Discover The Best Gifts For DJs

If there's something that most of us DJs agree with, it's the fact that we need a lot of equipment! Aside from the bare essentials like controllers, players, mixers, turntables, and more, we also need to consider things like bags, microphones, speakers, and even paying for our monthly DJ subscription. There are definitely a lot of things to think about, so if you have a loved one who DJs as a hobby or for a living and you are thinking of gifting something to him or her, it's very easy to find something memorable to gift!

That's why I made this article, I wanted to create the ultimate resource on the very best gift to give to a DJ, no matter if the person in question is an experienced veteran or if he hasn't bought his first controller yet. Since every person's price point is different, there will be gifts for all price points, so that you can find something that your loved one will love no matter what your budget is. I hope you find this article useful!

Things to Look Out for in a Gift for an Aspiring DJ

Since you probably aren't very familiar with the art of DJing and aren't sure what going to be useful for a DJ and what's not going to be, I think it's important that you talk about what you should be looking for from a perspective gift. Below I compiled a few important things that you must keep in mind when looking for a good present.

• Utility: This is for obvious reasons the most important one, not only for DJs but for all types of hobbies really. There's nothing worse than gifting something to somebody that you love and finding out that person won't find much use to it and will eventually forget about it. Thankfully as I said above, DJs need a lot of gear and so gifting something that can help a DJ become better is very easy.
• Price point: the best gifts are sometimes the most expensive ones, but sadly not everybody here is a millionaire, and so budget is a big consideration. Thankfully, there are a lot of great things to gift under $100 dollars, even under 30 dollars really. Great gifts under the 100 dollar range include a Rekordbox license, a Serato add-on pack, or even a hard case bag for the DJs controller.
• Style: DJs tend to be pretty fashion-conscious, and they tend to prefer gear that looks more interesting. That's why when possible, it's best to go with the more flashy choices. Thankfully, the market is chock full of interesting gifts that will satisfy any DJ when it comes to how edgy and cool they look.

Out of these three, utility is obviously the most important one. After all, nobody wants to gift something that will be discarded after a few days. Thankfully, most of the gifts below will be really useful for both experienced and newbie DJs alike.

15 gift ideas for DJs: what we'd wish you gave us!

So without further ado, below are the 15 gifts I recommend you gift to that DJ or aspiring DJ in your life. When making this list, I kept the above tips in mind. Some of the gifts are meant for somebody with a limited budget, while others are meant for people that want to spend a little bit more. No matter what your budget is though, I'm pretty confident that the gift ideas below will satisfy most, if not all, DJs, especially beginner ones. I hope you find this article useful!

DJ Controller - Pioneer DDJ-200

If you are gifting to somebody that wants to pick up DJing and doesn't have the gear necessary to start doing so, then one of the best things that you can gift this person is an entry-level controller. I personally recommend that you gift the Pioneer DDJ-200 for several reasons. First of all, not only has Pioneer been killing it with their controllers the last few years, but this particular hardware comes with a full version of Rekordbox DJ, which means that you are essentially gifting two gifts at once. These things make the Pioneer DDJ-200 an ideal gift for anybody interested in the art of DJing.

If you have wondered why I recommend that you gift the DDJ-200 over other entry-level controllers out there, the reason is simple. Pioneer is often seen as offering the best products and overall being the cream of the crop when it comes to DJ hardware, with their CDJ line being considered the standard worldwide. Starting to use controllers like the DDJ-200 is therefore a good idea since you are starting to get used to the CDJ format from the very beginning. The fact that it comes with a full Rekordbox DJ copy is also a very deciding factor.

Musician earplugs - Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs

If the person that you are going to be gifting to going to be DJing long-term, then there are a few things he must keep in mind. And one of these things is his or her hearing. I mean it makes sense: a loud, crowded nightclub isn't exactly the best environment for your ears and hearing, and so to avoid hearing loss and any other related problems, it's important to protect them the best way possible.

The best way to do so is to use musician earplugs. Not only do these provide the necessary hearing protection all DJs need, but these earplugs also safeguard your ears without blocking all outside noise, which is necessary to do things like beatmatching and see how the crowd is responding to the mixing. The earplugs that I recommend are called the Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs. The intrinsic design of these earplugs protects your ears very well, without reducing the sound quality of what's happening outside. Better yet: these are some of the most affordable gifts on this list, perfect for those on a budget!

