It's that time of year! The time when you break away from the studio for a few precious days of hanging out with loved ones, stuffing your face and giving gifts. While the spirit of the season revolves around giving to others (and we highly encourage you to do so), it's always nice to receive, as well.
Yet, what do you do when your family has no idea what a recording engineer wants for the holidays? We got you covered! We've put together a handy holiday wish list for discerning family members who'd like to give the ultimate present for the music maker in their life. Simply e-mail, post or text this article and rest easy knowing that you won't be getting the typical socks and underwear.
Moog Music Mother 32
Moog has created another mouthwatering piece of gear in the Mother 32, a semi-modular synth which can be played on a tabletop or placed in a Eurorack. With the Mother 32, no patching is necessary to get started, so if you're a beginner, turn it on and get to work. However, if you're a synth head, use the 32 point patch bay and sequencer to create out of this world sounds.
ATR Tape
Is it the sexiest gift on our holiday wish list for recording engineers? Maybe not. Is it the most essential? Yes. For those who still abide by the warm sound of analog tape, nothing is better than receiving extra reels to have on hand in your studio. Also, we're running an amazing deal where our customers can
save up to 10% on their tape order.
Pultec EQP-500S and EQP-500A
Two of the hottest pieces of gear to come out in 2015 are from none other than Pultec. Known for their incredible EQ innovations, the storied pro audio company has pared down two of their classic creations, the
EQP-1S3-SS and
EQP-1A3-SS, to 500 Series size. Pultec promises the same EQ specs for the new EQP-500S and EQP-500A and that makes them a must on our wish list for recording engineers.
Apogee Duet
Simple + Quality = Apogee Duet. This 2 analog in/4 analog out interface fits in a small package or stocking, but comes with legendary Apogee AD/DA conversion, USB MIDI I/O and ESS Sabre32 DAC technology. The Duet also comes with some incredible plug-ins from Waves Audio including the C1 Compressor, DeEsser, Doubler, Enigma and more.
Caroline Guitar Co. Météoré Reverb VK Edition
Packaged in a vintage Walkman inspired casing, Caroline's Météoré is a worthy pedalboard addition for live shows and working in the studio. Featuring a similar lo-fi reverb sound to the
Kilobyte, this pedal expands on that basic build with a havoc switch and the ability to toggle between dark and bright.
Slate Digital VMS Virtual Microphone System
2015 has been a great year for Slate Digital with the release of their plug-in program and their brand new VMS Virtual Microphone System. At $1000, the VMS comes in cheaper than most large diaphragm microphones and allows users to record transparent vocals that can be re-imagined via the brand's classic microphone and mic pre plug-ins.
Avid Pro Tools Dock
Avid is known for making heavy hitters and they aren't letting pro audio lovers down during the 2015 holiday season. Based on the workflow of the
Pro Tools | S6, the Pro Tools Dock allows users to get their hands on physical faders and knobs, while also utilizing touchscreen technology with their iPad. The dock can also be paired with the
Pro Tools | S3 for even more functionality with additional switches, transport control and jog wheel.
Rupert Neve Designs RNDI
Created by one of the most heralded minds in pro audio, Rupert Neve, the RNDI is a powerful DI box that is capable of creating full harmonic depth of any instrument that you plug in. This portable box is always ready for action, no matter where you need it, and can be summed up as being truly "larger than life."
Acme Audio Opticom XLA-500
Built in Detroit, Michigan, Acme Audio's Opticom XLA-500 takes their successful Opticom XLA-3 MKII model and brings it down the 500 Series format. This module replicates the naturally smooth compression of not just one
LA-2A, but three different speeds of Fast, Normal and Slow units. No matter your preference of style when it comes to LA-2A compression, you'll be able to replicate it with the new Opticom XLA-500.
Universal Audio Apollo Twin DUO Thunderbolt and Apollo Twin DUO USB
Creating and recording quality music on the go or at home has never been easier than with Universal Audio's Apollo Twin DUO. Whether you're a MAC or PC user, UA has created two versions of their successful audio interface with Thunderbolt and USB connectivity. This holiday wish list must have comes replete with two premium mic/line preamps, two analog monitor outs and runs UA plug-ins in all major DAWs.
