Whether you fancy yourself as a superstar DJ or just love dusting off your old LPs every now and then, these great gadgets will impress
CROSLEY EXECUTIVE USB PORTABLE TURNTABLE, BLACK
There are plenty of turntables out there which not only play your records but allow you to digitise them at the same time. So what makes this one special? For a start, the price, it’s a good budget-to-mid-range option. Plus, for those who want their tech to look pretty, this turntable comes in its own case and definitely has vintage appeal. The main benefit though is how simple it is to use, thus making it a great gizmo for those who don’t want to feel like they need to take a degree in music engineering in order to digitise their music collection. £89.95 from www.johnlewis.com
TASCAM 2X2 TRACKPACK BUNDLE
Forget hiring out a studio, this recording bundle will allow you to make top tunes in your bedroom. Tascam’s 2×2 set comes with a condenser microphone, headphones (TH-02), Cakewalk Sonar X3 LE and Ableton Live Lite 9 DAW software. So, what does that all mean? It’s essentially a way for you to record analogue i.e. vocals and instruments, and get them straight from the microphone on to your computer (via USB). The benefit of this bundle is that the sturdy but small box has great sound quality, so if your computer/tablet doesn’t, it won’t be problematic. £169 from www.juno.co.uk
D-LINK DCH-M225 WI-FI AUDIO EXTENDER
Breathe life into your trusty old speakers with this affordable little gizmo. Connect the plug to your amplifiers and then, using Wi-Fi, give your speakers a modern makeover. You’ll be able to stream music direct from your phone/tablet or from a media player – all wirelessly. On top of its music-playing function, it acts as a Wi-Fi extender – so if there are rooms in your house that struggle to get signal, this device will help. £34.95 from www.amazon.co.uk
AKG K181 DJ UE HEADPHONES
Every DJ needs a set of cans, and this set from AKG Pro are both affordable and good quality. In fact, they’ve been made with feedback from professional DJs to make sure they stand up to the rigours of use. They come with a bass boost switch so if it’s particularly noisy where you are, you can tune into the lower frequencies and it’s got a detachable coiled cable that won’t get in your way when you’re busy mixing. They are, of course, equally suitable when you’re sitting on the bus listening to music on your morning commute. £89 from www.gear4music.com
MYO GESTURE CONTROL ARMBAND
Perhaps one of the most techie gadgets out there, this bracelet really is something special. It’s a “gesture control armband” which picks up on electrical activity and motion in your arm muscles and allows you to control various devices through them. This could be as simple as shuffling on to the next song or, at the other end of the spectrum, creating music, or, like famous DJ Armin Van Buuren, using the Myo to control the lighting on stage. £179.49 from www.amazon.co.uk