Jan 31, 2020 The best DAWs 2020: the best music production software for PC and Mac. By Ben Rogerson (Computer Music. Finally, we have to mention Ableton Live, undoubtedly the. Jan 31, 2020 Additionally, program may use up to 20 GB scratch disk space System requirements (Mac): Mac OS X 10.11 or later (64-bit), Intel Mac with multi-core processor, 4GB RAM (8GB or more recommended for large ReFills or Rack Extensions), 4 GB free system disk space required, plus 8 GB for optional content. Additionally, program may use up to 20 GB scratch disk space.
Music and computers. A match made in heaven of two of my favorite hobbies. I’ve recently started experimenting with Ableton due to the sheer number of freezing and bugs I experienced with FL Studio and that seemed to be as good of a reason as any to work out what would be the appropriate PC/Mac hardware for working with AL 10. First, let’s tackle the question of the best laptop for Ableton Live.
- Dec 18, 2019 Use Logic Pro X or Ableton Live on You iPad, using Sidecar on your Mac. This means you can use some high-level Mac music apps, like Logic.
- I will be traveling once every 3 months and i will be using it exclusively to make. Good reason to purchase a MacBook besides those already stated is stability. Ableton crashes are so rare in OSX that in a live setting you can rest easy that your.
What are we looking for?
Even if most people would simply go looking for a definitive list of best laptops for working with Ableton Live (which is included!), I believe it’s best to start with some hard requirements which can be used a measuring stick to compare the laptops. I don’t just want you to come out with a list of laptops but with a better understanding how to judge them from a music producers perspective. In that case, you’ll have the tools to pick a laptop even if you live somewhere where you can’t buy the laptops I’m about to list or you’ve found an intriguing sale and you wonder if the laptop behind it is any good.
Without further ado, let’s start with the official requirements.
Official requirements
Ableton has published their official requirements for Live 10 but they’re only useful enough to tell if a computer can run Live 10. That’s not the same as running it with a full stack of plugins and a hefty sample library.
The official Ableton Live 10 requirements:
- PC with Windows 7 SP1, 8 or 10 / Intel Mac (Mac OS X 10.7)
- Multicore processor
- 4 GB RAM
- 1024×768 display
- DVD drive or broadband internet connection for installation
- 3GB free disk space (up to 55 GB if you’re getting Live 9 Suite)
There’s also a Ableton Live Lite version that has the same requirements as their main version.
As you can see, these requirements don’t tell much apart from the fact that Windows PCs and Macs are both supported. If you’d take these requirements at their face value – you’d get nowhere. Even a $400 laptop can match them but you wouldn’t be even close to a smooth experience whenever you add a couple of synths, effects, send the signal from one channel to another and wrap it up with 3-5 plugins on the master chain to tighten the whole mix.
Even some plugin suites come with higher system requirements than Ableton Live.
So what are actual requirements?
Processor
Processor is the most important specification when looking for a laptop for Ableton Live.
Since AMD’s latest processors are yet to hit the market, we can focus our attention on Intel’s models as they’re for the most part the only option when looking for a performant laptop. If you have some knowledge on Intel desktop processors, you can apply most of your knowledge when evaluating a laptop’s processor.
Firstly, all Intel Core i3 processors are off the table. We are only looking for 6th-7th generation Core i5 and i7 CPUs. Also, for the most part, H-series processors are better than U-series processors. For example, i5-7300HQ is significantly faster than i5-7200U. U-series processors are designed for ultra-low power consumption which usually cuts into performance.
Which exact processors I consider good for Ableton Live?
- Best budget CPUs: i5-6300HQ, i5-7300HQ
- Best CPUs for a long battery life: i7-6500U, i7-7500U
- i7-6700HQ, i7-7700HQ, i7-7820HK, any Xeon processor
Of course, there are many more processors but you can use your own judgement when comparing them to the ones I’ve listed above. For example, i7-8650U is another power-efficient CPU (because of the “U” at the end), it is usually found in $1000+ laptops (because it’s an i7) and it is a bit faster than 7500U as it is indicated with a larger number (7567 > 7500). But if you have no knowledge on processors, your best bet would be just comparing the processors by some benchmark, such as PassMark.
