- The Best Webcam For Youtube
- Best Webcam For Mac Mini
- Best Mac To Buy 2018
- The Best Webcam For Laptop
Having the best laptop for music production packed right next to your headphones is important, if you’re a musician or a professional DJ. You’ll need one of the best processors – not to mention, plenty of fast RAM – as these will enable the best laptop for music production handle multiple music tracks. A fast SSD, capacious hard drive or both is also recommended, as you’ll be working with massive file sizes.
In addition, if you’re often on the road touring, you need a laptop that can handle a beating or two. You probably don’t need to go all out and pick up one of the best rugged laptops, but you should definitely look for a laptop that won’t fall apart, if you so much as look at it the wrong way. And, while we’re on the subject of mobility, a thin and light Ultrabook might do wonders for your back.
Here's a guide to the best photo editing software and apps available for amateur photographers, enthusiasts and professionals. Best Photo Editing Software (PC and Mac). Best DSLR Cameras 2018. Best Webcams for Mac in 2018 Mar 2, 2018 If you're looking for an external webcam to enhance your streaming, chatting, or conference call, we have the solution. But back in the 90’s, Apple started a gadget revolution by adopting USB 1.1 into their early Mac models which in turn revolutionized the digital world. Fast forward to today, you can see USB receptacles everywhere, even in wall sockets found in modern homes.
While the MacBook Pro may be the default for most musicians, your choice of the best laptop for music production might run Windows 10 instead.
To make it easy to find the best laptop for your music composition demands, we went ahead and included our exclusive price comparison tool, so you know you’re finding the best deal. If you want to see a more comprehensive list of prices and retailers, just click the ‘see all prices’ link on each widget.
The Best Webcam For Youtube
The best laptops for music production and DJs:
1. MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)
CPU: 6-core Intel Core i7 - i9 | Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 555X – Radeon Pro Vega 20 | RAM: 16 - 32GB | Screen: 15.4-inch, 2,880 x 1,800 Retina display | Storage: 256GB - 4TB SSD
For years, the MacBook Pro has been the choice laptop for musicians all over the world, and its 2019 refresh follows in its footsteps. As long as you can justify the price of entry, the MacBook Pro is the best laptop for music production… or at least, among the best, as this list has proven. With its 9th-generation Intel Core chips and up to 32GB of RAM, you’re going to be able to load up as many tracks as you want in Logic Pro X without crippling your laptop. It’s also surprisingly durable – you don’t need to worry about things bumping into it in your tour bag, thanks to its robust aluminum unibody design.
Read the full review: MacBook Pro (15-inch, mid-2018)
See more like this: The best Macs
2. Surface Pro 6
CPU: 8th-gen Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 12.3-inch, 2,736 x 1,824 PixelSense display | Storage: 128GB – 1TB SSD | Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.1 | Camera: 8MP rear-facing, 5MP front-facing
If you want the best laptop for music production that can moonlight as a Windows tablet in your downtime, the Surface Pro 6 should be at the top of your list. Not only does this laptop alternative pack powerful hardware necessary for music production, but it has a beautiful display, and plenty of legacy connections for connecting your equipment. It lacks USB-C and Thunderbolt 3, but if you’re just in it for music production, that shouldn’t really matter.
Read the full review:Surface Pro 6
3. Dell XPS 13 (2018)
CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 4GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) – UHD (3,840 x 2,160) | Storage: 128GB – 256GB SSD
The Dell XPS 13 has been one of the best laptops you can buy for a few years running now, and the 2018 version is no different. For aspiring music producers, the XPS’ move to an 8th-generation Intel Kaby Lake R CPU should be appealing, as it will trim down the time it takes to process tracks, which then allows you to minimize downtime. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to find a 1TB storage drive anymore, but when you get a laptop that looks this good and runs this fast – it’s a worthy tradeoff.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 (2018)
4. Surface Laptop 2
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5-i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.5-inch 2,256 x 1,504 PixelSense Display | Storage: 128GB - 1TB SSD
With all the 2-in-1 laptops that convert into a tablet being packed with unnecessary features, sometimes a more traditional Windows 10 laptop is just what you need. Luckily, Microsoft has rolled out the Surface Laptop 2, one of the best laptops in its lineup. Not only does this best laptop for music production feature a quad-core processor and plenty of memory, but it also has a lovely touch display and all the ports you need – even if it’s lacking Thunderbolt 3. As long as you don’t need Logic Pro X, you really can’t go wrong with the Surface Laptop 2.
Read the full review:Surface Laptop 2
5. MacBook Air (2018)
CPU: 8th-generation Dual-core Intel Core i5 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 617 | RAM: 8GB-16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch Retina (2,560 x 1,600) | Storage: 128GB – 1.5TB PCIe SSD | Dimensions (W x D x H): 30.41 x 21.24 x 1.56cm
The MacBook Air, which has recently been refreshed, brings Apple’s thin and light mainstream laptop into the modern day with a sleek aluminum build, a Retina display and an actual modern processor. This all makes for the best laptop for music production that want to stay with macOS and save some money as well. Just be sure to invest in a couple of dongles, as the two Thunderbolt 3 ports aren’t compatible with a lot of music equipment.
