DJ-ing is a specialized field which comes with its challenges. One of those challenges comes in the form of not having the right equipment for the job.
One mistake can kill the dance floor vibe and send everyone scurrying to sit down; a DJ's worst nightmare.
The great news is that new and innovative DJ equipment is frequently being created in order to solve some of these problems. Below are 7 DJ products that make great Christmas gifts.
#1.Roland DJ-505
The Roland DJ-505 is a fantastic piece of DJ gear which contains two channels and can control four decks in Serato.
It has a built-in sequencer along with Roland's famous TR-808 and TR-909 drum sounds preloaded.
The jog wheels are nice and big and allow you to scratch with ease due to the low latency nature. It has also got some three band EQs for each channel along with filter and gain knobs for easy control.
To top it all off the unit has eight performance pads, a mic input to which you can apply Roland's vocal effect and a line jack which allows you to hook up the DJ-505 to turntables.
The icing on the cake is that the DJ-505 comes bundled with a copy of Serato DJ software to get you started right away.
Pros
- Comes with a standalone TR sequencer and drum machine.
- Comes with a copy of Serato DJ and Serato Tool Kit.
- Two deck layout on the unit which can control four decks.
- The unit has low latency job wheels for instant scratching.
Cons
- The pitch sliders are rather small
#2. Pioneer XDJ-RX2
The Pioneer XDJ-RX2 is an all-in-one, compact DJ setup which doesn't require a laptop. So you can easily hook it up to your sound system and you're good to go.
There's a provision for you to connect your laptop
if you prefer to use one and the great thing is that the XDJ-RX2 comes with a free license to Pioneer's Rekordbox DJ software.
Another neat thing is that you can mix video using the Rekordbox Video feature. So with the XDJ-RX2 you're getting quite a lot of features in one convenient package.
If you want to get started with DJ-ing and don't want to spend time and energy gathering equipment then the XDJ-RX2 could be the right choice for you.
Pros
- Comes bundled with a license for Rekordbox DJ software.
- It has 8 responsive performance pads.
Cons
- The touch screen doesn't have multi-touch.
#3. Fujifilm Instax Square SQ10 Hybrid Instant Camera
While partying and hard at work a DJ may want to capture the experience in pictures and the Fujifilm Instax Square SQ10 is a good camera for this purpose.
The attractive gadget screams "fun" as soon as you look at it. It features a 3.7 megapixel, 1/4 inch sensor and has a fixed 28 mm f/2.4 lens.
The built-in 3 inch screen enables you view your images, apply filters and adjust the camera's settings. You can keep up to 50 images on the device's internal camera and print them as you see fit.
It also has a microSD slot for expanding its memory. If you don't want to stick with the camera's auto-mode then you have the option of tinkering with the settings manually.
The instant prints are great for keeping memories and sharing photos with fellow DJs and friends you meet at shows.
They could also be a great way of creating fan memorabilia; take a photo, print it instantly and autograph it.
Pros
- It can print multiple images instantly.
- Fun to use.
- It has some pretty cool filters and takes the images in square mode which enable you to easily upload your photos to Instagram.
Cons
- The picture quality is not the best.
- The ISO range is limited.
#4. Chauvet DJ 56 RGB LED Wash Light
As a DJ you want to be able to set the mood for your mixes and performances and sometimes that may mean having the correct lighting to match the mood of your set.
The Chauvet DJ EZpar 56 is a great option to achieve this. This battery powered LED light can last up to 20 hours when fully charged which is more than adequate for a standard DJ set.
It has 108 individual red, green and blue LEDs and since it's battery operated you don't have to worry about cables and power outlets.
It has a built-in sound-activated program which enables you to control the unit remotely. You can also connect it to a DMX using the XLR slots for added flexibility.
Pros
- Built-in battery lasts for 20 hours.
- No cables required, making it easy to transport and setup at any venue.
- It has built-in automated and sound-activated programs.
- It has XLR slots for DMX connectivity.
Cons
- It's hard to find fault with this product so there are no real cons.
#5. SubPac M2 Wearable Sound System
Monitoring bass is one of those things that can drive a DJ crazy since venues and rooms differ. This is largely because as a DJ you stand behind the speakers so you don't hear the sound the same way the crowd hears it.
This is where the SubPac M2 Wearable Physical sound system comes in. It fits nicely over your chest and allows you to hear and feel the music so you never have to worry about whether you're pumping out the right amount of bass to the people.
This is especially helpful for bass-heavy genres such as EDM, hip hop and reggae where the bass line can make or break a song.
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear.
Cons
- The cable-box is a little bulky for comfortable mobile use.
#6. Corsair Flash Survivor 256GB
A great music collection is a DJ's lifeblood. The last thing you want is to lose it since it can take years to gather. So having a robust, mobile backup is a must.
The Corsair Flash Survivor 256GB is a durable, high performance USB 3.0 flash drive which can do the job. It's housed in an aircraft-grade aluminum casing and has a shock damping collar to prevent damage that may be caused by dropping it.
It's also waterproof up to 200 meters. The 256GB version is recommended because DJs often keep their files in high quality WAV or FLAC formats which eats a lot more space than your regular MP3 file, so in this case bigger is better.
In some cases, you may need to travel and can't carry your equipment with you, but still need to have your music collection with you.
Pros
- Resistant to water and shock.
- USB 3.0 compatible for super fast data transfer.
- Encased in aircraft-grade aluminum, making it durable.
Cons
- It's hard to find fault with this device.
#7. V-MODA Crossfade M-100
DJs work in very loud environments which makes monitoring with normal headphones difficult, so a pair of noise-isolating headphones is a required tool in your arsenal.
The V-MODA Crossfade M-100 headphones are a wonderful tool for this task. They are over-ear headphones with an incredible frequency response of 5Hz to 30kHz.
These babies have separate driver in the cups for providing crystal clear sound. They have a robust build for heavy use and a neat carrying case for easy transportation.
The passive noise isolation works pretty well and should allow you to cue and monitor your mixes easily. The ear cups are coated with memory foam so you can wear them for hours on end without discomfort.
Pros
- Comfortable to wear for long hours.
- The sound is clear and the bass response is superb.
- Great build quality and durable design.
Cons
- No wireless option.
Wrap up
These are some of the best audio equipment that you can gift any DJs, during this Christmas holiday season.
While gifting, you need to ensure that they don't have the gear you are presenting.
Hope you guys found this post helpful.