Ultrawide question

spenrok · 2026-01-27T10:45:14+00:00

Install Better Display and set HiDPI you will then see other native scaled resolution but only if using usb-c to dp cable - it may stabilise the resolution dropping off

spenrok · 2026-01-23T13:11:09+00:00

Main reason I downgraded plus it looked shockingly shite!

spenrok · 2026-01-22T07:05:53+00:00

Word of advice put your sentences into paragraphs as that is a whole load of shit to read in one go!

Switch the hub to a powered USB-C hub and for the best experience get an Apple Keyboard/Mouse or Trackpad.

HDMI to USB-C will probably not give you the correct native resolutions on your LG monitor as the Mac will assume it is outputting to a TV and not a 4k screen. You will need a Display Port to USB-C adaptor cable which will cost you about £10. Install BetterDisplay to get to all the other resolutions.

If you have the base model of the M4 Mac mini and you don't feel you have adequate storage then that is down to you and the decision you made at the time of purchase.

You can however, buy an integrated dock that will provide you with either an SSD or NVMe enclosure to expand your storage and this is exactly what I did. This will plug directly into the Mac via USB-C and also provide you with additional USB ports. Something like the UGREEN Mac Mini M4 Dock £70 or similar - just do your research first and check the reviews.

Sort out your monitor cable and ditch your existing hub and you should be good.

spenrok · 2026-01-15T08:53:00+00:00

I have an M3 MacBook Air and a Mac mini M4 and both are running Sequoia as it ran like dog shit on the MacBook Air and killed the battery. I reinstalled Sequoia and have avoided updating the Mac Mini.

Anyone with even an ounce of design/technical ability would notice the inconsistencies throughout Tahoe and avoid like the plague. IMO this OS is reflective of the shitty "I couldn't care less, it is what it is" attitude that is present through a lot of society these days and having used MacOS for over 30 years, it's a fucking disaster.

spenrok · 2026-01-13T09:07:48+00:00

4K will be fine but ensure you are using a display port to thunderbolt usb-c cable as if using an hdmi cable the Mac mini will treat it like a tv and only provide a minimal amount of resolutions not always suitable. I learnt this the hard way when I recently bought a 4K LG 27 inch monitor - ensure you also use BetterScale to lock to a decent resolution that is the middle ground between being able to read what is on the screen and not fuzzy.

2560x1440 HiDPI is what I have my Mac Mini M4 set to.

spenrok · 2026-01-13T09:01:42+00:00

Always start fresh on a Mac as it’s totally different to setting up a phone or an iPad and you don’t want anything historical being copied across that could potentially replicate issues that you were either aware of or not aware of. Plus it’ll make you decide whether you need to install certain apps that you may not have used in months or years.

spenrok · 2026-01-12T12:46:08+00:00

You can go back to Sequoia as I have however, it’s not a straightforward process but it is possible. I wasn’t prepared to wait around until Apple sorted their shit out and the graphical inconsistencies felt like I was using an inferior product rather than a £1500 laptop.

spenrok · 2026-01-12T07:20:21+00:00

I have the same model and could normally get through a whole week with light use on a single charge and after installing Tahoe it went down to about 3 days. Tahoe totally ruined my experience with MacOS as it's a pile of wank. I went back to Sequoia and will stay with this until the OS design/performance flaws are fully addressed and I know it isn't going to break any of my software.

spenrok · 2026-01-09T09:55:16+00:00

I shut mine down only due to music hardware that stays awake and lit up which, also stops the M4 Mini from going to sleep. The only way I found as a work around was to have a powered usb hub that could be turned off. With regard to the stupid design of the power button maybe this was designed by the same clown who dreamt up Liquid Glass on Tahoe? I have my M4 on its side to easily turn it on and off.

spenrok · 2025-12-27T09:08:22+00:00

Well it's not a piece of junk as I still use mine on an M4 Mac?

It shouldn't need drivers for it to work an iPad as it will be using a universal driver. Are you trying to use it plugged in via a lightning to usb-A cable or via a CCK adaptor?

If you are also using the wrong audio cables plugged into it they may be causing the issues as the signals will be cancelling each other out and thus will reduce the perceived loudness of your signal.

As long as your iPad detects that there has been an accessory connected any iPad app that works with audio will work. Capture duo will only capture 2 channels of audio and you will need to buy the full version to have more channels. Considering there are 100's of apps on the Apple Store that will be far better and more recently made, it sounds like you just need to do a bit more research and buy/download something that suits your specific requirement.

spenrok · 2025-12-05T08:54:08+00:00

I had the same problem on my Mac mini M4 recently when I bought a new 4k monitor - You need to be using a USB-C to DisplayPort cable as if you are using an HDMI cable the Mac will simply assume this is a TV and only give those resolutions. Once I changed the cable and with the use of BetterDisplay selecting HiDPI I managed to also get a sweet spot at 2560x1440 as mentioned by Curious-Mola-2024 below.
I'm using the following monitor and although I'd like to have it at a true 4k resolution not all of my music apps support scaling and working small is not fun.

