We all remember that old saying, “Tis better to give than to receive,” but let’s be honest. If you’re like me, you’d much prefer sipping creamy egg nog and ripping open presents than fighting the crowds at your local retail outlet. To tell the truth, the worst part of Christmas is shopping—especially when we’re up here at the VIBE putting out these classic issues till all hours of the morning. And ever since those crazed holiday shoppers trampled a Wal Mart employee to death, I’m doing my shopping online. Don’t panic all you procrastinators. There’s still a week left until the big day. And VIBE.com has put together a list of tech gifts for all the music lovers on your list, in every price range. So just scroll down, click on the name of each product, and you can thank us later.
The MPC series has long been the gold standard for beat production. Whether the pads on your dearly beloved MPC 60 are worn out or you’re an aspiring producer who has outgrown Garage Band and Fruity Loops, the AKAI MPC 5000 is the one machine you need to have. They’ve upped the ante on the gold standard for beat production, adding a new synth and sampling engine that gives you 64 continuous sample tracks, eight-channel streaming hard-disc recording, and crazy amounts of effects that make your beats sound like they were recorded with an old tube amp somewhere in Kingston Jamaica. The 8-track direct to disk recorder lets you produce your whole song in the MPC and then mix it down any which way you like. An optional CD/DVD drive lets you burn audio discs or preserve your mix as a data file. The only thing it won’t do is shop for a deal. Suggested retail price: $1999.99
ALURATEK INTERNET RADIO
Satellite radio is cool and everything, but between the monthly fees and the corporate mergers it can be a headache. That’s why internet radio rocks. There’s more shows from every part of the world playing those hard-to-find regional cuts, whether you dig New Orleans Bounce, Trinidadian soca, or obscure political talk shows. But who wants to be stuck by the computer listening to all those free streaming signals from all over the globe? With this Alluratek Internet radio, you don’t have to. As long as you’ve got a wireless connection in your crib, you can tune this web radio in just like your good old AM/FM alarm clock. And the sound is better.Suggested Retail Price: $159.99
Low definition video is so last century. But those high-definition cameras are too expensive and bulky to carry around unless you happen to have a production assistant rolling with you at all times. That why we love the Flip Mino HD. It fits in your pocket, weighs just over 3 ounces, charges on your USB connection, and records high-definition videos that work with iTunes, iMovie, and iPhoto. Plus it comes fully loaded with FlipShare software that allows instant viewing, editing, and one-click emailing. And get this—you can customize the camera’s look with any digital photo you want to upload. Everybody is about to have one of these. Don’t get left behind. Suggested Retail Price: $229.99
For all you apprentice DJs who aren’t ready to invest in a full-fledged Serato system, the Torq mixlab is a good entry level alternative. Comes complete with software to organize your music files and an innovative mixer that eliminates the need for turntables or a CD player—so you won’t be mixing with a mouse. Though you won’t be competing in any scratch competitions, simple blends and beat matching are well within the Torq’s capabilities. With this kit and a laptop full of tunes, you’ll be well on your way to rocking the cool out lounge.Suggested Retail Price: $129.99
Sooner or later all music lovers must end up in the club, and once you get to popping bottles, one thing leads to another. Before you know it you are officially faded, and on your way to getting arrested, injured, or worse. (Drunk driving is no joke people!) But before you get behind the wheel after that New Years’ Eve bash, plug this killer app into your iPod or iPhone and make sure you are good to go. All you have to do is fold out the blow wand and blow for at least 5 seconds. Soon you’ll have the facts on whether your blood alcohol level. It even has a timer to remind you re-test yourself every few minutes. And it’s so cheap you’ll even have money left over for a cab home. Suggested Retail Price: $89.99
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