Music Theory: Techno

Techno from Scratch / Digitakt Factory Samples

Initial Setup: Set the tempo to 138 BPM and adjust the scale mode to allow different step counts per track.

Kick Drum: Program a “four on the floor” kick drum, then modify it by applying an envelope, tuning it down, adding dirt (overdrive), and shortening the sound.

Sub-Bass Groove: Repurpose a tom sample by tuning it down a couple of octaves, applying a filter envelope, and sending it through dark delay and reverb.

Resampling: Manually resample two bars of the tom groove by ear, trim the sample, and assign it to the track while clearing the previous effects.

Sidechain Effect: Create a ducking effect on the resampled bass loop by dividing the sample into four sections with different starting points, using triggers and the amp envelope to shape the attack.

Open Hi-Hat: Sequence the hi-hat and modify it with bit reduction, an amp envelope, overdrive, and a touch of reverb, then pan it to the right.

Clap: Program a clap every second bar, tune it down, shorten its length, compensate the volume with overdrive, and send it into a longer reverb.

First Synth: Select a long factory synth sound, change the starting position, and use an LFO to slowly modulate the filter envelope’s decay time. Apply reverb, conditional triggers for variation, and a second LFO to slowly pan the sound.

Second Synth: Add another synth sound with reverb, delay, overdrive, and use the second filter to clean up the sound.

Percussion: Replace a snare drum with a “rainy” noise sample from the toolbox, using an LFO to slightly modulate the tuning and a second filter to remove low-end frequencies. Assign a sample-and-hold LFO to handle panning and set the sample to play at a 25% probability.

Master Compression: Set the Digitakt’s compressor to act as a limiter by using a super sharp attack (4 or 5), a fast release (around 15), maximum ratio, no makeup gain, and adjusting the threshold to catch the kick drum, keeping it prominent in the mix.