Know someone who spends all their free time creating beats or playing out live? Impress them with a selection of gear and equipment that’ll have them grinning ear to ear. From controllers, grooveboxes, and everything in between – this is your gift guide for DJs and producers in 2024.
Focusrite Clarett+ 4Pre USB-C Audio Interface
The Focusrite Clarett+ 4Pre USB-C Audio Interface is a premium solution designed for musicians, producers, and audio engineers seeking high-quality sound and versatility in their recording setup. With its advanced features and robust build, the Clarett+ 4Pre delivers exceptional audio performance for both studio and live applications.
- High-Quality Preamps: The interface is equipped with four Clarett+ mic preamps that offer ultra-low noise and low distortion, ensuring pristine audio capture. These preamps are designed to provide a transparent sound, making them ideal for recording vocals, instruments, and more.
- Air Mode for Enhanced Clarity: The Clarett+ 4Pre features an all-analogue Air mode that emulates the classic Focusrite ISA 110 mic preamp. This mode adds brightness and presence to your recordings, enhancing the clarity of vocals and acoustic instruments.
- 24-Bit/192 kHz Conversion: With precision A-D and D-A conversion capabilities, the Clarett+ 4Pre supports up to 24-bit/192 kHz audio resolution. This high fidelity ensures that every detail of your recordings is captured accurately – providing a superior listening experience.
Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol M32 Micro Keyboard
The Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol M32 Micro Keyboard is a compact and versatile MIDI controller designed for musicians and producers seeking an intuitive way to create and perform music. With its sleek design and powerful features, the M32 is perfect for both studio use and on-the-go production.
- 32 Velocity-Sensitive Keys: The M32 features 32 mini keys that are velocity-sensitive, allowing for expressive playing dynamics. This compact keybed is ideal for musicians who need portability without sacrificing playability, making it suitable for a wide range of musical styles.
- Smart Play Features: The Komplete Kontrol M32 includes Smart Play functionality, which provides chord and scale modes. This allows users to easily play complex chords or stay within a chosen scale, making it easier to compose music without extensive music theory knowledge.
- Touch Strips for Modulation and Pitch Bend: Equipped with two touch-sensitive strips, the M32 allows for expressive modulation and pitch bending. These strips provide a tactile way to control parameters in real-time, enhancing performance capabilities during live shows or studio sessions.
Ableton Push 3 With Live 12 Intro
The Ableton Push 3 is a groundbreaking music production controller that combines the functionality of a MIDI controller with the capabilities of a standalone instrument. Designed for musicians and producers, the Push 3 offers an intuitive interface that enhances creativity and workflow, making it an essential tool for anyone looking to create music efficiently.
- Standalone Operation: The Push 3 can operate independently without being connected to a computer, thanks to its built-in Intel processor and lithium battery. This feature allows users to create music on the go, providing up to 2.5 hours of playtime, making it perfect for live performances or spontaneous jam sessions.
- Integrated Audio Interface: Equipped with a built-in audio interface, the Push 3 allows you to connect instruments directly and record audio tracks seamlessly. This integration simplifies the recording process, enabling you to capture your ideas quickly without additional hardware.
- MPE-Enabled Pads: The Push 3 features 64 responsive pads that support MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE), allowing for nuanced control over individual notes. This capability enhances performance dynamics, enabling musicians to bend, slide, and articulate sounds in real-time for a more expressive playing experience.
AlphaTheta WAVE-EIGHT – 8″ Portable DJ Speaker with SonicLink
The AlphaTheta WAVE-EIGHT is an innovative 8-inch portable DJ speaker designed to deliver professional sound quality and unparalleled convenience for DJs and music enthusiasts. Featuring cutting-edge SonicLink technology, this speaker allows for cable-free performances, making it ideal for outdoor events, parties, and any location where mobility is key.
- SonicLink Ultra-Low-Latency Technology: The WAVE-EIGHT utilises SonicLink technology to provide a seamless wireless audio experience. This ultra-low-latency connection eliminates the delays typically associated with Bluetooth, allowing DJs to mix and perform without missing a beat. Simply connect the included transmitter to your DJ gear, and you can instantly create a wireless setup.
