Best Motherboards for Audio Production – A good motherboard can facilitate your audio production rig, however, before you delve into getting one, you have to study how one motherboard is differentiated from the other.
In this article, we briefly had a look at some of the important consideration when choosing the best motherboard for Audio production as well as looked at the motherboards that are highly reviewed for this matter.
OVERVIEW
The point to note here is that the choice of the components, including the motherboard, entirely depends upon your budget and what you wish to achieve.
ROUND UP
If you are a beginner, we would recommend you keep things simple. Alternatively, if you are a pro then you can look into some of the more advanced models DEPENDING LARGELY upon what processor you invest in.
back to menu ↑1.ASUS Prime Z490-A
Features
- Intel LGA 1200 Socket: Designed to unleash the maximum performance of 10th Gen Intel Core processors
- Enhanced Power Solution: 12+2 DrMOS power stages, 6-layer PCB, ProCool sockets, alloy chokes and durable capacitors for stable power delivery
- Comprehensive Cooling: VRM heatsink, PCH heatsink, hybrid fan headers and Fan Xpert 4 utility
- Boosted Memory Performance: Careful routing of traces and vias, plus ground layer optimizations to preserve signal integrity for improved memory overclocking with ASUS OptiMem II
- Built for Productivity : Intel 2.5 Gb Ethernet, front USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C and Thunderbolt 3 header support, Dual M.2 slots
- Personalization: ASUS-exclusive Aura Sync RGB lighting, including RGB headers and Gen 2 addressable headers
- Immersive Gaming Audio: The Realtek S1200A codec offers pristine audio quality to draw you deeper into the game action or to enhance your favorite music tracks or videos.
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2.ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E
Features
- Intel LGA 1200 socket: Designed to unleash the maximum performance of 10th Gen Intel Core processors
- Robust Power Solution: 14+2 power stages with ProCool II power connector, high-quality alloy chokes and durable capacitors to provide reliable power even when push the CPU performance to the limit
- Optimized Thermal Design: Except comprehensive heatsink, heatpipe and fan headers, features low-noise AI cooling to balance thermals and acoustics by reducing fan speeds and maintaining a 5 Celsius delta
- High-performance Gaming Networking: On-board Intel WiFi 6 AX201 (802. 11 ax) and Intel 2. 5 Gb Ethernet with ASUS LANGuard
- Best Gaming Connectivity: Supports HDMI 1. 4 and DisplayPort 1. 4 output, and featuring dual M. 2 , front panel USB 3. 2 Gen 2 Type-C connector
- Industry-leading Gaming Audio: High fidelity audio with the SupremeFX S1220A codec, DTS Sound Unbound and Sonic Studio III draws you deeper into the game action
- Unmatched Personalization: ASUS-exclusive Aura Sync RGB lighting, including RGB headers and Gen 2 addressable headers
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3.ASUS ROG Maximus XII Formula
Features
- Intel LGA 1200 socket: Designed to unleash the maximum performance of 10th Gen Intel Core processors
- Extreme Power Solution: features 16 infineon power stages, each rated to handle 70 amps, high-quality alloy chokes and durable capacitors to provide reliable power even when push the CPU performance to the limit
- Hybrid Cooling System: CrossChill EK III VRM block and Extra-large heatsinks for VRM, chipset and M. 2 slots, solid steel backplate lets you cool with air and water
- Fastest Gaming Connectivity: Intel WiFi 6 AX201 (802. 11 ax), Dual Ethernet with Marvell AQtion 10Gb and Intel 2. 5Gb Ethernet with LANGaurd technology, Triple M. 2 slots, USB 3. 2 Gen 2x2 front panel connectors
- Unmatched Personalization: 2” Livedash OLED, ASUS-exclusive Aura Sync RGB lighting, including 2X 4-pin RGB header and 2x Gen 2 addressable RGB headers
- Industry-leading Gaming Audio: High fidelity audio with the SupremeFX S1220A codec, DTS Sound Unbound and Sonic Studio III draws you deeper into the game action
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4.MSI Arsenal
Features
- Supports 1st, 2nd and 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen/ Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics and 2nd Gen AMD Ryzen with Radeon graphics/ Athlon with Radeon Vega Graphics desktop processors for socket AM4
- Supports DDR4 memory, up to 4133(OC) MHz
- Extended heatsink design: MSI extended PWM heatsink and enhanced circuit design ensures even high-end processors to run in full speed.
