Techno Blueprint: Making Techno Music with Ableton 12
This course has limited capacity, reserve your spot now to secure your place!
In this hands-on two-day workshop, students will learn how to produce techno music in Ableton Live 12 using classic analog hardware techniques and sounds. Participants will explore essential, elemental sound design techniques inspired by analog synthesizers, drum machines, and modular gear, learning how to emulate these sounds using Ableton’s stock instruments and effects. You will also learn composition strategies essential to early and modern techno, including hypnotic loop construction, evolving rhythmic patterns, and minimalist arrangement approaches. By blending a modern digital workflow with timeless analog techniques, we will create a blueprint for making analog-style techno while mastering Ableton Live 12’s powerful sound design and compositional tools.
Course Logistics
Dates: Monday, November 3 & Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Times: 6-9PM PT
Location: Gray Area / Grand Theater – 2665 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Experience Level: Intermediate: A basic working knowledge of Ableton Live is expected.
Requirements:
• Laptop running Ableton Live 12 (Earlier editions of Ableton will not be compatible with the class.)
• Headphones
Additional Information:
• No Refunds or Exchanges.
• View our FAQ here.
• Contact [email protected] with any questions.
Workshop Outline
- Identifying and Recreating Classic Synth and Analog Drum Machine Sounds
- Understanding Ableton’s Drift, Drum Machines, and Drum Synthesizers
- Performing Ableton’s Synth and Drum Machine Sounds in an Analog Style
- Analog and Modular Style Step, Generative and Polymetric Sequencing
- Composing with Randomness and Call-and-Reponse and Automation
- Arranging and Mixing Techno Tracks
- A brief History of Techno, related genres and classic hardware
About Technologies:
Ableton Live is fast, fluid and flexible software for music creation and performance. It comes with effects, instruments, sounds and all kinds of creative features—everything you need to make any kind of music.
Become a Gray Area Member for early access to our workshops, and 20% off.
Gray Area Members enjoy extraordinary access to our interdisciplinary arts & education programs, while supporting our mission to catalyze creative action for social transformation. Get free admission, exclusive content, and more!