Live uses one thread to process a signal path.Ableton
As a final note, your particular composing style might slightly influence your CPU choice. If you like to start mixing without any plugins on your mastering chain, you could easily get by with a solid mid-range multicore CPU such as i7-7500U. But if you like to compose and tinker with your mix in parallel, for example by quickly building a stack of compressors to which you mix into – you’d be better off with a higher clock speed that only come in high-end i7-7700HQ, i7-8750H and similar processors. In short, more cores – more instruments, higher core frequency – longer effect chains. For laptop CPUs, it doesn’t make much of a difference since laptops have a very limited selection of processors. But for desktops, it might make a difference as Intel provides better single-core performance and AMD Ryzen is more cost-efficient for multi-threaded work.
To illustrate what I mean, I have added a handy graphic below. To make matters simple, let’s assume you have 5 channels. Channel 1 and 2 are sent to Send 1 for some joint reverb and channels 3, 4 and 5 are sent to Send 2 for some distortion and compression. Let’s assume you’re using quite a few effects on each channel and on top of everything you have a stack of plugins on your master.
Now, let’s pretend you’re trying to play what you’ve got. First of all, Ableton tries to render all your channels (including sends). Each core of your quad-core processor takes on a channel 1 through 4. Core 3 quickly finishes channel 3 and starts working on channel 5. Meanwhile, channel 1 and 2 are done and are sent to Send 1. Once channel 5 is finished, 3rd, 4th and 5th channels are sent to Send 2. Once the last send is done, everything is sent to master and it plays what we’ve done.
If we were rendering only 128 samples then we might start hearing cracking as we couldn’t finish rendering them by the time we should play them. Meanwhile, if we were rendering 256 samples, we would be alright as we finished by the time we need to play them back.
In this scenario, the length of each bar is mostly determined by the sheer performance of a single core. That means that if we’ve faster cores – we can fit in more effects to our longest plugin chain (which includes master channel).
At the same time, if we had more cores, we could have rendered channel 5 at the same time as channels 1-4 and thus drastically reduced the longest rendering chain.
Obviously, I’ve simplified matters and assume there are no plugin-level multi-core optimizations but in many cases, that’s how plugins work, especially at low sampling rates when there’s less to be gained by parallelizing tasks across CPU cores.
Recommended: i7-8550U
Best: i7-8650U, i7-7700H, i7-8750H
Best: i7-8650U, i7-7700H, i7-8750H
Memory (RAM)
Once you are happy with the processor, you only need to make sure that no other component is limiting it (I sense some potential for a limiter joke).
RAM is very easy to get right. We don’t really care too much about memory frequency or latency. In laptop world, all of these secondary metrics are mostly the same.
We only care about the size (damn right)! 8GB should be your baseline. Don’t give a second look to laptops that don’t have 8GB, unless you’re on a very very tight budget and they have the potential to be upgraded.
Right now, 16 GB is the new “just right” amount of memory. Going above that surely won’t hurt you but it’s not necessary by most standards. Usually, memory size is tightly correlated with laptop price and other hardware specs, so you’re most likely to get pretty much the exact amount your processor needs.
Storage
This one is quite important to get right. Long story short – get an SSD. For storing a large sample library you might not be able to get away with a raw SSD setup. In that case you still can opt for an external drive or a 2nd drive, even if that means matching a fast SSD with a slower but larger HDD.
For PC users, SSD should be used for Windows, Ableton and, depending on drive size, VST plugins. For most, a 500 GB is needed to fit in their samples. And for your archives, I advise getting a large external drive or getting a cloud storage service if you have a very good upload link (~50Mbps and up).
MacBook users don’t have to worry much about getting an SSD – all MacBooks have one. Their main problem is just raw storage. Apple asks for a significant premium for each step up in storage size so you’ll need deep pockets to get a MacBook Pro with a large storage drive.
ASIO Drivers support
For desktop users, this would be especially important due to a wider selection of audio cards and sheer customization options. But for laptop users, you’ll just have to accept your built-in Realtek audio chip (or similar). It will work with ASIO4ALL but an external audio card or audio interface is recommend though not an essential if you’re not recording audio.
Ports
Audio engineering is still bound by wires and situation is not changing anytime soon. So make sure you have at least a couple USB ports. USB 3.1 is preferred due to its splitting potential. Also, I’d prefer separate 3.5mm audio input/output jacks as they’re easier to setup than a joint jack. Finally, a dedicated HDMI 1.4+ or DisplayPort is an essential if you want to hook up an external monitor display.
