When Apple announced their transition from Intel processors to their own Apple Silicon, it marked a significant turning point in the world of computing. For audio professionals, who are often at the cutting edge of technology due to the demanding nature of their work, this shift was met with a mix of excitement and scepticism. After years of pushing Intel-based Macs to their limits, the promise of vastly improved performance and efficiency with Apple Silicon was almost too good to be true. It soon became clear that although we had to rethink our long-held dogma about memory size and other factors affecting performance, the new SoC Macs were incredible. As blog founder Russ Hughes replied when asked how fast his Mac Studio M1 Ultra is; “so fast, I don’t notice!”

However, as we look at the progression from M1 to M2 and beyond, a new reality is setting in: the initial leap in performance was so substantial that many audio professionals find little reason to upgrade further in the near term. Here’s why.

The Quantum Leap: From Intel to Apple Silicon

For years, audio professionals relied on Intel-based Macs to run their demanding software suites, including DAWs like Logic Pro, Pro Tools, and Studio One. While these machines were powerful, they often struggled under the weight of large projects, especially with multiple VIs, extensive plugin chains, and high track counts. Users would frequently encounter performance bottlenecks, necessitating constant upgrades to stay on top of their work.

The transition to Apple Silicon changed everything. The introduction of the M1 chip brought with it a level of performance that left Intel’s offerings in the dust. Tasks that would previously cause a Mac to stutter and lag, and the fan to sound like a 747 during takeoff, could now be handled with ease. The M1's unified memory architecture, efficient power consumption, and remarkable processing power transformed the workflow of audio professionals overnight. It was akin to upgrading from a high performance car to a rocket ship.

The Law of Diminishing Returns

Apple followed up the M1 with the M1 Pro, M1 Max and M1 Ultra, and later the M2 series and M3 Series, each iteration promising improvements over the last. However, the gains from these subsequent upgrades have not been as revolutionary as the initial leap from Intel to M1. For many audio professionals, the performance of the M1 and its variants already offers more than sufficient power for our needs.

The reality is that most audio tasks do not scale linearly with increased processing power. The M1 and its successors are so powerful that they have outpaced the requirements of most audio applications. DAWs and plugins run smoothly, even under heavy loads, and the efficiency of Apple Silicon means that these machines stay cool and quiet, even during intensive sessions.

Future-Proofing: The Longevity of Apple Silicon Macs

One of the key reasons audio professionals are not rushing to upgrade is the future-proof nature of Apple Silicon Macs. The performance headroom provided by these machines is vast. An audio professional who invested in an M1 Pro or M1 Max machine is unlikely to hit performance ceilings any time soon. This is a stark contrast to the Intel era, where the performance gains from one generation to the next were often significant enough to justify frequent upgrades.

Furthermore, Apple’s focus on optimising their hardware and software ecosystem means that even older Apple Silicon Macs will continue to receive updates and optimizations, ensuring they remain viable for years to come. This longevity is a crucial factor for professionals who rely on stability and reliability in their work.

The Cost Factor: Maximising ROI

Upgrading to a new Mac is a significant investment. For many audio professionals, the cost of a new machine needs to be justified by a corresponding increase in productivity or capability. Given that the performance gains from M1 to M2 (and potentially M3 and M4) are incremental rather than exponential, the return on investment (ROI) is not as compelling as it once was.

Additionally, the peripheral costs associated with upgrading cannot be overlooked. New Macs often mean new peripherals, software upgrades, and potential downtime during the transition. For a professional, these costs add up and can disrupt their workflow. Therefore, unless an upgrade offers a clear and substantial benefit, many are choosing to stick with their current machines.

Real-World Performance vs. Benchmark Hype

While benchmarks and performance tests highlight the improvements in newer Apple Silicon chips, real-world performance is what truly matters to audio professionals. The tasks they perform daily—recording, mixing, mastering —are already handled exceptionally well by the first generation of Apple Silicon Macs.

For instance, an M1 MacBook Pro can easily handle a large Logic Pro session with hundreds of tracks, virtual instruments, and plugins without breaking a sweat. The same can be said for Pro Tools, Ableton Live, and other industry-standard software. The need for more power simply isn't as pressing as it once was.

Software Optimisation: The Key to Sustained Performance

Another critical factor is software optimization. Since the launch of Apple Silicon, software developers have been hard at work optimising their applications to take full advantage of the new architecture. This means that even without upgrading their hardware, audio professionals are seeing performance improvements as their software becomes more efficient.

For example, updates to DAWs and plugins have brought enhanced stability, reduced CPU usage, and faster load times. These optimisations ensure that Apple Silicon Macs continue to perform at a high level, further reducing the need for immediate hardware upgrades.

Reducing Numbers Of Performance Cores

Another factor that affects some DAW users is that although the number of cores has increased, the ratio of performance to efficiency cores has changed as the proportion of performance cores is reduced, and Apple is striving to improve the energy performance in each Apple silicon iteration. This matters because not all DAWs can harness the efficiency cores in Apple silicon SoCs. 

As we outlined in our article Apple Silicon: A Guide To Choosing The Right Mac For Your Studio, the different DAWs tested fall into two basic groups: those that can use the efficiency cores in Apple Silicon chips and those that cannot.

Note that this list has changed since we wrote this article. With the release of Pro Tools 2024.3.1, Avid slipped in improvements to macOS Sonoma support, which resulted in Pro Tools being able to support the efficiency cores in Apple silicon chips.

• Those that can include Pro Tools Reaper, Cubase, and FL Studio.

• Those that cannot include Logic Pro, Live, and Studio One.

In terms of CPU usage, if you plan to use Apple Logic Pro, Ableton Live or PreSonus Studio One, then you want to steer away from Apple Silicon chips with more efficiency cores and fewer performance cores, which means it won’t necessarily be the most recent Apple Silicon chip. This provides another reason for audio professionals not needing a more recent Mac computer model powered by an Apple silicon chip that has more efficiency cores.

A Shift in Upgrade Culture

The shift from Intel to Apple Silicon has not only revolutionised performance but also fundamentally changed the upgrade culture among audio professionals. Apple Silicon's unprecedented power has set a high bar, one that subsequent upgrades struggle to surpass meaningfully for most users.

While Apple will undoubtedly continue to innovate and release more powerful chips, the initial leap has created a situation where many audio professionals find themselves more than satisfied with their current machines. The combination of performance, efficiency, longevity, and cost-effectiveness means that the rush to upgrade has slowed considerably.

In the end, Apple has created a product so good that it has inadvertently slowed down its own upgrade cycle. For audio professionals, this is a welcome change, allowing them to focus more on their creative work and less on the constant chase for the latest and greatest hardware. And in a world where stability and reliability are paramount, that's a trade-off many are happy to make.

What about you, do you think you’ll upgrade less now we have Apple Silicon powered Macs?