external devices.

Overall, the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581 is an excellent laptop that combines performance, versatility, and innovation to deliver an exceptional user experience. However, please note that the laptop is designed for use in the US and may require an adapter or converter for use in other countries.

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Product Overview:

The Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop is a top-performing machine designed for gamers. It boasts a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 and a fast refresh rate of 144 Hz for smooth and fluid visuals. The laptop is powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H processor, making it capable of handling demanding games and applications.

The Lenovo Legion 5 is equipped with 16GB DDR4 memory and a 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD for fast and efficient storage. The laptop also features a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti GPU, ensuring that you get blazing-fast performance for your favorite games and the newest titles.

The laptop features Dual Burn Support which pushes the CPU and GPU together for improved frame rates, and Legion Coldfront 2.0 for thermal tuning, making sure you get maximum performance even when gaming for long periods. The Legion TrueStrike keyboard with soft-landing switches delivers hair-trigger inputs, providing a more immersive gaming experience.

In terms of design, the Lenovo Legion 5 is available in Phantom Black and features a sleek and stylish look. The laptop runs on Windows 10 Home and offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate and use.

In conclusion, the Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop is a top-performing machine designed for gamers. With its fast processor, dedicated GPU, high-speed memory, and fast storage, it provides an exceptional gaming experience. The laptop is also designed to be stylish, with a sleek and professional look that is sure to impress. Please note that the product may require an adapter or converter for use in countries where the electrical outlets and voltage are different.

Product Overview:

The HP Pavilion is a 15.6-inch laptop that boasts a sleek and stylish scarlet red design. It's powered by an Intel Quad-core Pentium Processor and has 8GB of RAM and a 256GB Solid State Drive for quick and efficient performance. The laptop also features Intel UHD Graphics 605, which provides smooth graphics for your favorite games and videos. Additionally, it comes with a built-in HD webcam, Bluetooth, HDMI and USB Type-C for easy connectivity and versatile use.

This laptop runs on Windows 10 Home, 64-bit and is equipped with an easy-to-use interface. With its large 15.6-inch diagonal HD, SVA, BrightView, micro-edge, WLED-backlit display, you can enjoy clear and vivid visuals.

In terms of upgradability, this laptop has been upgraded with 8GB of high-bandwidth RAM to ensure seamless multitasking, and a 256GB Solid State Drive to speed up boot-up and data transfer times. The original seal has been opened only for these upgrades and the manufacturer box has been opened to test and inspect the computer to make sure it meets the advertised specifications.

The package includes a microfiber cloth from Oydisen to keep your laptop looking its best. However, it's worth noting that products with electrical plugs are designed for use in the US, and international outlets and voltage may require an adapter or converter.

In conclusion, the HP Pavilion is an excellent laptop for anyone who needs a versatile and powerful computer for their daily needs. With its strong processing power, fast storage, and high-quality graphics, you can enjoy an immersive and productive computing experience.

Product Overview:

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Product Overview:

The ASUS TUF Dash is a high-performance gaming laptop with a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS anti-glare display, featuring a 144Hz refresh rate and Adaptive-Sync technology. The laptop boasts a sleek and compact design, measuring just 0.78 inches thin and weighing 4.41 lbs. It is also built to military-grade standards, passing seven tests for durability, including resistance to shock, dust, and extreme temperatures.

Under the hood, the TUF Dash is powered by an Intel Core i7-11370H processor with 12M Cache and a maximum turbo frequency of 4.80 GHz. The graphics are handled by the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU, which delivers smooth and immersive gaming experiences with ROG Boost up to 1525 MHz at 80W (85W with Dynamic Boost) and 6GB GDDR6 memory.

The laptop comes equipped with 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD for fast storage and multitasking capabilities. It also features two speakers with four cut-outs, delivering high-fidelity audio with DTS X Ultra technology. In addition, it is equipped with a backlit keyboard and two-way AI Noise Cancelation, ensuring comfortable and distraction-free gaming.

In terms of connectivity, the TUF Dash has you covered with WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, a 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, an HDMI 2.0b port, three USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, an RJ45 LAN port, and a Type-C USB 4 port that supports DisplayPort, power delivery, and Thunderbolt 4. The laptop also comes with a bundled mouse pad for added convenience.

Overall, the ASUS TUF Dash is a powerful and versatile gaming laptop, designed for users who demand the best in performance and durability. Note that products with electrical plugs are designed for use in the US, and may require an adapter or converter for use in other countries. Please check compatibility before purchasing.