Protip: if you have any Firewire/Thunderbolt hardware, you might want to check if a laptop has “Thunderbolt USB controller”. That basically means that USB 3.1 (Type C) port can be used as a DisplayPort and Thunderbolt port.
Optional requirements
Long battery life
First off, you can’t have a truly long battery life while working on audio. But having at least a couple of hours of juice is still better than having only an hour.
This is not a necessary requirement for most because battery life is not as big of a problem as it used to be a couple years ago when only Macbooks and Lenovo laptops had anything close to a whole workday off one charge. But if you’re going for a particularly fast & power-hungry processor (which I recommend), you’ll need to lower your expectations for the battery or bump up your budget.
Right now, if you can spend ~$3,000 for a laptop and you want “the whole package” – MacBook Pro might be your best option. Windows laptops are unbeatable if you’re willing to cut a corner or two – then you can get a laptop that matches Macbook Pro in speed at nearly half the price. But don’t expect to get everything Apple offers and still save $1,000 just because you went for a Dell.
Silent cooling
If you’re recording in the same room, you might want to avoid polluting your recordings with laptops noise print. Any laptop capable handling Ableton Live will have a fan to cool it down but the processor, cooling layout and a sheer number of fans all play a role in the produced sound. A pair of fans spinning slowly will be less noisy and a lot easier to cut out than a single fan spinning at max speed and entering the mid-range frequencies. Also, avoiding an HDD will shave off a couple dBs.
Sadly no laptop manufacturer mentions their product noise level in the spec sheets. The easiest way to figure that out is to use 3rd party reviews such as NotebookCheck. If laptop doesn’t hit 45 dB @ 15 cm (6 inches) at max load – you’ll be alright.
Or at the very least you could look for a laptop that produces noise at your favorite noise pattern. Heh.
What doesn’t matter
Graphics
Ableton Mac Torrent
Graphics card is only needed if you’re an avid gamer. In many cases, you’re bound to get a decent GPU if you’re buying a laptop over ~$1,200. If you want to use your laptop for gaming, you should get at least Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M or 1050 for casual gaming and for latest gaming titles I recommend GTX 1060.
Laptop recommendations
Acer Aspire E 15
$600
i5-8250U | MX150 | 8GB | 256 GB SSD | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) | 7h
- One of the cheapest laptops for working with Ableton Live
- Comes with all the basics (up-to-date i5 CPU, 8 GB RAM and 250 GB SSD storage)
- USB 3.1 Type C
- No removable battery
- Keep in mind its limited i5 CPU performance. It is far from comparable to their desktop counterparts
- It runs hot
ASUS ZenBook UX430UA-DH74
$1,000
i7-8550U | UHD 620 | 16GB | 512 GB SSD | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) | 8h
- Lightweight and portable
- Superior battery life
- Great gaming and mobility balance
HP Pavilion 15t
$1,400
i7-8750H | GTX 1060 3GB | 16GB | 512 GB SSD (PCIe) + 1 TB HDD | 4.8 lbs (2.2 kg) | 6h
- A lot of storage
- One of the fastest laptop processors
- Is suitable for gaming and working with video
- High refresh rate IPS display
Apple Macbook Pro (13-inch)
Smaller MacBook Pro$1,500
i5-8259U | Iris Plus 655 | 8GB | 512 GB SSD (PCIe) | 3.0 lbs (1.4 kg) | 10h
- i5 processor that performs as an i7 CPU
- Classic option for most
- Easier to setup audio drivers – Core Audio
- Long battery life
- 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports
- Small display
Gigabyte Aero 15X v8-BK4
$2,300
i7-8750H | 1070 8GB Max-Q | 16GB | 512 GB SSD | 4.6 lbs (2.1 kg) | 8h
- Top of the line performance
- Great for any type of work
- Surprisingly well cooled for a thin laptop
- Limited storage
- Unorthodox webcam position
Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch)
Latest MacBook Pro$2,799
i7-8850H | Radeon Pro 560X | 16GB | 512 GB SSD (PCIe) | 4.0 lbs (1.8 kg) | 10h
- Expensive if you don’t need a top of the line CPU and a long battery life
- The best combination of performance and portability
- You’ll need a port splitter to connect your gear
Past the laptop
Setting up
If you’re going for Windows laptop – Ableton has written one hell of a guide for Windows performance optimizations. Trying to summarize it wouldn’t do it justice. And bookmark it so you know what to read if you ever hear any cracks in your buffer.
