On last week’s gift guide, we tackled the under $300 price point. This week, we’re going to up the ante a bit with gifts between $300 and $600. While we’re not breaking the bank yet, we’re getting more into pro level stuff and out of the toys.
Also, keep in mind that a Sidecar fits in this price point, as well as most of our Eco Acoustic Panels, both of which would make great gifts.
In no particular order, here are ten products that we've either used and would love to receive, or stuff we have that we'd have no shame in giving.
1. Shure SM7B ($399)
https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/sm7b?variant=SM7B
This mic is ubiquitous on podcasts, so much so that Shure and even competitors make lessor mics that look like the SM7B because that's what people think podcast mics look like. However, it’s much more than just a dialogue mic. This microphone is an absolute beast, and in our opinion one of the best vocal mics you can get regardless of cost. We’d choose this over many much more expensive condensers and others have too. While not the exact same version, the SM7 was used famously for the vocals on Michael Jackson’s Thriller as well as a host of other huge rock records (Metallica uses them).
That said, you have to crank the gain with these, so if you’re buying this as a gift, we also recommend getting the CL1 Cloudlifter ($129) to accompany it, and this will give the needed signal without the noise.
2. Universal Audio Apollo Solo ($499)
https://www.uaudio.com/audio-interfaces/apollo-solo.html
This is a great entry into the world of DSP recording and one of the cheapest ways to do it. While not a powerhouse as far as I/O goes, if you do not need to record a band, this will give you the same unison preamp technology found on significantly more expensive Apollo interfaces and onboard DSP. Unison technology allows Apollo mic preamps to capture the impedance, gain stage, and circuit behaviors of sought-after preamps.
This also has enough DSP in it to run some zero latency processing, and will work with other Apollo interfaces if you choose to upgrade your I/O in the Universal Audio world.
3. Korg Microkorg ($429)
https://www.korg.com/us/products/synthesizers/microkorg/
The Microkorg is the OG of the miniature more affordable synthesizer that invented an entire category. With its built-in vocoder and powerful sound engine, this little keyboard in the right hands could crush bigger synths that were thousands more, and still holds its own. Even now it’s a compelling little thing, which is why we included it.
4. Yamaha Reface DX ($449)
https://usa.yamaha.com/products/music_production/synthesizers/reface/reface_dx.html#product-tabs
The Yamaha DX7 was not only a pioneer in FM synthesis, when someone asks what the 80’s sound like, you can point toward this synth. It was also so brutally hard to program that most people just used the 32 factory presets, so it’s very easy to hear once you know what to listen for. Whether it was Preset 16 used on Berlin’s Take My Breath Away and the Commodore’s Night Shift, or songs like Tina Turner’s What’s Love Got To Do With It that’s basically a demo for the synth, it was everywhere.
With the Reface DX, now you can have all those sounds and actually be able to program it without an engineering degree!
5. Cre8audio NiftyBundle + Capt’n Big O + Mr. Phil Ter ($520)
This gift is actually three gifts consisting of a Eurorack case and four modules. This is a pretty stellar gateway into this world without breaking the bank, and gives the lucky recipient enough to stay occupied for a reasonable amount of time before inevitably wanting more, which is kind of just what happens when you get into the modular hive mind.
The upside is that if you get your recipient addicted to modules, you’ll have gift ideas for the duration of your relationship.
6. Warm Audio WA87 ($599)
One caveat to this product is that it’s usually $699, out of our price range, but since right now it’s on sale for $599, we’re including it.
We’re big fans of Warm Audio because they’ve brought a lot of vintage gear to price points that us mere mortals can afford, and while in our experience the mids on the WA87 do sound a bit different than the U87 it’s emulating, it’s not a bad kind of different. The U87 is one of the most versatile mics you can have in your cabinet, and the WA87 is no different, it just costs a whole lot less.
7. Moog Minataur ($599)
https://www.moogmusic.com/products/minitaur
Live all of your true analog bass dreams with this little beast. It has modern features like digital integration into your DAW, and all the old school synthesis stuff like CV to integrate into your analog setup. This little synth sounds absolutely massive, and was designed by the OG Moog team.
8. Erebus Dreadbox ($399)
https://www.dreadbox-fx.com/erebus/
The Erebus Dreadbox is a two voice fully analog synth that sounds gigantic and is incredibly versatile. We’ve played with this a few times and it is definitely on our wish list.
9. Waldorf Streichfett ($449)
https://waldorfmusic.com/streichfett-en/
The Streichfett is a polyphonic string synth with two sound engines and onboard effects. While it’s more of a black box when it comes to programming compared to some of the other products on the list, you won’t be missing anything. Much like the Yamaha DX, this thing sounds like the 80’s, and while not a direct emulation, you can live your Gary Numam Polymoog style dreams while doing nutty things like layering in a Clav while you twist knobs back to 1985.
10. Polyend Synth ($499)
Unlike the other products on this list, we don’t have direct experience with this newer product, but after viewing a lot of videos and research, we want to play with it. It’s an 8 engine, 8 voice polyphonic synth with 60 pads and arps, sequencers, as well as the melodic tools to be an absolute standalone monster.
