Table of contents for 02/2025 in Beat English

1 Define chords We build a kind of „chord machine“ that spits out endless potential Techno loops. As a basis, we use our Thorn BEAT with three oscillators. The waveforms are arbitrary, you can let off steam here later. But tuning is important: OSC 1 may rumble low down with OCT-1, while OSC 2 and OSC 3 are responsible for a chord. 2 Modulate filter Here, we recommend combinations like SEMI 6 + SEMI 9 or 3 + 10 or 4 + 8, away from the typical harmonic chords with three and seven or four and seven semitones. To make the sound not mechanical, we use a filter with the Dirty LP MODE, turn CUTOFF almost completely off and RESonance up a little bit. 3 Random & Arpeggio In the…

1 Songwriting for Techno The well-known all-rounder AI ChatGPT can be used to inspire suitable phrases. Get inspired and keep in mind that even pretty blunt phrases can work, as Maddix showed in his track “Tonight” with the simple line: “Give me another half and tonight will be awesome.” 2 Let AI speak! Once you have found the phrase that matches the track you want to work with, use an online AI that can generate text to speech in the language of the phrase. ubderduck.ai offers a wide selection of free languages and voices, while there are also many other alternatives such as speechify.com, naturalreaders.com and ttsmp3.com. 3 Stretching As you might expect, it is also essential for the vocals to play in the rhythm of the track. So don‘t…

»It‘s often the imperfect no-players that make a song/sound special. « Immediately after Severin Kantereit had announced his solo project, many people wondered: Why only an EP? Why only four songs? Why music made in a home studio when his main band AnnenMayKantereit is big enough to effortlessly fill Germany‘s biggest stadiums? After spending some time with the music, the answer seems clear: the fact that these laid-back songs somewhere between sofa rave and club melancholia work so well is precisely because they don‘t artificially inflate their ambitions. Britt Daniel, frontman of indie rock band Spoon, once said: „The EP is a musical sweet spot where you can be on your own, under the radar, secure in the knowledge that what you‘re making is just for you and those who…

1 In modulation heaven You probably have a favorite VST3 synth that sounds great, but unfortunately, doesn‘t offer all the modulation options you want. With Cubase‘s Modulators, you can now easily add them! Load the synth of your choice like u-he Repro-1 [1] and create a simple sound like the patch shown. Then, activate the lower Zone. 2 Step sequences There, switch to Modulators. Now add a Step Modulator and draw in a sequence. Click on the + symbol and then on the cutoff Control of Repro-1 and the filter frequency will be modulated. Adjust the Cutoff Control and the Modulation Depth as desired. Then, program a sixteenth note sequence for the synthesizer. 3 Synth parameter That sounds cool, but there‘s much more to it! Link an LFO in Modulator…

1 Sound generation Let‘s connect a Dr. Octo Rex to the input of the Alligator. Any sound source can be fed in. It is best to move all devices into the rack by holding down the Shift key. We’ll take care of the cables ourselves. Alligator now ensures that the incoming signal is split into a Highpass, Lowpass and Bandpass using a Gate. 2 Three Ripleys Three instances of the Ripley are now moved to the rack. As mentioned, please keep the Shift key pressed. We now distribute the three separate outputs from the Alligator to the inputs of our Ripleys. Always take the next cable with you when you connect up or down, this saves even more time. 3 Mixer and outputs Now we use a small 6:2 mixer…

With Peel Stems, zplane expands its product range and introduces an addition to Peel, where the subtitle says it all, because it is a Spatial Spectral Isolator EQ. This new plugin is also based on the company‘s proprietary STEMS EF-FICIENT technology, which can separate audio signals in real-time thanks to Spectral Analysis. This makes it possible to isolate individual elements such as instruments or vocals from a stereo audio track - for example a finished mix - or to adjust their volumes in the mix. Its application is very simple: Peel Stems is integrated into your DAW as an insert plug-in. Due to the complex processing, there is a certain amount of latency, but this is usually compensated for by your DAW. For resource-intensive projects, it is nevertheless advisable that…

