Used MacBook vs Raspberry Pi for a standalone system?

I've been reading up ways to have a standalone system. I initially started looking into the raspberry pi solutions and learnt about the DAC and other requirements. But then I saw the overall prices on those things - the Pi, DAC, display, AMP etc right now are more than 300 Dollars all put together.

Then I started looking at used laptops. The windows machine I have has a lot of latency and I read that Macs are better.

A used MacBook Air from 2015 also costs about the same - 300 Dollars.

For the performance, would a MacBook Air from 2015 with an i5 suffice?

PS: My main and only intention right now is to be able to play and listen live. on my tests I noticed that anything above 64 samples sounds really laggy to me. So a MacBook Air from 2015 would be able to handle that?

poornapragna wrote:

I've been reading up ways to have a standalone system. I initially started looking into the raspberry pi solutions and learnt about the DAC and other requirements. But then I saw the overall prices on those things - the Pi, DAC, display, AMP etc right now are more than 300 Dollars all put together.

Then I started looking at used laptops. The windows machine I have has a lot of latency and I read that Macs are better.

A used MacBook Air from 2015 also costs about the same - 300 Dollars.

For the performance, would a MacBook Air from 2015 with an i5 suffice?

As someone who runs Pteq on iPhone, iPad, and Macbook Air, I would question using Macbook to achieve your goal of playing Pteq.  Just about any Macbook would work fine, but they're a clunky solution.  An iPhone or iPad is a much better idea.  You can get a new iPad that's way, way more powerful than you need for $250:   https://www.amazon.com/2021-Apple-10-2-...B09G9CJM1Z

This iPad has these advantages over a used Macbook: (1) it's new, (2) it's faster than older Macbooks, (3) it's small and easily portable, (4) it has a built in battery.  Recent iPhones and iPads have processors that are much more powerful than those from Macbooks of five or six years ago.  Though even an old iPad/iPhone will be faster than many older Macbooks and certainly much faster than even a new Raspberry Pi.

poornapragna wrote:

I am certainly open to using an iPad!

My question though is, how does the iPad handle latency when both the Piano (Roland FP-10) and the speakers are connected to the single port?
And how would I do that? Do I need a hub? And would it be possible to charge the device at the same time? That would make 3 connections to the single port. Latency is still ok?
I forgot to mention, I do need to use speakers as I find laptop/phone/tablet audio to be very 'tinny'.

Not a worry.  The iPad I linked (9th generation basic iPad) still has a headphone jack.  That's what I'd get, both of my iPads are older with Lightning and headphone jacks which I consider a plus.  It's an advantage over newer iPads and most iPhones.  Latency not an issue even if you have a non-headphone-jack model, but in that case you do need an adapter with multiple USB ports, if you want to have USB cable connection and audio dongle at same time.  (My non-Apple adapter has two USB plus lightning power port.)  You can also use Bluetooth midi to get in and just use Lightning port for audio out interface/dongle if you want.

poornapragna wrote:

hesitz wrote:

As someone who runs Pteq on iPhone, iPad, and Macbook Air, I would question using Macbook to achieve your goal of playing Pteq.  Just about any Macbook would work fine, but they're a clunky solution.  An iPhone or iPad is a much better idea.  You can get a new iPad that's way, way more powerful than you need for $250:   https://www.amazon.com/2021-Apple-10-2-...B09G9CJM1Z

This iPad has these advantages over a used Macbook: (1) it's new, (2) it's faster than older Macbooks, (3) it's small and easily portable, (4) it has a built in battery.  Recent iPhones and iPads have processors that are much more powerful than those from Macbooks of five or six years ago.  Though even an old iPad/iPhone will be faster than many older Macbooks and certainly much faster than even a new Raspberry Pi.

I am certainly open to using an iPad!

My question though is, how does the iPad handle latency when both the Piano (Roland FP-10) and the speakers are connected to the single port?
And how would I do that? Do I need a hub? And would it be possible to charge the device at the same time? That would make 3 connections to the single port. Latency is still ok?
I forgot to mention, I do need to use speakers as I find laptop/phone/tablet audio to be very 'tinny'.

