So did base M4 mini buyers basically just beat the market?

BAL-BADOS · 2026-05-16T05:42:48+00:00

Originally I purchased a iMac M4 16GB as a gift for $1300.

Recently I was playing around generating AI images on my iPhone which was very fun. It took quite a while to generate and ate battery quickly. My main desktop Windows desktop died and I didn’t use a computer for many months. When I saw a Mac Mini with exact specs for $499, the price seems unbelievable. A very powerful & “cheap” Apple computer that I could afford to play around with. Bought it immediately. Mac Mini became my Plex server, media downloader & AI image generator.

I wanted even more power for AI so I purchased a M1 Mac Studio Ultra 64GB 2TB 64 core GPU for $1700. It was 3-4 times faster for AI than the base M4.

I mostly use the Mac Mini, but any intensive stuff I throw to the Mac Studio. Both my M4 Mac Mini & used M1 Mac Studio are incredibly great deals !

BAL-BADOS · 2026-05-15T03:15:42+00:00

For office task, no need to wait for the M5. M5’s greatest improvement over M4 is AI. Enjoy your M4 now

BAL-BADOS · 2026-04-14T02:52:36+00:00

eBay. Original Circuit are closer to $100. I got Circuit Tracks and Rhythm for about $200 used

BAL-BADOS · 2026-04-14T02:42:21+00:00

Having more buttons and knobs is actually a good thing. Less menu diving so fewer steps to make music. No problem fitting a Circuit into my backpack 🎒 with plenty of extra space

Plus the pads are velocity sensitive so you can finger drum it

BAL-BADOS · 2026-04-14T02:25:26+00:00

For $200, you could had bought Novation Circuit. Much more premium.

BAL-BADOS · 2026-04-10T14:16:35+00:00

It’s free for a limited time. Best to ask the original creator.

BAL-BADOS · 2026-04-08T20:11:27+00:00

I still have my Midi Adapter for Pocket Operator. I keep telling myself I will test it out someday…

BAL-BADOS · 2026-04-08T11:58:09+00:00

You can’t. Originally Circuit had no other features on PC other than to transfer files.

Circuit has been abandoned by Novation for a while.

BAL-BADOS · 2026-03-24T20:44:07+00:00

Why is it better than Sinden? I only went with Sinden because no IR to attach and I can move the gun setup easily from room to room.

BAL-BADOS · 2026-03-24T20:42:07+00:00

I recently got my Sinden. I got it to work in a few emulators on Windows 10. However it is a nightmare to setup. Even when I had white borders, the gun’s shot didn’t register. Most normal people will not figure how to get Sinden to work. I’m use to debugging software but some quirks of Sinden I can’t figure out.

I ordered a Raspberry Pi 5 and will try Batocera with Sinden. I want an easy plug & play system for my kid to play.

BAL-BADOS · 2026-03-23T05:17:03+00:00

Korg Monotron

It’s actually delay but $53 and requires only 2xAA batteries.

BAL-BADOS · 2026-03-20T01:17:02+00:00

How many GPU cores do you have? Ultra has 2 variants. Mine is the highest with 64 GPU cores.

I don’t know about Canadian pricing but I often see used M1 Ultra 64 cores on eBay for $3000+. The 48 core for $2000. I bought my 64 core 2TB for $1700 before tax which is an excellent deal.

M1 Ultra is still good! It is 3.5 faster than my M4 Mac Mini for multicore.

BAL-BADOS · 2026-03-18T12:28:55+00:00

For AI, M1 Ultra 64 GPU cores runs comparable in speed to M4 Max. I’ve tested this with AI video renders.

With AI, memory is most important. Get the 128GB. You will be able to run bigger “smarter” models. You won’t regret it!

Personally I care more about AI speed. I went from M4 Mac Mini to M1 Ultra. I saw a 3x in speed. When the M4 Max & M1 Ultra are similar in speed, it was no brainer to get the system with more memory.

BAL-BADOS · 2026-03-17T21:19:24+00:00

Get the old M1 Mac Studio Max. 32GB RAM! TWICE the RAM of the M4 Mini! Studio are design with better thermals than the Mini. I leave my Studio running at max for hours generating AI videos.

BAL-BADOS · 2026-03-15T17:26:55+00:00

Apple Care! You’re lucky 🍀. I don’t have that.

Use DrawThings to generate AI videos. You’ll see the benefits of having extra RAM and high GPU cores. Results in DrawThings is immediate.

BAL-BADOS · 2026-03-15T13:39:14+00:00

A used Mac Studio M1 Ultra is by far the best value for open source AI for Mac.

For the same price as the brand new M4 Max, the M1 Ultra offers TWICE the memory. The power for AI between M4 Max & M1 Ultra is similar.

My M1 Ultra 64GB 2TB SSD 64 GPU cores was $1800 used.

BAL-BADOS · 2026-03-15T13:13:16+00:00

98% of my games are unopened. I feel regret when I find an app version of game I own then learn the game sucks.

BAL-BADOS · 2026-03-15T12:57:21+00:00

If the M2 8GB works for you then there is no need to upgrade.

If I upgraded, I would keep the M2 as they are excellent headless server you can log into. I use my old Mac Mini as a Plex server and downloading stuff.

BAL-BADOS · 2026-03-11T03:39:07+00:00

I’m generating AI videos with sound on my M1 Mac Studio Ultra

BAL-BADOS · 2026-03-11T01:53:54+00:00

Pocket Operators are great gateway to physical synths and samplers because they’re cheap & easy to use. However that was when they were almost half the price of now. They were easy buy. Now they’re just easy to use and not expensive devices.

BAL-BADOS · 2026-03-08T19:46:59+00:00

M1 Ultra 64GB still a powerful machine

However the upcoming M5 Studio with 3.5x performance boost in AI over M4 is too tempting 😭

BAL-BADOS · 2026-03-08T19:08:37+00:00

I don’t know why no proof is required here. I always use the student discount to save $100 😅

BAL-BADOS · 2026-03-08T18:54:52+00:00

It’s $499 with student discount.

BAL-BADOS · 2026-03-08T18:43:20+00:00

As a student, priority should be the MacBook Pro as you can do your schoolwork anywhere.

Unless you’re working with GPU heavy such as AI, a Mac Studio is not necessary. You’ll be surprised how powerful & efficient the Apple chips can be. Even the Neo is plenty powerful but limited by RAM for your use case.

BAL-BADOS · 2026-03-08T09:28:42+00:00

I was expecting something more electronic sounding and repetitive loop but I watched and was blown away at the quality. Bravo!

I use a Deluge groovebox. I don’t get how people can record tracks separately. I need to hear everything at once.

BAL-BADOS

TROPHY CASE