u/MeSlaw3

Today I finally completed a custom build I’ve been dreaming about for years.

I bought a 14“ x 8“ Ludwig Black Beauty in 2023 with this project in mind. It was a stock shell with the chrome hardware. As you know, the Black Beauty shell is brass with a black nickel finish.

A year ago, I purchased black nickel die-cast hoops. They’ve sat in my closet until today.

This morning, I finally received the black nickel brass tube lugs and Ludwig throw off/butt plate.

I installed everything immediately upon receiving the final package.

The heads are Remo Black Suede Ambassadors.

I present to you: The Biggest, Blackest Beauty

I could not be more excited to debut this drum at church this weekend!

What should I do with the chrome hardware? Buy another shell to throw them on? What would be coolest?

No matter which location I go to, the staff are friendly, the restrooms are clean, the coffee is CAFFEINATED, the breakfast is 🔥, the tables are big, and the booths are comfy. I can even control the lighting if needed because it’s easy to adjust the window shades yourself at CFA.

The dining room is calm and quiet outside of the lunch or dinner rush. In many locations like the one near my home, the dining room never gets overwhelmed even during lunch, making it a great place to stay focused through the end of the workday.

The best part is: now that Chick-fil-A is everywhere, I always have an office space where I can get some work done no matter where I’m traveling with the family.

Thank God for CFA and WFH!

I’ve been blown away by what I can accomplish with only the iPad on hand. I’m able to work much faster with the new multitasking windows on the modern version of iPadOS compared to my 3rd gen iPad Pro. Things are so much snappier with the M5, I can have as many windows as I need on the screen at once (is there a limit to this?), and the nano-texture has enabled me to work effortlessly in some pretty extreme lighting environments.

It has me wondering how other musicians or music administrators are getting the most out of the processing power on this thing. Non-musicians, too: What are you using the processing power for, especially in the 1TB or better versions with the extra RAM?

It’s enough for me that I can read sheet music clearly thanks to the large screen and Nano-Texture cutting out any glare, and that this thing is a flawless second monitor to my MacBook - but outside of that how can I flex this thing for music, or for running a private music lesson school?

Does multitasking as pictured come close to using all that RAM? Is that what it’s for?

Beautiful morning to shred through some work over a lakeside breakfast.

Really enjoying being able to work outdoors thanks to the Nano-Texture Displays on these new machines.

Hope your work week is off to a great start! Rooting for you.

I have two separate phone numbers. One for work and one for personal.

I used to have them both going to the same 13 Pro Max with dual sims, but that drove me insane because I felt like I was never able to turn work off in my personal time.

So I switched to two phones: a Mist Blue iPhone 17 for work, and the Light Gold Air for personal.

Carrying two phones in one pocket sucked. I always kept the Air caseless, but the 17 needs a case due to how easily I bent the corner after the smallest of drops. With a case on the 17, the combo was a bit too bulky to sit in the same pocket comfortably.

After using that set up since the launch of the 17 line, this week I finally replaced the iPhone 17 with a space Black iPhone Air for work :)

Now they both go caseless, face-to-face in the same pocket, and I feel like I’ve found the perfect solution.

For those of you in a similar situation, what’s your solution to having two phone numbers? Do you keep them separate or do you prefer carrying one device with both numbers?

Finally got the 16” M5 Pro in Space Black.

It matches perfectly with the M5 iPad Pro, but what do you think about how it pairs with the Space Black iPhone Air and the Slate Titanium Apple Watch Series 11 with Apple’s OG Space Black Milanese Loop?

16” Space Black M5 Pro MacBook Pro (24 GB/1 TB) w/ Nano-Texture Display

13” Space Black M5 iPad Pro (1TB) w/ Nano-Texture Display

I just love how perfectly these new machines match eachother. Now I wish there was an iPhone in the same color…

What do you think of the Space Black color?

Really happy with where my mobile rig is at right now. Idk why I find this pic of everything stacked on top of one another really satisfying lol.

These new M5 Pro machines have Nano-Texture screens and all-day battery even when using wireless sidecar all day. They’ve made it easier than ever for me to work poolside, in the car, on my back porch, etc. No excuses, just maximum productivity wherever I am.