Read the full review:MacBook Air
6. Dell XPS 15
CPU: Intel Core i5-7300HQ - i7-7700HQ | Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 1050 with 4GB GDDR5 | RAM: 8GB - 16GB DDR4 | Screen: Up to 15.6-inch Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) InfinityEdge touchscreen | Storage: 1TB HDD - 512GB SSD
If you're looking for a larger and more powerful laptop for running music production software on, then the Dell XPS 15 might just be for you. Boasting the same InfinityEdge technology as the smaller XPS 13, the screen extends right to the edge of the machine. This means that it's as small as it's possible to make a 15-inch laptop. It's quite pricey, depending on which version you get, but the very top end version has a 4K color-accurate display, which can give you an excellent overview of all the tracks you're working on.
Read the full review:Dell XPS 15
- Want more choices? Check out our list of the best laptops of 2018
Having one of the best webcams is, surprisingly, a key tool for making the most of summer in 2019. If you work in an office where it’s cool to work from home on Fridays or when the weather gets too hot, it’s a lot easier to take advantage if you can attend meetings remotely. They’re also great for video games (I heard you may be a fan). If you’re thinking about streaming on your PC, a great webcam is key. You don’t want your viewers to be squinting at the little box with your face because it’s rendering low and slow relative to the game footage.
So what separates the good from the great when you’re picking the best webcam? You want a device that can stream in 1080p, not just record. There are some models that can do 4K, but it’s still not worth the cost for most people as the average stream viewer isn’t watching on a 4K monitor or TV. (Coincidentally, you’re better off putting that money towards one of the best 4K gaming monitors).
If you’re looking into the best webcams because you’re setting up a streaming PC, make sure to check out our guides on other equipment you’ll need, including the best microphone for streaming and the best capture card for PC gaming.
1. Logitech C920
Resolution: 1080p | FOV: 90 degrees | Special features: Dual microphones, 720p 30 fps video capturing
Most readers can stop here. Unless you're looking for specific features in a webcam, then there is no better value than the Logitech C920. Its sharp 1080p images, paired with a wide field of view and great autofocus, makes it a fantastic choice for video conferencing. Lowlight performance is great as well; the noise level didn't shoot through the roof when I turned off a few lights. White balancing was accurate most of the time, although the default saturation can make the scene look a little washed out in bright lighting conditions.
Most of the settings can be adjusted through Logitech's Camera App, a separate driver download. Streamers should also appreciate C920's excellent compatibility with the background replacement app, ChromaCam. All in all, the Logitech C920 performs its core duties exceptionally well. And at $44.99, it's affordable, too.
If you're looking to capture and stream at 720p 60fps, then you need to spend a little more on the Logitech C922 Pro, which offers this feature. Sadly, you pay more for this too. List price is $99, although some retailers offer it for around $80 right now.
2. Logitech BRIO
Resolution: 4K | FOV: 90 degrees | Special features: Windows Hello compatible, HDR support, 5x digital zoom, 4K 30fps and 1080p 60fps video capturing.
The BRIO is the only webcam today that supports capturing at 4K. As expected, its high resolution bumps up the detail to a much higher level than any standard 1080p webcam. In addition, its 90-degree field of view can easily capture your entire room and all the guests in it. White balance and saturation are both very good, as is its low light performance. The only slight detractor in image quality is its iffy auto contrast settings. Alongside the main color sensor is an infrared sensor, making the BRIO fully compatible with Windows Hello, Microsoft's facial sign-in feature.
In addition to its astounding capturing resolution, the BRIO is also the only webcam that supports HDR capturing. This means that viewers who have an HDR compatible screen will be able to enjoy richer, more vivid colors.
You can buy different weapons, armor and spells to further make your character stronger, something borrowed from RPG games. The game has very smooth animations, but as the name suggests, all the characters are made of shadows so you will see just the outline of characters. Just like other fighting games, there will be a 1 vs 1 match where you will have to use special powers of your character to defeat your opponent. The storyline is also quite good with 6 different worlds to explore.
The BRIO has three major weaknesses: buggy auto focus, high price, and narrow niche. My test unit consistently had trouble re-focusing on objects farther away after locking focus on things up close. This was very annoying as I had to either adjust it manually or maniacally dance around hoping that it would eventually track me again. Considering 4K is its only major strength, the nearly $180 asking price is a hard to accept. Lastly, widespread support for 4K streaming just isn't here yet. So, while you can still upload your 4K recordings to Youtube, it's impractical for conferencing or streaming as the stream quality would automatically be compressed.
3. Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000
The best webcam on a budget
Resolution: 1280x800p | FOV: N/A | Special features: Skype certified
If you've ever set foot in an office or a school, chances are that you've ran into one of these. At less than $30, the Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 is the best option for when you're pursuing a quality webcam on a budget.
