No Manual refers to the exploration of music technology in unintended ways, leading to the discovery of new genres, while changing the way we make music forever. Many times in the past, manuals were not readily available (especially with used or borrowed equipment), so becoming one with the instrument was essential.
Pulling from the Blacktronika Archives, we will share clips of many of the innovators discussing their 'no manual' process as well as the manufacturer's 'manual' intended use.
SOUNDSYSTEM COLLAGE BLACKTRONIKA (2023-07-03) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Jamaica gave us subs and dubs
From Tom The Great Sebastian's 1950s SoundSystem to Duke Reid's Trojan and beyond, soundsystem culture brought communities together, sparking an unexpected record culture & business that put Jamaica in the history books at the forefront of music innovation.
SOUNDSYSTEM ANATOMY SLIDE (2023-07-03) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Rewind culture
The Jamaican DJs were the first to manipulate vinyl in a dance context, rewinding the songs with added delay back to the beginning to build anticipation. It was an indication of a massive tune.
JAMAICAN SOUNDSYSTEMS BLACKTRONIKA (2023-07-03) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Legends of the culture
These soundsystems established loving community environments while simultaneously creating friendly competitions between them. This sparked the Soundclash, who had the best soundsystem, records, DJ (mc's), bands and soon to come, studios!
Jamaican sound systems in the 70s
A snippet of the Jack Ruby Soundsystem, listen for the sound effects used to manipulate the vinyl recording.
“A system has to allow you to feel the music. It should embrace you, engulf you, make you feel warm.”
- Mikey Dread
BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVES : MAD PROFESSOR AND DON LETTS (2023-07-03) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVES and BRUNO NATALBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Producer Mad Professor and Don lets on the beginnings of Dub
From the film Dub Echoes by Bruno Natal, is a snippet from our class presentation.
KING TUBBY AND THE MCI BOARD (2023-07-23) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
The MCI mixing board as time machine
Manual: MCI (Music Center Incorporated) mixing boards, were known for their sound quality and warm analog sound, especially on the lower frequencies, giving it character.
No Manual: The innovator of Dub Reggae, King Tubby was an engineer who rewired the famous MCI board into a sonic time machine. Using the 'big knob' extreme high pass filter and group sends, he was able to manipulate multitrack recordings with delays and spring reverbs rhythmically as if the mixer was an instrument.
"Jamaican producers and musicians constantly play with time as a non linear construct, manipulating it using effects to expand on and reconstruct rhythms, shifting into otherworldly sonic territories. This takes the listener on a journey, distorting their understanding of reality" - Professor King Britt (UC San Diego / Blacktronika)
KING TUBBY'S CUSTOM MCI MIXING BOARD (2023-07-03) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
King Tubby's customized MCI mixing board
King Tubby meets rockers uptown - Augustus Pablo
One of the greatest dub tracks of all time. Featuring the great King Tubby on the mixing board and Augustus Pablo on melodica and vocals. A complete trip.
BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVES : LEE SCRATCH PERRY IN STUDIO (2023-07-03) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Lee Scratch Perry's Black Ark studio session
One of the most famous and revered Reggae and Dub producers, Lee Scratch Perry in his Black Ark Studios, showing his process, using the mixing board as an instrument. His style is called Rockers.
SCIENTIST AND MAD PROFESSOR (2023-07-03) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Scientist and Mad Professor are from the lineage of Tubby and Perry, carrying the tradition of Dub production.
The Scientist mixes Heavyweight Dub -- "Stop & Frisk
A perfect example of mixing board time travel.
TECHNICS SL23 TURNTABLE (2023-07-03) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Technics SL-23 : The wheels of steel that created a culture
Manual : Released in 1977, the Technics SL-23 was a belt drive turntable with a new Anti Skating feature which improved the needle tracking. There was basic speed adjustment (pitch).
No Manual : The SL-23 were cheaper than the SL-1100, because of its basic pitch control and no direct drive. These were made famous by Grandmaster Flash in the iconic film, Wild Style for his 'Quick Mix' scratching technique. Kool Herc know for the 'Merry Go Round' technique ('77) used the SL-1100.
BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVES : GRANDMASTER FLASH x WILD STYLE SLIDE (2023-07-03) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVES and Charlie AhearnBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Grandmaster Flash Wild Style
Using the Technics SL-23, Grandmaster Flash's famous 'quick' mix footage. Remember there is no pitch control.
Much respect to the 1200 but if it wasn't for the Technics SL-23, belt drive, the Quick Mix Theory, there would be no music bed for humans to speak on, no Hip Hop/ Rap
- Grandmaster Flash (via Twitter)
DJ KOOL HERC SLIDE (2023-07-03) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
DJ Kool Herc
FOUNDATIONAL HIP HOP DJ ICONS (2023-07-03) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
The DJ icons of hip hop culture
DJ Grand Wizard Theodore
"My mom came and bust in the room, turn the music down or turn the music off. When she was in the room talking to me I was still hold the record back and forth with both turntable playing at the same time. When she left I rewound the tape and heard myself doing it"
Technics ad Blacktronika.018 (2023-06-23) by Technics and BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Technics SL-1200
The SL-1200 was a direct-drive turntable version, with a more precise system and pitch control to speed up or slow down, it marked a new era for DJs allowing for 'beat matching', improved scratch techniques and performance.