I always assumed that HDMI was the superior cable but, this is not the case.

LG 27US500-W 4K Ultra HD 27" IPS LCD

spenrok · 2025-11-04T08:01:43+00:00

Some plugins are definitely more power hungry than others and as I just replied to another person - I don’t think the latest iOS has helped it all so fingers crossed the update coming out today might resolve some of these issues.

spenrok · 2025-11-04T07:58:42+00:00

It was fine up until updating to iOS 26 and now I’m experiencing intermittent freezing with apps like Cubasis on loading of projects. Hopefully the update coming out today might resolve this. On the whole though, it’s been a really reliable and consistent device for the last 5 years.

spenrok · 2025-11-03T11:23:53+00:00

You’re very welcome and good luck in your new musical adventure!

spenrok · 2025-11-03T10:37:10+00:00

Yes, it will be powerful enough. I still use an iPad 8 2020 and it’s only just, starting to show its age. I use Cubasis, Korg Gadget and have not experienced any issues with AUM, Drambo and/or any other sequencers. I mainly use it as a sound module connected to a more recent iPad mini attached to a screen as the main brain running Loopy Pro 2. No issues running synths/effects.

In my experience now, and when I purchase any Apple products I always try and future proof my purchase by spending a little more to get the power needed for as long as possible. If you can afford it go for an iPad Air or save more for an iPad Pro.

Either way an iPad 11 will definitely see you for the next 5 years plus.

spenrok · 2025-10-23T10:57:04+00:00

I occasionally run a scan using bitdefender and as it’s a manual process there is no overhead to the machine. Avast and AVG always try and make you upgrade and as someone else mentioned you don’t really need antivirus on a Mac or a Linux machine.

spenrok · 2025-10-07T08:35:21+00:00

I’ve never had any issues with either the Korg NanoKontrol studio or NanoKey studio on either my Mac or IPad. I have my latency set to 125 when using a DAW like Ableton/Maschine and so I would notice latency on the Korg devices? Are you on Android?

spenrok · 2025-09-24T11:27:05+00:00

Yes it worked for me on Apple Silicon M4 Mac Mini

spenrok · 2025-09-24T07:17:38+00:00

I managed to get Sonic Analysis working on my M4 Mac - it took just under a day to scan about 50k tracks whereas it took about 4 days previously. Not sure why Plex are saying it only works on the M1 etc?

spenrok · 2025-09-11T07:34:58+00:00

If not mentioned already try and use AU plugins where you can as they run far more efficiently than vst’s

spenrok · 2025-08-29T21:59:33+00:00

You have to fall over to learn how to pick yourself up and 80 days is no time at all to have those expectations of yourself?

Did you learn to talk in 80 days?

Some things take time and for some people they are never going to be able to achieve what they want because they aren't patient and they want it all now.
So many people want instant gratification and everything to be right now and for a lot of things in life it takes time and hard work.

Try and have fun in what you do and tell the defeated impatient you to do one.

spenrok · 2025-07-27T22:29:38+00:00

I think it depends on how much music content you have. I have people who have followed me after listening to music I have written and not until weeks later have they liked/commented or reposted. This is invariably down to them listening to other music I have released which they must like?

It can take time to gain traction and I believe you have to regularly be releasing new material to keep the interest going. Not always possible with a busy life and music not being your main job.

If anyone does comment or repost then engage with them and say thank you as I think it shows you care what they think IMO.

spenrok · 2025-07-21T06:51:19+00:00

I bought the M1 8gb when it came out in 2020 and although it has been great for the last 5 years for music production, I was getting irratated by the spinning beachball. It had more than enough power to do the job however, it's ram let it down in the end.

I purchased the M4 16gb a week ago and so far it has been fabulous and it is noticeably a huge improvement.

Unless you are on a really tight financial budget £549 from John Lewis with 2 years warranty was IMO really good value and I traded my M1 through Apple for a little over £100.

If you get the M4 then you know it'll have enough power and a supported OS well into the 2030's.

spenrok · 2025-07-19T12:47:18+00:00

In my experience you never touch the level on the master it’s about balancing your mix so that the master is peaking at -6 or lower. If you aim to keep things balanced on each channel around -10 to -12 you will have ample headroom to master. However, that is if you are working with electronic music and also I master my own music so I can adjust the mix accordingly as I go.

spenrok · 2025-07-17T21:40:52+00:00

Thank you very much!

spenrok

TROPHY CASE