Headphones - Audio-Technica ATH-M30x

Headphones are an essential part of any DJs equipment list. Not only do you need them to beatmatch properly, but a proper set of noise-canceling headphones can help you distinguish between what the PA is outputting and what mix you are going to be adding to the live music. In short, a decent set of headphones is definitely a must-have for any self-respecting DJ, and if you suspect that the person that you are going to be gifting to doesn't have one, I recommend that you gift one of the suggestions below.

The headphones that I recommend if you are under a $100 budget are called the Audio-Technica ATH-M30x. These awesome but affordable pair of headphones feature an excellent build quality, pristine sound output, and the ideal sound insolation for working in crowded environments such as a club or a house party. There's a catch though: these headphones only provide passive noise cancellation, and while it might be more than enough for 99% of people out there, the truth is that there are better choices available.

If you have a higher budget, then you are going to want to gift a pair of headphones with active noise cancellation technology, which blocks outside noise much better than any passive noise canceling could. What I recommend is the Sennheiser HD 8 DJ Headphones. These wonderful headphones will last the giftee a lifetime, they look wicked, and they have the best active noise canceling I have ever tried. Definitely a must-have for any serious DJ.

DJ Software - Serato DJ Pro

As I have mentioned several times in the last few months, DJ software is one of the most important parts of the DJ equation. Because you are going to be using DJ software every time there's an event coming up, it's important to be using the most stable, most intuitive, and most compatible software out there. One of the Software that definitely meets these characteristics is Serato DJ Pro. They have been involved in the DJ game for decades now, cementing a reputation for being reliable, easy to use, and affordable at the same time.

Because of all of the above, I recommend that you gift a Serato DJ Pro license, especially if the giftee is using a free version of DJ software, which tends to have reduced functionality. The full pro version of Serato is worth 129 dollars, well worth it for what you get if you ask me. While Serato supports most controllers on the market today, if for some reason it isn't compatible with what the giftee is using, you could also gift a full copy of another DJ Software on the market.

For example, if Serato DJ isn't compatible with the controller that the gift recipient is using, you could always use something like Traktor or Virtual DJ. Both of these programs are at the forefront of the DJ software market, and they even have features not found on Serato DJ pro, such as the Virtual DJ stem-mixing feature. In short, you aren't doing wrong by choosing to gift something other than Serato, but I would recommend that you choose well-known software like the ones that I mentioned above, plus other ones like Rekordbox DJ, or even DJuced.

DJ rack case - Seismic Audio 10 Space Rack Case

There are sometimes where a DJ backpack isn't ideal for a particular person. Maybe he might want to space to fit more gear or equipment and what a backpack offers is not enough, or maybe he wants something that features more protection and padding than what most bags tend to offer. If this is the case with the person that is going to be receiving the gift, then buying a rack case instead of a backpack makes a lot of sense, for several reasons.

The first one is that as we mentioned above, a touring suitcase tends to feature much more space. Touring suitcases are perfect if you want an all-in-one solution when it comes to storage and mobility of your gear from home to venue and venue to home. Expect to fix not only the biggest controllers out there but even a modestly sized DJ table too. Because of the fact that my recommendation comes with wheels, You get to move all of this without carrying it in your shoulders, which is much more comfortable, especially after a long day of DJ mixing.

The Seismic Audio 10 Space Rack Case is the case that I'm recommending that you gift to your loved one. If the person that you are going to be giving this has a lot of things and he's having trouble moving it around, then this will be the perfect gift to give. Now, if he only uses a modestly sized controller, a pair of headphones, and a laptop to mix, it might be wiser to buy him a DJ backpack instead, which might also save you some of your hard-earned cash.

DJ backpack - Odyssey Digital Gear Backpack

Since DJs have the task of moving a lot of things around, including a heavy DJ controller, a laptop, and other essentials such as headphones or microphones, having a proper DJ backpack is of utmost importance, especially if you want to carry around your stuff without risking it dropping to the ground or hurting your back carrying them around. Thankfully, in the last few years, there has been a lot of innovation when it comes to backpacks made for DJs, so I'd recommend that you go for one of these over a general-use laptop that is more suited for only carrying around notebooks or a laptop.

