Makina
Hardcore · 1989 · 160 to 180 BPM · also known as Maquina, Makina Catalana
Northern Spain, Valencia then Catalonia in the 1990s: local hardcore between Barcelona's makina and Valencian bakalao, hard kicks, simple epic melodies, a culture of the ruta and giant clubs. Exported to Newcastle, where it strangely becomes the soundtrack for Northeast English MCs, a unique double life on this map, and a rare case of a Spanish club sound crossing borders wholesale.
9 reference tracks
- Atahualpa: Ultimo Imperio (1990)
- Megabeat: Es Imposible, No Puede Ser (1989)
- Ramirez: Terapia (1995)
- Puchy* Vs Barris: La Llave De La Fiesta (2021)
- Ruboy* Vs. Radium: End Of Universe (2021)
- Ruboy* Vs Z3d: Magic Field (2021)
- CJ Rolo: Android (2022)
- CJ Rolo & Mr. White: White Horse (2022)
- Pont Aeri: Flying Free (1999)
At a glance
- Tempo: 160 to 180 BPM
- First appeared: around 1989
- Machines: Roland Alpha Juno, Roland TR-909, Korg M1, Steinberg Cubase
- The sound: Kicks hardcore espagnols, Leads épiques simples, Hoover, Voix MC (branche anglaise)
- Labels: Max Music, Evolution Records, Bit Music, Monta Musica, Ruboy Records, SpeedSadd
- Key artists: Ruboy, Xque, DJ Skudero, New Monkey (scène UK)
Producing Makina
Sit between 150 and 180 bpm, no swing, with a stronger link to hard trance than to hardcore techno, epic melodies, long breaks and builds, and darker minor key melodies than happy hardcore's childlike ones. Build a hard, saturated 909 kick with light clipping on every beat, a snare on 2 and 4, prominent open hats, and the makina signature, long rising snare rolls plus kick rolls before every drop. For bass, use the same offbeat pattern as happy hardcore but pitched higher and sharper, a saw filtered around 700Hz with more resonance, following the melody's minor chords, no sidechain. Layer the Alpha Juno hoover as a full melodic lead, epic stacked supersaws, breakdown pianos, and Spanish or English vocals drenched in reverb, everything dramatic and rising.
The full production course, in French: tempo, drums, bass, sounds, arrangement, mix, plugins and machines, and a step by step start.
Frequently asked
What is Makina?
Northern Spain, Valencia then Catalonia in the 1990s: local hardcore between Barcelona's makina and Valencian bakalao, hard kicks, simple epic melodies, a culture of the ruta and giant clubs. Exported to Newcastle, where it strangely becomes the soundtrack for Northeast English MCs, a unique…
What tempo is Makina played at?
Between 160 and 180 BPM.
Who are the key Makina artists?
Ruboy, Xque, DJ Skudero, New Monkey (scène UK).
