The gear and production world is off to a bit of a slow start in 2014, with everyone waiting for NAMM to pull out their big news. (Thankfully, it’s just around the corner.) In the meantime, we’ve gathered up a handful of interesting tidbits for curious producer including an update on Sennheiser’s new line of headphones, a review of Arturia’s new KeyLab controller, info on Dubspot’s DIY synth-building workshop, and a quick guide to getting Daft Punk’s sound without using Daft Punk’s gear.

For our first gear review of 2014, we take an in-depth look at Arturia‘s KeyLab series of hybrid controllers/digital synthesizers, deeming the units “a new contender in a crowded field of MIDI controllers seeking to break down the barriers between software sound design and tactile control.” Read our full review here.

As part of this week’s CES conference in Las Vegas, Sennheiser unveiled three new models of headphones: the HD6 Mix, HD7 DJ, and HD8 DJ. All three models are said to take cues from the design of Sennheiser’s classic HD25 headphones and offer a few different features aimed at studio and DJ use. The video above gives a brief introduction to all three models (which, as of now, do not come with any pricing details); more information can be found here.

Earlier this week, New York-based production school Dubspot announced the launch of Dubspot Labs, an ongoing series of special events and workshops that will begin this weekend with a six-hour seminar on the basics of building synthesizers. Enrollment in the first limited-size, one-day workshop is $195, which also includes the raw materials necessary to complete the course. More information can be found here.

Setting aside Random Access Memories for a moment, there is little argument that Daft Punk has crafted an enviable, if not iconic, sound over the years. Unfortunately for those bedroom producers hoping to emulate the French duo’s sonic palette, many of the pair’s tools of the trade are out of financial reach for those without platinum-selling records. But in a recent article on Noisey, gear aficionado and self-proclaimed eBay expert Davo McConville has put together a guide of more affordable sonic tools to replace the bank-breaking gear essential to Daft Punk’s arsenal. McConville’s quick and easy guide can be read in full here.