If you aspire to be a music producer or you are already a professional producer, by now you know that having a good laptop that supports music software like Ableton Live is vital in the music industry. With the best laptop for Ableton, the software will run without lags or performance issues. Besides, the right laptop will deliver quality music.
Why Do You Need the Best Laptop for Ableton?
First of all, Ableton is a digital audio workstation (DAW) for windows and macOS operating systems. It's designed to be an instrument for live music performances and as a tool for recording, arranging, composing, mixing, and mastering. Besides, music producers and DJs mostly use it since it provides a suite of controls for crossfading, beatmatching, and other different effects.
In this case, the best laptop comes with features that support and are compatible with the Ableton software. With such a laptop, you'll easily compose, record, and mix your songs and music. Also, your music will be of high quality than ever.
Now that you understand the importance of having the right laptop for Ableton software let's look at the 5 best laptops for Ableton software.
1. Acer Aspire 7 (A715-41G-R7X4) Laptop, Windows 10 Home
- AMD Ryzen 5 3550H Quad-Core Processor (Up to 3.7GHz)
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 with 4 GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM
- 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen LED-backlit IPS Display
- 8GB DDR4 2666MHz Memory & 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Backlit Keyboard | Wireless: 802. 11ac Wi-Fi featuring 2x2 MU-MIMO technology...
This laptop model is another option for the best laptop that you should consider. The Acer Aspire 7, 8th Generation Intel Core i7 laptop has a 15.6 -inch full HD screen LED-backlit IPS screen, which brightens up your system and offers a better view of the Ableton and other audio production software. Also, the laptop features NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Graphics with 4GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM and operates on a 2.1 GHz AMD Ryzen processor making the system much fast than before.
This Intel Core i7 processor Laptop comes with 8GB DDR4 RAM, 128GB SSD storage capacity, and 1TB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive, making it compatible with heavy music streaming. And since the DDR4 tends to work 50 percent faster than DDR3, it is a great laptop for Ableton software. Moreover, the laptop comes with 802.11ac WiFi, 1 x USB 2.0, 2 x USB 3.0, HDMI, USB 3.1 Type C Gen 1 port, backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader.
Ableton software can eat up a lot of battery; however, this laptop has a battery life of 7 hours, which is not enough for an active music producer. However, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card has taken things up a score outwardly while using such high-end software. Besides, the thin bezel offers you more space to work with wherever inspiration strikes. Thus, it is the ideal companion to take with you wherever you go.
2. Apple MacBook Pro (Space Gray) 2020 13" with Apple M1 Chip
- Apple-designed M1 chip for a giant leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance
- Get more done with up to 20 hours of battery life, the longest ever in a Mac
- 8-core CPU delivers up to 2.8x faster performance to fly through workflows quicker...
- 8-core GPU with up to 5x faster graphics for graphics-intensive apps and games
- 16-core Neural Engine for advanced machine learning
Have you ever wondered why almost every DJ uses a MacBook laptop? Well, it's because it is one of the best laptops for music software, not only for DJs but also for music producers. The Apple MacBook Pro 13-Inch Laptop features an Apple-designed M1 chip for a huge leap in CPU, GPU as well as machine learning performance. It also comes with pre-installed superfast SDD storage, which usually launches apps and opens files instantly; therefore, you won't have any hassle running your music software. Additionally, it has 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage, so everything you do is fast.
If you're an active music producer, this laptop will help you finish your projects with ease since it comes with a long battery life of about 20 hours with continuous use before recharging. In addition, the Intel Core i7 laptop features an 8-core GPU with five times faster graphics for graphic-intensive software like Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, and pro tools. You can as well play games on it without any problem if you feel like taking some breaks from the production.
This MacBook Pro 2020 Laptop comes with a 13-inch display that features 500 nits brightness for vibrant colors and excellent image detail. You can also view its screen from different angles. Moreover, it has 512GB SSD storage enabling it to perform 3.3 GB per second. For that reason, this kind of hardware brings peace of mind since you will complete your projects faster and more accessible.
3. Razer Blade 15: 15.6" 8th Gen Intel Core i7 Gaming Laptop-Windows 10
- DISPLAY: 15.6” Full HD edge-to-edge display (4.9mm bezels), factory color...
- GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q Design VR Ready graphics
- PROCESSOR: 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H 6 core processor
- DUAL STORAGE: 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD - For speed and capacity
- BUILD QUALITY: Thin and compact, durable CNC aluminum unibody (0.78” x 9.25” x...
If you're looking for the best laptop for Ableton live that comes with dual storage, look no further but the Razer Blade 15.6-inch 8th Generation Intel Core i7 Gaming laptop. Although it's a gaming laptop, it will do a great job as a laptop for Ableton, but we want you to judge it yourself. This laptop operates on 16GB DDR4 at 1060MHz, and the RAM capacity looks fine with 16GB space and the DDR, which uses the V4 and tends to work 50 percent faster than DDR3. Moreover, the laptop comes with a storage capacity of 1TB Hard Drive storage and 128GB SSD, so it'll be a great option for storing your files, data, Ableton software, and other music software freely hassle-free.
The laptop comes with a battery life of 8 hours, allowing you to work continuously on your projects easily without the need for a recharge, plus you can enjoy using Ableton software with this battery support. Besides, this laptop features the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q Design Ready graphics, which we believe will be handy in music production since it offers stunning visuals and graphics.
