Apple Silicon, Old Macs, and Why Working Gear Shouldn’t Die

May 19, 2026

Apple has not always been known as the bargain option, but the latest Apple Silicon Macs might be changing that conversation.

In this episode, the team gets into the surprising value of the M4 Mac Mini, why even a base model can be serious overkill for many voice actors, and how smaller machines like the MacBook Air and MacBook “Neo” style systems compare for remote sessions, Source Connect, Pro Tools, and travel rigs.

The conversation also wanders into classic Pro Audio Suite territory, including old Macs that refuse to die, running Linux or Windows on ageing Apple hardware, right to repair, weird manufacturer lockouts, obsolete cables, Shure MV88 bargain hunting, Pro Tools archiving disasters, and why keeping your sessions self contained still matters.

There is also a very important chainsaw story. Obviously.

Thanks to our sponsors, Austrian Audio, making passion heard for supporting the show.

00:00 Intro and sponsor mention
00:33 Talking Macs before the show
01:20 The M4 Mac Mini and Apple’s surprising value
02:29 Apple Silicon price to performance
03:38 Why older M1 machines still hold up
04:02 Using a Mac Mini as a road computer
05:22 Is the Mac Mini overkill for VO work?
06:38 MacBook Air, external monitors, and display quirks
09:04 Apple cables, chips, and control
10:04 The end of Lightning and the move to USB C
12:09 Audio interfaces on iPhone and iPad
12:30 Shure MV88 bargains for older iPhones
14:43 Right to repair
16:11 Robbo’s old chainsaw story
18:21 Repair restrictions and replacement culture
19:29 Mac longevity
20:18 Running Windows on an old iMac
22:03 Linux on old Apple hardware
25:29 Old drives, CDs, DVDs, and lost archives
26:12 Mezzo and old Pro Tools backups
27:13 Missing Pro Tools audio files
28:33 Pro Tools archiving tip, sort by file path
29:54 Wrap up and credits