Product Overview:

The Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop is a powerful, versatile, and compact device that is perfect for both gaming and creative work. It boasts a sleek and durable CNC aluminum unibody that measures just 0.70 inches thin and is equipped with high-performance vapor chamber cooling. The laptop is equipped with the latest technology, including Thunderbolt 3, which enables compatibility with Razer Core external GPU enclosures for additional graphics power, and supports SSD and dual-channel memory upgradeability for futureproofing.

The laptop features a 15.6-inch Full HD edge-to-edge display with a 144Hz refresh rate, providing the best experience for both creative tasks and gaming. The display is factory calibrated, 100% sRGB, and has a matte finish, making it ideal for work or play. The device also includes biometric security in the form of Windows Hello instant facial unlock. Additionally, the keyboard is customizable with 16.8 million colors and multiple preset profiles, making it easy to personalize to your preferences.

Under the hood, the Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop is powered by an 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8750H 6-core processor, clocked at 4.1GHz with turbo, and a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 with Max-Q, providing powerful and efficient performance for demanding tasks. The laptop comes with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, ensuring fast boot times and quick file access.

In conclusion, the Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop is a top-of-the-line device that provides users with the power, versatility, and customization options they need for gaming and creative work. However, it's important to note that this product is designed for use in the US and may require an adapter or converter for use in other countries.

Product Overview:

The Dell Gaming G3 15 3500 is a 15.6-inch laptop designed for gamers and power users. The laptop comes with a Full HD (1920 x 1080) display that features a 144Hz refresh rate, 300 nits of brightness, and an anti-glare coating, providing a smooth and clear image quality. The laptop also has a narrow bezel design, which makes it a great option for immersive gaming and entertainment.

The laptop is powered by a 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H processor, which is a six-core processor with a base clock speed of 2.6GHz and a maximum turbo frequency of 5.0GHz. This processor is coupled with 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512GB SSD, providing plenty of speed and storage for demanding tasks and applications.

In terms of graphics, the Dell Gaming G3 15 3500 is equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU, which offers 6GB of GDDR6 memory. This GPU provides powerful performance for gaming and other demanding tasks, allowing you to play your favorite games at high settings and enjoy smooth, fluid graphics.

The laptop also comes with Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 and Bluetooth 5.1, which provides fast and reliable wireless connectivity. The laptop runs on Windows 10 Home, providing a familiar and user-friendly operating system that is optimized for gaming and productivity.

In conclusion, the Dell Gaming G3 15 3500 is a powerful and well-designed laptop that offers excellent performance and features for gamers and power users. The laptop's 144Hz display, fast processor, ample RAM, and powerful graphics make it an excellent choice for demanding tasks and applications, while its sleek and modern design make it a stylish option for gamers and creative professionals.

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How to Pick The Best Laptops for Music Production and Recording | Unrivaled Guide 2023

Portative Computers VS Desktop (Stationary) Computers For Home Audio Production

Each model has its pros and cons: a fixed can be assembled with the components that best suit our needs and can be implemented as needs change.

In addition to being able to build a computer for ad hoc music production, we can choose larger screens, have very comfortable and specially designed mice for greater practicality, as well as larger and more complete keyboards.

In the case of a laptop, we undoubtedly have the advantage of portability and being able to use it anywhere without restrictions.

Therefore? What is the best?

It depends: if you have an equipped area in the house and you always record and produce there, you can take advantage of all the advantages of a landline, if instead, you have to record or dial often away from home, a laptop is definitely more convenient.

For example, it can be very convenient for DJs to use their laptops on which they have their own remixes during their evenings!

Even those who have to record instruments in other places, such as the drums that need spaces and places of a certain type, can move in a more practical way: all the equipment for musical recordings, such as microphones, the audio card, …

Having your whole laptop in one handy, light, and slim bag saves a lot of tedious work and pounds to carry.

Even those who use the computer for their podcasting will be able to move and carry out services and interviews even outside the home.

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Should I Worry About The Sound Card?

Absolutely not.

We assume that anyone who wants to produce and record music will use an external sound card, so the computer's internal one doesn't matter.

This is already a detail to take into consideration: it is better to spend a few more bucks for an excellent sound card and choose a laptop with a mediocre integrated sound card but which offers other features much more useful for our purposes.

Should You Buy A MacBook Or Windows Laptop For Music Production?

When it comes to buying a computer for music production, the first question many people ask is: is Mac or PC Better for music production?

MacBooks are from a brand known for their stability, but also for their not-so-easy cost.

If in the case of desktop computers, PCs have the enormous advantage of being able to be modified, in the case of laptops this option is not there.

With the latest generation MacBook Pro we can say that "play it safe", but there are also some Windows notebooks with excellent features at a lower price.