The Japanese manufacturer, Fostex, is well established in the headphone business in both the HiFi and Studio sectors. The Fostex TH808 is visually very similar to the top-of-the-range TH909 model, which can be described as its bigger brother, but is available for around 400 Euro less. According to the manufacturer, both have an open design (“Open Back Dynamic”) in common. Even though the headphones have padding that surrounds the ear, sound is still allowed to pass through to the outside, creating a natural sound. This is not the only reason why the TH-808 are headphones for at home - or at least for occasions where you are undisturbed. In the Studio, you could probably use them very well for Mixing and Mastering, but less well for Recording. TH808 vs. TH909…

The common thread: Beat issue 02/2025 For many years, Beat has been inspiring its readers not only with practical and musical topics, but above all with the tight integration of editorial content. From the very beginning, Beat has been about creating, about the structured building of ideas and the common thread – in the magazine as well as in the tracks. This navigator shows you the highlights of this issue andallows you to see the big picture. Special: Techno Masterclass Whether melodic, hard or hypnotic - Techno regularly reinvents itself, but the essence remains: „The beat has to go on and on“. That‘s why we‘ve got the answer to all your questions about production here! From choosing the right kick to clever synth layering to the latest trends in sound…

Strings of Life – Derrick May (1987) An iconic track that stands out for its catchy piano riffs and energetic rhythms. It is considered one of the milestones of Detroit Techno and has made the genre popular worldwide. Energy Flash – Joey Beltram (1990) Known for its hard, driving bass and hypnotic Acid sounds, this track defined the sound of early Rave Techno and influenced numerous producers. The Bells – Jeff Mills (1996) A minimalistic but powerful track that impresses with its distinctive bell sounds and driving beats. It is part of many DJ sets. Acid Tracks – Phuture (1987) Often referred to as the first Acid House track, this track influenced not only Techno but also the entire electronic music genre through its innovative 303 basslines. Pullover – Speedy…

Beat / Hey Björn, let’s start with a classic: What brought you to Techno and producing? Björn/ I was born in 1980 and grew up musically in the 1990s, but initially with Metal, Punk and Hip Hop. At some point I got my hands on “Remanufactured” by Fear Factory, a remix album from 1997. That was the first time I was really into electronic music. One track in particular, where the hi-hat comes in after a break, completely blew me away. I think that‘s when I understood the essence of Techno. When I was 18, I had a few older friends who introduced me to the sound of Green Velvet, Djax-Up-Beats, Robert Armani, Surgeon and Regis. This music had a lasting impact on me. Producing tracks myself wasn‘t that easy,…

Beat / Hey Jey, great to have you here! In keeping with your style, we won‘t waste any time chatting, but will get straight to the point: making music, managing a label and running a school for producers and DJs - how do you manage all of that? The Jeyênne / Oh, right at the start, the master question! Without my passion for music, a pinch of discipline and the help of organizational tools to structure my tasks, none of this would be possible. Almost as important to me, however, is a suitable balance such as sport and travel to clear my head. Most of my days start with a fresh cup of coffee and processing emails and social media activities. Since I am most creative in the evenings and…

1 | Intro Kick, hi-Hat, clapi Without further ado, the classic Techno track starts with kick, open hi-hat and clap to make life easier for the DJ. The complete beat is sent to a bus track (here: PRESS). Its high-pass filter is automated to around 200 Hz for the first eight bars, and to 45 Hz for the following eight bars. Why? / The reduced intro offers numerous entry points for the DJ mix. Due to the filter automation, the beat is present and audible, but saves the full force for the part that follows. The eighth bar remains without a kick. Effects Every 16 bars we add a noise downer (NOISE FX), but alternately as a long and short version. On the first of measures of the ninth and…

1 Beatbox Admittedly, a pretty funny but incredibly effective trick is to Beatbox the fill before you mix in any samples. This gives you a good idea of what you ultimately want to achieve. Listen to the transition and play out loud, or in your head, the rhythm of the drums that lead from one part to the next. 2 Sounds Which sounds are played is just as important as when they are played. Since the latter has already been clarified, we will now try to find suitable drum sounds. In genres such as Rock or Metal, samples of real drum sets are usually suitable, while for electronic styles, colorful mixtures of synthetic drums are often suitable. 3 Implementation It‘s time to put theory into practice. Set up the individual…

