MacBook for MainStage?

thomasw88

Quite fancy scratching the slight itch I have to try apple mainstage.  Don't want to spend a huge amount on a MacBook so was wondering what people recommend to be able to run it for a stable setup for  spec/models/ ram/chipset/release year?

Danny1969

I've been running a 2012 A1398 for the last 2 years doing theatre gigs up and down the country. Mainstage has been rock solid, had some issues with the cheap midi KB I was using but Mainstage it's self has been great. 

Late 2012 Retina to 2016 was a sweet spot for Macbook Pro's .... after that your into the Touchabar models with USB C crap. Newer isn't always better, the 16Gb i7 Retinas from late 2012 to 2016 ish are the best Macbook Pro's made from a design / reliability point of view  

Stratavarious

This for live or home?

i killed two macbooks while my 2011 iMac just keeps going. MacBooks just don’t take much physical hammer.

Latest Mac Mini with a screen of choice could be smarter/cheaper option.  You get maximum app and OS lifespan,

thomasw88

Stratavarious said:

This for live or home?

i killed two macbooks while my 2011 iMac just keeps going. MacBooks just don’t take much physical hammer.

Latest Mac Mini with a screen of choice could be smarter/cheaper option.  You get maximum app and OS lifespan,

Probably rehearsals more than gigs.  But If it was stable and 'just worked' then maybe. I have a desktop pc set up nice at home and most places I play a monitor isn't going to be feasible.

thomasw88

Danny1969 said:

I've been running a 2012 A1398 for the last 2 years doing theatre gigs up and down the country. Mainstage has been rock solid, had some issues with the cheap midi KB I was using but Mainstage it's self has been great. 

Late 2012 Retina to 2016 was a sweet spot for Macbook Pro's .... after that your into the Touchabar models with USB C crap. Newer isn't always better, the 16Gb i7 Retinas from late 2012 to 2016 ish are the best Macbook Pro's made from a design / reliability point of view  

thanks that's very useful info. 

What midi kB did you use,?

Danny1969

thomasw88 said:

Danny1969 said:

I've been running a 2012 A1398 for the last 2 years doing theatre gigs up and down the country. Mainstage has been rock solid, had some issues with the cheap midi KB I was using but Mainstage it's self has been great. 

Late 2012 Retina to 2016 was a sweet spot for Macbook Pro's .... after that your into the Touchabar models with USB C crap. Newer isn't always better, the 16Gb i7 Retinas from late 2012 to 2016 ish are the best Macbook Pro's made from a design / reliability point of view  

thanks that's very useful info. 

What midi kB did you use,?

It's a £45 Nektar ..... very cheap and unfortunately I got what I paid for. I've since brought a Korg i3 which is an OK entry level keyboard but the sounds aren't as good as Mainstage. Setting the key mapping is more of a pain as well than the click and drag of Mainstage 

thomasw88

I snagged a Roland DS61 on the bay today so will give that a go  Going to leave the macbook for the time being.

Stratavarious

Was gigging a DS61 tonight..  nice lightweight bit of kit