Track Analysis
Track analysis is the process of analytically listening and noting down the different aspects of a track. Usually it serves the purpose of providing inspiration for your own creations.
Once you've selected a track you like, buy it, so you don't have to compensate for the processing of whatever platform you'd download it off of.
When selecting a track, try out other genres you might now listen to, typically like Pop or House. Although they're not directly related to Techno, they can still serve as sources for inspiration.
Once you have the file, create a new Audio Track add it into Ableton and make sure:
- "Warp" is disabled
- The Start Marker is set to the first beat of the clip
- The Tempo (BPM) is set so the beats of the track align with the grid.
The following sections are meant as an assistance to kickstart your critical listening of the track:
Composition & Mixing
- What are the different elements?
- How do the elements relate to each other?
- What are the element's characteristics?
- Where are the elements spaced?
- How loud are the elements?
Use an EQ to filter away frequencies, to better understand the individual element's composition
Arrangement
- When are elements introduced?
- When are elements removed?
- How long are these sections?
- Is there a pattern to the changes?
- Is the pattern broken at some point?
- How are the transitions made?
- What motif is the track going for?
Relevant Note(s):