Final thoughts
If you’ve followed the general guidelines outlined in this post, you won’t have an issue in picking a great laptop for Ableton without much additional research. Whether you’re buying a laptop as a primary workstation or as a way to work on music on the go – don’t forget that there’s a lot more to music than just a good machine for your DAW. If you’ve been a Windows user before and you don’t have any concrete reason to move to Mac (or vice versa), then don’t stress over picking the right platform and OS for Ableton – get what you’re already comfortable with so you can get back to doing what you like most. Unless of course, you’re a fan of exploring new computer hardware as much as you’d like to tinker with an analog synth. In that regard, musicians and computer geeks are more alike than most would think.
If Ableton won’t be the only DAW you’ll be using – don’t forget to check out laptop guides for FL Studio and music making in general.
Table of Best Laptops for Ableton Live
Laptop | Price (approx) |
Acer Aspire E 15 | $600 |
ASUS ZenBook UX430UA-DH74 | $1,000 |
HP Pavilion 15t | $1,400 |
Apple Macbook Pro (13-inch) | $1,500 |
Gigabyte Aero 15X v8-BK4 | $2,300 |
Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch) | $2,799 |
Whether you are a seasoned music producer, looking to get mobile with your performance, or just starting out creating music on the computer, finding the best laptop for Ableton Live can help your creative process.
The first recorded music on a computer was on a Ferranti Mark 1, which was one of the first commercially available computers of its time. Nicknamed “The Baby,” this mainframe took up an entire room. In 1951, Christopher Strachey, a mathematics professor from Manchester, England, wrote a program that played a synthesized version of “God Save the Queen” and “Baa Baa Black Sheep.”
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Computer generated music has come a long way since then. In the early 1980s, Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) revolutionized the way computers and synthesizers talked to each other, ushering in an age of computer-generated music.
In 2001, Ableton released Ableton Live. This software ushered in another revolution, pushing the envelope of music creation even further. It is now used around the world, helping artists create new music right on their computers.
Image via Pixabay
Before we can talk about the best laptop for Ableton Live, you need to know what to look for. Here are a few things you need to know to find the best laptop for Ableton Live.
Ableton Live is software that allows you to create as well as perform music. This program includes music effects, sampling, instruments, and more.
Ableton Live 10 runs on either Windows or Mac-based operating systems.
For Windows computers, the minimum specs for Ableton Live 10 are Windows 7, 8, or 10; a 64-bit Intel or AMD multi-core processor; and 4 Gigabytes (GB) of memory.
While these are the minimum specifications to run Ableton, the company recommends at least 8 GB of RAM and Intel Core i5 processor or faster.
To run Ableton on a Mac, you need OS X 10.11.6 or later with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor or better and at least 4 GB of RAM. However, Ableton recommends an Intel i5 processor or better as well as at least 8 GB or more of RAM.
What to consider when choosing a computer for Ableton Live?
Picking the best laptop for Ableton depends a lot having the right components as well as your personal preferences. When choosing the best laptop for Ableton, it is a good idea to determine your needs and budget. You should also take the time to learn what components are integral to your Ableton needs and why.
The central processing unit (CPU) is the brains of a computer. The CPU processes the data when you are editing tracks on Ableton. In general, you want to buy the most powerful processor your budget allows.
If you are buying a Mac, you will be choosing from a variety of Intel-based chips. Intel chips you can find in Mac laptops like the MacBook Pro and MacBook Pro Air are going to be Intel i5 and above. These processors will work well with Ableton.
If you want a PC laptop, you have more options, as you can find good laptops running Intel and AMD chips. What side you take in the Intel and AMD wars is up to you. If you are unsure which is better for your needs, check out Tech Radar’s guide to AMD vs. Intel.
In general, stick with an Intel i5 or above processor or an AMD Ryzen 5 or above for AMD.
There are two types of long term storage on laptops: hard drive or solid state drives. Hard drives have two magnetically sensitive disks read by a moving metal arm. Conversely, solid state drives have no moving parts.
In general, hard drives are cheaper with a larger storage capacity than solid state drives. However, hard drives are also heavier and slower than solid state drives. They also run hotter than solid state drives.
Solid state drives are faster and more energy-efficient than hard drives. When choosing the best laptop for Ableton, while a solid state drive is not essential, it is definitely worth the investment.
