With Christmas right around the corner, we thought we’d provide some gift inspo for anyone into music production. Read on to find out Qube’s top picks for the Christmas season.
Production staples:
Splice Subscription – From £14.99 per month – Subscribe here
As the world’s biggest royalty-free sample library, Splice is a staple for any music producer. With a variety of plans to choose from, a Splice subscription will no doubt be appreciated and put to good use.
Shure SM58 – £119 – Buy here
The Shure SM58 microphone has been a staple for producers for generations. Typically used for live performance, the SM58 is regarded as an industry standard for recording sketch vocals and acoustic instruments due to its warm and clear delivery.
Novation Launchpad X – £149.99 – Buy here
The Novation Launchpad X is a sleek and colourful midi controller that gives you everything you need to make music right at your fingertips. It has a high-velocity sensitivity which makes it much more playable than other models.
AiAiAi TMA2 Studio Headphones – £200 – Buy here
Championed by the likes of Kaytranada, Slowthai and many more, AiAiAi has expanded the legacy and popularity of their DJ headphones to the studio. These award-winning modular headphones with bio-diaphragm speaker drivers are built to last with a lightweight and cushioned feel ensure sustained comfort throughout long periods of listening.
Shure MV7 Microphone – £257 – Buy here
Whilst typically used for podcast recording, the MV7 works well as an all-rounder microphone for recording vocals and acoustic instruments at a decent demo quality. Its built-in interface means you can connect directly via USB to your computer making it an ideal option for beginners.
Avid MBOX Studio USB Audio Interface – £866 – Buy here
If you’re looking to splurge on a high-quality interface, Avid’s desktop-sized MBOX Studio allows you to create music from your personal set up with the same recording power of a professional studio. Its flexible input and output options give you everything you need to produce, record, edit and mix audio at the highest level.
For music-making on the go:
AKAI Professional MPK Mini MK3 – £75 – Buy here
The AKAI Professional MPK Mini MK3 is perhaps the most portable and lightweight midi keyboard on the market, whilst still delivering in quality. With great velocity and intuitive features, this is a great choice for producers on the move.
IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor Speaker – £315.99 – Buy here
If you’re on the go and don’t want to sacrifice the studio quality of your go-to monitors, these portable speakers deliver exceptional quality at only a fraction of the size. Ideal for those looking for a quick and easy set-up wherever, whenever.
Roland SPD::One WAV Pad Compact Percussion Pad – £259 – Buy here
Roland’s most compact percussion pad is a game changer for those looking for ease of use and practicality. It can be used both with hands, drumsticks or whatever you have at hand and delivers a natural rebound through its solid feel.
For levelling up:
Soundgym / Tonegym subscription – Sign up for pricing
Whilst some have it naturally, you can improve the quality of your production massively by ear training. Soungym and Tonegym offer a monthly subscription for a selection of games and workouts to improve your aural skills.
Recording Unhinged: Creative and Unconventional Music Recording Techniques (Music Pro Guides) – £18.05 – Buy here
It’s easy to get bogged down with technical rules that have been ingrained throughout the history of recording. In this book, Sylvia Massy encourages you to “unlearn” safe recording techniques and see the process of recording itself as a creative art form.
Making Music: 74 Creative Strategies for Electronic Music Producers – £69.75 – Buy here
Written by Ableton’s Head of Music Learning, Dennis DeSantis, this book unpicks the problems you’re likely to encounter when making music and how you can solve them. Whilst the book is available to read for free online, the hardback could be nice to have to hand for any producer.
