It's so mini!!!!!

https://www.apple.com/in/shop/buy-ma...d----Announce-

mmm 64GB RAM, 10 P cores, 4 E cores, 1.8x faster CPU than M1, 3 TB5 inputs, 2 USB-C inputs, support for 3 monitors

and a partridge in a pear tree..........

Compare tech specs of the M4 models:

https://www.apple.com/mac/compare/?m...4,iMac-24-M4_4

At quick glance, it looks about $500-$1000 cheaper (similarly specc'ed or better) as the M2 Pro I bought 11 months ago.

Seems like potentially a pretty great deal!

What got me the most excited about the M4 Pro and potentially Max is that they are returning to M1 Pro era ratios of P to E cores with 10p4e (or 8p4e). The E cores were never very good for production and mixing work, so the 6p6e M3 Pro was never a real upgrade compared to the 8p2e M1 Pro/Max.

I hope they take it further with the Max—perhaps a 14p2e config? I would hit preorder so fast.

About to preorder one.

Recommendations on specs? Would love to run ProTools sessions without worrying about CPU. Getting some overloads with my M1 MacBook Air 16GB RAM.

Rarely using sample libraries. Really just want flawless performance when using plugins while tracking and mixing audio.

I would have preferred a bigger case and no fan. More reasonable prices for extra ram and storage.
Is the 14 core version 10 performance or 8 performance cpus model?

single-core performance is crucial to getting heavy plugins in series to not crash the computer. mac rates some of their processors as max, ultra, etc. i would get the super-ultimate-monster-max m4 chip that hits the market. it might take a few months for those to arrive. i don't know.

The problem with the Air is that it’ll throttle when high GPU load is added to a high CPU load.

This isn’t usually a problem but some developers like UAD have such a high gpu load it’ll cause crashes on a machine without a fan.

That might not be your problem but these new machines should be great!

you need to measure the single core performance when the other part of the system is on high load in a DAW workload. Typically that is not what singlecore benchmarks are doing. Worst case scenarios are more like the multicore benchmarks if your DAW can utilize them. The new 14-core model are on cpu performance like a Ryzen 9900x (But I dont know if any DAW can utilize 24 threads, even a 14 core is a challenge)
The specification says 155watt and that will result in a very noisy fan in that little box.

The $600 basic model has to be the best value per dollar prebuilt computer ever? And it's only slightly bigger than an apple tv? Wild.

The 14-core Pro is 10P+4E.

I'm very interested in the next gen of mac studio, from watching this video it looks like it'll be a massive upgrade from the last one, especially with ultra chips.

A raspberry pi5 is US$ 39.5 / passmark a $US 600 M4 mac will be ~41.6 $ per passmark. Both can run reaper as DAW so they could be compared...

True I did not consider the raspberry pi!

Still I have no use for a mac mini but I am trying to talk myself out of buying one. I have a drawer full of raspberry pis I never even think of... lol.

Can anyone describe what difference I can expect if I upgrade from the 12 to 14 core CPU? And also if I upgrade from 24-48G of RAM?

Don't want to spend money unnecessarily, but since I've had issues with met M1 MBA, I don't want to run into any problems.

Sessions typically are 24-48 tracks, a fair amount of plugins as I build productions, but nothing crazy.

On my M1 Air, I've had some takes interrupted in sessions with a a couple of ProQs, Seventh Heaven Reverb, and an Unfairchild plugin. CPU overload, as well as "audio processing deadline not met" in relation to Seventh Heaven or Unfairchild.

Really want to avoid ever having a tracking session interrupted, so I'm happy to upgrade specs IF it will make a difference.

Do you use a lot of apps at the same time?

Do you use virtual samplers?

If yes get as much ram as you can afford - it keeps the computer from writing to the ssd for usage

Use process monitor to see where your RAM goes right now.

You are unlikely to need the 14-core CPU over the 12-core but then it is only $100 per performance core for the upgrade.

Theoretically your M1 might also throttle from lack of cooling and the CPU would be fine in a Mini.

Looks great, but I would hold off until we get some reports on db usage in the studio. (Smaller fans typically mean more noise)

No no no. A bigger case means a bigger fan which can run slow and quiet. (Mac Studio M2 is pretty silent).

As others have said, you don't want a pro machine w/no fan. No cooling means it throttles performance or, worst case, plain crashes on heavy load.

The 14 core M4Pro with stock 24GB of RAM is a VERY nice computer for most audio producers. I'd only bump the SSD to 1TB and call it a day, as I store all of my sessions on external SSDs anyway. However, I'm a true laptop believer these days because of the freedom it gives me, so tomorrow might be THE day for me

This looks like my new machine:

Apple M4 Pro chip with 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
• 48GB unified memory
• 2TB SSD storage
• 10 Gigabit Ethernet
• Three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI port, two USB-C ports, headphone jack
• Accessory Kit

I'm lining up the same (except for the 10 ethernet). That should do me for the next 7 years

Looks like a great mini machine. But getting it up to spec makes it rather pricey still. At least 64 GB and 2 TB is needed here, for me at least.
Hoping for a M4 Ultra Studio soon, I would want nothing less really to replace my m2ultra Studio.

Looks like a great mini machine. But getting it up to spec makes it rather pricey still. At least 64 GB and 2 TB is needed here, for me at least.
Hoping for a M4 Ultra Studio soon, I would want nothing less really to replace my m2ultra Studio.

Why 2tb? Is an external ssd like the samsung ssds not just as fast?

These are exactly my thoughts. Looking forward to learn more about the new MBPs.

Just investigated my Activity Monitor, and Avid Link was using up 40% CPU without Pro Tools being open. Deleted it and Avid Cloud. Let's see if that helps.

thunderbolt 5 is 120gbps! jesus that's fast...