Special Christmas Gifts for Music Producers

Buying Christmas presents for an experienced music producer or even an aspiring music producer can be difficult if you do not know exactly what you're doing. Most musical equipment is very expensive. It's also hard to know what kind of Christmas gifts to buy a music producer if you aren't into creating music yourself. If you would like to get a special gift for someone this Christmas, who is into creating music, here is a short guide to some gifts they will appreciate.

Acid Pro 7 or FL Studio 9 software - Both Acid Pro and FL Studio are very user friendly and would make a great Christmas gift for someone aspiring to be a music producer. With one of these programs an aspiring music producer will learn the basics of putting sounds together to make them sound like music. Both programs come with sound samples, loops, and wave files. The only requirement would be that the person receiving this gift, would need to have a computer with windows XP or better. Though Acid Pro and FL Studio are more for beginners and intermediate music producers, mastering either one of these programs will result in professional, industry sounding music. Check around online for the best prices.

Studio Monitors - A good set of studio monitors can be the difference maker with the quality of someone's music. A studio isn't a studio without some good studio monitors. If the music producer you know has been using the same speakers that came with their computer, a new set of studio monitors will be the perfect gift! Studio monitors help the music producer get a much crisper, fuller sound. If you can find a pair of good studio monitors under $100 it's a steal! The more they cost usually means the better their quality.

Audio Interface - For the music producer ready to take things up a level, a good Christmas gift would be an audio interface. An audio interface allows sound to be transfered from any kind of musical equipment such as a guitar, a keyboard, or a microphone to a computer's recording program or workstation. An example of a decent audio interface is the M-Audio Mobile Pre. Not difficult for a beginner to use, but it is also not the very best. The M-Audio Mobile Pre costs around $150 retail price. An audio interface is something I would definitely shop for at a local Sam Ash or Guitar Center. That way you can ask a professional.

Mixer - If you are going to buy someone a mixer for a Christmas present, you would definitely have to know a little more about what they need in their studio. Someone that doesn't work with a lot of outside equipment (guitars, keyboards, etc) won't need a big extravagant mixer, if they even need one at all. Many mixers are also audio interfaces as well. So I would only shop this Christmas gift at your local Sam Ash or Guitar Center as well.

Condenser Microphone - Many music producers also have vocal abilities or have many friends that have the gift. For this kind of music producer a condenser microphone would make an awesome Christmas gift. Condenser mic's are the best at capturing crisp vocals. There are a few accessories I suggest you purchase along with the condenser mic or purchase seperately for someone who already owns a condenser mic. The condenser mic should already come with a shock mount, but if it doesn't you definitely need to purchase one. The shock mount keeps the microphone suspended in mid-air so it gets as crisp a sound as possible. They will need a microphone stand, so they won't have to hold the microphone up everytime they record. Last but not least, they will need a pop-filter. The pop-filter will catch a vocalists P's, T's, and S's so that it doesn't sound like they're speaking into a mini tape-recorder's microphone.

Extention Cords - Many music producers like to rearrange the equipment in their studio to get a different feel. Some just like to move the location of certain equipment. In most cases a music producer is limited to certain arrangements because their cords don't reach around the room. This is why extention cords make a great Christmas gift for a music producer. You never know when they may come in handy.

These are just a few basic but special gifts you could get a music producer for Christmas. For someone with no musical equipment Acid Pro 7 or FL Studio 9 software would make great Christmas gifts. Any music producer with old or low quality speakers could use a good set of studio monitors for this Christmas. An audio interface or an audio interface/mixer combo is great for someone ready to record live sounds. A good condenser microphone will help a music producer get those crisp vocal recordings they're looking for, but don't forget about the accessories need to make it complete! Finally extention cords are always needed in the recording studio at some point or another. Make this Christmas special for your music producer. Use this as your 2009 Christmas gift guide.