It’s that time of year again. What better way to celebrate than to track down the perfect present that encapsulates the magic of music for your beat making buddies? Finding the right gift for a music maker comes with its own special set of considerations, so we’ve compiled some of the best producer presents that are bound to strike joy this holiday season.

Below, we’ll share 15 holiday gift ideas for music producers at a variety of price points so that you can source a fitting gift without breaking the bank. Let’s take a peek! 

Best Gift Ideas For Music Producers 

Unsure what to get your favorite production powerhouse? This music production gift guide contains something for everyone, regardless of your recipient’s skill level: 

Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators 

Teenage Engineering’s Pocket Operators serve as portable drum machines, synthesizers, and samplers that can be used to make studio-quality sound on the go. Each operator can be connected to other operators in the series or recorded directly into your DAW. 

For instance, the popular PO-20 Arcade model features chiptune-inspired samples, a step multiplier, and 16 different sounds to create your own sequences and patterns. As the name suggests, these handy music-making devices are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, and pack a pretty impressive punch for just $99. 

Learning how to use these little guys can take a bit of effort if you’re new to sequencers, but once you get going, the world is your oyster! Fortunately, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials available to help your recipient jumpstart their creativity: 

Audio Technica AT2020 

The Audio Technica AT2020 is an incredible microphone for the price. This condenser microphone is perfect for any creative looking for a quality microphone for vocals, podcasts, and more. It’s a great microphone to add to any producer’s arsenal, and with an affordable price and relatively low noise floor, it lends itself well to a variety of recording environments.

Samsung Solid State Hard Drive

Every serious music production pro can always use more storage for their creations. The Solid-State hard drives by Samsung provide impressive performance and a whopping terabyte of storage for less than $100. Solid-State drives are notably more durable than typical hard drives, so they’re a great choice for beat makers who find themselves constantly on the go. 

BPM Create or BPM Supreme Subscription

Give your favorite producer access to 1M+ sounds through BPM Create or chart-topping songs for DJ sets through a BPM Supreme subscription. Upon pre-paying your recipients’ plan, they can immediately start working with our vast library of sounds to build new beats aided by our powerful search features and recommendations. Our services are trusted by industry professionals for a reason, and your beat maker will have an awesome time creating and curating across our platform. 

Akai Professional MPK Mini Play3 

Every producer can make use of a highly portable MIDI keyboard, and the Akai MPK Play3 is one of the best. This 25-key controller connects seamlessly to your DAW and contains its own set of sounds and an internal speaker for offline music making. You can fit this MIDI keyboard into a backpack, making it super convenient for on-the-go beat making. 

The controller features a 4-way thumbstick for modulation and eight control parameters so your recipient can program their gear to their liking.

Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs 

Ear protection is of utmost importance for any musician, making high-quality earplugs an excellent gift! These hi-fidelity earplugs by Vibes are designed to protect precious hearing in live music settings and come with a handy-dandy carrying case. The earplugs provide approximately  22dB of sound reduction and come with three sizes of interchangeable tips to fit any ear.  

Hercules Starlight Portable DJ Controller

Practicing your mix on the go can be a pain when your decks weigh several pounds. Fortunately, the Hercules Starlight Controller serves as an ultra-light controller perfect for budding DJs or for producers seeking out a tool for quick, on-the-go mixes. 

The portable controller comes with Serato DJ Lite, high-quality knobs, and a built-in light show through the bottom of the unit. The controller is compact enough to sit on top of some laptops and can easily fit in a backpack for travel. 

Himalayan Salt Lamp

A Himalayan salt lamp might not be the most obvious choice, but it brings plenty of coziness and warm ambiance for the studio rat who is up creating until the wee hours of the night. Salt lamps might also help purify the air immediately around them, making them a helpful tool for any music producer’s workstation.

SweetWater Gift Card 

Listen, it’s no secret that music producers can be notoriously difficult to shop for– it’s hard to know precisely what they need at any given time since so many of us are prone to purchasing new gear on a regular basis. Take out the guesswork and opt for a gift card from Sweetwater.

As one of the most trusted retailers in music (with notably excellent customer service), you can trust that your producer will find exactly what they’re seeking. From plugins to physical instruments, Sweetwater serves as the one-stop music store for anyone in pro audio.  

Otamatone

The Otamatone is bound to put a smile on anyone’s face with the instrument’s goofy disposition. This instrument acts as a fun synthesizer that’s capable of producing low, mid, and high tones with its interchangeable octave settings. Impressively, the Otamatone can be manipulated to create realistic vibrato and portamento sounds. Your recipient will have plenty of fun shifting the tones of different notes by manipulating the adorable face of the instrument. 

Private Music Lessons or Creative Workshop 

Has your prospective recipient expressed interest in learning a new instrument or new skillset like DJing or modular synthesis? Providing a gift certificate to private lessons or a local workshop may be one of the most meaningful presents you can provide. If you’re in an area where there aren’t many lesson options, you can also consider online courses or virtual lessons. 

“The Creative Act: A Way of Being” By Rick Rubin

Rick Rubin is one of music production’s greats, producing for the likes of Jay-Z, The Beastie Boys, Lana Del Rey, and Lady Gaga, to name a few. All musicians struggle with writer’s block from time to time, and Rick Rubin’s book The Creative Act promises to help any creative weather the storm. This New York Times bestseller is full of wisdom Rubin collected over the course of his incredible career, delivered in bite-sized chapters for the ever-busy producer. 

Roland SP-404 

If you’re seeking a standout present for a beat maker in your life, the Roland SP-404 Sampler workstation is often a surefire hit. While this workstation is understandably a bit higher in price, the workstation includes a pattern sequencer, direct inputs, performance pads, and plenty of effects to keep any producer occupied. 

The SP-404 can take in MIDI information directly and has dual outputs to seamlessly connect to a PA system or an audio interface. 

Bongo Ties 

Looking for a useful stocking stuffer for your favorite musician? Consider Bongo Ties. These small yet mighty ties are perfect for organizing pesky instrument cables, XLR cords, and more. The ties hold tension well, making it easy to affix instrument cables and the like directly to microphone stands or your mobile rig when not in use. 

Stylophone 

Used by iconic musicians like The White Stripes and Bowie, the Stylophone is a fun, portable pocket synthesizer that comes in at only $35. The battery-operated synthesizer can be used on its own or paired with headphones for a more private musical experience. This simple gadget is played using the connected stylus, with each section playing a different note. With a tone switch feature, your favorite producer can have fun creating expressive pitch bends. 

Hopefully, this guide will help you land on the perfect present for all of the musicians in your life. Happy holidays from BPM Music! 

About the Writer

Kate Brunotts is an audio engineer and music producer from New York City. When she’s not writing about music, producing music, or singing and songwriting, Kate helps others realize their unique sound, whether through a fresh mix, new instrumental approach, or total rework of a particular sound.