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How to produce minimal techno like Ritchie Hawtin, Stephen Bozdin, etc?
So I come from a production background of EDM, Pop, House, etc. However, today I was turned on to the sounds of Ritchie Hawtin, Stephen Bozdin, Egbert, Gary Beck, etc. So my question for you folks is - how do I go about producing Minimal Techno? 
I already know how to compress, mix, etc. I'm looking for sound design tips and arranging tips. Thank you in advance.
Comments
Step 1: Download “Pure Acid”
Step 2: Delete all other apps.
The end.
It’s unfortunately not that easy...
Really enjoyed that album, but I never got into it’s magic and was able to produce something similar by my own.
Excited if one can share some insights here
Which song is your favorite?
More note/loop repetition, like in looper style composition...
maybe im missing something
Less layers. But keep some in hand for variation for each loop.
I’ll think a bit more
Who is buried in Grant’s tomb?
Well, I think minimal is like that. Minimal. Rule of thumb I use, limit each steps content. Allow
almost each step to breath. Don’t smother kick with too much.
I thing Stephan Bodzin is your traditional minimal melodic techno while Hawtin is more your traditional dark Techno.
Let’s run with Stephan’s work which I am particularly keen.
I think Ableton or Blocs Wave is good for it in a way by allowing a “limit” to not over complicating it and trying to do to much.
There is definitely a formula or sorts.
Unlike the 4/Floor house or drop style EDM, Bodzin type music has some musical content.
The drop/pay off/money shot of the song comes at behest of a musical component and progression inspired by the artist versus some random artificial riser or drop.
It has more musical content with less reliance on samples or vocals.
It uses more atmospheric pads or scapes or drones to glue together the minimal use of other
parts.
His Sub 37 can easily be replicated on the Model D and DRC apps or even many Gadgets .
12 semitones above detuned. Saw and triangle I think-oscillators/monophonic off top of my head. Little bit off noise.
He indicates he uses some basic 808/909 lite saturated for kicks and seems as though mainly synth generated hats/shakers with some accent percussions done with modular or organic found sounds.
It is pretty straight forward production with compression on the signal but I think a lot it is more his playing and use of attack at times in lieu of just having that CompressorFX push/pull.
That is kind of what jumps out at me off top of my head on the topic.
Im interested in this type of production also.
My advice, even though I dont feel qualified, would be:
Spend time on your percussion sounds, if you cant make it steal it from the ones you like.
The pros talk about layering sound, gated reverbs
Get an analog sounding bass with legato and portamento and a filter envelope
Variation/ lfo of cutoff, filter attack, filter amount. Saturation, compression, fuzz!
Chop up the beat for variation and reverse some slices (ios Enzo is great 4 this)
Create a drone sounds like something it aint!!
Buy an Octatrack (haha!) which is great for adding nice percussion variations
or something (Grooverider) that does p-locks and all those percentages and 1:4 type triggers
For minimal techno? Not really.
Grooverider would have been a more accurate recommendation.
I would recommend Ruismaker Noir, actually
I think minimal techno is really difficult to do well. You need to hold the attention with constant variation and tweak the sounds to worm their way in. But the trick is obviously not overdoing it. So the mix levels are really important because every sound needs to sit right in the mix. No masking bad levels with layers of distorted sounds etc.
Depends, I suppose. The minimal techno of, say, Claro Intelecto, is a lot different to much of what passes as minimal techno these days, I think. I prefer the former.
Play around with loops of different lengths playing against each other (think minimalism a la Philip Glass, but with percussion/effects and also modulation). For example if you have a filter cut off that loops over 7 beats, you'll get variation that keeps the ear interest for multiple bars. Add in a few other variations, and maybe some hi hats that also loop over some prime number of beats and you can quickly get some really interesting stuff going. Use delays with triplets. That kind of thing.
I feel a lot of these genres kind of bleed into each other. For example dub techno can often be quite similar to minimal, but just has more of an emphasis on reverb.
Also a lot of minimal techno can be about sounds gradually emerging and morphing, so anything that allows you to slowly manipulate sounds can be pretty effective (Amazing Noises for example) - though even a low pass filter can get you a lot way.
Beatmaker might be good for minimal techno actually.
I love „Innocent“, even if this is nothing like minimal DnB at all - liquid DnB or something like that.
And from the rest I think for my taste the best minimal track on this might be „Reflections“
(Beside that, also with more melody parts is „In desire“ a great track, lovely baseline)
To me the minimal part in this particular album is (sounds funny) having only drum and bass. I think the drum tracks are programmed with much much love... Every now and then some sort of melody fraction or samples noises or so. But I dont have an answer to the thread starter also
1.Master the swing into your DAW
2.Master some cool apps with an analog sound, for instance, Noir... DRC, Kaspar, Model D, Zeon, also effects... (...)
3.A good midi clock
4.Swing...
5.Swing really matters...
For people that don't have a natural minimalist inclination, one approach can be use your natural instincts when outlining your piece then start brutally removing bits till all that is left is the minimum needed to give a sense of the piece. As time goes on, you will probably develop a minimalist instinct.
@jwmmakerofmusic, @david_2017
From the album mentioned by @david_2017, I've chosen "Tribute" by Boy Blue.
Done in Groove Rider, some synthesis and built-in drums and instruments but mainly sliced stuff.
Just an experiment, I don't know if that's remotely similar to what you're looking for?
Sort of like who is buried in Grant’s tomb?
Minimal is sort of like that.
I think a general rule of thumb that works is inferred from the name “minimal”.
I think that hallmark of the style if> @crony said:
I love swinging.
Daaaamn @rs2000 awesome, mate!
So true... But I would still use Noir for that
I'm not experienced with making minimal, but from listening to the artists mentioned here, Noir comes to mind as perfect for the toolbox. And miRack.
I think I know my next area of exploration. I'm glad I stopped by this thread.
Thank you! I love cookies
Ha - yes, me, too
Me too!
I was trying to dip into some downtempo / trip-hop. But now this is tempting
Boy, this is amazing! You did that with GR-16 only? I got this in the intro sale but never never never got warm with the workflow and possibilities - wow this was absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing. You really programmed those drums really nicely 👊🏼😎👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
this
Bodzin had/has? an app that enabled you to remix the Luna album. Not much use in your own productions but good for experimenting with structure and an insight into Bodzins layers and sounds.
.
Yep, GR-16 only and the drums are a mix of sliced breakbeat and on-board kick and snare. The good thing is that you can tweak pitch and bpm without destroying the beat.
Thanks man!
You want the GR-16 pattern files and samples so you can see how I did it?
That would be cool!
I find your piece amusing if you can send me the files please so I can dissect it and learn. Thank you
@david_2017, @espiegel123, @Prog1967
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