- Lightning fast game experience: 1x turbo M.2, amd turbo USB 3.2 gen2, store mi technology
- Core boost: With premium layout and digital power design to support more cores and provide better performance.
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5.Gigabyte Z390 AORUS Elite
Features
- Supports 9th and 8th Intel Core processors
- Dual Channel Non-ECC Unbuffered DDR4, 4 DIMMs
- Intel Optane Memory Ready
- 12+1 Phases digital VRM solution with DrMOS
- Advanced thermal design with screw mounted heatsinks
- Alc1220-vb enhance 114db(rear)/ 110db(front) SNR in microphone with WIMA Audio Capacitors
- Intel Gigabit LAN with cFosSpeed
- Rgb FUSION with Multi-Zone LED Light Show Design, supports addressable LED & RGB LED strips
- Smart Fan 5 features Multiple Temperature Sensors and Hybrid Fan Headers with FAN STOP
- Front USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C Header
- Memory storage capacity: 1000 TB
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6GIGABYTE Z490 Vision
Features
- Supports 10th Gen Intel Core processors
- Direct 12 Phases Digital VRM with 50A Smart Power Stage
- Advanced Thermal Design with Optimized Surface Heatsink and Next Generation Direct Touch Heatpipe
- Dual Channel Non-ECC Unbuffered DDR4, 4 DIMMs
- Intel 2.5 GbE LAN
- 3x M.2 AORUS Next Generation Thermal Guard
- Intel WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5 2x2 with High Gain Antenna
- AMP UP Audio ALC1220-VB2 AUDIO DAC
- RGB Fusion 2.0
- Smart Fan 5 Hybrid Fan Headers with smart fan functions (Fan Stop, PWM Controls, Noise Detection)
- Memory Storage Capacity: 10000 Tb
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7.ASUS TUF X570-PRO
Features
- AMD AM4 Socket and PCIe 4. 0: The perfect pairing for Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 & 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen CPUs
- Robust Power Design: 12+2 DrMOS power stages with high-quality alloy chokes and durable capacitors to provide reliable power for the last AMD high-count-core CPUs
- Optimized Thermal Solution: Fanless VRM, active chipset heatsink, multiple hybrid fan headers and fan speed management with Fan Xpert 4 or the UEFI Q-Fan Control utility
- High-performance Gaming Networking: WiFi 6 (802.11ax), 2.5 Gb LAN with ASUS LANGuard
- Best Gaming Connectivity: Supports HDMI 2.1 (4K@60HZ) and DisplayPort 1.2 output, featuring dual M.2 slots (NVMe SSD)— PCIe 4.0 x4 connectivity, front panel USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-c connector, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C & Type-A ports
- Industry-leading Gaming Audio & AI Noise Cancelling Mic Technology: High fidelity audio from a Realtek S1200A codec with DTS Sound Unbound draws you deeper into the action. Communicate clearly with ASUS AI Noise Cancelling Mic technology.
- Gaming Look and Feel: ASUS-exclusive Aura Sync RGB lighting, including RGB headers and a Gen 2 addressable RGB header for greater customization
- Please ensure your BIOS is up to date if installing a compatible Ryzen 5000 series CPU. Visit ASUS site search by motherboard model name, click on “Support” tab, Drivers and Tools, then BIOS & Firmware to download the latest BIOS.
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8.Asus ROG X570
Features
- AMD AM4 socket: ready for 2nd, and 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen processors and up to two M. 2 drives, USB 3. 2 Gen2, and AMD StoreMI to maximize connectivity and speed.
- Comprehensive thermal design: active PCH heatsink, M. 2 aluminum heatsink and ROG cooling zone.
- High-performance networking: on-board Wi-Fi 6 (802. 11Ax) with MU-MIMO support, 2. 5 Gaps Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet, both with Asus LANGuard protection, and support for GameFirst V software.
- 5-Way Optimization: automated system-wide tuning, providing overclocking and cooling profiles that are tailor made for your rig.
- DIY friendly design: pre-mounted I/O shield, Asus SafeSlot, BIOS Flashback and premium components for maximum endurance.
