Techno Style Guide: History, Sound Design + How To Build Up A Techno Track in Live

A few months ago we featured the brilliant house music style guide created by F9 Audio founder and electronic music authority James Wiltshire, in collaboration with Point Blank.

This time, the producer turns his attention to techno. Combining the avant-garde electronica that was coming out of Europe in the early ‘70s and ‘80s with the electric funk and post-disco beamed from Detroit’s underground radio stations, Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson began to create what is now known as early Detroit techno.

Nowadays, techno’s countless sub genres and variants can all be traced back to those pioneers, known as the Belleville Three.

In Point Blank’s latest installment of their Style Guide series, James Wiltshire (Freemasons, Beyoncé) breaks down techno’s history, the seismic impact it had upon culture and the actual sound of one of electronic music’s most defining genres.

Watch the first part here:

In part two, James puts those ideas into practice, building up a techno track in Ableton Live as well as recording some bespoke samples in suitably gritty urban locations.

If you enjoyed these, make sure you subscribe to Point Blank’s YouTube channel for more tutorials and live events.

Also, if you feel inspired and you would like to learn to craft your own tones and sounds (including mic placement, recording techniques, Ableton Live and much more), we recommend Point Blank’s online Music Production Master Diploma. Lasting for up to 64 weeks, it’s one of Point Blank’s most comprehensive courses and covers everything from music business, composition, sound design, mixing and mastering. We might be biased, but graduates include Patrick Topping, Jon Rundell and No Artificial Colours so you know you’re in good hands.

Not only does it bring Point Blank’s award-winning courses to you wherever in the world you are, but with the possibility of studying on a part-time basis, you can fit it around your own schedule. Find out more about the Music Production Master Diploma here or discover the full list of Point Blank’s courses across London, Los Angeles and online.