Best gifts for musicians and producers this holiday seasonThat time of year has come again, when you’re wracking your brain to come up with gift ideas for your music producer friend or family member. As a long-time producer myself, I can tell you that they probably have a very specific idea of the items they’d want when it comes to expanding their studio. Unless they’ve specifically asked for something, it’s probably not a good idea to take a chance on a random expensive synth or MIDI controller, as there are so many options out there. They probably don’t want an extra pair of budget headphones when they have a decent pair already.

READ MORE: The best gifts for DJs this holiday season

With that in mind, we’ve picked out 10 affordable gift ideas with a broader appeal that should put a smile on the face of your favourite producer.
A perfect coffee-table book to get lost in
[products ids=”1fCpZRBW5E9VZ7KH2vHyBk”]
If you have a synth lover in your life but you don’t want to fork out thousands for a vintage analogue synth, then you could opt for one of these incredibly well put together books from Bjooks. They’re not cheap (for books), but they’ve been lovingly put together with exceptional attention to detail, pictures, tutorials and how-to diagrams, and a solid hardback cover. Options include rare synths, modular synthesis, stompbox effects, and specials on Moog, Korg and Roland.

Find out more at thomann.co.uk
Their favourite drum machine on their feet
New Balance – New Balance Numeric x Roland Tiago Lemos 808 trainers £105
Who doesn’t love a bit of crossover merch? Clothing brand New Balance teamed up with pro skater Tiago Lemos on a range of high-quality skate shoes. They also made a special Roland edition that features the 808 colour scheme, the Roland R logo on the tongue, and Rhythm Composer written on the back. The box is pretty cool as well. It goes without saying that you’ll need to know the recipient’s shoe size for this one.
Find out more at routeone.co.uk
Mighty FX fun in a tiny package
Don’t let its tiny size fool you, the Korg NTS-3 Kaoss Pad is a beast. You can have four simultaneous effects that can be controlled via the XY pad or edited and fine-tuned using the controls. What’s even more amazing is that you can develop your own effects via a software development kit or download additional algorithms from other creators and companies. It’s surprisingly powerful and incredibly versatile, which is why it makes for a great gift. And it comes as a DIY kit, so it will also keep them busy for half an hour.

Find out more at zzounds.com
Something different for the one that has everything
For those who love sound design, found sound and field recording, then Soma’s ETHER could be the perfect, unusual gift. It lets you tune into the invisible world of electromagnetic waves that are generated by electrical equipment and are all around us. It’s a simple device with a volume control and a headphone out. You could go for a meditative wander around town with your headphones on, waving it at lights and machines to the bemusement of onlookers. Or you could hook up a recording device and capture some unique electrical soundscapes to use in your music.

Find out more at thomann.co.uk
Give the gift of knowledge
This is a strong open-ended gift if you don’t know much about what kind of music or production your loved one is into. MacProVideo has a vast library of online video courses that cover pretty much everything, including synthesis, sound design, recording, mixing, mastering, specific plug-ins, DAWs, bits of hardware, and writing with different instruments and genres. It also has both beginner and advanced levels so there’s something for everyone. If that sounds like too much for you to choose from, then fear not. You can purchase an all-access library pass and select it as a gift on checkout, then the recipient can choose to view as many courses as they like for a month (or a year if you’re feeling generous).
Find out more at macprovideo.com
Give the gift of money!
Zzounds – Gift Vouchers
Some may view a voucher as a cop out gift, but it can also be the best one of all, because it lets them choose what they want instead of getting something they don’t really need.
Zzounds has a wide selection of studio and DJ equipment. Vouchers can be purchased with amounts starting at $250, and can either be sent digitally to arrive by email, or you can easily print it out to include as a present with a greeting card.
Find out more at zzounds.com
A gift for the acid raver in your life
Do you have an uncle who doesn’t stop going on about the glory days of acid house? Or perhaps your daughter has just discovered clubbing and the joys of a squealing acid bassline. An analogue 303 was once an elusive bass synth that would cost you north of a thousand pounds, but now you can pick up a Behringer TD-3 clone for a mere £85.
Is it as good as the original? Maybe not, but it still sounds great, and you’ll be raving around the Christmas tree by lunchtime (as long as they can work out how to program the sequencer).

Find out more at thomann.co.uk
Something for the messy ones
Here’s a way to not so subtly hint that your producer friend’s studio looks like an explosion at a spaghetti factory. There are lots of different cable management options you could consider, including cable ties, clips, and mountable cable racks. These JOTO Cable Tidy sleeves are a simple solution that can be used to bunch multiple cables together. Especially useful for turning multiple leads into one on equipment that might have both stereo and MIDI leads going in and out. It may not be fun, but at least it’s useful.

Find out more at amazon.co.uk
Add some studio vibe with LED strip lights
Lighting can dramatically help to improve the vibe of a studio room, and LED strip lights let you do it in a way that can make it look like your furniture is glowing from behind. The amount you can spend varies greatly, and whilst there’s no denying that the more expensive options like Philips Hue are higher quality products, you can still get great results on a budget. This 5 metre strip from Govee lets you choose from 16 million colours via WIFI or Bluetooth and the Govee Home App. It also works with Alexa and Google Assistant, and can be set to react to the beat.
Find out more at uk.govee.com
A fun stocking filler for the cost of a pint
If you’re just looking for a simple stocking filler, then these keyrings are fun and cheap (although you’ll need to pay for postage from Japan). They come in a range of product options including a Roland 303, 808, 909 and Juno 106, Sequential Prophet 5, Nord Lead, Yamaha DX7 and a Korg M1. If it’s someone that has a lot of keys, then you could opt to get a set. Alternatively, Etsy has some great synth related knick-knacks like synth knob fridge magnets, synth post-it notes and badges if you do a search.
Find out more at etsy.com.uk
The post Best gifts for musicians and producers this holiday season appeared first on MusicTech.