The backpack that I recommend that you gift is called the Odyssey Digital Gear Backpack, and it has everything that you should be looking for in a DJ backpack: it's big enough to fit many (not all) controllers and mixers, it features a heavily padded construction that protects its insides in case of drops, and several different compartments to fit other essentials such as a laptop or a mixer. More importantly: this backpack will last a long time. It has been lauded by the DJ community for being very tough and well-made, and as long as you are willing to tolerate the price, this is a great choice for a DJ gift.

Now, not everybody will want a backpack that is specifically suited for the needs of a DJ, and if that's the case with the person that is going to be receiving the gift, it might be a better choice to instead choose a general-purpose backpack, such as the SWISSGEAR 1900 ScanSmart Laptop Backpack. This particular bag might not feature as many compartments as the choice above or even as much protective padding, but you could even make the argument that it's more versatile than it. You can fit a small controller on this backpack, and when not DJing, you could always use it to comfortably carry textbooks to school. Both backpacks are great choices for any DJ though, so you can't go wrong with either of them.

DJ table - Deejayled tbh flight case universal fold out DJ table 

For DJs that need to handle several pieces of equipment, including but not limited to things like DJ controllers, mixers, laptops, and microphones, a proper DJ table can be a godsend. A good DJ table not only should be spacious enough to hold the aforementioned gear, but it also should be sturdy enough to do so securely (DJ gear can be pretty heavy), giving the DJ peace of mind so that he can focus on what matters most: actually doing the mixing!

That's why I recommend the Deejayled tbh flight case universal fold-out DJ table. This cool-looking table is wide enough to fit two turntables/CDJs and a mixer, with room to spare. The high-quality construction is sure to last a long time, and the folding legs are sturdy enough to hold even the heaviest of DJ equipment. This DJ table will be especially useful if the DJ that will be receiving it tends to do a lot of house parties and other similar events.

Now if you are looking to purchase something more high-end, then you really need to take a look at a company called Hoerboard DJ tables. These beautiful, custom-made DJ tables distinguish themselves by one thing: they make the DJ gear fit perfectly inside the table. If you do not know what I'm talking about, please check their website, but in short, you can customize a table and have it hollowed out with a hole so that it fits a particular mixer or controller perfectly. Better yet: the finish on these tables is truly majestic. In fact, they are the best thing that I have seen on the market so far.

Gravity laptop stand - Hercules DG400BB Laptop Stand

Now tables are important and everything, but even if the DJ in question has one, there's another problem now: where is he going to put his laptop? A DJ that relies on CDJs and mixers for playing might not need a gravity laptop stand, but for people using controllers, they are definitely a necessity. Buying a good gravity laptop stand can be an excellent gift for any DJ that might be having trouble handling his laptop in the middle of a set because they are so affordable and resistant, I'd highly recommend that you at least consider gifting one. They are that useful!

The laptop stands that I recommend you gift is the Hercules DG400BB Laptop Stand. One of the things that a good laptop stand must-have is ample stability and sturdiness, and this one definitely delivers in this regard. The two main legs used to support the whole structure are strong but thin enough to slip under any controller or mixer. You could easily use this with the tables mentioned above and achieve a very ergonomic setup with everything handy, which is exactly what a DJ needs when you are in the middle of a set on a busy venue.

There are some DJs that tend to use stands not for laptops, but instead for CDJs and controllers. Some DJs prefer a stand that tilts and lifts the CDJ a bit, and if that's the case with the person that you are gifting to, he will love the Sefour Universal Swivel Laptop - CDJ Stand. This ergonomic stand will not only securely fit most computers on the market, but must players, mixers, and some controllers too! The only catch is that it can be pretty expensive and you are going to purchase more than one, but they are well worth it for DJs that want something that is more flexible and resistant,

DJ course - Masterclass (deadmau5)

I know that many of you reading this article are going to be gifting to people aspiring to be a DJ, and if that's the case, then one of the best gifts you can look for is a Masterclass subscription. With pristine production values and a very accessible price point, the project known as Masterclass has been teaching valuable content in a myriad of areas, which now includes DJing. Deadmau5 initially offered this course in 2015-2016, and it was acclaimed when it initially got released, and it still does today. I'd strongly recommend that you gift this if the person that you are going to be gifting to is completely new to the art of DJing.

