Technopedia Glossar

Old-school flavor with 303 acid: Acid techno is hypnotic, wild, and its sawing basslines drill directly into your brain. For true rave purists.

Swedish DJ and producer Adam Beyer is a techno icon and founder of the influential label Drumcode. Known for his driving, often percussive sound, he has shaped the scene for decades with his powerful sets.

Spanish producer with signature kicks. Brutal, direct, uncompromising – Adrián is a favorite of the uptempo hard techno crowd.

When the club closes, that's when the real fun begins. Secret locations, sunrises, and last cigarettes – after-hours parties are the secret heartbeat of the scene.

When even the after-party ends, but nobody wants to go home, the **after-after-party** begins. Often in private apartments or even more secret locations, these gatherings are the absolute heart of the raver community – intimate and unfiltered.

Belgian DJ and producer **Amelie Lens** is one of the most popular figures in techno today. Her sound is known for its raw, hypnotic, and driving energy, which she celebrates at festivals and clubs worldwide.

Brazilian DJ and producer ANNA has made a name for herself with her dynamic and often percussive techno sound. She is known for her energetic sets and her releases on renowned labels.

A rising star from the UK, **Azyr** is known for his dark, industrial, and fast-paced hard techno. His productions and sets are characterized by raw energy and atmospheric sounds.

When two DJs perform together and alternate track by track, it's called **B2B**. It's a dynamic type of DJ set that often creates unexpected musical synergies and thrills the crowd.

As resident DJ of Berghain and founder of Klockworks, **Ben Klock** is a fixture in Berlin techno. His sound is deep, groovy and uncompromising, often with a dark, hypnotic quality.

The legendary club. Between concrete, bass, and bouncers, your raver fate is decided – in or out, ecstasy guaranteed.

One of the most renowned platforms for live electronic music streams. **Boiler Room** brings DJs and producers to intimate settings, often surrounded by the crowd, and broadcasts their sets worldwide. A window into the global scene.

German DJ and producer Boris Brejcha is known for his unique "high-tech minimal" sound and his Venetian mask. His sets are a blend of driving beats, complex melodies, and a distinctive atmosphere.

Beats per minute – the unit of measurement for the pulse of the track. While house music chills at 120, hard techno often races past 150. The higher the BPM, the more intense the music.

A **break** is a short, often tense pause in a track where the beat stops or is significantly reduced. It serves to build energy before the next drop drives the crowd wild again.

A living legend and a pioneer of electronic music. Carl Cox is known for his charismatic performances, his versatility between house and techno, and his ability to captivate any crowd. Oh yes, oh yes!

Belgian DJ and producer Charlotte de Witte is one of the world's leading techno artists. Her sound is characterized by dark, driving, and often acid-infused techno that makes dance floors shake.

The **closing set** is the final act of a party or festival. The DJ playing the closing set has the task of either gradually winding down the energy or giving it their all one last time to end the night in an unforgettable way.

More than just going out – it's a lifestyle. Those who "club" live nights amidst bass, fog, and walls of sweat. For many ravers, the weekend begins on Friday – and ends early Monday morning.

Simply "Core"? Never soft. Whether hardcore, speedcore, or Frenchcore – the addition signals escalation level 3000.

British DJ and producer Dax J is known for his raw, uncompromising, and often fast-paced techno. His sets are high-energy and push the crowd to its limits.

Italian DJ and producer Deborah De Luca has built a huge fan base with her unique mix of hard techno and melodic elements. Her sets are energetic and full of passion.

A dark subgenre with hard basslines, industrial flair, and deep sound design. The music sounds like a nighttime tunnel trip full of strobes and sweat.

**Dark Disco** combines the driving grooves of disco with a dark, melancholic touch. Synthesizers, slow, hypnotic beats, and a certain heaviness make this sound unique and perfect for the early morning hours.

Techno originated in Motor City. Funky, mechanical, minimalist – the root of all rave evolutions.

A **DJ set** is a DJ's performance in which he or she seamlessly blends different tracks together. It's more than just playing songs – it's an art form that creates atmosphere and guides the crowd through the night.

The **drop** is the moment everyone's waiting for: After a suspenseful break, the beat kicks in again with full force. Pure energy that makes the crowd explode and guarantees goosebumps.

Pure depth. Dub techno undulates, echoes, flows. The sound for after the peak – when the synapses learn to float.

Dutch hard techno DJ and producer **DYEN** is known for his raw, fast, and uncompromising sets. He brings an unparalleled energy to the dance floor and is a favorite in the harder techno scene.

A legendary Berlin club that played a central role in the German techno scene in the 1990s. The **E-Werk** was known for its industrial spaces and its groundbreaking parties, which significantly shaped electronic music culture.

