Best Laptops for FL Studio

With over twenty years since its origin – FL Studios is a music software that allows musicians to remix sounds and instruments. Increasing workflow and the musician’s ability to combine noises, there are thousands of techniques you can utilize while tinkering with FL studio software. With so many laptops to choose from, you will need to understand how much RAM space and memory are required to store large music files. 

Best laptops for FL Studio, as based on adequate storage space and highly-rated reviews, include:

1. Dell XPS 15 8^th Generation Infinity Edge Touch
2. CUK Omen 15t Gaming Laptop with Intel
3. Asus Vivobook S15 Thin & Light
4. New Apple MacBook Pro
5. Acer Display i7-8565U GeForce Gaming Laptop

It is easier than you might imagine getting started producing music, but you cannot go in blindly. Without the proper storage space and pre-dispositioned laptop for these processors, your computer won’t be able to handle FL studio software. Use this quick read to understand what FL studio software is, the best laptops to employ, as well as a few essential tips for learning the program.  

What is FL Studio Software? 

FL Studio defines itself as “a complete software music production environment or Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Representing more than 20 years of innovative development it has everything you need in one package to compose, arrange, record, edit, mix, and master professional quality music.”

Known as ‘FruityLoops,’ until 2003, the company shortened its name to a more high-status initialed logo. Developed by Image-Line (a company in Belgium), this interface allows you to sequence music in thousands of patterned combinations. 

Able to be purchased on either OS (Operating System: MacOS or Windows), your pricing for this software will depend on the plug-ins, (Plug-ins are the software that add-on functionality to your browser). 

Based on your initial status of plug-in readiness, the price for FL Studio Software ranges from $99 to nearly $1,000. You can also consider the mobile platform, which is available on iOS and Android (the mobile version being approximately $20). 

Many professional musicians and novices alike utilize FL Studio because of its:

• Affordability
• Versatility
• Considerably high-quality (especially when you consider the flexibility to create music from home or on your cell phone).

What to Consider When Shopping for a Laptop

There are minimum storage and processing capacities for recording music. Without reaching this minimum, you will:

• Not be able to record music
• Not be able to save the music you’ve recorded
• Not have enough room to store multiple files
• Run out of capacity for other programs unrelated to music production 

Therefore, if you plan to make more than one song – you will need a computer that can keep up with you. 

As Home Studio Recordings states about the minimum capacities for what you will require in a music-producing laptop:

• “CPU: A minimum 2.2Ghz i7 quad-core processor & 64-bit operating system. 
• Memory: A minimum 16GB of RAM. 
• Storage: A minimum of 500GB HDD or SSD. 
• Monitors: At least a 15-inch screen and having dual screens is preferable.
• Mouse: A mouse with side scroll feature.” (optional on mouse and double-screen)

This may sound complex at first, but once broken down, you will feel much more confident while shopping. To clarify and expand upon each of these specs and how you should prioritize them:

The CPU 

(Central Processing Unit) allows for all processing and essentially hands the computer’s processor it’s instructions. The CPU will be the most crucial aspect of proper FL performance and high-functionality. 

Think of the CPU as the brain of your computer, and it will be composed of these three aspects:

• Control Unit – Controls input/output 
• Arithmetic Logic Unit – Controls the decision-making
• Immediate Access Storage – Controls the memory for data and programs

For music processing – most will say you require at least 2Ghzs (with 2.2 – 2.4 being better), and a 4-processor (also known as a quad-processor) will be essential. You can usually select a quad-core or dual-core processor, duel being fine, and quad being better. 

Spend a bit extra here to get a CPU that is adaptive and congruent to music mixing. The high-end processor will make all the difference in the usability and longevity of your selected laptop. 

The Memory

Your key for understanding your RAM (Random-Access Memory) will be as follows:

• 8 GB will be adequate if you only want to record a few songs or don’t plan to use FL Studio software often. This is a beginner level, and some say using as little as 4 GB will be sufficient, but not if you plan to get use out of your FL Studios investment. Even one library for pianos can use up 4 GB of space so we would recommend going considerably higher than this. 
• 16 GB is recommended by the above example because it allows you enough room to grow your library. If you plan to make more than a few songs, 16 GB will be a minimum starting point for storage.
• 32 GB is ideal if you plan to make a lot of music! You will primarily be thankful for the extra storage space if you are mixing many samples or high-resolution files. This amount of space is incredible if you are running multiple-GB orchestral libraries or multiple plug-ins. 