The class provides a personal account of what Deadmau5 considers EDM, which is his main music genre, and overall he teaches a lot about the fundamentals that every DJ must master. This course isn't meant to hold your hand and make you a superstar DJ immediately, rather it's a nice starting point for everybody that is aspiring to make a name for himself. This is an excellent gift to give not only newbies, but even seasoned veterans can learn something from it. A highly recommended buy!

If you want to gift something that doesn't have as much video content and are looking for a more conventional class when it comes to the art of DJing, you might want to take a look at the How to Become a DJ course on Udemy. With more than 3000 reviews and a 4.5-star rating, this course is one of the most effective, popular, and lauded virtual classes on the entire internet. I personally know a few friends that have bought the course, and they have all learned a lot from it, and I'm pretty sure that the person that you are gifting to will do too!

Laptop - Macbook Pro (2022)

Aside from things such as a pair of headphones and a good controller, one of the other essentials any DJ must-have is a laptop. And not just any laptop. The ideal laptop for DJing is one that is powerful and stable enough to run programs like DJ software, and streaming services, all in tandem. DJ software, in particular, tends to consume a lot of resources, meaning that the laptop that a DJ uses must have an adequate amount of power to run everything smoothly.

That's why I recommend a Macbook for DJing. This is because a Macbook gives you everything that you need for DJing: it has ample processing power, Mac Os is one of the most stable platforms out there, it tends to run DJ software very well, and it looks very premium and upscale, especially on a dark nightclub setting. The only downside is that the price tag is a little bit steeper when compared to other competing laptops, but I'd say it's well worth it given how well Macbooks tend to hold their price.

If you aren't willing to gift a MacBook for budget reasons or the person doesn't like apple products, you could always choose something else. The first thing that a laptop for DJing must have is decent processing power, and the Acer Aspire 5 definitely fits the bill in this regard. The metallic finish screams quality, the GPU is decent for the price, and most importantly, it will run 99% of DJ software out there, with no slowdowns or crashes.

Microphone - Shure PGA48-XLR Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Microphone

For those DJs also working as an MC, having a good, reliable microphone is essential. Many DJs out there are refusing to use the in-house microphones because they tend to be less dependable and reliable due to constant dropping and mistreatment, instead preferring to use their own mics instead of MCing. Gifting a microphone is especially useful for DJs that are past that bedroom DJ phrase and are starting to play on public venues more frequently.

Beware of gimmicks when it comes to microphones. Many manufacturers have implemented several new technologies that can be pretty useful, but they tend to jack up prices because of the inclusion. Because of this, I recommend that you instead stick the tried and true microphones that are well known for being reliable, even though there might be more technologically advanced models out there. More importantly, a more basic microphone will be much more affordable than something that is fancier.

DJ production software - Ableton Live

If the DJ that you are going to be gifting to is also doubling as a music producer or if he wants to produce songs, then you are going to want to be gifting a wonderful little software called Ableton Live. This is what famous artists such as Deadmau5 and Calvin Harris use to produce their songs, and it's considered to be one of the most comprehensive and most capable digital audio workstations on the market. It's definitely a blast to use, and I definitely recommend that you consider it as a gift.

Ableton Live is offered in 3 versions: Intro, Standard, and Suite. These three versions are offered at $99, $449, and $749 dollars, respectively. The introversion is very capable of what you pay for in my opinion, so it might be in your best interest to gift this version, especially if your budget is limited. There's also a free version aside from these three ones, which is much less capable than paid versions for obvious reasons.

DJ studio speakers - Edifier R1700BT Bluetooth Bookshelf speakers

While many DJs tend to mostly mix outside their homes in a venue like a nightclub, a wedding, or a club, there are many of us who are still in the bedroom DJ phase or want to have a high-quality sound output inside their homes. If that's the case, then gifting high-quality DJ studio speakers can be a very good gift. When it comes to good speakers, there are many things to look for. You do not need to buy the loudest or most obnoxious speakers, quite the opposite actually. I have found that smaller speakers are better suited for smaller venues, and so that's the route that I recommend you go.

