Roland TD-30KV FOR THE E-DRUMMER BOY OR GIRL If you’ve been thinking about picking up a set of electronic drums, your options have never been better. On the high end, there’s the Roland TD-30KV. It combines Roland’s SuperNATURAL drum sounds, Behavior Modeling and advanced sensing technologies to provide realistic expression that’s been winning over acoustic-only stalwarts everywhere. One the other end of the spectrum, new entry-level kits... 

RME Fireface UCX FOR THE RECORDING ARTIST ON THE MOVE RME may have single-handedly legitimized the concept of recording studio-quality multitrack audio to an iPad. Another in the wildly popular Fireface series, the RME Fireface UCX delivers breathtaking audio quality, extreme monitoring flexibility, and comprehensive I/O via either FireWire or USB 2/3. But what sets this apart from other interfaces is its Core Audio support, which lets you hook it... 

Korg Krome FOR THE ARTIST SEEKING KEYS TO CREATIVITY Featuring a hit list of features borrowed liberally from Korg’s flagship Kronos workstation, the Krome keyboard is an ideal choice for stage and studio. Highlights include unlooped piano and drum sounds derived from the Kronos and hundreds of other top-notch programs, plus 900 exhilarating arpeggiator patterns and a library of more than 600 fun and inspiring drum grooves. A full-color touch... 

IK Multimedia iRig Pre FOR THE IOS POWER USER Plug your favorite mic into your iPhone with an IK Multimedia iRig Pre. The iRig Pre is an invaluable gizmo that allows you to plug any standard mic into the headphones/communications jack of an iOS device. Running on a single 9V battery, the iRig Pre can comfortably power condenser mics, while providing plenty of clean gain for stubborn dynamics. And thanks to its down-to-earth price tag, the iRig Pre... 

Fender Runaway FOR THE FEEDBACK FANATIC For anyone who’s ever wanted to play with feedback without suffering noise violations or bleeding eardrums, the Fender Runaway is just the ticket. By using an expression to blend in as much feedback as desired, the Runaway pedal provides the same kind of playable feedback you can achieve standing in front of a dimed stack—only quieter. That makes the Runaway pedal a natural choice for live playing and tracking... 

Akai MAX49 FOR THE TOTAL CONTROL FREAK Hybrid MIDI/CV circuitry and awesome built-in goodies such as a jaw-dropping step sequencer and arpeggiator engine make the Akai MAX49 the perfect keyboard controller for every synth nut. In addition to a phenomenal-feeling semi-weighted keybed and a set of genuine MPC pads, this full-service controller features eight touch faders and LED metering. Not only is the MAX49 a great hub for MIDI- and CV-based synths,... 

Audio-Technica AT5040 FOR THE AUDIOPHILE WHO KNOWS IT’S HIP TO BE SQUARE Flying in the face of convention, Audio-Technica broke new sonic ground with their AT5040. Ditching the traditional circular diaphragm, the AT5040 features a set of four low-mass rectangular membranes arranged like the panes of a window. The result is a sound that’s as full and vibrant as any large-diaphragm microphone, but with the crisp transient handling of a pencil condenser.... 

Zoom H2n Handy Recorder FOR THE MOBILE A/V ENTHUSIAST With Zoom’s impressive sound quality and an array of five studio-quality condenser mics—which offers recording in mono, regular stereo, Mid-Side stereo and even 360-degree surround sound—the H2n Handy Recorder promises a world of recording possibilities. Set this pocket-sized unit at the front of the stage and land excellent quality recordings you can share with fans. And since it doubles... 

Overtone Labs Tune-Bot  FOR THE PITCH-PERFECT PERCUSSIONST The Overtone Labs Tune-Bot takes drum tuning to a new extreme. Unlike traditional analog tension meters, the Tune-Bot attaches directly to the rim of the drum like a clip-on guitar tuner and “listens” to the pitch of the head. It measures not only the pitch at every lug, but also the overall tuning of the drum—making it faster and easier to get perfectly tuned drums. What’s more,... 