I second the recommendation to use an iPad. It is the most convenient, perfect size to carry around, play live--it easily sets on a music stand, on top of your keyboard etc. The user interface on the iPad, with touch screen, is much better than a laptop, especially for live playing. And the iPad is powerful. I have both a 6th generation standard iPad (from about 2020, < $300 when new) and a current model iPad Pro 12.9 M2 (top of the line). They both play Pianoteq great, I can't distinguish any difference really.

One thing that's great about the Pianoteq license, is that you get three activations, but a single iOS activation allows you to run on any/all your iPhones and iPads. I have Pianoteq activated on a Macbook Air, a raspberry pi 4, my iPhone, and 3 iPads. When I was playing a live gig with the IPad, and I had a problem with the iPad during the gig (my fault, I left it in the sun, outdoors, and it was overheating) I switched to my iPhone as a backup and it worked great.

I recommend a current standard 10.9" iPad, or from the last couple generations (shouldn't be more than about $300) and an audio interface. You really need an audio interface. I have a couple Focusrite Scarlett interfaces, and I use them with all of the above (raspberry pi. macbook, iOS devices). They work perfectly, other than the interface may not get enough power from an iPhone or iPad and in that case you need to use a cheap USB powered hub. The Focusrite Scarlett solo is fine  but if even that's more than you want to spend I believe there are good low-latency audio interfaces for well under $100. The ability to control speaker output volume, and headphone volume are great. The audio interface does so much for you, in terms of sound quality.

For plugging in, you will want some kind of USB adapter (or a hub) depending on whether your iPad is lightning or usb-c (the higher end models). There are lots of options. I've mentioned some in previous posts.

Any speakers or headphones you want to use plug into the audio interface.

sharpnine wrote:

I recommend a current standard 10.9" iPad, or from the last couple generations (shouldn't be more than about $300) and an audio interface. You really need an audio interface.

I would disagree mildly in a couple ways.  The current 10.9" standard iPad (iPad 10) doesn't have a headphone jack, plus it's more expensive.  While still available standard iPad 9 does have headphone jacks.  iPad 9 is still way more powerful than required.  Having headphone jacks are useful.  Plus it's much cheaper than the 10.9" iPad.  No brainer to go for iPad 9, IMO.

Regarding audio interface:  You certainly don't "need" one.  I've used Pteq with Windows laptop, Macbook Air, two different iPads, and an iPhone.  All have had excellent quality without an audio interface.  Low latency, of course.

OP seems to be unduly concerned about "latency".  Like "latency" is some buzzword that needs to be optimized. Going with Macbook, iPhone, iPad, latency is not going to be an issue.   IMO if going the iPad route, get a new iPad 9 (64GB) for $249.  Use it to see if you think you need to add the expense (and hassle!) of using it with an external audio interface.  My guess: you'll be perfectly fine with the headphone jacks.  If not, though, by all means then you can spend your money on an audio interface, but why do that without even testing it out with the straight from headphone jacks setup that works fine for many, many people?

sharpnine wrote:

I recommend a current standard 10.9" iPad, or from the last couple generations (shouldn't be more than about $300) and an audio interface. You really need an audio interface.

I would disagree mildly in a couple ways.  The current 10.9" standard iPad (iPad 10) doesn't have a headphone jack, plus it's more expensive.  While still available standard iPad 9 does have headphone jacks.  iPad 9 is still way more powerful than required.  Having headphone jacks are useful.  Plus it's much cheaper than the 10.9" iPad.  No brainer to go for iPad 9, IMO.

Regarding audio interface:  You certainly don't "need" one.  I've used Pteq with Windows laptop, Macbook Air, two different iPads, and an iPhone.  All have had excellent quality without an audio interface.  Low latency, of course.

OP seems to be unduly concerned about "latency".  Like "latency" is some buzzword that needs to be optimized. Going with Macbook, iPhone, iPad, latency is not going to be an issue.   IMO if going the iPad route, get a new iPad 9 (64GB) for $249.  Use it to see if you think you need to add the expense (and hassle!) of using it with an external audio interface.  My guess: you'll be perfectly fine with the headphone jacks.  If not, though, by all means then you can spend your money on an audio interface, but why do that without even testing it out with the straight from headphone jacks setup that works fine for many, many people?