How to make MODERN Melodic Techno like Afterlife and [Colyn]

Afterlife and their artists are leading the modern melodic techno genre, setting the standard for contemporary sound design in techno music.

Colyn is highlighted as one of the most popular artists in this genre, representing the stripped-down beat approach combined with sophisticated synth work.

• Stripped-down, minimalist beat foundation • LFO-driven, complex synth riffs as main melodic elements • Balance between percussive simplicity and advanced synthesis

The session will build a complete track from scratch, demonstrating how to construct modern melodic techno in the style of Colyn and Afterlife artists.

Using samples from Mercurial Premium Artist Sample Packs, transpose the kick one note down for F sharp minor key, then shorten it and add processing with EQ, overdrive, and delay for house effect.

• Simple hi-hat sound on the high end for balance • Contrast with humanoid shakers using two different samples • Apply LFO in random mode for natural, human-like attack variation • Add subtle overdrive and EQ processing to each layer

• White noise hat with auto pan, slow reverb, and vocoder for ambience • Typical rim shot sound, slightly stereo, with EQ and side-chain to kick • Simple clap with organic unlock character, overdrive, and EQ on top

Group all drum elements together and apply glue compression to unify the sound, then cut super lows and apply side-chain compression to the kick for driving feel.

Create a plucky, click bass sound using Analog wavetable with softest sound selection, bringing down randomness for stability and using a very fast attack envelope.

Add a sub layer one octave below the main bass with a short envelope on the cutoff, using a Moog 24 filter for authentic sound.

• Use down-sampling distortion to create white noise texture • Add high-pass filter at full cutoff, then reduce mix amount for subtle presence • Create a second distortion layer with higher distortion for exaggerated effect

Apply side-chain compression from both kick and clap to duck the bass, then add EQ to cut super highs and compression with glue for cohesion.

Add an F sharp constant bass using Serum with simple slider unison and wave selection, then apply EQ and side-chain to kick for integration.

Create a percussive, blackish sound using Serum with basic sliders, mixing different waveforms like small squares and triangles to stay away from typical sounds.

• Apply low-pass filter mode 12 with envelope modulation for articulation • Add detune to oscillators for richness • Include hyper dimension with distortion for character and edge

Create a smooth pad using Serum with two oscillators where the second is one octave lower, using LFO for wavetable position modulation, simple envelopes, and a smooth 6dB low-pass filter with slight chorus and compression.

Begin with Serum and activate an arpeggiator before sound design to establish the repeating melodic pattern foundation.

• Use wavetables with combined sawtooth and square wave characteristics • Layer oscillators one octave apart for depth • Reduce randomness for steady, stable sound output

Create a short attack envelope for percussive character, then use LFO 1 on the cutoff with shift-alt one-sided modulation for the characteristic calling effect.

Add analog alpha noise layer synchronized with oscillators, adjust noise bias towards the altered frequency, then apply EQ to cut super lows for clarity.

• Use Analog Juno wavetables for both sliders • Activate sub layer at -1 octave for depth • Use Moog 24 filter with unison at 9 for white noise character

Use multiple envelopes to schedule when noise and oscillators enter the sound at different times, creating a complex evolving texture with delayed attack characteristics.

Route LFO to cutoff with BPM sync, and to multiple oscillator and noise levels to create the characteristic evolving melodic techno effect with gradual sound morphing.

Open the filter slightly but keep it closed enough to control high noise frequencies, modulate filter position aggressiveness using macro linked to LFO for plucky-to-grouped sound variation.

• Apply glue compressor after dynamic sounds to avoid super loud or quiet parts • Add echo with dark character at 180 milliseconds with ping pong delay • Use reverb with longer decay time for ambient texture

Automate cutoff, macro position, and reverb parameters throughout the track since three different parameters cannot be controlled with two hands, requiring written automation.

Use Ozone to tighten reverb by making low frequencies mono while opening up high frequencies for bigger, mono-compatible reverb that maintains clarity.

• Apply cycling compressor to kick on master • Use simple delay for rhythmic effects • Employ reverb with opened high frequencies for drum groove • Side-chain compression on kick throughout the track

• Track starts with single bass note, then changes into chord progression • Patch sounds enter playing the same groove with chord progression variations • Slight whoops and pads added throughout for texture and transitions

Create volvo pads with humanoid character using flanger automation, then resample the track with huge shimmer reverb and add octave-tuned-down versions for depth.

Send multiple elements to shimmer reverb throughout the track to create big ambiances on transitions and dynamic sections, using automated fader sends.

Apply final reverb and delay processing to complete sections, use mono-compatible reverb techniques for professional width, and cycle compressor on kick for cohesive master bus.

Complete project file is available on Patreon for those who want to study the finished track and examine all automations, notes, and motion in detail.

Similar sound can be created using Pigments synthesizer which offers better automation control and slightly prettier sound characteristics compared to the Serum approach shown.

Mercurial Premium Artist Sample Packs and presets available with 25 percent Black Friday discount on kicks, hi-hats, percussion, and project files through December 1st.

Mercurial Tones is running a One Sample Community Edition challenge lasting two weeks where producers create tracks from provided samples, with four winners receiving prizes and featured videos on the channel.