TC Electronic BH250 & BG250 FOR THE BASSIST WHO TRAVELS LIGHT When TC Electronic released their BH250 bass head and corresponding BG250 combo amp, they ensured that bass players everywhere would have something to put on their holiday wish lists. These amplifiers showcase what TC Electronic does especially well, combining a lightweight yet deceptively powerful solid-state bass amp with a set of freakishly flexible tone-shaping options. The onboard... 

Propellerhead Reason 6.5 FOR THE ARTIST WITH AN ANALOG APPETITE If you’ve long-since written off Propellerhead Reason as being limited, it’s time to take another look at this brilliant, analog-style music creation platform. Specifically, check out the new Rack Extensions introduced in Reason 6.5. Propellerhead created the Rack Extension system to open up the program to third-party manufacturers interested in developing plug-ins and instruments,... 

Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster FOR THE VALUE DRIVEN GUITARIST Squier nailed it when they created the J Mascis Jazzmaster. Rather than focusing only on matching its aesthetics, this guitar also recreates the sound and feel of the ace guitarist’s own heavily modified Jazzmaster. First there are the pickups—a pair of real Fender Jazzmaster single-coils, which is a step up for your average Squier. What’s more, it also sports the custom body contour... 

Ableton Live 9 & Push FOR THE ULTIMATE PAD PUSHER Create and perform music like never before with Ableton Live 9 and the new Push controller. Combining a matrix of 64 continuously touch-sensitive pads, keyboard-style playability, and all the functions you’d expect from a traditional large-format control surface, this controller is your ultimate connection to Ableton Live 9. Whether recording in the studio, sequencing synths and virtual instruments,... 

Yamaha THR Series  FOR THE AXEMAN ON THE GO Loaded with processors, effects, amp models and real tube tone, it’s small wonder touring guitarists the world over have made Yamaha’s pint-sized, battery-powered THR Series amps permanent fixtures on tour buses and in hotel rooms. A comprehensive set of controls provides instant access to tried-and-true amp sounds ranging from metal to country to blues, and USB connectivity lets you descend far deeper... 

Bogner Ecstasy & Uberschall FOR THE TONE-TAPPER Bogner’s mind-blowing new pedal lineup makes the coveted sound of their Ecstasy and Uberschall amplifiers affordable enough for any serious guitarist to own. The two Ecstasy pedals—Blue and Red—represent the blue and red channels on the Ecstasy head, whose gloriously fat overdrive is a benchmark of boutique amp sound. Both of these pedals feature multiple toggle switches that provide many... 

TAMA S.L.P. Series FOR THE DISCRIMINATING DRUMMER Rock, country, jazz—you name it, there’s an affordable TAMA S.L.P. Series snare drum designed to play the part. The amazing thing about the S.L.P. Series isn’t any one thing about any individual snare, but rather the entire concept behind the series, which is to offer pro-quality snare drums built to deliver appropriate sounds for specific musical styles. Finally, you can set aside that lackluster,... 

Moog Analog Delay FOR THE ANALOG GEAR GURU Formatted for API’s 500 Series rack system, Moog’s Analog Delay module is making more than a few wish lists this holiday season. The Moog Analog Delay is loaded with the deep and spacious quality only real analog circuitry can deliver, and features easy integration into any high-tech studio. There’s a CV input for analog synth control, but there’s also MIDI input—and when you dive into the included... 

Peavey AT-200  FOR THE TUNED-IN GUITARIST Never worry about tuning again. Admittedly, the idea of integrating Antares’ Auto-Tune technology into a guitar caused more than a few chuckles when Peavey announced their AT-200 electric guitar, but it only took one demo to prove the joke was on the skeptics. In a single strum, you can go from total discord to perfectly tuned—and the tuning tracks flawlessly all the way up the neck. What’s more, the...