The maxim “worker smarter, not harder” is good advice for any career. It can also apply to your wallet — especially for musicians. Why spend thousands on multiple studio mics when one can capture vocals and instruments as well provide a solution for YouTube tutorial voice-overs.
Cumbersome PA systems take up space in an already loaded down van and make the set-up/break-down process more harrowing than the gig itself.
There are solutions to many of the spatial and financial problems the modern musician faces every day, which is why we created a gift guide that allows you to work smarter as we enter the holiday season.
JBL EON ONE Compact
$600
The EON ONE Compact may be small enough to carry in one hand, but its sound is big enough to fill the room. You’ll be amazed at the 112 decibels of rich, crystal-clear sound produced across the entire range of this ultra-compact system, with deep, uncompressed bass even at high output levels. Its 8-inch woofer extends low-end response to 37.5 Hz—nearly an octave lower than other PAs in its class.
With your loudspeaker, amp, mixer, and effects all rolled up in one easy-to-carry package, you’ll lighten your load-in while maximizing the value of your gear investment.
AKG Ara
$70
The AKG Ara two-pattern USB microphone lets podcasters, bloggers, gamers and musicians capture pro-quality, high-resolution sound right from their desktops. Whether you’re streaming or recording, capture audio at 24-bit, 96kHz resolution for crystal-clear speech clarity and stunning vocal and instrument tracks. Ara’s dual pickup patterns let you focus on a single voice or instrument or everyone in the room: Choose the directional Front (cardioid) pattern to focus on sound directly in front of the mic while rejecting sound from other sides; use the Front + Back (omni) pattern to pick up sounds all around the mic, such as multiple speakers or a group of performers. Use Ara on a desktop, boom, stand or even on the go, with an optional adapter and your mobile device. It’s plug-and-play simple, thanks to USB connectivity and class-compliant drivers.
Minuendo Lossless Hearing Protection Earplugs
$160
Hearing protection has existed for decades, but still – hearing loss is the number one occupational disease in the world. How can that be?
We think we have the answers and are bringing sorely needed innovation to the world of hearing conservation – in the quest to preserve our most precious sense.
Acoustic earplugs that provide high-quality sound with no loss for pro-musicians and live music lovers.
Features:
- The world’s only variable passive HiFi filter
- Stepless manual adjustment (7-25dB)
- 159$ recommended retail price
Boss ME-80 Pedal
$280
Mobile, battery powered, and filled with a diverse selection of flagship-quality BOSS amps and effects, the ME-80 is the ideal compact tone processor for performing guitarists. A friendly knob-based interface makes it simple to dial in great sounds in seconds, while easily selectable operation modes offer the flexibility of individual stompbox-style on/off or instant recall of complex multi-effects setups. Unique new footswitches deliver twice the control of previous designs for efficient and intuitive effects switching, patch selection, and real-time sound shaping while playing on stage. The free BOSS TONE STUDIO software unlocks even more tonal possibilities, providing a cool graphical interface for tweaking and organizing sounds on your computer, plus a web connection to BOSS TONE CENTRAL for direct access to free gig-ready patches created by top pro guitarists and much more.
Lumi Keys Studio Edition
$299
Light up your sound with the world’s first keyboard controller offering per-key pitchbend and polyphonic aftertouch, plus whole-key illumination that sparks new ideas for playing and composing. Available in the LUMI Keys Studio Edition Bundle. Choose songs you love in the app, follow the lights on the keyboard, and build skills that last a lifetime. Unlock your musical potential with an easy, all-in-one system. LUMI is the fun, instant, rewarding way to learn to play the piano.