- Versatile EQ Modes: The speaker features multiple EQ modes, including Music, Flat, Vocal, and Subwoofer settings. These modes allow users to quickly adapt the sound profile to suit different environments and musical styles, making it easy to find the perfect audio balance for any occasion.
- Portable Design with Battery Power: The WAVE-EIGHT is designed for mobility, featuring built-in casters and an extendable handle for easy transport. With an impressive battery life of approximately 8 hours on a full charge, this speaker is perfect for long events where access to power may be limited.
Pioneer HDJ-CUE1 DJ Headphones
The Pioneer HDJ-CUE1 DJ Headphones in Dark Silver are designed for both aspiring and professional DJs who demand high-quality sound and comfort during long mixing sessions. With their customisable features and lightweight design, these headphones provide an excellent listening experience while allowing users to express their own style.
- Precise Sound Tuning: Engineered with precise sound tuning, the HDJ-CUE1 headphones deliver crystal-clear audio across lows, mids, and highs. This clarity is essential for DJs to mix tracks smoothly and know exactly how the next track will sound in the mix, ensuring a polished performance every time.
- Lightweight and Comfortable: Weighing less than 250 grams, the HDJ-CUE1 is designed for comfort during extended use. The adjustable ear cups rotate a full 90 degrees, allowing for flexible wearing styles whether you’re monitoring your mix or taking a break between sets.
- Foldable Design for Portability: The headphones are foldable, making them easy to transport and store. This feature ensures that you can keep them with you at all times, ready for impromptu gigs or practice sessions without taking up much space.
Pioneer DJ XDJ-RX3 All-In-One DJ System
The Pioneer DJ XDJ-RX3 is a state-of-the-art all-in-one DJ system designed for professional DJs seeking a portable, feature-rich performance solution. With its intuitive interface and advanced capabilities, the XDJ-RX3 combines the functionality of a traditional setup with the convenience of modern technology, making it ideal for both live performances and studio use.
- Large 10.1-inch Touchscreen: The XDJ-RX3 features a bright and responsive 10.1-inch touchscreen that enhances navigation and control during performances. This expansive display allows DJs to browse their music library effortlessly, view track waveforms, and access essential settings quickly, streamlining the mixing process.
- Enhanced Jog Wheels: The system is equipped with high-quality jog wheels that offer precise control for scratching and beatmatching. The jog wheels also include colour LCD displays that provide real-time feedback on track position, playhead status, and even album artwork, allowing DJs to maintain focus on their performance.
- Expanded FX Options: The XDJ-RX3 includes all the effects from its predecessor, the XDJ-RX2, plus an additional six Beat FX and two Sound Color FX. This expanded range of effects enables DJs to add creative flair to their mixes, enhancing the overall listening experience for their audience.
Pioneer VM-80 8-inch Active Monitor Speaker
The Pioneer VM-80 8-inch Active Monitor Speaker is engineered to deliver exceptional audio clarity and powerful bass response, making it an ideal choice for DJs, producers, and audio enthusiasts. With its advanced features and robust design, the VM-80 is perfect for both studio monitoring and live sound applications.
- High-Quality Sound Performance: Featuring an 8-inch aramid fibre woofer and a 1-inch silk soft dome tweeter, the VM-80 produces a wide frequency range from 34 Hz to 36 kHz. This ensures that both low-end punch and high-frequency clarity are accurately reproduced, allowing for detailed monitoring of your mixes.
- DSP Control for Room Adaptation: The built-in DSP settings enable users to tailor the sound to suit the acoustics of any room. With selectable EQ controls for low and high frequencies, you can easily optimise the speaker’s performance whether you’re in a treated studio or a less-than-ideal environment.
- Constant Directivity Horn Design: The constant directivity horn delivers mid and high frequencies with power while creating a broad listening area. This design ensures that sound is evenly distributed throughout the room, making it easier to mix accurately from different positions.
