M1 compatibility with 3rd party plugins
Developers are still working out the kinks with the Apple M1 chips, but things are starting to look up. This past month I’ve received quite a few newsletter updates from plugin companies that say their plugins are now M1 compatible. This is all good news, yet Apple just announced they are testing the M2 chip!
So you’re asking yourself, “Do I wait to upgrade?” I don’t think you have to wait. There will always be compatibility issues of some nature and audio production software. What you should do, is create a workstation and a workflow that is optimized for getting your work done. Now does that mean you go out and buy a brand new computer? That’s really up to you. The question you should really ask yourself is, “Does the workstation and workflow I currently have work for me now?” If the answer is yes, then I say you stick with it. Spending money that you don’t need to isn’t really the best business model. I know it seems exciting to have the newest and greatest equipment and software. However, there’s a lot to be said about being comfortable and efficient with your workflow. You probably already have that with the current set up you’re using.
developers are always going to be trying to keep up with the operating systems. This means that they’re going to develop updates at work with the new systems. You don’t have to update your software to the latest version. If it’s working now, just leave it be. In my experience, when you update just one plug-in it can cause some serious problems with your system. So if you want to upgrade to the new M1 system, plan to spend some cash to update all your software.
if you’re gonna do that, I would suggest that you take some time and figure out how much money it’s going to cost. And then determine whether or not that’s money well spent or could you use that money to do something more exciting like take a vacation. My main point is this: there will always be an endless stream of updates. Choose what works for you and stick with it for awhile.