“The first Hip-Hop DJs should be considered Musique Concréte artists. Just to have the audacity to put your hand on the vinyl was Avant Garde. This was developed in hip hop culture, thus changing the future of music”
- Maria Chavez (Experimental Turntablist)
BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVES : JAZZY JEFF x FRESH PRINCE '87 (2023-07-03) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Blacktronika Archives: DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince '87
Iconic Philadelphia turntable genius Jazzy Jeff demonstrating his early signature techniques. One of the most precise and technically masterful DJs of all time.
Blacktronika Archives: Jazzy Jeff on inspiration
In this clip, DJ Jazzy Jeff tells our Blacktronika class about his inspirations.
UBB ALBUM COVERS (2023-07-03) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Ultimate Beats and Breaks Series
The Ultimate Beats and Breaks Series created and edited by Bronx DJ Breakbeat Lou Flores and Lenny Roberts as a way to preserve the hard to find 'breaks' that were the foundation of hip hop. This was simultaneously when sampling was accessible thus changing music forever.
Blacktronika Archives : BreakBeat Lou on the culture
In this interview in the Blacktronika course, Breakbeat Lou (Ultimate Beats and Breaks Series) explains the importance of preserving the foundational breakbeats of hip hop culture.
BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVES: John Carluccio on transcribing scratching (2023-07-03) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
John Carluccio On transcribing scratching
BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVES : HANK SHOCKLEE MISSION AROUND SAMPLING (2023-06-28) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Blacktronika Archives: Hank Shocklee mission around sampling
One of Hip Hop's most forward thinking innovators and Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame recipient, Hank Shocklee of Public Enemy, discusses the importance of DJ vinyl in the live show with our Blacktronika class.
"For me I just wanted to do something that was totally DJ friendly. I wanted to prove that the turntable was just as much of an instrument as any other instrument that was out."
- Hank Shocklee (Public Enemy / Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame)
Public Enemy Live '87 UK (2023-07-01) by DARKSIDE JUICE and BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Public Enemy Live Def Jam Tour 1987 London, England
Public Enemy's live performance prominently featured the DJ on stage playing instrumental tracks from Shocklee's recording sessions.
KING BRITT DIGABLE PLANETS TOUR VINYL (2023-07-03) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Blacktronika Archives: DJ Silkworm tour vinyl
Professor King Britt was the original DJ for the Grammy Award winning band Digable Planets. This is a signed double tour vinyl that was pressed specifically for the shows. They contained Butterfly's chosen beats and samples only from the album to manipulate under the live band.
"The two genres that really stood out in the 90s were hip hop & acid jazz. Acid jazz, the UK hybrid of American soul music, started to resonate here in the States. With the success of Soul II Soul & Brand New Heavies, this sound was reminiscent of 1970s soul with a new electronic twist. The crossover of both genres started to happen as well, not only in the studio but live as well. Giant Step (NYC), Brass (LA), UFO (Japan) & Back2Basics (Philly) all had bands with DJs."
- Professor King Britt
BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVES : KING BRITT x MTV INTERVIEW (2023-07-03) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Blacktronika Archives: King Britt x MTV Interview
In this 1998 clip, Professor King Britt explains his Philadelphia collective Sylk130 and the importance of DJ as instrumentalist and part of the band.
New Sounds presents: Maria Chavez
Abstract turntablist Maria Chavez is a sound artist that deconstructs sound by physically breaking vinyl, then reconstructing by using chance as a factor in her technique. Here she is also using the Rake two headed needle by by Randal Sanden Jr.
Turntablism : “the art of manipulating sounds to create new music, sound effects, mixes and beats, typically by using two or more turntables and a cross fader-equipped DJ mixer.” [wiki]
Turntablist : “One who uses the turntable in the spirit of a musical instrument”
- DJ Babu (Beat Junkies)
BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVES : Dj's AMIRA AND KAYLA (2023-07-03) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
DJs Amira and Kyra perform a routine
The next generation of DJing is so bright. Utilizing traditional scratching with new cueing and technology.
Blacktronika : Afrofuturism in Electronic Music, is a course created by Professor King Britt for University of California San Diego. The research honors all the innovators of color that have and continue to contribute, to the advancement of electronic music. The growing archive consists of many amazing interviews directly with the iconic, legendary and contemporary artists. This page will create special exhibits around the archival content.
For more detailed archives: Blacktronika.com
Curated by: King Britt
Produced by: King Britt and Pablo Dodero
Project Management: King Britt and Pablo Dodero
Project Support: University of California San Diego
Interviews appear courtesy of Blacktronika Archives
Special thanks to all of amazing guests and artists that have contributed their love and time to the class and most of all, the culture.
