Hi Benjamin,
I have recently used a MBP 16" Master with iMac Slave/Server. I will tell you the positives before the negatives which lead me to return the MBP and sell my iMac...
It's really easy to set up a MBP with the iMac via both Ethernet or Thunderbolt 3. It's really easy to get set up with VE Pro, Cubase and my main software, Sibelius. (Mostly) no need for moving files so that they are ready to use as plugins with DAWs, it all seems to work straight away.
The screens are great and the tech feels and looks stylish. The 16" MBP screen is nice for Cubase. A tiny bit of added screen space is a good thing. However, I nearly always foudn myself connecting my Master to an external monitor. Better for scoring in Sibelius and productivity.
Negatives...
Every time Apple decide to release updates there's a risk of issues with any of your non-Apple-made software. Cubase, Sibelius, VE Pro, VM1 etc. Because they need to do updates to their software to ensure it works smothly with major (and sometimes minor) updates that seem to appear suddenly from Apple. That is frustrating and renders some Apps unsuable/unstable a few times per year. Maybe not for long, but it's still a frustration.
I know you don't mention Sibelius, but in recent months I never had a session whereby it didn't crash. Constantly. Wasting time and energy. For some reason devices wouldn't show up or would in the Sibelius Playback configs, depending on...who knows what? Apple staff, music tech staff at my university or beyond, had no idea why as we were following instructions and recommendations. The university have all Apple iMacs in the studios, but these are not recent machines and it may be that older models were more stable.
I've wasted around £2000 in the last 3 or 4 years as a Mac user. Because when projects get larger or new demanding software/libraries etc are released, you'll find that you'd love to be able to slot more RAM in your MBP or upgrade your CPU in your iMac. None of these options are available for consumers (yes you can upgrade the CPU in a recent iMac but you need to get a professional to do it as you could break the screen or even electrocute yourself). So I ended up re-selling MacBook Pros. Because I made the mistake of thinking I would be fine with a slightly limited machine or trade-offs (e.g. going for a higher CPU and small SSD drive - then regretting getting the small drive). If you're willing to pay a huge amount of money for top spec Mac and be willing to put up with instability or frustration by updates or mystery errors, then you will be ok for using your hardware for a reasonable amount of time before needing to upgrade. Apparently Apple are spending more resources on their iPhones and iPads than computers (speculation perhaps, but I think they've also disbanded a team that was specifically dedicated to computer lines).
The better keyboard on MBP 16 is true, but I found the issues in the previous MBPs to be exaggerated by YouTubers or the general public. I never had problems with the MBP 13" or 15" 2018 models and only found the keybaord to be slightly better to feel and use on the new MBP 16.
The Thunderbolt 3 feature is often mentioned as a reason for Mac, but I found absolutely no benefit in using it over Ethernet Master Server set up. Maybe I was doing something wrong. But I don't think so.
The screens on Macs are praised, but I am now using a Dell XPS with OLED 4K resolution, so if I need to do music to synch with film, it's better to view on this machine and I don't think it's a reason to go for Mac products. Technology outside of Apple has suprised me. There are some really cool non-Apple products out there and I've been in a sort of Apple bubble, not seeing what else is around.
I understand about not wanting to go back to Windows, having got used to the Mac world, as I was the same after only 3 years. But I am so happy that I decided to do it. Windows is NOT as bad as Mac users sometimes say. Yes, there are some intitial frustrations and it takes longer to set up (with moving files to be found within DAW to use as plugins etc) and you need to set up the Ethernet network manually. But this is done once. And remains in place. No major OS updates or otherwise, to throw the setup into instability or waiting for developers to apply fixes etc to Apple updates. I'm actually enjoying Windows and the experience. It's more customise-able.
I just realised I haven't really mentioned the costs. Maybe because it is so obvious. With roughly the price of a MBP i9/64GB RAM/1TB SSD I have built a PC from a gaming motherboard kit (ROG Strix) which is an i9 with 64GB (can install 128GB if I need) and 5TB SSD with room for more; AND I got a Dell XPS and installed 64GB very easily and can easily upgrade the 1TB SSD NVMe it comes with to 2TB with Samsung 970 Pro SSD which is faster than the MBP's SSD, unless I'm mistaken. I am good with hunting for deals but both machines were roughly around the same price as a MBP 16 spec as you mention.
Not a negative, but wanted to mention that I didn't find the MBP getting any hotter than the Dell XPS I am using. Both do get quite hot when used intensively.
Also, it's not worth getting a MBP for the added inch with a 16" if you are scoring for large orchestra. Might be fine for small ensembles though.
What did you decide in the end?
I am sure many will counter my arguements but this is just my own experience from a former Apple Fan-Boy 😊
@Bela75002 said:
Hi everyone,
I’m about buying a new laptop as, because of the virus situation, I won’t be home near my main computer (an iMac) for a good while and I need to work on a few projects (the only computer I took with me is a MBP end of 2013, only 8 Go of RAM).
Knowing for the last 10 years I have been used to Mac and don’t see myself going back to PC world, despite all the good reasons for it (mainly the price)-besides I wouldn’t know what to choose, and I can not go in shops to ask as they are closed, etc.
When I look on the Internet, they are many warnings regarding recent Mac products. It goes from problem of heating (and of keyboard) on the MacBook Pro 15’’, which was released middle of last year or so, to the T2 chipset which is on Mac computer since 2018 if I’m right and would cause issues in audio, not to mention a security upgrade which seems to have made one of the Thunderbolt ports unusable, and not to mention also many report of issues with Catalina and the e-licenser.
I really don't know if these reports are representative of a majority of users, or only exceptions.
I wanted to know if some of you guys have tried the last MacBook Pro 16’’. It seems better than the 15’’ (better keyboard, heating issue seemingly fixed), but remains the fact it is Thunderbolt I/O only, that the T2 chipset is still in it, and the Catalina system (apparently impossible to downgrade to another OS).
The machine I may buy is the MBP 16’’ with Intel Core i9, 8 cores @ 2,4 GHz, 64 Go RAM, AMD Raderon Pro 5500 M (8 Go Ram), SSD 1 To. It is very expensive, but for once I would have the budget for it.
So my questions are:
Have you experiences any problems with this machine or an equivalent (A Mac created after the introduction of the T2 with 8 cores and Catalina OS) with Cubase, Dorico, or 3rd party plug-ins (I use VSL and Kontakt products)?
How have you managed with the Thunderbolt I/O? Which kind of adaptators or hubs to USB work (for the elicenser, the soundcard - mine is a RME Fireface, the midi keyboard, etc.)? Would you recommend some products, some brands?
Once connected, was there any issue with the elicenser?
Once I'll be back home, could I use this MacBook as a slave to my iMac and run on it the Vienna Ensemble Pro? I know at some point I might have to come to this Master/Slave setup...
Or do you really advise me not to make this choice (but, with confinement etc., I don’t know where I could easily get a product I more or less know to be delivered in my temporary home).
Hope some of you can help,
Thanks,
Benjamin