The holidays are here, and there are lots of things to be excited for: non-stop parties, DJ bookings, family reunions… OK, maybe not that last bit, but there’s a lot to be thrilled about when it comes to this season. Opening stacks of gifts on Christmas Day may be a distant memory for most of us, but I’m willing to bet we all would love to give and be gifted something small that’s DJ-related.
Read on for our list of 12 DJ gifts that won’t burn a ho-ho-hole in your pocket.
12 DJ Gifts
1.Push Turn Move book
The most beautiful coffee table book we’ve seen on synthesisers and Midi controllers. Bit pricey for a tome, but worth it for the breathtaking photography and insightful writing on gear used to make dance music through the decades. Recommended.
Price: US$87
Buy it now: Push Turn Move Book
2. Daft Punk 1000-piece puzzle
Puzzles remind me of Boxing Day afternoons spent piecing them together with a mug of hot coco, pretending it’s snowing outside even though it’s a blistering 30 degrees (it’s tropical all-year round here in Manila). This Daft Punk puzzle box is great, old-skool analogue fun, whether or not you live in a winter wonderland.
Price: US$40
Buy it now: Daft Punk Puzzle
3. Dropmix board game
Here’s a fun gift to open on Christmas morning – Dropmix is a music board game that makes use of your smartphone / tablet. Create mashups and remixes on the fly by playing cards on the Dropmix board. Great to play after a couple of rounds of eggnog.
Price: US$89
4. Numark DJ2GO2 Serato DJ controller
Numark’s latest portable is possibly the smallest Serato DJ controller on the market. You get two-channel control with two tiny jogwheels for the price of a month’s worth of pints (or a Friday night if you’re Irish) – we’ll drink to that!
Price: US$79
5. Yescom disco ball
Add some Studio 54 glitz to your live streams and mobile gigs with this rotating 12″ disco ball that comes bundled with an RGB light. Feather boas, glitter and hair spray not included…
Price: US$51
6. Logitech c930 webcam
If you want a live stream camera that looks great and is easy to set up and use, the Logitech c930 should be your first choice. Twitch streamers swear by it – if it’s good enough for hordes of gamers who are picky on PC spec minutiae, it’s certainly good enough for our mugs (all Digital DJ Tips readers are good-looking, as proven by science).
Price: US$76
7. Alpine MusicSafe Pro earplugs
Your ears are your most important piece of DJ gear – once they’re gone, they’re gone forever. The best time to start protecting your ears was yesterday, and the next best time is right now. These Alpine MusicSafe Pro earplugs are cheap, don’t make you sound like you’re underwater, and are more discrete than those neon foam plugs you see at the hardware store. Get two of them – stash one in your DJ bag and one in your every day carry.
Price: US$28
8. Gravity laptop stand
Newcomer Gravity just released an aluminium folding stand that can hold your laptop, a DVS scratch box / audio interface, or a Midi controller. Laptop stands are the least sexy thing to buy, but your back will thank you down the line (lower back pain is never sexy).
Price: €79
9. Sennheiser HD-25 Light headphones
The baby brother to the much-loved HD-25 II headphones comes in at just under the budget ceiling of this holiday list, and it retains the HD-25 DNA at a more compact design. One for both DJing and casual use.
Price: US$99
10. ADJ VF400 compact fog machine
Who doesn’t like fog at a party? Fog machines make your cheap-o lights look way more expensive than what you paid for, especially if you’ve got some lasers in your set-up. Too much can be tacky though – that’s why a tiny, portable machine like this is a good place to start.
Price: US$39
11. Evermix MixBox II recorder
This little device records the output coming from your DJ mixer or controller and sends it straight to the Evermix app on your iPhone, ready to be uploaded. The first batch sold out quickly, but the company is taking orders for its second release in early 2018 – better get in line before it’s gone.
Price: US$ 90
12. Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Synths
They look like calculators but they’re actually mini synthesisers. Choose from among a range of drum, bass, lead synths, and sync them all together for an analogue jam with your friends. The ultimate producer time killer, and probably the closest thing DJ/producers have got to the burgeoning portablism craze.
Price: US$60 each
Buy it now: Pocket Operator Synths
Finally…
The holiday season is already in full swing, but you’ve still got lots of time to do your gift shopping. The stuff on this list won’t break the bank (unless you buy all of them), and is sure to make the other DJ in your life feel extra special come Christmas morn. Better yet, pass this on to loved ones to give them ideas for what to gift you this year – that’s your plan all along, isn’t it?
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Any other DJ gifts under US$100 you’d like to see included in this list? Share them with us below.
Joey Santos
