Loopy Pro: Create music, your way.
What is Loopy Pro? — Loopy Pro is a powerful, flexible, and intuitive live looper, sampler, clip launcher and DAW for iPhone and iPad. At its core, it allows you to record and layer sounds in real-time to create complex musical arrangements. But it doesn’t stop there—Loopy Pro offers advanced tools to customize your workflow, build dynamic performance setups, and create a seamless connection between instruments, effects, and external gear.
Use it for live looping, sequencing, arranging, mixing, and much more. Whether you're a live performer, a producer, or just experimenting with sound, Loopy Pro helps you take control of your creative process.
Download on the App StoreLoopy Pro is your all-in-one musical toolkit. Try it for free today.
Questions re: M2 Mac Mini use for music
Hi
I just ordered a new Mac Mini M2 (16Gb RAM, 1 Tb SSD).
I know there are some old threads about Mac Mini on here but wondered now people have been using the M1 versions for a while now, which type of screens you are using for your music production work?
The Apple display may be the most compatible all round monitor but it is very expensive, even at entry level!
I am thinking of going for a 27 inch non-curved monitor but not sure whether to go for 4K (3840 x 2160) or WQHD (2560 x 1440) or1080P. I understand the most popular way to connect is using HDMI, which is cheaper than monitors that connect using USB-C but I guess using USB-C for the monitor leaves the included HDMI port unused. I don't think I need more than 1 display (or could use my iPad Pro if I did).
Any suggestions or corrections would be welcome. Although I am an iPad user I have never had a Mac computer - only Windows up to now.
While we are on the subject of Mac Minis - what do people use for non-Apple keyboard and mouse?
Thanks.
Comments
I'm on an M1 Mini. My two cents -
Monitor: any decent monitor will do for music. No need to splash out on Apple, unless you want something like that. (Mine is a Dell 24-inch, purchased years ago based on good reviews and their no dead pixel guarantee.)
Keyboard: same thing. I'm using a midrange Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse combo, works perfectly. Unless of course you want a magic trackpad, etc. (The Logitech product codes are K850 and M720.)
FWIW my only special requirement is that both my monitor and my keyboard/mouse should be able to serve multiple computers without changing cables etc. Therefore my monitor has multiple hdmi slots and the wireless keyboard/mouse can connect to multiple computers. Cost still nowhere near Apple stuff.
One last thing: if you plan to have other gear on your desk as well, you might want a small keyboard to save on space. Lots of decent ones around: I use a Logitech K380 when I need to go small (it also connects to multiple computers), but other manufacturers offer similarly good alternatives.
Good luck with your choice!
Thanks @ervin
I picked up a 32” 4k monitor for my m1 mini last year. 4k is overkill for my use (Ableton).
I have a Dell 28" 1080p monitor, paired with a Mac Mini M1. The only complaint I have is it only has one HDMI port, which means having to use a switcher/hub to plug in my XBONEX. That's on emore power-adaptor, one more HDMI cable and one more remote control I could do without.
Apple displays are only for spending a lot of money. LG 27 inch 4k IPS displays work really well. Multiple types of ports and look great. Also, they cost around $350 vs $1599 for apple displays, lolol.
Yes, Mac mini will be my next move too.
I'm not sure with compatibility of apps and plugins, I'll wait for devs to release their "M2 Ventura ready" release versions
clear the mini off
https://www.sonnettech.com/product/rackmacmini.html
(love these things and my wall of minis)
OK, this is definitely the place to ask, especially @ervin.
I'm about the pull the trigger on an M2 Mini. My employer has effectively colonized my recording studio, so this Mini would share the work laptop's periphrals — the monitor, the keyboard, the mouse. I would like to have both computers plugged into the monitor and be able to simply flick a switch to move between the two setups. I was told at an Apple store that I'd need to get an HDMI switcher.
I'd also like to be able (if possible) to have a hotkey on both systems that would disconnect the wireless keyboard and mouse from one computer and connect it to the other. I have heard there's a third-party app called Wechsel that will facilitate this.