You will hear the same from most music experts – You don’t need to go much higher than 32 GB for music storage, but you can go as high as you like. 

Keep in mind that the program of FL Studio itself will take about 1 GB of storage. 

Instead of cranking up your RAM (which will slow your processing), opt to increase the:

• CPU Capacity
• Audio Interference Upgrades
• Or Plug-in Quality and Quantity 

The Storage

The difference between memory GB and your storage GB is that:

• Memory – Will impact your short-term storage and RAM which allows you to:
  • Utilize more programs
  • Utilize programs with more complexity

• Storage – Will impact your long-term storage and data-access. This allows for the access of files and the storage of:
  • Files
  • Applications
  • Operating System 

You will require at least 500GB of total storage to produce and save music. If you need quick files, you can add an SSD Hard Drive to run faster on less space. 

The Monitors & Mouse 

As optional amenities that many consider while selecting the right laptop for music production, you can also consider having:

• Double-screened monitors (allows for larger tabs to be opened at once, as well as more of them) 
• Sideways scrolling mouses (easier for scrolling along through each song from side-to-side)

Operating Systems

As stated, FL Studios will function on both iOS (Apple) and Windows Operating Systems.

FL Studio is most compatible with earlier Windows updates because the software itself is over 20-years old. The best Windows versions for FL studios are:

• Vista
• XP

However, all Windows versions will work, so don’t be overly-concern yourself with the version.

Sound Card Compatibility

A final factor to consider while selecting your laptop is selecting a sounds driver that is compatible with your sound card. They must be able to communicate appropriately, or you will not create the music you’re envisioning.

You will be experimenting with the:

• Tempos
• Volumes
• Sounds

Therefore, your digital sound converters must be congruent, or the sound will process incorrectly.

To record and download audio in FL Studios, you will want a Soundcard with ASO/ASIO2 compatible DirectSound Drivers.

Best Laptops for FL Studio

Here are the best laptops that combine all considerations to create an ideal FL Studio experience: 

#1 Dell XPS 15 8^th Generation Infinity Edge Touch

With stunning clarity and highly-rated user-experiences in multiple ‘best laptop’ guides – The Dell XPS 8^th generation breeds are exceptional (whether selecting this one or the gamer-oriented 8^th Gen).

Specifications for this laptop:

• Up to 4.1 GHz (only 2 required to make music)
• 16 GB Memory (only 8 required for music) 
• 512 GB PCle Solid State Drive (500 Required for music)
• 15.6” FHD (Infinity Edge Anti-Reflective Touch Display)
• Comes with a 90-day warranty 

You can purchase refurbished models of this laptop for a lower price-point or seek out new models at a higher rate. Many of the Dell products include quad-processors for stunning graphics and speed.

Reasons why this laptop is ideal for FL Studios:

• Large screen
• All memory, storage, and processing minimums for music production
• Doesn’t get hot (good if you make music for hours at a time and don’t want to listen to a fan being overworked) 
• Able to be flipped and folded for convenience
• Highly-rated by verified purchasers
• Consistently noted by users as a great find for high-quality sound and powerful speakers

#2 CUK Omen 15t Gaming Laptop with Intel

Gaming laptops will often be a safe-bet for music producers or graphic designers working with large files sizes and extreme resolutions.

Since the laptop is already predisposed to function under large gaming-files – it is a wonderful option for those starting out on FL Studios.  

Specifications for this laptop:

• 64 GB of storage room (only about 8-16 required for music production)
• 2.3 GHz (only 2 required for music production)
• Hard-drive storage of 4,000 GB (only 500 required for music production) 
• 15.6” screen and lightweight size at 5.26-pounds

Reasons why this laptop is ideal for FL Studios:

• Surpasses all minimum requirements by leaps and bounds
• You will have enough storage on this laptop to last you for years of daily music-creation
• Highly-rated by verified purchasers
• Gaming laptop that will allow you to:
  • Play large video games
  • Do graphic work
  • Or extend your creativity to more than just music production (whereas another computer may only have enough storage to be your solely-music-laptop). 

#3 Asus Vivobook S15 Thin & Light

With unique abilities such as:

• An interactive screen pad (where you would typically use as your mouse on a laptop) that allows you to:
  • Change apps and tabs quickly
  • Handwrite across it
  • Slide Xpert
  • Gain fingertip control of MS Office
• Ergonomic keyboard
• Facial-recognition software for log-in

It is a unique laptop that proves the future is here. 

