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 intended purpose.
KORG SDD-200 SAMPLING DELAY BLACKTRONIKA.009 (2023-06-20) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
New York House Music Weapon of Choice #1
Manual: The Korg SDD 2000 is a digital delay unit that incorporates sampling capabilities, allowing users to sample audio and manipulate it with various delay effects. Released in 1984, it was one of the early affordable ways to sample and playback with effects.
No Manual: Bedroom producers figured out rhythmic ways to 'trigger' the samplers from drum machines, using midi, which laid the foundation of New York house, fusing hip hop methods with Chicago & Detroit processes.
Blacktronika Archives: Todd Terry on his original studio
Innovative house producer legend, Todd Terry, discusses his original set up that was the DNA of his iconic sound in the late 80s to early 90s.
TODD TERRY'S STUDIO SET UP (2023-06-28) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Todd Terry's original bedroom studio set up
A very simple set up, the legendary Todd Terry created some of the most important records that established the house sound of NY, combining hip hop aesthetics into a dance context. Sampling was a large part. Limitations lead to innovation.
Black Riot - 'A Day In The Life' (Club Mix) (2023-06-28) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
A day in a life - Black Riot (Todd Terry)
One of the first in a series of massive house tracks that not only defined the New York house sound, but also an entire era. He stated that many tracks during this time were created in a span of a week. Legendary.
Korg M1 BLACKTRONIKA.007 (2023-06-20) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
New York House Music Weapon of Choice #2
Manual: Released in 1988, the Korg M1 Synthesizer combined high quality sampled real instruments with advance synthesis algorithms (AL Synthesis) and a powerful 8 track sequencer.
No Manual: Korg's iconic M1 Synthesizer became one of the defining sounds of the era, surpassing the Yamaha DX7. Many of the organ / piano sounds made its way into house music productions, bringing a bit of realism to a more mechanical sounding genre. New York embraced the triggering of these sounds for rhythm.
Blacktronika Archives: MAW discuss their specific sounds
The legendary NY production duo Little Louie Vega and Kenny Dope, better known as Masters At Work, discuss the use of the Korg M1 and various sounds in their arsenal.
"We were always looking for new sounds, if you listen you will hear a certain [MAW] sound with an era. We bought the newest keyboards and rinsed the hell out of the sounds"
- Kenny Dope (Masters At Work)
One Step Ahead (Masters At Work 12” Dub Remix) - Debbie Gibson (2023-06-28) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
One Step Ahead (Masters At Work Dub) - Debbie Gibson
This remix for the pop princess, Debbie Gibson, redefined dance music remixes in a way that catapulted MAW into superstardom. The infectious build up was truly powerful. Props to Atlantic A&R Johnny D for making this happen.
"The drum machine was the 'poor' man's studio" (poor as in limited means)
- Ron Trent
BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVES : RON TRENT ROLAND 626 (2023-06-28) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Blacktronika Archives: Ron Trent's first drum machine
Legendary Chicago House producer Ron Trent discusses his first production set up.
Roland TR707 X KING BRITT.010 (2023-06-20) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Original Roland TR-707
The Roland TR-707 was actually more popular in the early Chicago house music productions due to its percussion sounds which resonated in a more organic way. Also many artists shared instruments and you would use what you had. The same was true in many cities including Philly, Detroit, and NYC.
Altered States - Ron Trent (2023-06-29) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Altered States - Ron Trent
One of Chicago House legend Ron Trent's most groundbreaking productions of its time.
Alesis HR-16 Blacktronika.016 (2023-06-23) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
West Coast's Hidden Secret
Manual: The Alesis HR16 was one of the first truly affordable drum machines released in 1988. This machine had an intuitive interface and crisp 16bit drum sounds.
No Manual: This was the drum machine of choice for most of the early 90s producers. In particular it was extremely popular in the Freestyle music genre as well as West Coast hip hops hidden secret weapon due to its quantize off capability.
BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVES : GEORGIA ANN MULDROW ON THE ALESIS HR 16 (2023-06-27) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Blacktronika Archives: Georgia Ann Muldrow On the HR16
In this clip Georgia discusses the HR-16 as her first drum machine and how the ability to turn 'off' quantize changed the game.
"You are going to have to play with one of these in your lifetime"
- Sun Ra (referring to the drum machine)
BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVES : FRANCISCO MORA CATLETT ON THE DRUM MACHINE (2023-06-28) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Blacktronika Archives: Francisco Mora - Catlett on Sun Ra
In this clip legendary Mexican drummer Francisco Mora - Catlett discusses the first time Sun Ra asked him to play with a drum machine, thus setting a new path for Francisco and being ahead of many other groups at the time.
MOOG MINI-MOOG BLACKTRONIKA.006 (2023-06-20) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Minimoog Model D: Endless Possibilities
Manual: The Minimoog Model D was released by inventor Bob Moog in 1970. It was the first portable monophonic synth with an intuitive design consisting of 3 oscillators, filters, LFO and envelopes.
No Manual: When the Minimoog hit the market, the access to an instrument that gave you the ability to shape any otherworldly sound easily opened up new sonic colors for Jazz and R&B as shown to the world through Sun Ra, Herbie Hancock, George Clinton, and Stevie Wonder in songs and live shows.
Sun Ra Minimoog Model B BLACKTRONIKA.017 (2023-06-23) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Sun Ra with the Minimoog Model B prototype
Sun Ra was the first musician that inventor Bob Moog sought out to have him tour with the Minimoog B. The power of large modular synthesizers in a portable size changed music forever and Afrofuturist Sun Ra was the perfect person to create with it, especially in a jazz context.
"I'm not here to do what has been done, I'm here on Earth to do what hasn't been done."
- Sun Ra
Space Probe - Sun Ra [snippet]
Space Probe appeared on the deluxe edition. The first Sun Ra recording to utilize the Moog Model 'B' prototype. All solo.
KING BRITT MOOG BLACKTRONIKA.005 (2023-06-20) by BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
King Britt with His First Keyboard the Moog Minimoog Model D
Check out the Moog Music Minimoog Factory story here
Blacktronika Archives: Herbie Hancock Discussing Minimoog
In this amazing clip, the legendary Herbie Hancock discusses the iconic Minimoog bass line from the multi-platinum hit Chameleon from The Headhunters album.
Chameleon - Herbie Hancock (2023-06-28) by HERBIE HANCOCK ARCHIVES and BLACKTRONIKA ARCHIVESBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Chameleon - Herbie Hancock
The first Platinum Jazz album ever. Minimoog Model D on the bass line along with live bass was the first time this was done on the low end in jazz music.
"Make my funk the P Funk, I want to get funked up"
- George Clinton (Parliament / Funkadelic)
Blacktronika Archives: George Clinton on Recording Bootsy
In this Blacktronika interview, the iconic George Clinton from Parliament-Funkadelic, discusses the advanced technology (at the time) for recording Bootsy Collins bass parts.
GoPro POV Bootsy Collins Bass Solo (2023-06-28) by GoPro and Blacktronika ArchivesBLACKTRONIKA EXHIBITS
Bootsy Collins Space Bass Solo [snippet]
Controlling all sounds from his bass, Funk icon, Bootsy Collins early on in his career (as explained by George Clinton in earlier clip) truly explored the subsonic frequency range!
"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, to the culture.
