With the holiday season officially here, a host of gear deals are floating around the web. We share a guide to those, check out Serato’s new Remote Mini app and the open-source Digital Warrior MIDI controller, and watch DJ Gregory build a beat live on his MPC in the latest This Week in Music Tech.

Earlier this week, XLR8R reviewed Native Instruments‘ new Maschine Studio groove production box, deeming it a worthwhile step foward in NI’s flagship line, and calling the brand-new Maschine 2.0 software an essential upgrade. Our full review can be read here.

This week, Serato introduced the Remote Mini iPhone app. Said to fit the best parts from the Serato Remote iPad app into a condensed platform with a focus on usability within the smaller screen of the iPhone and iPod touch, the Remote Mini app is made to work with existing Scratch Live and Serato DJ setups. The app is currently available via the iTunes store for £2.99/$4.99, and more info can be found here.

In the latest edition of FACT TV‘s Against the Clock series, veteran French producer
DJ Gregory (a.k.a. Point G) built a beat live on his MPC in under 10 minutes. Though not much commentary is shared in the clip, DJ Gregory basically gives a wordless clinic on MPC production over the course of the brief video.

The Digital Warrior is an open-source MIDI controller which boasts a 16-voice, 32-step sequencer, four programmable knobs, and a pair of three-color endless encoders, which connects via USB. Recently updated, the Digital Warrior appears to be another simple yet powerful controller option for digital DJs and producers. The pair of videos above explain the basic functions of the controller while Peter Kirn and Create Digital Music give a full overview of the Digital Warrior here.

And lastly, with the holidays and the New Year around the corner, there’s really never been a better time to find some great deals on production gear. Fortunately, the good folks at Gear Junkies have compiled a comprehensive list of all the web’s best gear deals, including offers from companies like Korg, Arturia, Native Instruments, and Ableton. Gear Junkies’ guide to holiday gear deals can be found here.