Specifications for this laptop:

• 8 GB Storage (not huge but 8 GB is adequate. The CPU and memory speed make-up for this)
• 3.9 GHz (only 2 required for music) 
• 512 GB (500 required for music)
• 2133 MHz (memory speed that is phenomenal)

Reasons why this laptop is ideal for FL Studios:

• Meets all minimum requirements and nearly doubles some of them for music production
• Incredible speed
• Unique amenities that help this model to stand alone against the competition
• A nearly perfect 5-star rating out of dozens of reviews 

#4 New Apple MacBook Pro

Apple has established itself as a leader in the technology industry. There is no doubt that you are purchasing a laptop for your music system that is backed by reputation and verified reviewers. 

This is one of Apples most innovative designs for its powerful processing and incredible RAM. Considered one of the brightest and most color-corrective screens, this laptop is extraordinarily multi-faceted if you’re seeking a top-quality screen. 

Specifications for this laptop:

• 8-core processor (you only need 2-4 for music production)
• 8TB SSD Storage – They describe this as “The highest capacity of any notebook.’ Most people are lucky if they can fill a terabyte in their lifetime. This has eight. 
• 64 GB of memory (only 8-16 required for music production)
• 16” screen with retina display

Reasons why this laptop is ideal for FL Studios:

• Unsurpassed storage and processing capabilities 
• The reputation of Apple and the MacBook Pro – Trusted as excellence and reliable creator
• Nearly perfect ratings from hundreds of verified purchasers
• Advanced architecture and fans to increase the processing speed and allow you to make music for hours without the laptop overheating from extreme data usage.

#5 Acer Display i7-8565U GeForce Gaming Laptop

Pre-programmed with a Windows Operating System, this is another gaming computer to keep an eye on. 

Specifications for this laptop:

• 512 GB Flash Memory in Hard Drive (500 required for music production) 
• 4.6 GHz Core i7 Family (only 2 required for music production)
• 12 GB RAM (8-16 required for music production)
• 15.6” laptop screen

Reasons why this laptop is ideal for FL Studios:

• Offers all minimum requirements for music production as well as additional space for gaming or visual creators to have extra capacity
• 9.5 hours of battery life
• Powerful processing and CPU 
• Incredibly high reviews (nearly a perfect 5-star rating with over 1,500 reviews) 
• Acknowledged repeatedly by users for its impeccable sound quality – what should be most important to you as a music producer.
• Affordability – One of the best laptops under $1,000. 

What You’ll Find on FL Studio 

The main three elements you will encounter while utilizing the platform are:

• Songs
• Mixers
• Patterns

The sounds will combine into patterns on the channel rack, and then you will use the mixer to offer balance. Most creative FL Studio users agree that when it comes down to mixing, you are creating patterns which you can later develop into a song. 

Things you will find in the FL Studio software include:

• Libraries of MIDIs (Musical Instrument Digital Interfaces) 
• Synthesized files and sound samples
• Techniques to manipulate the notes
• Effects to record and layer one over another
• Digital mixing stations that allow you to create your own music and add your own vocals

Overall, it is a very useful software for musicians and should be used as a tool. 

Alternatives to FL Studios 

A few other platforms that you can mix music on (comparable to FL Studios) include but are not limited to:

• Ableton Live
• Ardour
• Bitwig Studio
• Caustic
• Cubase 
• Digital Performer
• LMMS
• Logic
• Looplabs
• Nuendo
• Pro Tools
• Reaper
• Record
• Sonar
• Steinberg Cubase

These music mixing software programs will vary in quality and price. 

Experiment with a few of them as most offer free trials (including FL Studios). Try them before you buy them and this will help you be confident that you like the interface of that platform; therefore increasing the likelihood that you’ll use it frequently. 

In Conclusion 

Since this remarkably popular software will create large files of music (as will any music platform), the main quality you are searching for in a laptop is one that can sustain these large files. 

In asking yourself how dedicated you are to developing music:

• If you don’t plan to make much music – nearly any laptop will be fine.
• If you are serious about this and plan to stick with it – You should purchase a laptop that will keep up with your rapid production rate and a large number of files; predominately considering the:
  • Storage
  • Memory
  • And CPU processing functionality 

The more music you make and save, the less storage will be available on your laptop (which can make it difficult to run standard functions and other platforms that would typically go unnoticed). Consider this impact before purchasing your new laptop and make an investment that will grow with your music business.  

Many professionals use FL Studios for a reason. With the right sound equipment and laptop – you will notice the quality and value of your music changing over time.