# MacBook Air for Digital Djing and Production? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [July 16, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/macbook-air-for-digital-djing-and-production/58844 "2013-07-16T20:20:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![padi\_04](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/padi_04/32/56291_2.png) [@padi\_04](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/padi_04)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/macbook-air-for-digital-djing-and-production/58844/21 "2013-07-17T14:53:37Z")
> [@deevey](#): > > This would be my primary concern with considering the current crop of Macbook Pro’s, so here’s hoping for an updated “something” in the fall. I desperately need to replace my aging 2009 MBP (which I use for every conceivable task) Same boat here but probably not as desperate =). Maxing HDD and RAM did bring back life to this one and Mavericks is way more energy efficient. ---
**Author:** ![Karlos\_Santos](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/karlos_santos/32/13263_2.png) [@Karlos\_Santos](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Karlos_Santos)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/macbook-air-for-digital-djing-and-production/58844/22 "2013-07-17T15:03:58Z")
> [@makar1](#): > > I can’t stand using any computer that has an outdated spinning mechanical disk as its primary hard drive. Everything happens so slowly, and Traktor takes long enough to load already with several thousand tracks in its collection. I have the patience to wait, I’m doing other setup stuff whilst the collection loads. > [@makar1](#): > > The only benefit of the Pro now is the cheap storage options. This isn’t a benefit for me. It is a requirement. > [@makar1](#): > > The Air gives you much faster performance with the stock drive, higher screen resolution, longer battery life, and being just over half the weight of the Pro isn’t something to sneer at. Well I realise all that but, and I repeat makes little difference to a Traktor user. DJing without the PSU is a no-go for me, ever. Weight really is of no concern I think this is so misleading when you actually consider the weight of a 13" MBP and the fact that In a case, in a bag with all your peripherals… add a bag of sweets or a water bottle and you have undone the weight saving. All your points are good, added up they sound great. Individually they make little difference to a Traktor users experience. > [@makar1](#): > > Buying a brand new £1000 computer with a 1280x800 screen is something I know I’d regret. Not me. None of this makes me want to stump up another £500 for a machine. I did that with my first 2 15"MBP’s and I will never buy a 15 again. If there was a stock Air with a 750GB SSD **and the price was comparable** I would of course be a fool not to consider it but there isn’t and my money is better spent on other things than replacing perfectly working laptops for use with Traktor. For now I am happy to stick with the base model MBP. My Traktor is as quick as anyones at the gig. It may not physically be as quick but it makes zero difference to my perfomance (or anyones performance). Yes this sounds trite but at the gig the SSD won’t quicken my song choice, it will just put the song in the deck more quickly. The lighter machine wont sit any happier on my stand. The higher screen res will not make my Traktor experience any better. I am not saying that the Air is not getting close but it still has some way to go before working DJ’s like myself and many I know will be able to use them as work horses. ---
**Author:** ![geminimech](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/geminimech/32/14511_2.png) [@geminimech](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/geminimech)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 3:05pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/macbook-air-for-digital-djing-and-production/58844/23 "2013-07-17T15:05:55Z")
If you plan on getting the Air, buy it upgraded as your options are slim on upgrades later. RAM is out of the question and replacement SSD’s cost an arm and a leg. With that in mind a 13" Retina with 256gb/8gb and 2.5ghz i5 is 1600 bucks (from Best Buy). By comparison the 13" Air with the 1.7ghz i7 256/8gb is 1549 (from Apple, to my knowledge you can’t get this configuration from anyone else but them). So you’re looking at 50 bucks more for the Retina display. A little more heft, but in my opinion not enough to be a deal breaker. As alluded to earlier, if considering serious production a loaded 13" standard Pro has tons of guts and gets you in the same price bracket. The native resolution, while low, wasn’t much an issue TO ME since I had my machine plugged into an external display at home. Even on my retina now, it scales to 1280x800 just with quadruple the pixel density and it doesn’t bother me one bit. That’s not to suggest it won’t bother you. I can at least scale out my resolution, you obviously wouldn’t have that option on a standard 13" Pro. I personally found the standard Pro 15" too cumbersome to carry around when I was shopping for my first Pro, and it help when trying to justify the price increase. So having said that, I would consider purchasing a base Air foolish, and when you compare the price of upgraded Airs to it’s brethren in the same price bracket there are better options. ---
**Author:** ![Timbo21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/timbo21/32/14061_2.png) [@Timbo21](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Timbo21)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/macbook-air-for-digital-djing-and-production/58844/24 "2013-07-17T15:54:53Z")
> [@Karlos\_Santos](#): > > I will never buy a 15 again. Why no 15 again? ---
**Author:** ![mdcdesign](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/mdcdesign/32/12856_2.png) [@mdcdesign](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/mdcdesign)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/macbook-air-for-digital-djing-and-production/58844/25 "2013-07-17T17:38:53Z")
If someone sold an affordable 21" tablet, I’d be all over that shit. EDIT: The HP Slate 21 would’ve been an option if they’d thrown an Atom in there instead of a Tegra, but as it stands, the closest alternative is the Samsung Ativ One 5 Style, which doesn’t have a battery. ---
