Our first gifts for music producers list covered pocket samplers and a first synth. This is the Black Friday follow-up, with new picks for people who already make music and want a box that pushes them somewhere new, plus a few studio basics that every setup needs eventually.
Grooveboxes and synths see some of their best deals of the year in late November, so check current pricing on each maker's store before you buy.
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Elektron Model:Cycles: the frequency modulation groovebox
Model:Cycles is a six-track groovebox built on frequency modulation (FM) synthesis. It turns a notoriously fiddly kind of synth into a hands-on drum and melody machine with Elektron's famous step sequencer and per-step parameter locks. It is a gift that sounds unlike anything else on their desk.
Elektron Model:Samples: the sample-based sibling
Same form factor and sequencer, but built around samples instead of FM. Model:Samples is the pick for producers who think in chopped breaks and one-shots.
See the Elektron Model:Samples
Novation Circuit Rhythm: the sampler and groovebox
Circuit Rhythm is a standalone sampler with eight tracks, a grid of velocity-sensitive pads, a built-in battery and an onboard effects section. It records straight in, so someone can sample a record and build a beat on the couch without a computer.
See the Novation Circuit Rhythm
Roland AIRA Compact T-8: the pocket drum machine
The T-8 packs Roland's TR-808 and TR-909 drum sounds plus a bass line voice into a battery-powered pocket box. It is a cheap way to get the sounds behind half of electronic music history into a gift.
Novation Bass Station II: the analog synth
Bass Station II is a true analog monosynth with a multimode filter that includes an acid-style mode, a built-in arpeggiator and sequencer, and full-size keys. It is huge for bass and leads, and it has stayed in production for years because it simply works.
Arturia KeyStep 37: the controller and sequencer
KeyStep 37 is a 37-key controller with a step sequencer and arpeggiator that can drive software, Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) gear and modular synths over control voltage (CV). It is the glue that connects everything else on this list.
Akai Professional MPK Mini Plus: the desk controller
For producers who mostly work in software, the MPK Mini Plus gives 37 small keys, drum pads, knobs and a built-in sequencer in a body that fits beside a laptop.
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen: the audio interface
An audio interface is how a mic or synth gets into a computer cleanly. The fourth-generation Scarlett 2i2 has two inputs, clean preamps and a Universal Serial Bus Type C (USB-C) connection. It is the upgrade for anyone still recording through a laptop headphone jack.
Shure SM57: the microphone
The SM57 is the dynamic microphone found on guitar amps and snare drums in nearly every studio. It is nearly indestructible and works on vocals in a pinch.
Vintage Synthesizers by Mark Vail: the book
Mark Vail's Vintage Synthesizers covers the instruments and designers behind early electronic music. It is the right read for anyone who wants to know where the sounds in their groovebox came from.
Buy the box that changes the workflow
If they already have a computer setup, a standalone groovebox like Model:Cycles or Circuit Rhythm pulls them away from the screen. If they record vocals or instruments, the interface and the SM57 are the real upgrades. For more, see synthesizers for beginners, home studio starter gear and our look at the Erica Synths KONSTRUKT-8.
Shop the Model:Cycles · Circuit Rhythm · Roland T-8 · Scarlett 2i2