What do you carry with you while working on-the-go to make sure you’re just as efficient when you’re out of the office?

Space Black 13” M5 iPad Pro and Space Black 16” M5 Pro MacBook Pro

Now I just wish there was an iPhone that matched these exactly…

Just got home from a week-long road trip. It’s nice to arrive home to find all this wood and metal waiting for me.

I sure missed playing these babies!

I finally settled on the White Silver MX Master 4 for Mac and the White Smart Folio to complement my Space Black 16" M5 Pro MacBookPro (24GB/1TB) and 13" M5 iPad Pro (1TB) and complete my setup.

My favorite parts of this setup are:

- The Nano-Texture Displays on both devices - I can see everything clearly no matter where I am.

- The matching Space Black finish on the MacBook and iPad.

- The contrasting white coming from the Smart Folio, MX Master 4, and Apple Pencil Pro.

- How diverse and modular the whole setup is.

- How everything just syncs with eachother.

- ALL DAY BATTERY ON BOTH DEVICES WHILE RUNNING SIDECAR WIRELESSLY.

This thing blows me away. Using it in tablet mode as a sheet music reader/editor, or on the Smart Folio as a second monitor with my MacBook Pro when working on-the-go.

I can’t say enough about the Nano-Texture display. I’ll never go back to glossy! I can see everything perfectly even in direct sunlight with less than 75% brightness (see the proof in the pic showing the iPad’s screen brightness).

Settled on the White Smart Folio - thanks to everyone here who voiced their opinion on which color to choose :)

Pictured:

13” Space Black M5 iPad Pro 1TB w/ Nano-Texture Display

Apple Pencil Pro

White Smart Folio

White Silver MX Master 4

16” Space Black M5 Pro MacBook Pro 24GB/1TB w/ Nano-Texture

I’ve been using my brand new 16” M5 Pro MBP (24GB/1TB) for work and entertainment on a two-day road trip, and I just can’t say enough about how easy the Nano-Texture display makes it to see the screen no matter where I go.

Check out these shots under direct sunlight with less than 75% screen brightness 🤯

Would you/did you go for Nano-Texture Display on your MacBook Pro?

Finally settled on the white Smart Folio and MX Master 4 to complete my mobile rig.

Thanks to everyone here who weighed in on whether to choose the white or black Magic Keyboard or Smart Folio! The white Smart Folio is the final winner for this setup :)

I’m keeping the black Magic Keyboard for lighter days when I leave the MacBook at home.

The Complete Setup:

16” Space Black M5 Pro MacBook Pro 24GB/1TB w/ Nano-Texture

13” Space Black M5 iPad Pro 1TB w/ Nano-Texture

White Silver MX Master 4

Apple Pencil Pro

White Smart Folio

Black mouse pad w/ wrist rest

Hey there, looking for perspective on which of these Smart Folios will hold up better over time.

I use my new Space Black M5 13" iPad Pro w/ Nano-Texture as a second monitor for managing my music school on the go, and for reading sheet music during live performances.

The smart folio will mainly be used to hold the iPad when I'm using it as a second display on-the-go, so I'll be putting it on all kinds of random table tops.

I think the white looks so much better, but will it get too dirty too quickly?

Some folks say the black actually shows dirt more. Anyone with experience have a good suggestion?

I'll keep the winning color and return the loser.

I recently acquired these new machines and started using my iPad Pro as a second monitor when I'm working on-the-go.

Which accessories compliment my Space Black 16" M5 Pro Macbook Pro (24GB/1TB) and 13" M5 iPad Pro (1TB) with Nano-Texture screens best?

White Smart Folio and White Silver MX Master 4 for Mac?

Black Smart Folio and Graphite MX Master 4?

Losers get returned! 

Which do you think looks best with my 13” Space Black M5 iPad Pro w/ Nano-Texture?

The Black Magic Keyboard with the graphite MX Master 4?

Or the White Magic Keyboard with the white silver MX Master 4 for Mac?

I’ll return the loser and keep the winner :)