For this reason, knowing how to read a technical data sheet is essential.

Surely for your needs, you will not be able to rely on the cheapest model, but you can learn to evaluate and choose a device at a low price, or rather, low compared to other similar ones.

Don't forget to evaluate all the external programs and devices you use!

Does your favorite DAW only work on Windows? Or just on Mac products?

What about your sound card? And the midi keyboard?

Do you already have these products? If yes you have to make your own assessments, otherwise you will have to pay attention to the music equipment/software you will buy and always check compatibility with your computer and operating system.

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Important Features For A Portable DJ Or Audio Production

Knowing how to choose the right hardware is the first step in creating the ideal setup for good music production.

If you already know which DAW you will be using, try to get a laptop with suitable features, preferably higher than the basic required ones, so that you can use the device for longer.

Let's see the main features that allow you to identify a laptop suitable for any DAW, so that you may be able to form your own opinion by reading the datasheets of the various products on sale online or on the traditional shopping market.

Multi-core processor

More cores correspond to a higher speed.

If you buy a new laptop, choose one with a processor quad-core or Hexa-core and remember the best music is an i5 quad-core i7 that a dual-core!

The current top of the range? Intel's new i7-core, but since we're all on a budget, if it's too expensive you can opt for Intel's quad-core i5 processor, which isn't top-notch, but still decent.

And what about AMD? The new AMD Ryzen Mobile processor looks very promising, but you may have trouble finding the drivers for your external devices.

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More than 8GB of RAM (16GB Recommended)

A RAM of 8GB may be sufficient for some simple productions and recordings which include a few tracks, but if you use a lot of plug-ins and your sessions are composed of many simultaneous tracks, better to choose 16 or 32 GB.

Some laptops have the option of adding slots in the future!

Solid-State Memory Drive

This type of hard disk, known by the acronym SSD, is highly recommended: it is silent and faster in both reading and writing.

Which capacity is recommended? 512 GB, but if your budget doesn't allow it you can go down to 256 or 128 GB, but using an external hard drive for data storage.

The Cost / Performance Ratio

When you compare the cost of different hard drives/disk capacities, you will notice that a larger capacity SATA drive costs less than a smaller SSD.

Remember that SSDs have higher quality and much higher performance, so the relationship is between cost and performance, not cost and capacity.

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Mediocre GPU

Of course, it is about music, listening, but remember that you also work with sight.

You don't need an excellent graphics card, but it is enough to have a decent one that allows you to work easily with your DAW, to edit, insert plug-ins, modify the eq.

If you will use the computer only for music production, an entry-level dedicated graphics card will suffice, but if you foresee other uses (eg Video editing, ...) then it is better to choose a higher quality one.

Record, Produce / Compose, Or Live Performance?

A live performance setup is certainly different from one for recording in the studio or for producing and composing.

If you are a singer or songwriter and you only need to record a couple of tracks, such as vocals and guitar, you definitely don't need a high-performance device like someone who has to produce a band and record numerous instruments, or as someone who uses a lot of plug-ins.

Everything is relative: even in live performances, you may have to record an acoustic duo and therefore two different sources, or a complete orchestra!

Screen Size

Sure, when you are at home you can conveniently connect your computer to an external display of the size you want, but the laptop screen must still be large enough to allow you to work effortlessly.

Also in this case you have to find the right compromise between portability and convenience in viewing.

Mobility

In addition to size, other mobility factors need to be considered. Like the battery life.

If you have to work on a train ride, or in an open place with no power outlets, you need to have a device with excellent battery life and replace it when performance starts to drop.

If you find yourself working in very dark discos and clubs, better choose devices with a backlit keyboard!

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Connectivity:

Now all (or almost) external peripherals are connected via a USB.

Make sure you have enough for use "away from home", while when you are at your desk you can use a hub and multiply the number of ports at your disposal, to connect the sound card, midi keyboard, and other devices at the same time.

Inputs For Audio Speakers And Headphones

By using an external sound card, your headphones or speakers will be connected through it.

The sound quality of the integrated cards is definitely not suitable for music production, but you can use it to listen to the audio of a video that interests you while you are out and about without a sound card or anything else.

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Brief History of Audio Production

There are debates on everything, even on the musical recording: better analog or digital?

The right answer may not exist, but what interests us is thanks to digital today you can produce your music at home with a small investment in suitable equipment.

Even going to a  professional music recording studio may now be feasible, whereas years ago only those with a large budget could have this privilege.

Technology and progress are double-edged weapons: recording is cheaper, but sales in the music industry have dropped significantly.

But let's take the beauty of this technological age and dedicate ourselves to our passion: music, which we can create and record independently!