Looking for that perfect gift to buy for your music obsessive friend, family member, or significant other? We’re here to help and we’ve rounded up some nice toys that our DJs and producers are hoping to receive this season..
Hardware + Software Packages
If you’re looking for a hardware / software combination and the center point of a new studio, there are no better choices on the market than Maschine Studio and Ableton Push. Both combine tactile control and robust sound production capabilities that will appeal to any beginner or pro. Maschine Studio costs $999, and Ableton Push costs $599. So if you’re hoping for one of these you’ve probably been really good this year.
Maschine Studio – $999
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Read more about Maschine on Native Instruments’ website.
Ableton Push – $599
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Read more about Ableton Push on Ableton’s website.
Synthesizers / Samplers
Korg Volca – Bass, Synth, and Drum Machines – $150
Korg’s Volca series of synthesizer / sequencers are three all-analog devices that cost $150 each and come in drum, bass, and synth varieties. They are fun, easy to use, run on batteries, sync with each other, and relatively inexpensive. Find them at your local Korg dealer.
The guys at Sonic State podcast got all three Korg Volca variations into the studio for a nice Sonic Lab Volca demo. For a deeper discussion on the Korg Volca series, also check out the Sonic Talk Podcast that gets a bit deeper into the Volca Series this week.
Little Bits Synth Kits – $159
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“Imagine if you could take apart your favorite recent KORG analog creations, chop it up into little blocks, and then snap them together with magnetic ease? In other words, imagine if you could put together a KORG synth as easily as you did LEGO? It’s every bit as much fun as you’d imagine. I’ve been testing the littleBits Synth Kit for a few days now. I’ve got some sounds for you here so you can hear some of what’s possible. (They’re Creative Commons-licensed, if anyone wants to try to sample them in a track; I know I’ll be working on that soon.)” - Peter Kirn Order the Little Bits Synth Kit at Korg’s website. Read (and hear) more at Create Digital Music.
Critter and Guitari – Pocket Piano – $175
Sporting a speaker, four knobs and wooden keys, the Pocket Piano is a beautiful instrument that can be taken anywhere for music creation. The Pocket Piano is housed in a sturdy aluminum and hardwood case and can be powered both by a 9V battery or a 9VDC Power Supply. Read more about the Pocket Piano at Critter and Guitari’s website.
Arturia MicroBrute – $299
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Arturia has captured the attention of the synth-obsessed yet again with the MicroBrute – $299 micro-sized mono synth that sports one oscillator with saw, Triangle, and Square waveforms, a step sequencer, LFO, a modulation matrix, and MIDI, CV, and USB connections.
CDM’s Peter Kirn writes,”If there was any doubt left, the analog monosynth keyboard has gone mainstream now. Fusing 70s electronic instrument design ideas with nerdy lust for sound with modern ideas about connectivity, accessibility, and timbre, a generation of instruments has made it a wonderful time for synth lovers to be alive.”
MeeBlip anode Bass Synth – $129
“Canadian electronics company Blipsonic and Berlin-based website Create Digital Music have introduced their latest joint venture, the MeeBlip anode – a compact bass synth, complete with an analog filter. The anode is a hybrid analogue/digital instrument, featuring digital pulse oscillators with pulse width control – based on those found in the original MeeBlip – alongside a three-stage envelope, a LFO and an all-analogue filter with resonance control.” Read more at MeeBlip’s website.
Akai MPX8 SD Sample Player – $99
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Akai’s new MPX8 SD Sample Player is not a sampler. But it is an affordable ($99) sample player that uses SD cards for storage and features 8 pads, MIDI, and USB connectivity. Sonic Lab gives the MPX8 a thorough look in the video above and on the Sonic State website.
Effects Processors
Moog Minifooger Effects – $159 – $199
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Moog Music has announced the launch of the Minifooger Analog Effects family, a series of compact effects based on the larger and more expensive Moogerfooger line of effects pedals that with five choices of flavor: the MF Drive, MF Boost, MF Delay, MF Ring, and MF Trem.
Moog says, “The Minifooger Analog Effects family is launching with 5 compact stomp boxes – Each pedal is 100% analog, designed and hand assembled in Moog’s factory in Asheville, North Carolina and carries a US street price below $200. Two videos can be seen on our site featuring artists experimenting with the Minifoogers: Troy Van Leeuwen, guitarist for the band Queens of The Stone Age takes a more classic approach; and Xander Singh and Ian Hultquist of Passion Pit explores the other worldly side of the Minifoogers.” Find out more about the Minifoogers HERE.
MIDI / USB / Connectivity
Novation Launchkey Mini, Launchpad Mini, Launchpad Control – $99
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Novation’s Launchkey Mini is an exciting new compact mini-key controller featuring 16 velocity-sensitive, three-color illuminated launch pads–use them to launch loops, sounds, effects, transport controls, and more. The Launchkey Mini features a 25-note keyboard, eight assignable rotary controls, seven function buttons, and a two additional performance buttons.
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Launchpad Mini is the compact version of the celebrated Novation Launchpad performance controller. Designed to work with a computer or an iPad, Launchpad Mini features 64 three-color launch pads. It has the same integration with Ableton Live and FL Studio that it’s larger counterpart, the Launchpad S, features but can also be used to trigger sounds in the included Launchpad for iPad app.
iConnnect MIDI2+ – $89
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As users of the first generation iConnectMIDI device, we can confidently recommend these devices to bridge the gap between iOS devices, computers, USB controllers, and traditional MIDI connections. These boxes are stable, fast, and continue to surprise us for functionality in the modern studio. Read more at iConnectivity’s website.
Music Education
Give the gift of music with a Dubspot Gift Certificate this holiday season! Dubspot is offering a variety of savings on music production and DJ courses for any aspiring electronic musician on your gift list. To order gift certificates, browse our course offering and then call 212.242.2100 or email info@dubspot.com.
Friday Night Spin Session Gift Certificate
Hands-on and interactive, this 2hr 45min DJ class will introduce you to the equipment and basic techniques of DJing. Create your first two-song mix and see what really happens behind the booth! The perfect gift for the curious soul. ($125)
Electronic Music Production Workshop Gift Certificate
Choose from one of our six-hour weekend workshops: Music Foundations, Intro to Electronic Music Production, Intro to Ableton Live, Intro to Logic Pro, Intro to Reason, Sound Design w/ Komplete, Intro to Turntablism and more. Get hands-on experience with these professional tools and get started making your own tracks. ($195)
DJ Extensive Program Gift Certificate
This six-month course was designed for those who really want to experience the techniques of professional DJs. This certificate includes the DJ Extensive Program as well as the Intro to Ableton Live weekend workshop. ($1,895)
Dubspot Custom Experience Gift Certificate
Any Dubspot program, course, or weekend workshop can be scheduled and wrapped into a gift for your music lover. We can even arrange private one-on-one sessions with our instructors at an affordable price (call for details).
Call 1.877.DUBSPOT (1.877.382.7768) to order any of the gift certificates mentioned above.
Make sure to visit www.dubspot.com for all discounts and special offers. If you should have any further questions about courses or gift certificates please e-mail admissions@dubspot.com or call us at 212.242.2100
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