Anyone switched to a Macbook Air M4?

[dave_bass5]

As much as I love my MacBook Pro M1, ive recently noticed some of my plugins are using quite a bit of memory. 16GB is fine most of the time but id like bit more. 

Very tempted to get the new Air M4 with 24GB and sell the MBP. I also like its smaller form factor. 

 

Just wondered if anyone is using one and how it performs. Im thinking mostly about any thermal issues with, say, 20 tracks in cubase or Logic.

 

I do have another real reason for changing, as I use Gig performer live, and that can use up to 30GB if everything is loaded, so more ram is definitely going to be useful there to avoid too much swap file use. 

[Dood]

I'm sorry, I can't speak specifically for the laptop M4's, but I've been persuaded by the piles of performance testing on YouTube for the M4 desktop models, such as the Mini. I have an M4 iPad with an add-on keyboard, which is proving itself with everything I throw at it.  So, if my i7 iMac throws in the towel, the M4 would be the model I'd head for. 

[dave_bass5]

1 hour ago, Dood said:

I'm sorry, I can't speak specifically for the laptop M4's, but I've been persuaded by the piles of performance testing on YouTube for the M4 desktop models, such as the Mini. I have an M4 iPad with an add-on keyboard, which is proving itself with everything I throw at it.  So, if my i7 iMac throws in the towel, the M4 would be the model I'd head for. 

I too have the iPad M4 pro (13') and keyboard, and I agree, it's a power house that has never even broke in to a sweat doing all sorts. It's my main device at home, I rarely use my MacBook Pro (always in clamshell mode attached to a monitor) other than music making, and I take it out for gigging and rehearsals. Even photo and diode stuff is mostly on my iPad. 

I was going to keep the MacBook Pro and get an M4 Mac mini, but I really do need the extra ram that I can get in the Air, and feel the MBP is a bit on the funky side even for the odd occasion I do take it out. Guess im so used to the iPad's weight.

 

I have ordered it and I'll give it a go over the weekend once ive cloned the MBP to it. 

[wateroftyne]

Off-tangent, but I maxxed out my M1 MacBook Pro a few weeks ago. Looked at getting an M4 Air / Pro whatever.. instead I've just picked up a refurbed M1 Max with 64GB and a 4TB drive for £1800 from Hoxton Macs.

It's immaculate, with 0 battery cycles. That's bang-for-the-buck.

Edited Thursday at 14:57 by wateroftyne

[dave_bass5]

1 hour ago, wateroftyne said:

Off-tangent, but I maxxed out my M1 MacBook Pro a few weeks ago. Looked at getting an M4 Air / Pro whatever.. instead I've just picked up a refurbed M1 Max with 64GB and a 4TB drive for £1800 from Hoxton Macs.

It's immaculate, with 0 battery cycles. That's bang-for-the-buck.

That's a really good deal. I did look at that place, and was quite tempted with some of the refurbished ones, but my other complaint is the weight of my MBP. It's not horrendous of course, but I would like something a bit more public transport friendly for rehearsals. My rucksack always feels light until that goes in, so a MBP was ruled out (im pushing my budget even now, but as Amazon were over £100 cheaper than Apple and on an interest free 12 month payment scheme it was too good to pass. Never maxed out my MBP as such, I just need a bit more ram. Hoping the M4 Air isn't a step back for whet I need. 

[sammybee]

10 hours ago, dave_bass5 said:

As much as I love my MacBook Pro M1, ive recently noticed some of my plugins are using quite a bit of memory. 16GB is fine most of the time but id like bit more. 

Very tempted to get the new Air M4 with 24GB and sell the MBP. I also like its smaller form factor. 

 

Just wondered if anyone is using one and how it performs. Im thinking mostly about any thermal issues with, say, 20 tracks in cubase or Logic.

 

I do have another real reason for changing, as I use Gig performer live, and that can use up to 30GB if everything is loaded, so more ram is definitely going to be useful there to avoid too much swap file use. 

 

I don't have an M4 MBA, but I do have the 15inch M3 MBA.

Can report that it takes everything I throw at it, although I'm not a really demanding user of virtual instruments. I run Logic 11 with around 30ish tracks of audio no problem. The more modern M3 onwards MBA's drive multiple monitors which is the main reason I got this one. I also have an M3 MBP that I use for work. Much prefer the MBA for its sleeker looks. I'm sure if you get an M4 MBA with lots of RAM you will be just fine

[dave_bass5]

38 minutes ago, sammybee said:

 

I don't have an M4 MBA, but I do have the 15inch M3 MBA.

Can report that it takes everything I throw at it, although I'm not a really demanding user of virtual instruments. I run Logic 11 with around 30ish tracks of audio no problem. The more modern M3 onwards MBA's drive multiple monitors which is the main reason I got this one. I also have an M3 MBP that I use for work. Much prefer the MBA for its sleeker looks. I'm sure if you get an M4 MBA with lots of RAM you will be just fine

Thanks, thats encouraging. Ill always use just one monitor at home so the new 3 monitor feature isnt one ill every use, but the more RAM will certainly be welcome. 

With gig performer i use a lot of soft synths, which is why i need the RAM, but other wise i rarely tax the MBP as it is. 

 

[dave_bass5]

Just wanted to post about my initial findings.
The Air arrived today and i cloned my old Pro. All went well and other than having to activate the plugins everything was ready to go.

The Air seems snappier than my Pro. A little bit faster all round i guess.

As far as GP goes, the Air opens the same file in about 30 seconds less time than the Pro.
I checked a few Rackspaces and on the whole the Air was showing 5-8% less CPU usage in GP.
Swap file usage was around 150MB, compared to a few GB on the Pro for 31 racksapces. I cant see me having any issues like i was having.

Im surprised at how better the Air is compared to the Pro, and no heat issues at all.

Its a costly upgrade, but not one i regret.