EDM and Production Practice Flashcards
EDM
an umbrella term for the numerous genres and sub-genres of electronic music that are primarily performed at, and produced for, nightclubs and raves
Rave
a term used to describe long lasting (often illegal or unsanctioned) parties typically featuring lous music mixed by Dj’
EDM Performance
consist of a DJ mixing together recordings one after another
Tracks
EDM peices, individual songs composed (produced) with synthesizers, drum machines, sequencers and computers
Backbeat
hand claps or snare hits on beats 2 and 4
Loop based
built on small sections of music (loops) that are designed to be continuously repeated
Remixes:
A track built by altering and changing an already established track
Bootlegs
remixes that are not solicited
Edits
small changes made by a producer or DJ to tracks. They are not solicited by a producer and usually only used the editor (not really shared). Edits are often done to make a track more conducive to small changes made by a producer or DJ to tracks. They are not solicited by a producer and usually only used the editor (not really shared). Edits are often done to make a track more conducive to being mixed in a DJ set.
Electro- Acoustic Music
music developed in Western Europe and North America during the early 20th century (and UofT!) It used electronics and early computing technology to generate sound.
Notable Electro -Acoustic Composers
IannisXenakis (1922-2001) §Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928-2007) (ex. Studie I 1953) §Milton Babbit (1916-2011) §Pierre Boulez (1925-2016) §Mario Davidovsky (1934
Chracteristics of EDM
Four-to-the-floor Kick Drum. ¡Hand claps or snare hits on beats 2 and 4 (backbeat). ¡Loop based: Built on small sections of music (loops) that are designed to be continuously repeated. ¡Sub-sections built on 2 beat units (2-4-8-16-32). ¡Rife with genres, sub-genres, and sub-sub genres.
Predesecors or EDM
Electro-Acoustic Music,Experimental Pop,Disco, Electro-Funk
Disco
A dance music genre that contained elements of soul, funk and pop. Initial audiences (during the early 1970s) were gay, Black, and Latino club-goers in the American mid-west (Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia). Disco often uses electronic instruments (synthesizers/drum machines) and many of its rhythmic characteristics are found throughout EDM genres (the disco beat).
Afro-Futuerism
an aesthetic that combines elements of science fiction and futurism with afrocentrism. An approach to futurism informed by black experience and history
Detroit Techno
Begins in Detroit with the Belleville 3 (Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson). ¡Exposed to German experimental pop via radio (The Electrifyin’ Mojo) and New York electro, they begin experimenting with drum machines and synthesizers. ¡They become well known on the black Detroit party scene, and eventually gain popularity throughout the mid-western United States during the 1980s. ¡First wave: §Juan Atkins §Derrick May §Kevin Saunderson§Blake Baxter §Anthony Shakir¡Second Wave §Carl Craig §Jeff Mills §Richie Hawtin
Techno Stylistic Characteristics
120-135 BPM (beats per minute). ¡“Artificial” Sounds. ¡Abrasive timbres (often mimicking sounds like car alarms or loud factories). ¡A distinct lack of harmonic and melodic change. ¡Dystopian Affect (dark, sinister, brooding).
Chicago House
Grew out of the 1980s Chicago black gay disco scene. ¡The term “house” originated from the Chicago club The Warehouse, where their resident DJ Frankie Knuckles would edit/remix disco records. ¡During the 1980s it gained popularity in American cities like New York, Baltimore, Detroit, and Newark. ¡By the late 80s it began achieving commercial success and became integrated into mainstream popular music. ¡Early house producers include: §Frankie Knuckles §Lil Louis §Masters at Work §Mr. Fingers
House Characteristics
115-128 BPM (beats per minute). ¡Instrumental “Organic” Sounds (electric bass guitar,, strings, guitars, woodwinds). ¡Often features a vocalist. ¡A relative lack of harmonic and melodic change, however there are often chord progressions and recognizable melodies and bass-lines in place. ¡Often described as: groovy, sexy, warm, funky. ¡Example: Can You Feel It? (MK-Dub remix), Ch
UK Rave
Example: Leeds Warehouse Mix, LFO 1991. ¡LFO was a group from Leeds England who released on Warp Records ¡More aggressive than American house music §Faster, brasher, more abrasive, hardcore ¡Consists of a main bass line and a single lead loop (a melodic loop played throughout the song). ¡Supplemented by string-like synthpads (a term for synths that sustain chords for background harmony, often like a orchestra)
Trance
Developed during the late 1990s in Germany. ¡Became widely celebrated in Holland during the early 2000s ¡Characterized by it’s distinct melodies, dramatic chord progressions and large melodramatic builds ¡Seeks to be both hypnotic and euphoric. ¡Notable trance musicians include: §DJ Tiesto (example: Adagio For Strings Tiesto Remix) §Armin Van Buuren§Above and Beyond §Paul van Dyk
Dubstep
Dubstep was created in south London during the early 2000s. §Notable producers include: Skream, Benga, Plastician, Burial. ¡Influenced by drum and bass, 2-step, and dub (British sub-genres that characterized by their use of break-beats and fast tempo) ¡Dubstep is heard at half speed, with rhythmic accents (snare hits) on the 3rd beat. 1-2-3-4 1-2-3-4¡Features a “wobbly” bass, a lower frequency sound that changes in timbre and volume as it is played.
Third Track
Record A is mixed with Record B creating a “new” record, known as the
DJ performance
DJ performance consists of the continuous sounding of recorded music. ¡Record A is mixed with Record B creating a “new” record, known as the “third track.” ¡This is done by using multiple turntables (or digital emulators) and a mixer.
Dj Performance evaluation criteria
DJ performance is evaluated by: §Technical proficiency: The ability to move elegantly and seamlessly between records. §Curatorial skill: The ability to choose records that work well together. DJs are dubbed “Selectors.” §Reading the Crowd: The ability to judge the crowd and play the appropriate music that enhances their experience as dancers and listeners. §Example: Using Traktor DJ software.
Groove construction
the combination of loops to create interesting and danceable rhythmic structures. Groove: How are loops overlapped to create an interlocking rhythm?
