Best Laptop for DJing And Music Production in 2021

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Producing music and DJing at your local spots is definitely fun, and if you really commit to it, you can even earn some serious money. But, before you can do that, you need to have the right gear, which is one that performs well and is reliable.

However, finding the right hardware can be hard, so we are here to make the job easier for you. We’ve taken the time to review dozens of different laptops on the market in order to find the best laptop for DJing and music production. See what we’ve found below:

Our favorite laptops for DJing

Here are the eight best laptops for DJing that are sure to give you the best time in making and playing music, and more:

Things to consider when buying a laptop for DJing

Before you start looking for a laptop for recording music, it’s important to keep in mind a few factors to make sure that you end up with the right laptop for you. This includes choosing the right software, the best operating system, picking through the top specs, and so on, all to ensure that the laptop can handle running your software, and give you enough storage for your tunes.

The beauty of it is, for music production, you don’t really need all the best and the latest specs that many modern devices offer. Although, it can obviously prove helpful especially for live productions, since you want to be completely sure that your laptop can keep up with the workload.

As such, your decision should really be based on your needs and requirements, your specific line of work, your work space/s, and of course, your budget. If you take all of these into account, you’ll be sure to find yourself a great DJ computer.

Processor and memory

What really makes the laptop run is its processor, and as such, it’s only right to choose one with a powerful and high speed processor, ideally one that is an Intel Core, and nothing below an i5. This will ensure that the laptop operates quickly and smoothly, and will also be compatible with various production software and hardware.

And then, you also need a decent memory, especially if you will be installing a lot of software, and storing a lot of audio files in the laptop. Some softwares readily take up 4gb of space, so it’s a must to never settle for anything less than an 8gb capacity.

Screen size and resolution

One of the first things you need to consider is the size of the display screen and its resolution. As a DJ, there is a lot of crucial information that you need to be able to see at a glance, and a decent sized screen is what guarantees that. So, make sure to not go below a 13 inch display. This will also help you focus better without having to strain your eyes.

Of course, the screen size won’t matter if the resolution is poor. As such, the laptop should ideally be full HD with at least a 1280 by 800 pixel resolution. You even need to account for brightness, especially if you often play during the day. If you can, try to find a laptop that has daytime settings and goes really bright at full brightness.

Speaker quality

Now, you won’t be blasting your beats right from your laptop when you’re at a gig, but whenever you work from your home studio, it’s always nice if you can play music right from the laptop, so you don’t have to wear headphones 24/7 nor disturb your neighbors with loud external speakers. Then again, you should still find excellent zero latency headphone monitors, as well as performance speakers.

Battery life

How long the battery lasts is important for all types of gadgets, but even more so when it comes to laptops for making music. For one thing, you’ll be travelling a lot and will not always have an available power source nearby. Meaning, you can’t fix up your music, play your tunes, and whatnot. So, a long battery life of at least 12 hours is a must.

USB ports

As a DJ, you have many other equipment that you use whenever you work and perform, and if you want to be able to connect them to your laptop, you need one with adequate ports, ideally at least three. Of course, you can always just add more hubs, but that’s a hassle and might even affect performance, so it’s better to start with a good number already.

Solid state hard drive

One of the most common issues you’ll have to deal with in a laptop is the hard drive becoming faulty. It’s really a question of when it will happen. To avoid this as much as possible, you want to go for the most reliable hard drive. This means traditional solid state hard drives or SSDs, although they come at a higher price tag, so you’ll need to account for that.

Graphics card

If you like to make videos, edit images, watch movies, and play games on your laptop, a dedicated GPU is a nice idea. Otherwise, if you’re just using your laptop for DJing, having a GPU is just an added burden that you can do away with.

Design and durability

Many DJs nowadays use a MacBook for music production. It’s sleek, trendy, and comes with amazing specs. Definitely better looking than many other high performance laptops. The problem is, Apple products are not popular for their cooling systems, a huge red flag as the laptop can skip or even black out, and something you don’t want happening during a live event.

So, it’s still best to opt for a laptop that has superior ventilation. Moreover, the build quality should also be decent, meaning, it should be aptly designed and made with high quality materials rather than, say, cheap plastic with mediocre hinges.

Weight and portability

Now, as someone who most likely needs to travel a lot for work, it’s always ideal to have stuff that are lightweight and portable, so your travel can be easy and convenient. Think of it this way, you’ll most likely have to bring plenty of gear, and if they are all heavy, you’re doomed, no? If you want to avoid this, find a laptop with a slim profile and a lightweight construction. Once you’re at the party, you can put your DJ laptop on one of these best DJ laptop stands for support and easier access

Price

Let’s admit it, no one wants to shell out way more money than they have to on any product or service, especially if it’s a big ticket item that probably already costs too much in the first place. When it comes to a laptop for music, this is also something you don’t want to do, especially since you don’t even need all the latest specs and features.

What you need instead is a well performing, reliable, and durable laptop that you can really depend on. To give you an idea, a decent DJ laptop can cost anywhere from 500 to 2000 dollars.

Warranty and after sales service

Now, your journey to finding the right DJing laptop for you doesn’t end with your purchase. Aside from using it, you still need to maintain it and keep it in good condition. Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are with your laptop, things can sometimes go wrong, and for these instances, you need a great warranty and service coverage to keep you worry free.

Final Tips

There are definitely a lot of things you need to account for if you really want to find the best laptop for DJing, and things can easily get overwhelming if you don’t know what you’re supposed to look for. So, feel free to use our guide, and check out the top products we’ve selected for you.

Still, do your due research when it comes to your software and hardware needs, including the processor, input and output, storage space, and memory. And remember, there is likely no one-size-fits-all laptop that checks off all your needs and wants, unless you build your own custom laptop. As such, you need to set your priorities straight on which are the most important factors for you.

For example, getting a bigger laptop generally means it will weigh more and will be less portable. Or, wanting a high capacity solid state drive means you will need to spend significantly more money. For each perk, there usually is a corresponding downside.

There are lots of amazing laptops out there, so as long as you make your decision carefully, you are sure to find the best option for you.