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9.ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII
Features
- AMD AM4 socket: Ready for 2nd, 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen processors and 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen processors
- Comprehensive thermal design: Passive chipset heatsink, M.2 aluminum heatsinks and ROG Water Cooling Zone.
- Robust power delivery: Designed power solution 14+2 TI power stages rated for 90A, ProCool II power connectors, microfine alloy chokes and 10K Japanese-made black metallic capacitors
- High-performance connectivity: On-board Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with MU-MIMO support, 2.5 Gbps Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C
- DIY Friendly Design: Pre-mounted I/O shield, ASUS SafeSlot, BIOS flashback and premium components for maximum endurance.
- Unmatched personalization: ASUS-exclusive Aura Sync RGB lighting, including RGB headers and Gen. 2 addressable headers
- Industry-leading ROG audio: ROG SupremeFX S1220 is combined with the venerable ESS ES9023P to deliver high-fidelity audio to headsets and exotic cans.
- Please ensure your BIOS is up to date if installing a compatible Ryzen 5000 series CPU. Visit ASUS site search by motherboard model name, click on “Support” tab, Drivers and Tools, then BIOS & Firmware to download the latest BIOS.
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10.Gigabyte B550M AORUS PRO-P
Features
- Supports AMD 3rd Gen Ryzen and 3rd Gen Ryzen with Radeon Graphics Processors
- Dual Channel ECC/ Non-ECC Unbuffered DDR4, 4 DIMMs
- 10+2 Phases Digital Twin Power Design with 50A DrMOS
- Advanced Thermal Design with Enlarged VRM Heatsinks
- Ultra Durable PCIe 4.0 Ready x16 Slot
- Dual Ultra-Fast NVMe PCIe 4.0/3.0 x4 M.2 with One Thermal Guard
- AMP-UP Audio with ALC1200 and premium capacitor
- Blazing Fast 2.5GbE LAN with Bandwidth Management
- DisplayPort & HDMI for Multiple Display
- RGB FUSION 2.0 Supports Addressable LED & RGB LED Strips
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Best Motherboards for Audio Production – BUYER’S GUIDE
We’ve essentially covered everything we needed to. With your motherboard, CPU, RAM and hard drive… You’ll be capable of moving onto the next step; assembly.
The first thing you’ll need is a computer case!
I’ll be recommending one at the bottom, but one of the joys of building your own PC is to choose your own. I encourage you to find your own, but you can get inspired from the one I chose!
Another important component you’ll need is the power supply. The power rating you’ll need will depend on what you put into your build. I’ll be recommending one that’ll work based on my recommendations, but keep that in mind if you venture out.
What about GPUs?
If you’re solely working on music production, the integrated graphics will be fine.
However, you may eventually want your own dedicated graphics card for video production, gaming and so on. Other than that, you’ll be good to go if you follow my instructions!
I won’t actually be showing you how to assemble everything, but you can always reach out to me personally if you need help. I’ll be sharing some videos that could potentially help you assemble your machine since it’s beyond the scope of this post.
So there you have it… The best computer components for music production (according to me).
back to menu ↑Frequently Asked Questions
back to menu ↑Do You Plan to Use the Built in Motherboard Sound Card or Have an Audio Interface?
If you are a beginner without a dedicated studio, audio production equipment or an audio interface, you may choose to get started with just the built-in motherboard sound card.
If you choose to go this route, then there are few drawbacks to note:
Many professionals find that the built-in motherboard sound card is prone to noise generation and hence they resort to separate standalone audio interface instead.
On top of that, sound cards, be it built in or dedicated ones installed on the PCIe slots, have minimal I/O ports for a typical recording studio.
Other important consideration are high quality preamps and latency. Dedicated Audio Interfaces tend to solve all these issues but they can get expensive particularly for beginners.
back to menu ↑WRAP UP
If you want to build a custom PC for audio production, then choosing the right motherboard that complements the rest of your system well is an essential factor to consider.
The issue here is that there are a ton of choices ranging from affordable motherboards all the way to premium models. So which one do you choose? The one you choose depends rather on your budget as well as your level of production/expertise.
There are many levels of PCs that you can build. Do you want to build a mid range, high performance or perhaps a workstation build for your audio production? All these are important considerations when choosing the right motherboard.
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