The speakers that I recommend that you gift are called the Edifier R1700BT Bluetooth Bookshelf speakers, and they pack quite the punch! These small but powerful speakers feature a very rich treble, a balanced mid-range, and excellent bass. This combination is quite rare at the price point and combined with the sweet wood finish on the speaker sides, you have an excellent product for DJing on bedrooms or smaller venues. I love the fact that you can connect these via aux, or can use the Bluetooth function instead, perfect if you want to set the speakers far away from you.

The edifier speakers are great for smaller spaces, but the DJ receiving the gifts plays bigger and more spacious venues, your best bet is to gift the Alto Professional PA System. This wonderful system is well worth the steep price tag, especially when you consider the 2000 watt power capacity of this baby. Combine this with the crystal clear sound and the tried-and-true reliability of Alto Professional gear and you got a heck of a product.

MIDI pads - AKAI Professional MPD218

Since many controllers do not have as many effects pads as most DJs would like, buying external MIDI pads can be a godsend for DJs that either want to have an easier way to use the effects available on their software of choice or do not have enough effect pads, period. They are affordable, easy to use, and many of them feature ample customization of both the buttons on the controller and the lights that they emit. They are truly great!

The pads that I recommend are called the AKAI Professional MPD218, and they give you the ability to use up 48 extra pads! this is perfect for people who like buying extra FX and beat FX for their mixes. Not only that, but this MIDI controller can also be used if you tend to mix music using DAW software such as Ableton. In fact, this midi pad was created specifically for that kind of software.

Laser Light Projector - Sumger Professional DMX512 LED Stage Light RGB Laser Scanner

You should know that the easiest way to spark a venue is to use a laser light projector. If the DJ that you are going to be gifting tends to work a lot of house parties and smaller venues, then this could be the perfect gift! While some might argue that they look cheesy, these actually emit light that looks very good. Cheaper projectors tend to produce very weak light that doesn't really stand out, but this projector is the exception thankfully.

The projector that we are talking about is the Sumger Professional DMX512 LED Stage Light RGB Laser Scanner. This is perhaps the best laser light projector under $200 dollars, and it's perfect for that DJ that really wants to spice up his mixes.

Storage methods - SanDisk 128GB Ultra SDXC UHS-I Memory Card

Last but not least, storage methods are an often underlooked but crucial part of any DJs equipment repertoire, but that shouldn't be the case. All self-respecting DJs should have several storage methods to have handy for several different occasions, including SD cards and an external USB drive if the DJ in question has a lot of songs available to use. Also, since many clubs have their own gear at their premises, this means that bringing an SD or USB drive is typically the only way to get to play your own music unless the club is willing to let you download the songs from the cloud or any other similar method.

Since they tend to be so affordable yet at the same time so important, I strongly recommend that you choose more high-end SD cards and USB drives when possible. The cheap ones tend to be more vulnerable to drops and humidity, aside from being less resistant in general. The SD card that I recommend is called the SanDisk 256GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I Card, which at 250 GB features more than enough space to load all the songs and videos a DJ needs in a lossless format. SanDisk is well known for providing very resistant SD cards, with this one being no different.

When it comes to USB drives, I recommend that you choose the Samsung BAR Plus USB 3.1 Flash Drive. I love this USB drive for several reasons. The first one is the fact that the body of the USB is a high-quality metal finished in silver. This finish looks very elegant and modern, and I'm pretty sure that any DJ would love it. But this isn't the only pro of this USB drive though. I also love the fact that it features very high read speeds and write speeds, which means that you don't need to wait a lot of time to start playing songs.

Conclude

I hope you have found this article about the best DJ gifts useful. The reason why I wrote this article is that since I have several years of DJing, many people often ask me which gifts are best for an aspiring DJ. Also, I wrote this article because of the fact that since I have so much experience, I know which gifts are best. Because of the fact that I know that people's budgets are different, I made sure to focus on different price points so that everybody can find a great gift without breaking the bank.

If the person that you are going to be gifting to doesn't have a controller yet and he hardly knows anything about DJing, it might be wise to gift a controller, like the Pioneer DDJ-200. Not only is this DJ controller perfect for newbies because it doesn't overwhelm the user, but also because it comes with a full license of Rekordbox DJ, which is one of the best DJ softwares out there. Other great gifts include the Seismic Audio 10 Space Rack Case and the storage methods that I talked about above.