Since we started testing the new Apple devices with Apple Silicon processors and especially the Mac mini M1 we were clear: the optimization of your processor is your great advantage. Now that the months have passed since that analysis and using other models as the main equipment, there is something else that we want to tell you about Apple's most compact desktop.
Mac mini M1, a very capable team
When we analyze the Mac mini M1 We already made it clear to you what was the reason for such good performance: optimization. Something that not only affects this product, but also the rest of the equipment that includes the same processor and that goes from the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air to the iMac and even the recent iPad Pro.
Apple had already been demonstrating for years that they could do a great job optimizing certain tasks on their own chips used in the iPhone and iPad. Now all that experience is condensed into a first Apple Silicon model that integrates a series of extras that allow you to go much further in many of the usual tasks that are usually done on a daily basis.
And it is that even with applications that have not yet been optimized for the new architecture proposed by the team, great performance is achieved. As many of all those usual apps of millions and millions of users are making the leap to the ARM architecture, the changes are even more noticeable.
Well, among all these tasks there is something that allows the Mac mini to differentiate itself from other equipment: the video theme performance. Yes, thanks to an independent processing unit, video encoding and decoding tasks make working with audiovisual subjects on Apple's small desktop a true delight. Hence it is one of the best options for streaming today. Or directly the best.
The best team to stream
If you are going to perform live, it does not matter if they are on Twitch, YouTube or any other platform in a timely manner, surely you will not have even considered the idea of what team you could do it with in the best possible way. Because you are not going to invest in new components or equipment if with the current one they are still left over for what you usually do in your day to day.
However, if you intend to stream on a recurring basis, it is worth looking at how you could improve your current setup. Especially if your live shows are not just talks, interviews or the like. If when you broadcast it involves showing your screen because you are playing video games or similar, then it is when having a second computer that downloads said task from your PC or main computer is important.
For these types of scenarios, the Mac mini is an ideal device for many reasons. So much so that it can be considered the best PC for streaming, although the term PC (Personal computer) is more associated with Windows computers than with Macs.
Advantages of the Mac mini as a device for streaming
Affirming that a team is better than any other must be accompanied by a series of well justified reasons. Although if we are more exact, we will tell you that it is better for us for certain reasons, but logically there will be superior or more suitable teams depending on the user profile.
However, if we recommend the Mac mini as an ideal device for streaming, it is because of the following:
- The size: If it is a second piece of equipment that you are going to have in the room where the rest of the equipment you use such as cameras, gaming computer, consoles, etc. are, the last thing you need is another lump to deal with. The compact design of the Mac mini is the best and can even place under desk with some support you could even print on your own with a 3D printer a big plus
- Powerful and quiet: Sure, Apple's new M1 processors get hot, but they do so at a much lower level than we're used to seeing in other computers that opt for X86 solutions from Intel or AMD. This allows the Mac mini to be a very quiet team, but without giving up power. In terms of video, its performance is very good and the action of capturing video to later encode it and send it over the Internet to the platform that you decide to use is something that it does practically without breaking a sweat.
- Economic: When you consider all that it offers, the Mac mini is a really cheap piece of equipment. It is true that to stream you will still need a series of additional accessories, but for that very reason that it is cheap helps. Because investing in other elements such as lights, camera, etc., will be possible if you want to start in this whole world
- Support with DSLR and mirrorless cameras: Manufacturers such as Sony, Canon, Panasonic, Fuji, etc., have been launching their respective applications that allow many of their cameras to be connected to a Mac to use as a webcam. Great news because they only connect via USB and you can do direct with a higher image quality
Disadvantages of the Mac mini
And now let's go to the disadvantages, because there is no perfect team and despite being highly recommended it also has its weak points. So, again, a small list with what you should take into account if you choose the Mac mini as a computer to perform live shows on Twitch, YouTube, etc:
- MacOS: The support that many developers are giving to macOS, Apple's computer operating system, has increased a lot in recent years. Even so, there are many features that, despite the existence of a client for the Mac, reach the Windows version earlier. This affects, for example, certain extras of applications as used for this as OBS
- M1 processor: the new chip designed by Apple is one of its main advantages and at the same time a disadvantage. By making use of the ARM architecture instead of X86, despite having Rosetta as a translator, there are some applications and extras that do not work. So you should take this into account if you already have experience in this live performance and you use very specific tools.
- Nothing from Bootcamp: on Intel Macs there was the ability to use Boot Camp to run Windows natively. This time there is no such option, but it would not be interesting for the performance and optimization offered by macOS either. But it is a small detail also to consider
- Connections: Although it is true that you will not need to connect many devices, the limitation to two USB C and two USB A of the Mac mini M1 can be a small handicap for depending on the users. The good thing is that a HUB solves it, the bad thing is that it is an extra to add
What kind of streamers is the Mac mini M1 for?
At this point, the Mac mini with M1 processor is highly recommended equipment for any type of user who is dedicated to streaming. However, we could say that there are a series of profiles that could get the most out of them or benefit from their benefits compared to other options.
Users who are only looking for a team capable of managing a live show in a comfortable and fluid way to carry out talks, interviews, etc., will find in it a very capable, reliable, safe, silent team and everything that we have already told you about.
Gamers could also benefit a lot from it if they are not one of those who use very specific applications or extras to enhance all the options offered by platforms such as Twitch. Also, for the near future it might interest you if more and more iOS and iPadOS games start to be allowed to run on macOS Big Sur or the future Monterey version.
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