5 Music Gadgets For a Music Producer Under $70
Music producers love music gadgets. Any music gadget that gives them clean audio, hours of fun, or appeals to their musical taste will keep a smile on their faces for hours, days, and maybe weeks.
But with a $70 budget, you’ve found that you can get some pretty cool stuff. But you’re having a hard time narrowing down your search for the best gift for a music producer. That’s okay because we’ve rounded up our favorite five music gadgets for under $70 just for you!
Sennheiser HD 206 – $35.96 (£21.30)
At a very affordable price point of $40, the Sennheiser HD 206 are closed-back headphones pack with amazing value.
One slight disadvantage is the frequency response of 21Hz – 18kHz – the high end isn’t fully reproduced. However, the frequencies that they can’t hit aren’t usually packed with as much detail as in the lower frequencies, so this won’t really be a problem. The bass response is as crisp as though it had just been taken out of the oven – much crisper than many headphones you’ll find for the same price.
A fully balanced sound reproduction is the norm with Sennheiser. This pair of extremely durable headphones won’t let you down anytime soon. You can say goodbye to unwanted noise with the power of the noise-canceling ear cups that the 206 bring to the table.
On the flip side, if you’re not a fan of long cables… we’ve got some bad news. A 3-meter straight long cable is prone to tangling itself, as many of us have experienced. If this isn’t a worry for you, hooray! That’s great. If it’s made you feel a little sad, we get it.
Tribit Stormbox Micro – $57.91 (£43)
The Tribit Stirmbox is a renowned little speaker. You’ve probably seen one of these awesome pieces of audio tech strapped to someone’s bag before.
It’s small and very compact – but the sound it delivers is that of a speaker twice the size. The Stormbox also has an IP67 rating, so you don’t need to worry about water or dust. Its rubber strap allows you to strap it to yourself or your bag easily, and it also supports a stereo feature. If your friend has one, which I’m sure one does, then get the two connected and get a beach party started in stereo!
The bass response is surprisingly amazing despite its size. It does have limitations but it delivers a clean sound for the size it is.
Sony WF-C500 – $79.97 (£59)
The WF-C500 earbuds aren’t the most powerful of Sony’s extensive range of headphones. But with that said, when it comes to the essentials then there’s not much to complain about here.
The WF-C500 makes use of Bluetooth 5.0 for Bluetooth connection to your devices. Once paired, audio is sent right to your ears by a pair of 5.8mm neodymium full-range dynamic drivers.
The WF-C500 earbuds pack a whopping ten hours-worth of battery life! The charging case holds another full charge total of 20 hours.
They’re not so flashy, and the green or orange colors bring a really nice style. Like with other earbuds, Sony has gone for the ‘lozenge/bean’ shape rather than the ‘dangly stem’ alternative.
After some time to work themselves in, the Sony WF-C500 sound beautifully balanced and even. The lower end of the frequency spectrum is a little short of anything powerful you’d like if you’re a bass head, but the bass the Sony’s do reproduce is well shaped and controlled. It packs enough detail to be enjoyable. Treble frequency ranges are equally full of detail with crunch to remain a spirited listen. The midrange is jam-packed with detail too.
Nektar SE25 25 Key MIDI Keyboard – $52.86 (£39)
It weighs 0.88 pounds. It’s portable. It’s less than $50. Have you bought it yet?
Nektar controllers work seamlessly with ANY major DAW, and this is no exception. This music recording gadget has 25 velocity-sensitive keys and is one of the lightest keyboards on the market. The layout of the keyboard is simplistic, which is perfect for newcomers. It’s easy to get stuck in and not get lost!
The SE25 is powered by a micro USB type B cable and one also comes included in the box. It’s packed full of controls: pitch bend, modulation, sustain & pan! Everything you need to create an engaging composition… that’s not even mentioning the 3 optional velocity curves.
The durability of the keyboard will also surprise you. Most mini keyboards are fragile, but the SE25 is built to be durable. Unlike other budget keyboards, the feel of the keys may surprise you, especially, if you’re familiar with mini keyboards.
The bonus feature that we couldn’t mention is the free version of Bitwig! One of the newest DAW’s on the market but Bitwig is packed with modulation possibilities.
AKG P120 – $96.86 (£73.10)
The AKG P120 is a highly versatile microphone at a very low price point. Its durable build works complement its capabilities across a multitude of recording settings. It’s truly a jack-of-all-trades condenser microphone for home and studio recording. Whether vocals and/or instruments, the captured sound is balanced and clear.
The AKG P120 Project Studio Condenser Microphone is definitely one of the most affordable XLR microphones for home studios. Condenser microphones at this price range often don’t pack the quality that producers desire. But in this case, the AKG Project Studio line goes above and beyond the expectations of many for a budget studio condenser microphone with its versatility.
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