1 Automate delay To create musically impressive breaks, first resample an 8-bar phrase from your song. Place the resample in a new track and load a delay. Select Time as the delay mode. Switch to automation mode and activate Stereo Link. Draw an arbitrary automation for the delay time over the entire length of the sample. 2 Create resamples Resample the resample with the delay again. Lock the automation curve and then delete the first resample. Drag the second Resample into the track of the first. The delay with the automation curve has been retained. Now resample the resample again. Then, continue working with the last resample only. Select the Texture Warp Mode for this. 3 Edit audio Halve the original tempo of the resample several times in the…

1 Eminem as a guest? Now we‘ll let the pros sing for us - and that means such top-class artists as Drake, Eminem, Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran and Rihanna. In contrast to the tools previously used, they do not sing any texts, but replace the voice of existing singing. Tuna‘s vox or your own voice can be used as material. 2 Where to get vocals? Of course, vocals and acapellas from sample providers such as Looperman [1] are also a worthwhile source of good recordings, some of which are even free of charge. They can be made exclusive with the following tools. If you want to use vocals from an existing song, you can extract them with SplitSong [2] or SpectraLayers [3]. 3 Simplest technique The technique for the professional vocals…

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The keyboard, which is available in black or white, is a successful compromise between many control elements with sufficient spacing, while still having rather compact dimensions. Keylab mk3 is available with 49 or 61 keys, whereby the dimensions do not differ greatly because the Pitchbender, Modwheel and Transpose buttons have been moved to the top of the keyboard on the 61-key version. Otherwise, both models are equipped identically: 12 illuminated RGB pads (touch and pressure sensitive), 3.5” full color screen (320 x 480 pixels) with 8 control buttons and large click encoder, 9 faders with a good 50mm control range and 9 additional encoders in typical Arturia fashion. Touch-sensitive, but no poly-AT The faders and encoders offer a pleasant resistance and are touch-sensitive. You only need to touch the…

EarthQuaker Devices has been developing effects pedals since 2004, but in 2020, the Afterneath effects pedal was developed into a Eurorack module, capable of a few more functions. In January of 2024, EQD released their second Eurorack module, the Wave Transformer Transfiguration Oscillator, designed by Josh Kolenc. With 7 waveform outputs, 6 CV inputs, an audio insert, 2 sync inputs, and 8 panel controls, the all-analogue Wave Transformer module is a unique new addition to the ever-expanding world of Eurorack. Described as “vintage-voiced” by EQD, the analogue sound of the Wave Transformer is has a warm tone and a heaviness to it; it has very good sound quality and it patches wonderfully with all neighboring modules, providing some unexpected surprises in modulation possibilities. All of the audio outputs mix well…

En Voice: Route Du Soleil The German artist Andreas Frenkel-Piesch took a break for 18 years before he released this EP. There are five tracks that sound like a beautiful summer day in the middle of winter. The consistently very poppy tracks combine elements of Dance, Downtempo, and Ambient with a pleasant atmosphere that feels chilled, Lounge-like, and very positive. The EP deliberately does not include vocals and remains instrumental, which particularly highlights its clear and well-thought-out production. While real instruments or a few unexpected accents could give the pieces additional depth and individuality, the super-clean sound quality makes up for it. As a soundtrack for the cinema in your head or mental vacation trips, the EP is definitely well suited. Genre: Downtempo, Dance | Label: Self-Release Sjöblom: Dead Of…

Foldable MIDI Controller from Korg The nanoKEY Fold is a new compact, foldable MIDI controller from Korg that is particularly recommended for mobile musicians and producers. With 25 pressure-sensitive membrane keys, which can be optimally customised with LED support and the innovative ‘Easy Scale’ mode with 15 different scales, creative work is possible anywhere. This mode ensures that only the notes contained in the selected scale sound. The keyboard offers practical features such as a powerful arpeggiator with 15 rhythm patterns, a chord mode and a split function that enables two independent control areas for the keyboard halves. Two multifunctional touch sliders allow CC control or playing scales with simple swipe movements - inspired by KORG‘s KAOSSILATOR series. All settings can be saved in 15 scenes. The nanoKEY Fold is…

Jan Wilking Synthesizers, samplers and drum machines have defined his life for a good four decades. Inspired by the emerging Synth Pop of the early 80s, particularly the first concerts as a budding teenager like Depeche Mode, Nitzer Ebb and Shock Therapy shaped his further development, which led to the founding of the EBM/Industrial project STERIL in 1990, which was successful mainly in the USA. From the simple cassette recorder, Casio keyboard and mono sampler with mini-memory to the modern DAW with almost unlimited possibilities, Jan has witnessed the development of electronic music production, with his personal conclusion: Less is often more! Daniel Bock New addition to the BEAT team. Actually a guitarist and actually plays Funk, Rock, Alternative & Metal, but secretly always squinted to the synths and Electronic…