The laptop comes with a 1 x USB 2.0, 3 x USB 3.1 port, Gigabit Ethernet using the Thunderbolt 3 technology to link other hardware to the laptop with much precision. Moreover, this technology would change nearly everything since it is up to date on its knowledge and works great for faster data transfer. Conversely, the laptop is thin and compact and has durable CNC aluminum unibody to last you long in your music production projects.
4. Acer Aspire E 15.6 Inch Laptop, 8th Gen Intel Core i5
- 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U Processor (Up to 3.4GHz)
- 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED-lit IPS Display
- 8GB Dual Channel Memory & 256GB SSD
- Up to 15-hours of battery life.Adapter: 65 W
- Windows 10 Home
If you're looking for the best laptop for Ableton that comes with a fair price tag than other laptops on the list, count on the Acer Aspire E 15.6 Inch Laptop. This laptop is equipped with a full HD resolution though not that brighter; the picture quality is on a high notch. It also has a complete backlit keyboard with a number pad that you can still use even in a dark room.
Additionally, this Intel Core i5 laptop features a DVD drive that makes Ableton live software installation convenient. You can as well get a decent port selection, including VGA, HDMI, 1 x USB 2.0 port, 1 x USB Type-C connector, 1 x USB Type-C connector, Ethernet, a headphone jack, and Kensignton. Also, the laptop is equipped with an Intel Core i5 processor, plus has an incredible battery that lasts up to 15 hours.
5. GIGABYTE Aero 15" Intel Core i7 Ultra Slim Gaming Laptop
- 15.6" 5mm Thin Bezel FHD 144Hz Pantone X-Rite 1920x1080 IPS anti-glare display LCD
- Intel Core i7-8750H (2.2GHz-4.1GHz) NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 GDDR5 8GB Max Q Supports...
- 16 GB DDR4 2666MHz Memory 512GB M.2 NVME PCIe Gen3 x4 SSD Windows 10 Home
- 94.24Wh 10hrs Long Battery Life Gigabyte Fusion Per Key RGB Keyboard Dolby ATMOS...
- Maximum Memory: 32 GB
The Gigabyte Aero 15-inch Gaming laptop is another option to run Ableton live software. It comes with a 15.6" anti-glare LCD screen with a multi-colored backlit keyboard. It also comes with a powerful 2.2 GHz 8th Gen Intel Core i7 8750h processor. Besides, the Intel Core i7 8750h processor offers 50% more productivity on your music projects. In addition, it operates on 16GB DDR4 RAM, which is usually a much faster version than the DDR3 and improves up the performance.
The laptop comes with 512GB storage for you to store images, files, videos, and Ableton software on your laptop. In addition, it's X-Rite Pantone color calibration certified, meaning that it offers dynamic and true colors to the system while using the Ableton software. Moreover, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Graphics makes it one of the best alternatives because it gives you a rich experience of multiple software. Also, the keyboard can glow in all different colors, and you can easily change it anytime you want.
Additionally, this laptop comes with a battery that can last you 10 hours of continuous usage. It's also equipped with 1 x USB 3.1 (Gen 2), 2 x USB 3.1 (GEN 1), and 1 x Type C USB 3.1 port to help you link with your other devices. Plus, the Type C port uses the Thunderbolt 3 technology, which raises the data transfer speeds, transfers data of up to 40Gbps, and can connect any external device with a 4K display.
What are the Factors to Consider When Buying the Best Laptops for Ableton?
1. Screen display
When looking for the best laptops for Ableton Live, the display is an important consideration. Therefore, we recommend a full HD display laptop with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. Avoid lower or higher resolutions, or else you will feel inconvenience to read text from the Ableton software since it gets smaller with high resolution. Besides, look for a laptop with a screen that you can use well in all surroundings, indoors or outdoors.
2. Ram and storage
Ram and storage is another consideration to keep in mind when looking for the best laptop for Ableton. The minimum requirement is 8GB Ram for Ableton since you have to manage large files with a large sample of libraries; therefore, having a RAM of 8GB and above is necessary.
Conversely, a good laptop for Ableton should have 512GB to 1TB SSD storage space when it comes to storage. Nonetheless, if you're on a tight budget, you can opt to go for a laptop with less storage and purchase an external storage drive.
3. Battery lifespan
The battery lifespan matters a lot if you are a music producer who is always on the road. If you're this kind of a producer, you will need a laptop with 11-14 hours of battery performance to serve you for the whole day. Conversely, if you're indoors most of the time working for 6-8 hours continuously from your laptop, you'll then need a laptop with 8-10 hours battery life.
4. Processing power
You can easily run Ableton software with Intel processors like i5, i7, and i9. Also, if you plan to install other intensive music software, we recommend you to get quad-core processor laptops instead of dual-processors.
5. CPU performance
The performance of a laptop greatly depends on the CPU; how fast it processes files shows the output on the screen. For you to install Ableton live software, the CPU should belong to the 8th or 9th generation intel core or even 10th gen. With this CPU performance, there will be no buffering. Besides, the laptop should have an iOS, Microsoft operating system.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Best Laptop for Ableton Software
1. Which Ableton live version should I buy?
It highly depends on how professional you are. We recommend you buy the older versions if you're a beginner. However, if you're a professional music producer, you can buy Ableton Live 10 or even the latest Ableton Live 11.
2. How much RAM do I require for Ableton software?
Ableton Live 10 is 64-bit only. Therefore, for your software to run smoothly without buffing, we recommend you go for a laptop with 8GB or 16GB of RAM.
3. What processor is perfect for Ableton?
Although a dual-core might be enough for basic projects, AMD Ryzen 5 or a quad-core Intel i5 is the best for Ableton. Besides, the clock speed should be above 2.4GHz; the faster, the better.
