Apple unveil Mac Studio and Studio Display

[Forum Admin]

Tonight's big event finally sees the new M1 Ultra super-power Apple Silicon and the first hardware to feature it? Mac Studio - a Mac-mini-like design but double height that pairs with their new 27-inch 5K Studio Display ($1599 / £1499GBP starting price + options).

Mac Studio comes in 2 configs: M1 Max chip or M1 Ultra, which can deliver 128GB RAM and up to 8TB SSD... at extra cost, of course.

More info and pics here: https://www.apple.com/mac-studio/

[Luke W]

I'm yet to watch any of the event, but just caught a glimpse of the Mac Studio and it looks like the machine I've been waiting for...

[Bob Bickerton]

Wasn’t so long ago when the nay-sayers were predicting Apple were moving out of the pro market.

This looks stunning!

Bob

[Gone To Lunch]

Tonight's big event finally sees the new M1 Ultra super-power Apple Silicon and the first hardware to feature it? Mac Studio - a Mac-mini-like design but double height that pairs with their new 27-inch 5K Studio Display ($1599 starting price + options).

Mac Studio comes in 2 configs: M1 Max chip or M1 Ultra, which can deliver 128GB RAM and upto 8TB SSD... at extra cost, of course.

More info and pics here: https://www.apple.com/mac-studio/

I am tempted, very tempted, but am now getting anxious about how many of my apps and plugins will run in Monterey?

[Sam Spoons]

This quote amused me so I had to add a fourth line

"Stunningly compact.
Extensive connectivity.
Outrageous performance."

Reassuringly expensive

[Sam Spoons]

TBH, If I'm completely honest the most basic spec will undoubtedly be far more than I'll ever need but, just for fun, I specced a new Mac Studio, 64 core, 128GB Ram, 8TB SSD equipped Mac Studio M1 Ultra, a snip at $7999...

[RichardT]

I want one.... but do I need one?

[Luke W]

It adds up quite quickly as always! The M1 Ultra chip options bump the price up massively, they are some very impressive looking bits of kit though. It'll also be interesting to see what they do with the Mac Pro.

An M1 Max machine will almost certainly find its way into my studio. I've been eyeing up my current MBP as a replacement for my sickly home laptop for a while now hoping that something like this would get released, so they've appeared at quite a convenient time.

[Sam Spoons]

I want one.... but do I need one?

Compared to a new MacPro it really is a snip, rack up the options on a Pro and you are well into 5 figures...

[zenguitar]

My bank account is very nervous.



Andy

[Jumpeyspyder]

Nice mac, but pricey! Will probably get a few for work, if we can work out a way to secure them!

[IAA]

I can see my upgrade path from my venerable studio iMac! They look pretty impressive and ought to be able to handle everything I can think of. Most likely a summer purchase for me assuming reviews (i hope SOS is going to give them the once over, that would reassure me) are impressive.


Ian

[ConcertinaChap]

TBH, If I'm completely honest the most basic spec will undoubtedly be far more than I'll ever need but, just for fun, I specced a new Mac Studio, 64 core, 128GB Ram, 8TB SSD equipped Mac Studio M1 Ultra, a snip at $7999...

The £ to $ conversion rate is 1:1, so that'll be £7999 ...

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/buy-mac/mac-studio

CC

[Rich Hanson]

I want one, but I don't need one, my MacBook Air is well up to the task for my needs.

[Arpangel]

The one I’d like comes to £5,799
Chances are most of my software won’t work with it, do I "need" it, no.

[BigRedX]

My 5,1 MacPro is slowly coming to the end of it's useful life as I can't run the latest version of Adobe CC on it.

The most basic Mac Studio with the RAM upgraded to 64GB will be more than adequate for me and is suitably affordable.

I'll almost definitely have one before the end of the year.

[ConcertinaChap]

My iMac Pro still has cycles to spare for my needs and will for years to come (and the screen is the equivalent of the Studio Display) so I'm not tempted. But reassured to see that Apple are still producing lustworthy kit for when the day does come. Looks a pretty practical form factor too.

CC

[Forum Admin]

Most likely a summer purchase for me assuming reviews (i hope SOS is going to give them the once over, that would reassure me) are impressive.


Ian

With a name like MAC STUDIO and STUDIO DISPLAY, how could we not review them?

[Forum Admin]

Chances are most of my software won’t work with it, do I "need" it, no.

Apple did say during the event that no code changes were required to run existing M1 software for the M1 Ultra -- it's two M1 Max's on steroids, AFAIK.

[Arpangel]

It’s getting to the point where to keep up you’ve got to spend a lot of money, multiple thousands, every five years, or less, and if you’re a professional user, they’ve got you over a barrel, it’s not good, it’s bad, really bad, being conned like this, and the number of gullible people out there that are seduced by all the slick marketing, and the images, it’s obscene.

I was in the Apple Store, a friend wanted a new phone, it was like being in a temple, all these images moving on the walls, like porn, all the sexy angles of the products, and there was this seating area where you had to wait patiently for a sales person, it reminded me of primary school seating, for children, and all the people were so obedient, like members of some cult religion.
It really was scary, I couldn’t wait to get out.

[Forum Admin]

...and there was this seating area where you had to wait patiently for a sales person, it reminded me of primary school seating, for children, and all the people were so obedient, like members of some cult religion.

I know what you mean! I've been a passionate Apple owner/user since 1986 but could really only afford their gear because I bought it for the business and increasingly switched to leasing our Macs. They are very good at the psychology of selling you into the idea of needing the latest kit, whereas older models are still very functional.

I use my Mac daily for everything I do, along with my iPhone XR and iPad Pro (Gen 1) and would not wish to be without them or use alternatives. Their value for money based on hours of usage alone is good, in my opinion. Others will not agree with this sentiment.

[Hugh Robjohns]

And yet here in the pro-audio world, vintage is bestest!

[Forum Admin]

And yet here in the pro-audio world, vintage is bestest!

I'd rather drop £2-3K on a Mac Studio than a vintage compressor/EQ any day. An essential upgrade to the core of my studio is way more important than an extra nice piece of hardware whose functions can at least be covered by plug-ins I already own. Again YMMD.

[ManFromGlass]

Vintage macs are great doorstops!
You can also make an impressive bench out of 2 towers and a piece of wood.

[SpacedCadet]

Even adding USB-A was a nice touch for controller keys etc. Tempted to go Ultra for long term investment but ideal would be a 20CPU core Ultra option without the cost of all that GPU we musicians don’t need. SOS, please advise if Ultra is overkill and 10CPU more than enough?