Detroit Techno
Techno · 1981 · 120 to 135 BPM · also known as Classic Techno
Detroit techno was born in the mid 1980s when Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson, suburban kids from Belleville, crossed the synthetic funk of Parliament with Kraftwerk and the futurist writing of Alvin Toffler. The result was both mechanical and melancholic, synthetic strings floating over drum machines against the backdrop of a deindustrialized city. The word techno itself comes from this scene, and the Detroit lineage remains the conscience of the entire genre.
20 reference tracks
- A Number Of Names: Sharevari (Instrumental) (1981)
- Cybotron: Clear (1983)
- Cybotron: Techno City (1984)
- Model 500: No UFO's (1985)
- Model 500: Electric Entourage (1987)
- Rhythim Is Rhythim: Strings of Life (1987)
- Inner City: Big Fun (1988)
- Inner City: We All Move Together (2020)
- Robert Hood: The Struggle (2020)
- Jeff Mills: The Bells (1997)
- Galaxy 2 Galaxy: Hi-Tech Jazz (1993)
- Carl Craig: At Les (1997)
- Kenny Larkin: Tedra (1995)
- The Aztec Mystic: Jaguar (1999)
- Carl Craig: Televised Green Smoke
- Carl Craig: Dreamland
- Galaxy 2 Galaxy: Jupiter Jazz
- Model 500: Starlight
- Kenny Larkin: Soul Man
- Kenny Larkin: Q
At a glance
- Tempo: 120 to 135 BPM
- First appeared: around 1981
- Machines: Roland TR-909, Korg Poly-800, Yamaha DX7, Ensoniq ESQ-1, Roland TR-808
- The sound: Ensoniq et cordes synthétiques
- Labels: Metroplex, Transmat, KMS, Tresor, Planet E, Underground Resistance
- Key artists: Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, Carl Craig, Jeff Mills, Underground Resistance
Producing Detroit Techno
Detroit techno runs 120 to 136 BPM, Cybotron and Model 500 around 120 to 128, Underground Resistance up to 136, with toms and hats nudged by hand rather than fully quantized, felt rather than seen. A TR-909 kick holds a straight four on the floor with a shortened decay, while three or four tuned toms placed across the beat are the real signature, closed hats grooving in sixteenths, open hat on the offbeats. The bass is often the toms themselves, tuned to the root and echoed, or a real line from a DX7, ESQ-1 or Operator playing staccato eighths on the tonic, or a sustained sub on the root, kick, tom and sub tuned to the same note. Synthetic strings carry the harmony, joined by an electric piano and a Juno pad, all pushed through light saturation for grain.
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 Detroit Techno?
Detroit techno was born in the mid 1980s when Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson, suburban kids from Belleville, crossed the synthetic funk of Parliament with Kraftwerk and the futurist writing of Alvin Toffler. The result was both mechanical and melancholic, synthetic strings floating…
What tempo is Detroit Techno played at?
Between 120 and 135 BPM.
Who are the key Detroit Techno artists?
Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, Carl Craig, Jeff Mills, Underground Resistance.
In the same family
- Bleep Techno
- Broken Techno
- Acid Techno
- Euro Techno
- Hard Techno
- Schranz
- Industrial Techno
- Banging Techno
- Birmingham Techno
- Peak Time Techno
- Belgian Techno
- Dub Techno
Listen to Detroit Techno in the atlas · Cette page en français
