LOUDNESS in Techno (without compression)

Techno is a minimalistic genre with few tracks, so having at least one louder element helps fill the mix and prevents the overall track from sounding weak.

Darker techno sounds typically occupy the lower mid-range, lacking presence in the mid-high and high frequencies, which makes them harder to stand out in the mix.

• Louder sounds have more aggressive character • They create more presence and punch in the mix • This depends on your specific techno subgenre and artistic goals

A muffled tab example shows how strategic loudness and brightness can enhance the dark tone without losing the original feeling.

This is a guideline that often works well, but experimentation is recommended since each sound and case is different.

Multiple small changes using different devices work better than applying one large change with a single device, allowing you to increase loudness step by step.

Use multiple techniques at lower percentages rather than pushing one technique heavily to achieve louder and brighter results.

• Saturator for gentle harmonics • Amp for subtle crunch • Rearender for multi-band distortion • Overdrive for additional grit • Chorus/Ensemble for stereo enhancement

Saturator adds gentle saturation to introduce extra harmonics and gain perceived loudness without heavy distortion.

• Medium curve for standard application • Hard curve for more aggressive, in-your-face results

Adjust the drive parameter to control the amount of saturation, keeping it subtle and gradual.

The sound becomes slightly louder with added presence while maintaining control over the effect.

Amp is typically used to beef up bass and create a buzzy, crunchy sound.

Apply amp in very small amounts to achieve brightness without heavy distortion.

• Set output to dual for stereo compatibility • Use clean mode • Keep dry/wet around 8%

The sound becomes slightly brighter with subtle crunch enhancement.

Rearender's multi-band mode allows you to apply different distortions to specific frequency ranges simultaneously.

Target the mid-high and high frequencies to enhance brightness and make the dark sound cut through the mix more effectively.

• Low band: Fractal at 20% • Mid band: Tube at 50% • High band: Poly at 70% • Each sound reacts differently, so experimentation is essential

Adjust drive weight and frequency parameters to achieve 20% wet amount, providing significant loudness and brightness increase without excessive distortion.

Overdrive serves the same purpose as saturator but works slightly differently, adding harmonics and grit to the sound.

• Use wider frequency range, adjustable later • Reduce dynamic to 0% • Adjust drive for desired crunchiness

The tone parameter affects darkness; adjust carefully to maintain the desired character while increasing loudness and fullness.

Overdrive adds grittiness and crunchiness that can enhance the overall character, with dry/wet adjustment controlling intensity.

Increasing the stereo width of a sound can enhance its perceived fullness and presence in the mix significantly.

Chorus/Ensemble is an effective method to add stereo width, offering an alternative to other techniques like H-Effect.

• Set mix to 100% • Rate around 2 Hertz • Width at 200% for maximum stereo effect • Reduce dry element to a small amount (5-10%)

Find the sweet spot between stereo enhancement and avoiding excessive phasing effect; the technique works well even in mono compatibility.

A Rearender rack combines all techniques: saturator, amp, multi-band distortion, overdrive, and chorus/ensemble for comprehensive loudness enhancement.

Save each effect as an individual preset rather than relying solely on the complete rack, allowing flexible mixing choices.

• Use some presets sometimes, others at different times • Mix and match based on sound requirements • Avoid overusing all effects simultaneously

The rack is available for free via the link in the video description.