**Author:** ![sw84244](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@sw84244](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/sw84244)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/macbook-air-for-digital-djing-and-production/58844/26 "2013-07-17T21:03:50Z")
Wow .. didn’t thought about so much feedback. A lot of pros and cons for both, the MBP as well as the MBA. Just to make it even more complex: I would like to go with Native Instruments Maschine as well. I hope the next update (MK3, 2.0 or whatever they will call it tomorrow), will be with Traktor integration as well. I guess this will make it even more reasonable for a MBP. What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![Karlos\_Santos](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/karlos_santos/32/13263_2.png) [@Karlos\_Santos](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Karlos_Santos)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 10:53am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/macbook-air-for-digital-djing-and-production/58844/27 "2013-07-18T10:53:53Z")
> [@Timbo21](#): > > Why no 15 again? For my personal use I just don’t need a 15". I only really use 2 decks and simple sampler usage so i hide decks C & D , hide all the mixer elements and the Global Section. I still use my 15" but mainly as an internet machine in the house (the big screen is better for looking at trainers 🙂. I just got used to a 13" and now I find 15" to be cumbersome. If you need all 4 decks open and Global section for FX then I would say you need the 15", unless you can rely on the controller for visual feedback. I just dont need all the screen space. ---
**Author:** ![makar1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@makar1](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/makar1)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 11:41am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/macbook-air-for-digital-djing-and-production/58844/28 "2013-07-18T11:41:40Z")
> [@Karlos\_Santos](#): > > If you need all 4 decks open and Global section for FX then I would say you need the 15", unless you can rely on the controller for visual feedback. The 13" Air fits all that onscreen nicely, given that it has the same screen resolution as the base 15" Pro. ---
**Author:** ![Karlos\_Santos](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/karlos_santos/32/13263_2.png) [@Karlos\_Santos](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Karlos_Santos)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 11:56am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/macbook-air-for-digital-djing-and-production/58844/29 "2013-07-18T11:56:48Z")
Yeah I meant a 15 MBP compared to a 13 MBP. Even on a 15 MBP I cannot see enough of the browser. That’s why I hide everything. ---
**Author:** ![JesusJuice](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/jesusjuice/32/13963_2.png) [@JesusJuice](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/JesusJuice)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 12:13pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/macbook-air-for-digital-djing-and-production/58844/30 "2013-07-18T12:13:57Z")
all can say about complaining bout screen size is that we did DJ without looking at waveforms before. screen size discrepancies should not be of concern, but i agree with 15 being too big in general. it wont fit on the little fold out table of a seat on a plane, so umm… yeah, its too big haha ---
**Author:** ![space\_monkey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/space_monkey/32/14148_2.png) [@space\_monkey](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/space_monkey)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/macbook-air-for-digital-djing-and-production/58844/31 "2013-07-18T15:10:41Z")
Been using an Air 13" for almost a year now and it’s been great to me. I typically run Traktor and Maschine simultaneously w/o a hitch. I also use an extrnal mixer so I am able hide some of Traktor’s mixer elements. I have Ableton installed and have ran it while routing Traktor’s audio signal with no real performance issues either. Can’t vouch for the production capabilities though–that would depend on how complex your projects are. My initial concern over screen size diminished after a few sessions. Plus, the only time im looking at the screen now-a-days is to find a track or double-check loop sizes…or read the damned sample slots I can never seem to memorize by color. Either way I’d recommend wtv bang for buck setup that fits your wallet. I ultimately had to upgrade the SSD in the Air and wager that you can find a cheaper solution from Apple’s current line up of laptops. ---
**Author:** ![MockusD](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/mockusd/32/13090_2.png) [@MockusD](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/MockusD)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/macbook-air-for-digital-djing-and-production/58844/32 "2013-07-18T23:12:14Z")
Also guys you can map to keyboard to flick open Browser menu, thats what I do, I dj with Acer Aspire V5, great laptop for traktor, but havent tryed it yet fully on Ableton, I do believe it will perform OK, also that touchscreen i find useful for traktor🙂 _EDIT_ there are many acer aspire v5, not gonna bother with exact product code, but specs are i3 processor, 6gb ram, 700gb hd, and HD display along with decent HD video card ---
**Author:** ![noah1i8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@noah1i8](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/noah1i8)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 10:36pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/macbook-air-for-digital-djing-and-production/58844/33 "2013-07-19T22:36:14Z")
a macbook air will not have enough processing power for production, unless you’re doing very basic stuff with only a few tracks and little automation. It is possible, but there will be tons of jitter on playback ---
**Author:** ![deevey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/deevey/32/10758_2.png) [@deevey](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/deevey)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/macbook-air-for-digital-djing-and-production/58844/34 "2013-07-21T16:12:00Z")
> [@noah1i8](#): > > a macbook air will not have enough processing power for production, unless you’re doing very basic stuff with only a few tracks and little automation. It is possible, but there will be tons of jitter on playback Sorry mate thats complete bullshit. The Air is a more than capable machine since they introduced the Core Series processors back in the 2011 model - agreed the pre-2011 underpowered C2D models were almost useless. However the new Air is 100% as speedy as the 13’ Pro for 95% of tasks (and even moreso at others due to the SSD and better graphics card). [Previous page](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/macbook-air-for-digital-djing-and-production/58844.md?page=1)