Why djs use mac

Alternatively, when I am playing at a gig that only requires one genre of music i. Having said that, I also know DJs who prefer to play open format sets solely from USB and others who like to play single genre sets from their laptop. As I say, it all comes down to personal preference and what you feel comfortable with. When choosing a laptop for DJing, you must consider what you need from that laptop.

Can you afford a separate laptop just for DJ use? Do you need to use it for everyday tasks as well? It is also worth thinking about what software you intend to use and if you will use the laptop for music production as well. The reason that I say this is because there are certain pieces of software that are written exclusively for Mac OS and others that are written exclusively for Microsoft Windows.

A MacBook is a fantastic piece of kit, no doubt about it. They look good, they perform well and, if you look after them, they will last you a long time. Having said that, Microsoft Windows-based laptops are no slouches either and will provide you with more value for money when comparing similar spec laptops with their MacBook counterparts.

Whichever option you choose, make sure that you test it thoroughly with your software of choice prior to using it at any gigs. I hope that this article has helped you in some way. If you have any questions or any suggestions regarding best practice when using a MacBook or a Microsoft Windows-based laptop for DJing, please feel free to leave a comment.

Hi guys! Once I accepted that my professional football career was over I was overweight and had very little talent I decided to become a DJ.

So what does it mean for music-makers and DJs? There's no need to panic — your Mac computer with an Intel chip will still work with any new OS updates for the foreseeable future.

Apple's new macOS update Big Sur well be the first to include tools to facilitate the transition for developers. The tech giant said: "Apple will continue to support and release new versions of macOS for Intel-based Macs for years to come, and has exciting new Intel-based Macs in development. Both the transition from PowerPC to Intel and the transition from to bit will be painful memories for music-makers, with some developers taking longer than others to update their apps, some charging for the updates and some not updating at all.

Apple has already addressed the issue, saying: "With the translation technology of Rosetta 2, users will be able to run existing Mac apps that have not yet been updated, including those with plug-ins. As usual with plug-in and OS updates, nothing ever runs smoothly. Probably the most exciting aspect of the new chips, and why it matters for producers and DJs, is that apps will now be cross-platform between iPadOS and macOS. That means any iPad apps for music-making will now open on your desktop or laptop too.

Back in the day, laptops were not powerful enough so you would sometimes have DJs taking their full tower setup to a gig.

These days however with laptops being far more powerful, DJs can run software reliably while having the storage space needed to store virtually unlimited tracks. That would be one reason why DJs use laptops because it allows them to take their entire music library with them to a gig.

When using USB, although they may be able to store hundreds or thousands of tracks, a DJ will often have to pre-select the music to go on there. Taking their laptop means they can take the entire library. The other reason DJs use laptops is that the software can give them any more options than decks or a controller for example. Software can actually have virtually unlimited decks so while the DJ may only have two physical decks in front of them, the software may have many more.

It is not uncommon for DJs to mix on four decks at a time. There is a common myth with Macs that they do not suffer from viruses. While this may have been true in the early days sadly it no longer is. The myth came about due to the fact that Macs are programmed entirely in-house by Apple, therefore, making them more secure.

PCs are built by various manufacturers and while Windows is the operating system, many 3rd party developers add functionality to it think download virus software or installing drivers. This means there are more opportunities for hackers or malware to exploit the system. However, according to the Malwarebytes State of Malware Report , the amount of malware attacking Macs has outpaced Windows for the first time. For years Windows dominated the market share which meant they were a far bigger target for hackers.

However, as Apple has grown in popularity so has the number of attacks. This means that any DJ or even general users of Macs should be just as wary, and careful, as a Windows user. It is much more likely that a DJ will consider their budget and specification requirements above the look of the laptop when they are on stage.

Yes absolutely. Meaning this question really comes down to specs. When purchasing a laptop for DJing you need to make sure the laptop is capable of comfortably running any software you want to use. For example, if you are thinking you might like to make music in the future then look up the required specs needed to run Ableton for example. Always go for the highest specs you can afford. Generally, the higher-spec you get, the longer your laptop will last you.

So get way above the recommended specs for any particular software. This means that when the software is updated and gets more power-hungry which it will , your laptop will be able to cope with the higher demands. This comes down to personal preference, your style, and also what you are hoping to achieve in your sets.

This then makes life as a DJ very smooth and easy when buying new equipment such as a DJ controller or an add on performance pad.

Plug and play springs to mind when thinking of connecting equipment such as external sound cards, DJ controllers, performance pad and effects controllers or similar to a MacBook Pro. I think this is why an MacBook Pro simply dominates because creative people such as DJs just simply need and want to get stuck in with mixing and playing music. Not setting up equipment. The reliability of a MacBook Pro is very high up there, not only just from a hardware point of view, but a software operating system too.

The updates are performance and security led, which massively benefits users of a MacBooks that heavily rely on performance. Security is a given in my opinion but this is something Apple excel at in my opinon. Another valid reason for DJs choosing Apple over another brand is the price and quality perception of Apple products. Potentially even out-pricing certain people. The quality of a MacBook Pro is clearly the driver for a lot of people and certainly for me hence why I invested in one.

The quality of the build and design are very cool in my opinion. Slim and sleek in design, they are mostly quite thin and easy to carry around. MacBooks to touch feel like a quality product when holding one compared to a windows type laptop which can feel quite plastic and cheap. Plus when the bass in the club got too high, the vibration impacted the connections of my USB devices.