Random Access Memory or RAM is your computer’s working memory. Ableton Live 10 requires at least four GB of RAM. When it comes to audio production, the more RAM you have, the better. When trying to find the best laptop for Ableton, always buy the computer that has as much RAM as your budget allows.
The processor, hard drive, and RAM are all essential and fairly universal components to consider when choosing the best laptop for Ableton Live. There are also a few other components that you may want to consider, depending on your needs and preferences.
Most laptops come with displays between 13-inches and 17-inches. In general, smaller screens will be more affordable than larger ones. Also, larger screens tend to be heavier though there are ultra-portable, large screen laptops that are quite light and thin.
If you are using Ableton Live mainly at home or in the studio, and portability isn’t a factor, a large screen may be helpful as it allows you to see more of the screen at any given time. However, if you often perform in live settings with Ableton, a smaller, more portable laptop may be better.
Another thing to consider if you perform live with Ableton is screen brightness and clarity. If you play live, be sure to choose a laptop with a display that is bright without glare issues, mainly if you tend to perform with other audio and lighting gear.
When choosing the best laptop for Ableton, think about what peripherals, if any, you may need. Be sure to consider gear you may need during production as well as any equipment you may need while performing. Ensure that whatever laptop you choose has the appropriate ports for your peripherals.
To find the best laptop for Ableton Live, we looked at a variety of laptops recommended by audio engineers and enthusiasts, as well as other top-rated laptops that exceeded specifications. From there, we took a look at what professionals had to say about each computer. Finally, we checked to see what consumers had to say about each laptop, in particular about audio production quality where available.
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Since everyone’s budget is different, we looked for the best laptop in a variety of different price points. The laptops on our list range in price from $545 to $2,400 online.
Here are our top picks for the best laptop for Ableton Live. Download logic garageband apple loops.
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Apple computers and laptops are a favorite amongst creatives for their power and sleek design.
The MacBook Pro comes in several configurations, but the one we recommend boasts a powerful 2.6 GigaHertz (GHz) Intel i7 processor, 15-inch screen, and 16 GB of RAM.
You can find the MacBook Pro online for between $2,200 and $2,400 at Best Buy, Guitar Center, and B&H Photo.
Website CNET gives the MacBook Pro a score of 8.2 out of 10 stars, giving it high marks across the board, especially for performance. However, CNET does note that the MacBook Pro only has USB-C ports which may be a strike against it, depending on your needs. CNET also notes that performance and style come at a high price.
Laptop Mag also gave the MacBook Pro high marks, with a score of 4.0 out of 5 stars. The magazine had the same observations as CNET, loving the overall feel and performance of the MacBook Pro but taking issue with the lack of USB-A connections.
The power behind the MacBook Pro makes it a long-time favorite of audio professionals. The laptop is on both TechRadar and the Best DJ Gear websites as an essential laptop for aspiring and professional DJs and other audio creatives.
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Dell XPS 13
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The Dell XPS 13 is a top-rated, Windows-based PC, packing the power to run Ableton Live in a small, portable package. This laptop comes in a variety of configurations which you can customize on the Dell website.
The 13.3-inch, Intel i7 1.8 GHz processor, with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB solid state drive gives you a sturdy machine for running Ableton without breaking the bank. This configuration is available for between $1,200 and $1,350 at Best Buy, Newegg, and Amazon.
![Best Best](/uploads/1/2/6/0/126096885/634967272.jpg)
The Dell XPS 13 gets excellent reviews from professional reviewers. Laptop Mag gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars, giving it points for its good looks and excellent battery life. However, Laptop Mag did notice that the Dell XPS 13 does not have a USB-A port, which may be problematic if you have gear that uses USB-A.
Similarly, CNET also gave the Dell XPS 13 high marks, giving a score of 8.4 out of 10 stars. CNET liked that the laptop was robust with an excellent cooling system and also noted the fingerprint reader. However, CNET was less than impressed that the Dell XPS 13’s touch screen is not standard and also noted the abundance of USB-C ports.
![With With](/uploads/1/2/6/0/126096885/614925001.jpg)
Amazon customers also like the Dell XPS 13, giving it 3.8 out of 5 stars. The majority of the reviews like the Dell XPS 13, giving it high marks for power and overall value. However, critical reviews complain about various issues but mostly about Dell customer service.
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MacBook Air
Best Laptop For Ableton Reddit
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Apple’s other entry on this list is the MacBook Air. The MacBook Air is more affordable than the higher-end MacBook Pro but is still a favorite among creatives. True to its name, the MacBook Air is quite light, weighing under 3 pounds, with a 13-inch screen.