Really hoping I don't have to run through a process of plugging and unplugging cords every time I want to blow off work and play my guitar.
This way of switching sounds too cumbersome for me. Unnecessary, too (at least for me).
The two Logitech keyboards and mouse I referenced earlier have dedicated buttons on them that allow you to switch connection with up to three computers with (literally 🙂) a touch of a button. On the monitor, the monitor's own menu takes care of this, with two button clicks instead of one. Very easy. Don't have or need anything like a hardware switcher or a specific app. My monitor + 2 wireless keyboards + wireless mouse are currently shared by three computers, with no additional hardware or software used. And I haven't bought anything expensive. The product codes are in my first comment if you are interested, but there may be newer and better alternatives available.
I was surprised at how easy it has become, because I'm old enough to have memories of those expensive and mostly unstable hardware switches myself. 🤷
@Sawiton
@el_bo
@auxmux
@recycle
@AlmostAnonymous
Thanks for the insights so far!
@ExAsperis99 - I think you may need some kind of switch to allow more than one computer to use the same monitor (KVM switches are something I did have some experience of in my job but they were for sharing Keyboard, Video and Mouse - hence KVM). So an HDMI switch may indeed be needed for the video only? I believe some monitors so have a KVM switch built-in as well.
But the highly acclaimed Logitech MX Keys Keyboard and MX Master 3S mouse are multi-device capable and it is supposed to be easy to select which device they are controlling from either the keyboard or the mouse. I have ordered those for my new Mac Mini on the basis of several Youtube reviews. They are not cheap but certainly cheaper than the Apple Magic offerings!
EDIT: I see @ervin has also just answered but the MX devices are maybe the newer devices he mentioned. Logitech also recently released a Mac only version of the MX Master 3 mouse and the MX Keys Keyboard - although I believe the changes are mainly cosmetic.
I think the biggest things are the Apple 'Command' and Windows key switch-over, along with various of the more speciality Mac and Windows function-keys. During 'normal
usage, it might not make a huge amount fo difference. However, if you're going to be using various DAW e.g Logic etc. key commands and shortcuts might become a bit of an issue. In Logic, key-commands can be assigned by position, so that might help somewhat. But for the commands that are already in place, it might be confusing.
Did try to use a combined Logitech keyboard trackpad at one point, but the trackpad paled in comparison to the Apple trackpad I have (1st-gen...batteries
), so I gave up long before running into any potential keyboard issues.
All you can do is try it...
i handle all of this with PowerToys on the PC side. I use a mac keyboard on a PC (to avoid the muscle memory and the super non-ergonomic location of the control key on pc......it belongs where the caps lock is anyway...you old school people know what im talking about....), and just remap the control key to the command key (which acts as WIN key on PC)
i dont use a mac mouse, but kensington trackballs, and my switching solution is put the dongle in the PC and bluetooth to the mac and flip the switch on the bottom of the trackball....
Ah...of course. Had forgotten there were remapping solutions. Great stuff!
Indeed. MX devices were already around when I bought my items, and they were/are both smarter and more expensive. I admit I preferred their looks compared to what I ended up buying, but I simply didn't need any of their (not too many) extra features that would have justified twice the price, so I took the disciplined decision. 😄
I just ordered a Mac M2 Pro - will be a huge upgrade from my 2017 Macbook Pro. I think Mac Minis are fantastic. I also use a 1080p monitor, and I actually like that a lot too. Sure it would be nice to have an 8k monitor, but as someone said above, if it’s for music, graphics don’t matter as much.
I read some guidelines about proper distance to sit from your monitor and the viewing angle, and it seems like I was way too close to my screen for too long. Indeed once I pushed the monitor away and set it further down in my field of view (so I’m looking slightly down at it in a 15% ish angle) it’s a lot more comfortable. The great thing is the further you sit from a lower res monitor, the less your eyes resolve the pixels so the better it looks.
The thing I personally think makes more of a difference is refresh rate. Scrolling on a website on my wife’s iPad Pro at 120Hz just looks so dang smooth.
Also maybe now I can finish Disco Elysium and not have it crash from my crappy graphics card lol.