1 Load kit The technique is quickly explained: we take a drum kit and bend all the sounds in the audio editor. Sounds trivial (and it is), but the result is awesome! Grab the 909 analogue kit from the workshop data, duplicate the folder and load all 12 samples into your editor. If you don‘t have one, Ocean Audio is also included. 2 Freestyle! From now on we work freestyle: each sample is bent differently. You don‘t have to follow our order here, but you can get inspired. Let‘s start with the kick: we transpose it down by two semitones with the harmonizer of our editor Acoustica and then add a limiter with input gain at maximum. 3 Even backwards? This makes it sound much fatter. For the snare, we…

1 Select sound With the reverse layer technique, it doesn‘t matter whether you choose a guitar, piano, string sound or similar. This technique can also work with a Bass. In this article, however, we would like to focus on the melody-leading instruments. In our case, we will use the MIDI file 70s Ballad Piano 06 from the Apple Loops library. 2 Bounce Next, right-click on the MIDI file, Bounce and Connect, Bounce to Same Location. Select New Track as the destination, Leave as is as the source and Include audio decay in file. You can leave Bypass effect plug-ins unchecked, as the effected sound fits better with the source file. 3 Cutting If you already have an audio file as a source track, you can save yourself the second step.…

1 Was is MPE? MPE provides polyphonic modulation on usually three (or four or five) levels. In practice, this means, for instance, that with three-part chords, the highest note creates an atmospheric vibrato, the middle note makes the LFO play faster and the lowest note opens the synth‘s cutoff - simultaneously and independently of each other. 2 MPE in Bitwig With controllers such as the Roli Seaboard M, this allows for incredibly expressive play. But even if you use the MPE streams directly in Bitwig and draw modulation curves, the DAW becomes an even more powerful sound design tool - for internal instruments such as Polymer, but also for some (not all) VST instruments. 3 Polyphonic modulation Bitwig‘s internal instruments are all MPE-capable. Let‘s get started with Polymer on an…

1 Acoustic drums By nature, acoustic drums sound great in the studio - because it‘s loud - but after the recording it usually sounds more bland from the computer. That‘s why there‘s some flavor here: Ratio 6:1 provides strong compression, Dist 3 for saturation, Attack 7 maintains percussive transients. Then set INPUT to 6 or higher. 2 Vocals As with the drums, the compression is quite crisp with a ratio of 6:1. So that “p” and “b” sounds with a high bass content don’t ruin the mix, we switch the DETECTOR to HP (high pass). In this mode, the distresser reacts less to the low frequencies, the compression is therefore milder and avoids unnatural sound. 3 Bass For bass, we definitely use the Dist 2 mode in AUDIO, with which the…

The Weeknd – „Dancing in the Flames”: Lead w/Omnisphere 1 Four billion …clicks on Spotify for “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd, more than any other song. And anyone who has heard the song, which was released in 2020, will never get rid of the synth melody. For “Dancing in the Flames”, Abel Tesfaye, the mastermind behind the project, has once again teamed up with uber-songwriter Max Martin using a similar recipe. 2 Dark Pop from 1984 Pushing Dark Wave beat, spherical vocals strongly reminiscent of Michael Jackson and synthesizers, so many synthesizers. But the lead melody, which we are recreating here, stands out from the arrangement. Not quite as catchy as that of “Blinding Lights”, its staccato rhythm at 118 bpm is a lot more driving than the original. 3…

1 Set up a hotspot If Push is in Stand Alone Mode, you will find a new menu item under Settings: Hotspot. If you activate Hotspot, Push creates a network name and generates a password. Select this network on the device to be connected and enter the password, for example, to transfer files from your PC or to use the network as a link hub. 2 Move tracks Tracks can now be easily moved and rearranged by holding down the button below the track name and moving the large jog wheel to the right or left to the new position. You can also rearrange scenes in the same way. To do this, hold down the scene starter button and move the jog wheel accordingly. 3 Use search filter Similar to…

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