Its small size belies its power. The MacBook Air boasts an Intel i5 processor with an 8 GB and a 128 GB SSD drive. Other configurations can upgrade the RAM to 16 GB and the storage up to 1.5 Terabytes.
You can purchase the MacBook Air online for between $900 and $1,500, depending on the configuration. Places that you can find the MacBook Air include the Apple website, Best Buy, and Amazon.
The Apple MacBook Air gets excellent reviews from professionals. CNET gives the Apple MacBook Air an 8.1 out of 10 star rating. Overall, CNET liked the Air’s portability and good battery life. However, like other Apple products, CNET noted that it was quite expensive and also had a limited number of ports.
On a thread in the Ableton forums, one user pointed out that they use the MacBook Air with Ableton Live and it runs smoothly. However, this same user also cautions against using the MacBook Air if you have other equipment to run with Ableton.
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ASUS ZenBook
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The ASUS Zenbook is a laptop with a lot of value. The ASUS Zenbook has a 14-inch screen with an Intel i.7 processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD. With these specs, Ableton is sure to run smoothly.
You can find the ASUS Zenbook online for between $1,200 and $1,550. It is available for purchase at PC Nation, Staples, and Amazon.
The ASUS Zenbook gets excellent reviews from professionals. Laptop Mag gives it a 4.0 out of 5 star rating for its compact and durable design. As a bonus for audiophiles, Laptop Mag also gives it a thumbs up for good speakers. On the downside, it does not have great battery life and has a dim display.
Ableton users also seem to like the ASUS Zenbook, getting at least one thumbs up in this Reddit thread. Users on the audio professional website Gear Slutz gave the ASUS Zenbook approval for use with Ableton.
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Acer Aspire E
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If you are just starting out in your music hobby, finding a budget way to use Ableton is probably very important. While many of the candidates for the best laptop for Ableton Live start in the low $1,000 range, the Acer Aspire E is an exception.
Your library will not be overwritten or altered.
Then open Live and follow the instructions there.If you want to uninstall the trial at any point,.Using Live 9?You can install the trial next to Live 9.
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The Acer Aspire E is the not-so-little laptop that can still be a great audio production tool. This 15-inch laptop has an Intel i5 processor, capable of up to 3.4 GHz speeds, with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB SSD. However, at a price of between $550 and $600 online at Amazon and Walmart, it is just a fraction of the cost of other laptops on this list.
Laptop Mag gives the Acer Aspire E a 4.0 out of 5 star rating. It gave the Acer Aspire E high marks for performance and available ports, as well as its overall value. However, Laptop Mag also did point out that the Aspire E is bulky and riddled with bloatware.
Amazon customers love the Acer Aspire E, giving it a 4.0 out of 5 star score with 749 customer reviews. Positive reviews like the computer overall, with one review calling it a “fantastic machine at an affordable price.” Critical reviews complain of problems with the display and lack of support.
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Microsoft Surface Pro
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For audio engineers that want some flexibility with their Ableton laptop, the Microsoft Surface Pro may be a good fit. The Microsoft Surface Pro is a 2-in-1 tablet and notebook, with the base offering running an Intel i5 processor, with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB SSD. You can also find configurations with 16 GB of RAM and up to a 1.5 TB SSD.
You can find the Microsoft Surface Pro online with 8GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD for between $1,150 and $1,250 at Adorama, B&H Photo, Best Buy, and Amazon.
CNET gives the Microsoft Surface Pro 4.5 out of 5 stars. In particular, the website likes the portability as well as performance and battery life on the Surface Pro. Unfortunately, CNET did not like the lack of USB-C ports on the Surface Pro and noted that its SSD is a bit sluggish. That is something to be wary of if you plan to use Ableton in a performance setting.
Surface Pro Audio is a website dedicated to audio production on the Microsoft Surface. The site has several posts on using and optimizing Ableton for creating music on the Surface Pro.
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Like making great music, finding the best laptop for Ableton Live is all about finding the right combination. If you have the budget for it, hands down the best laptop for Ableton Live 10 is the Apple MacBook Pro. Its powerful processor and sleek interface make it a formidable machine, beloved by audio creatives everywhere. For a more affordable option, the Acer Aspire E is a great option for beginners.
Best Mac To Use With Ableton Mac
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