Best Tablet for Musicians: Your Ultimate Guide to Making Music Portable
As a musician, you know that having the right tools can make all the difference in your creative process. Whether you’re a professional musician or just starting out, a tablet can be a powerful tool for composing, recording, and performing music. But with so many different tablets on the market, it can be tough to know which one is right for you.
In this guide, we’ll help you choose the best tablet for your needs. We’ll discuss the key features to look for, and we’ll review some of the top tablets for musicians.
Key Features to Look For
When choosing a tablet for music, there are a few key features you’ll want to consider:
- Processor: The processor is the brain of your tablet, and it will determine how fast and smoothly your apps run. For music production, you’ll want a tablet with a powerful processor, such as an Apple A-series or Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 series processor.
- RAM: RAM is the memory that your tablet uses to run apps. The more RAM you have, the more apps you can run at the same time without your tablet slowing down. For music production, you’ll want a tablet with at least 4GB of RAM.
- Storage: Storage is where your apps, music, and other files are stored. If you plan on storing a lot of music on your tablet, you’ll want to make sure you get a tablet with enough storage. Most tablets come with 32GB or 64GB of storage, but you can also find tablets with 128GB or 256GB of storage.
- Display: The display is where you’ll see your music and apps. For music production, you’ll want a tablet with a high-resolution display that’s bright and easy to see. Most tablets have a display size of 10.1 inches or 10.5 inches, but you can also find tablets with larger or smaller displays.
- Battery life: Battery life is important if you’re planning on using your tablet for long periods of time. Most tablets have a battery life of around 8-10 hours, but you can also find tablets with longer battery life.
- Portability: If you’re planning on taking your tablet with you on the go, you’ll want to make sure it’s portable. Most tablets are lightweight and easy to carry around, but some tablets are more portable than others.
Best Tablets for Musicians
Now that you know what to look for, here are some of the best tablets for musicians:
- Apple iPad Pro: The iPad Pro is the best overall tablet for musicians. It has a powerful processor, plenty of RAM and storage, a beautiful display, and long battery life. It’s also very portable, making it easy to take with you on the go.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+: The Galaxy Tab S7+ is a great alternative to the iPad Pro. It has a similar set of features to the iPad Pro, but it’s a bit cheaper.
- Microsoft Surface Pro 8: The Surface Pro 8 is a versatile tablet that can be used for both music production and productivity. It has a powerful processor, plenty of RAM and storage, and a beautiful display. It’s also very portable, making it easy to take with you on the go.
- Lenovo Yoga Tab 13: The Yoga Tab 13 is a great budget-friendly tablet for musicians. It has a powerful processor, plenty of RAM and storage, and a beautiful display. It’s not as portable as the other tablets on this list, but it’s still a great option for musicians who are on a budget.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When choosing a tablet for music, there are a few common mistakes you’ll want to avoid:
- Buying a tablet that’s too small. If you’re planning on using your tablet for music production, you’ll want to get a tablet with a display that’s at least 10 inches. A smaller display will make it difficult to see your music and apps.
- Buying a tablet that’s too expensive. Tablets for musicians can be expensive, but you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a good tablet. There are plenty of great tablets available for under $500.
- Buying a tablet that’s not portable. If you’re planning on taking your tablet with you on the go, you’ll want to make sure it’s portable. A heavy or bulky tablet will be difficult to carry around.
- Buying a tablet that doesn’t have the right features. When choosing a tablet for music, make sure it has the features you need. For example, if you plan on using your tablet to record music, you’ll need to make sure it has a good microphone.
Conclusion
Choosing the right tablet for music can make all the difference in your creative process. By following the tips in this guide, you can choose the best tablet for your needs and start making music on the go.
Additional Considerations
In addition to the key features discussed above, there are a few other things you may want to consider when choosing a tablet for music:
- Stylus support: A stylus can be a useful tool for musicians who want to write music or create digital art.
- MIDI support: MIDI is a protocol that allows musical instruments to communicate with each other. If you plan on using your tablet to control external MIDI devices, you’ll need to make sure it has MIDI support.
- Audio interface support: An audio interface is a device that allows you to connect your tablet to external audio devices, such as microphones and guitars. If you plan on recording music with your tablet, you’ll need to make sure it has audio interface support.
- App availability: There are a wide variety of music apps available for tablets. When choosing a tablet, make sure it has the apps you need to make music.
Table 1. Comparison of the Best Tablets for Musicians
Feature | Apple iPad Pro | Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ | Microsoft Surface Pro 8 | Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Processor | Apple A12Z Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ | Intel Core i5-1135G7 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 |
RAM | 6GB | 8GB | 8GB | 8GB |
Storage | 128GB | 128GB | 256GB | 128GB |
Display | 11 inches, 2388 x 1668 | 12.4 inches, 2800 x 1752 | 13 inches, 2880 x 1920 | 13 inches, 2160 x 1350 |
Battery life | 10 hours | 10 hours | 11 hours | 9 hours |
Portability | 1.04 pounds | 1.27 pounds | 1.96 pounds | 1.32 pounds |
Price | $799 | $849 | $999 | $699 |
Table 2. Comparison of Stylus Support for Tablets
Tablet | Stylus Support |
---|---|
Apple iPad Pro | Apple Pencil 2nd generation |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ | S Pen |
Microsoft Surface Pro 8 | Surface Pen |
Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 | Lenovo Precision Pen 2 |
Table 3. Comparison of MIDI Support for Tablets
Tablet | MIDI Support |
---|---|
Apple iPad Pro | Yes |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ | Yes |
Microsoft Surface Pro 8 | Yes |
Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 | No |
Table 4. Comparison of Audio Interface Support for Tablets
Tablet | Audio Interface Support |
---|---|
Apple iPad Pro | Yes |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ | Yes |
Microsoft Surface Pro 8 | Yes |
Lenovo Yoga Tab 13 | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best tablet for music production?
A: The best tablet for music production is the Apple iPad Pro. It has a powerful processor, plenty of RAM and storage, a beautiful display, and long battery life. It’s also very portable, making it easy to take with you on the go.
Q: What is the best tablet for musicians on a budget?
A: The best tablet for musicians on a budget is the Lenovo Yoga Tab 13. It has a powerful processor, plenty of RAM and storage, and a beautiful display. It’s not as portable as the other tablets on this list, but it’s still a great option for musicians who are on a budget.
Q: Can I use my tablet to record music?
A: Yes, you can use your tablet to record music. However, you will need to make sure that your tablet has audio interface support.
Q: Can I use my tablet to control external MIDI devices?
A: Yes, you can use your tablet to control external MIDI devices. However, you will need to make sure that your tablet has MIDI support.
Q: What are some of the best music apps for tablets?
A: There are a wide variety