The LifeCam HD-3000 only supports a maximum resolution of 720p. By today's webcam standards, this is a bit low. With that said, its resolution alone shouldn't be a deal breaker. The LifeCam HD-3000 scores decently on image sharpness, the most important factor in any webcam. Its color settings are pretty good, too, with properly calibrated saturation and good contrast.
What is bothersome is its overly sensitive white balancing. It can be very twitchy at times; randomly altering a perfectly good setting as soon as something flashes by in front of it. This can be annoying as it can apply an unnatural tint to your videos. And unlike most other webcams in this list, the LifeCam HD-3000 is strictly plug and play. To adjust its settings, you'll need to do so through the capturing app.
Best gaming keyboard | Best graphics cards | Best gaming headset
Best controller for PC gaming | Best gaming monitor | Best mechanical keyboard
4. Razer Kiyo
Resolution: 1080p | FOV: 90 degrees | Special features: Built-in ring light, 720p 60 fps video capturing
Best Webcam For Mac Mini
The most dominant factor in image quality is lighting. Having good lighting can reduce the need for exposure compensation and curb noise. The Razer Kiyo has a ring light baked right in, making it suitable for any lighting condition, even pitch black. The light's intensity can be adjusted by turning its dial in its outer circumference, giving you more control over how brightly you want your face to appear. If you like streaming horror games in the dark, then the Kiyo is the webcam for you.
The Kiyo's 1080p sensor boasts excellent sharpness and captures plenty of detail. Autofocusing is speedy, and its white balance is on point too. Out of all the webcams I've tested, the Razer Kiyo has the highest color saturation. When the lighting is good, it can help add a great deal of vividness to your images. In darker scenes, however, the saturation boost can make images look pastel-like. The lack of a driver software means you'll have to readjust the color profile for every app individually, and it's something you'll likely want to do.
With all things considered, the Razer Kiyo still has excellent image quality. The attached ring light adds an extra bit of flexibility, earning it the crown as the most versatile webcam.
How we test webcams
Discord's video conferencing feature has taken the world by storm. As such, we've included it as a testing software alongside Skype. In both apps, we test the video quality at the maximum supported resolution. For streaming and video recording, OBS is still our choice go-to app, while images are captured in the default Windows Camera app.
I used OBS to both livestream and record video from each camera, testing them both fullscreen and scaled down to a 'facecam' size. I also used each manufacturer's webcam software to take the highest possible resolution pictures with each and manually adjust settings like white balance, brightness, auto-focus, and others where applicable. Each of these situations were tested with multiple lighting setups from overhead fluorescent bulbs to nothing but the glow of the monitor in front of me.
The process of selecting the right webcam is much like choosing a good camera. Most of the metrics we use to determine camera quality also applies to webcams. You should pay attention to the image quality, color accuracy, focus speed, and customizable features. Although most of us have dedicated microphones, the onboard microphone can come in handy when in a pinch.
One of the greatest determiners of image quality is the amount of noise present in an image. When lighting is ample, most webcams have no trouble producing good image quality. The quality of a webcam is more accurately reflected in low light, where the camera needs to digitally compensate for the lack of light. Generally speaking, more expensive webcams come with higher quality sensors and usually have less pesky color blots compared to cheaper ones.
Best Mac To Buy 2018
The other crucial aspect is the color of the images. Before we even begin to examine the color quality, we should pay attention to the white balance. White balance gauges the temperature of the lighting from your surrounding environment and sets the white point accordingly. If the white point is incorrectly set, the image may be masked with a blue or yellow tint. Unless a tuning utility is included, the white balance is usually automatically adjusted by the webcam's processor.
Next is exposure, saturation, and contrast—all three are equally important. Exposure is the brightness of the image, saturation is the depth of the colors, and contrast is the difference between black and white. Brightness ensures that you can be seen clearly, while saturation and contrast make your images pop. Again, unless a software is included, these settings are normally adjusted automatically by the webcam's processor. More expensive webcams are more adept at replicating the most accurate scene.
Software for webcams is just as critical—if not more so—than other peripherals. Although many streaming and conferencing apps have built in adjustment options, using the manufacturer's driver software allows you to adjust the settings globally.
The Best Webcam For Laptop
Aside from the video quality, I also took a look at their ease of use. Each manufacturer has a different method of attaching a webcam to the monitor, so I tested them across different monitor shapes and sizes. I took into account whether the webcam cord was long enough to reach from the top of a monitor to a case underneath a desk. I tested how easy they were to angle, readjust, and if they would fall off or reposition themselves if I bumped the desk. I tested the plug-n-play nature of them and noted whether the webcams downloaded drivers or software automatically. Lastly, I recorded audio with their built-in microphones, but this was not a heavily influencing factor as a webcam should be bought with video in mind first.
Some online stores give us a small cut if you buy something through one of our links. Read ouraffiliate policyfor more info.