Berlin-based DJ, producer and label head of BPitch Control, **Ellen Allien**, is a pioneer of German techno. Her sound is diverse, ranging from experimental to dancefloor-oriented, and she is known for her high-energy performances.

Although located in London, **Fabric** is an internationally acclaimed club known for its excellent sound quality and diverse bookings. A mecca for electronic music lovers, it often features German DJs and acts.

Large-scale events that last several days and often feature multiple stages with a variety of DJs and live acts. **Festivals** are highlights in the raver calendar, combining music, art, and community under the open sky.

Sound of sound systems. DIY culture, off-grid raves, full bass – Free Tekno is musical resistance in the 180 range.

A unique cultural and music festival in Germany that goes far beyond just techno. The **Fusion Festival** is known for its alternative atmosphere, diverse music styles, art installations, and a strong community.

The gold standard in club sound systems. These systems deliver bass that gets under your skin – a true sonic storm. A Funktion-One dance floor is sacred.

An extreme subgenre from the Netherlands. BPMs exceeding 160, distorted kicks and furious energy – Gabber is techno in adrenaline mode.

A psychedelic subgenre that originated in Goa, India, in the late 1980s. **Goa trance** is characterized by complex melodies, atmospheric sounds, and often long, meditative arrangements. A journey for mind and body.

A cult venue in Karlsruhe. Concrete bunker, sweat, love – Gotec is like a mini Berghain in Baden. Legendary.

A festival classic with 150 BPM and a gigantic kitsch factor. Breaks, melodies, drops – guaranteed laser-fueled mayhem.

Livestream legend with a washing machine vibe. HÖR brings the underground to your living room (or warehouse) – live.

The mysterious French producer **I Hate Models** is known for his dark, emotional, and often industrial-influenced techno, which combines elements of trance and EBM. His music is intense and captivating.

Spanish DJ and producer **Indira Paganotto** has quickly made a name for herself with her psytrance-inspired hard techno. Her sets are energetic, spiritual, and full of driving rhythms.

Not just the animal: In slang, **hangover** refers to the state after an excessive night of partying. Headaches, fatigue, and the desire never to get up again – an unavoidable part of the rave cycle.

The heart of every techno track: The **kick drum** (or simply "the kick") is the driving bass drum that sets the beat and energy. Especially in hard techno, the kick is often distorted, hard, and dominant.

Club, fetish temple, state of emergency. Anyone who wants to rave at KitKat leaves their shame and shirt at the cloakroom.

German DJ and producer **Klangkuenstler** has evolved from deep house to one of the leading names in hard techno. His sets are known for their raw, driving energy and the fusion of old-school and modern sounds.

Another Berghain resident, Kobosil, is known for a dark, aggressive, and often industrial-tinged techno sound. His productions and DJ sets are intense and uncompromising.

An essential part of the rave experience. **Light shows** and **visuals** (projections, videos) enhance the music and create an immersive atmosphere that appeals to the senses and intensifies the journey on the dance floor.

German DJ and producer Lilly Palmer has quickly become a popular figure in the techno scene. Her sound is driving, energetic, and often interspersed with melodic elements.

Unlike a DJ set where tracks are mixed, a **live act** often performs their music spontaneously and in real time using hardware such as synthesizers, drum machines, and computers. Every performance is unique.

The **main floor** is the epicenter of every club – this is where the main energy pulsates. It's usually the largest room, where the headliners perform and the crowd dances most densely. The place for the most intense moments of the evening.

As a resident DJ at Berghain, Marcel Dettmann is a master of deep, percussive, and often minimalist techno. His style is raw, powerful, and shapes the sound of the Berlin underground.

A subgenre of techno characterized by atmospheric melodies, often epic soundscapes, and a driving but less aggressive beat. Ideal for emotional journeys on the dance floor.

Less is bass. Minimalism focuses on groove, repetition, and hypnotic reduction – techno for connoisseurs.

A **modular synthesizer** is a synthesizer made up of individual, interconnectable modules. It allows for enormous sonic freedom and is popular with many techno producers and live acts for creating unique, experimental sounds.

A diverse arts and music festival in Hamburg, featuring electronic music, including techno, in a unique urban harbor setting. **MS Dockville** is known for its creative atmosphere and the fusion of music and visual arts.

One of the largest and oldest open-air festivals for electronic music in Germany. **Nature One** attracts tens of thousands of ravers and offers a wide range of electronic genres, from trance to hardcore, across numerous stages.

French DJ and producer Nico Moreno is known for his extremely fast, raw, and aggressive hard techno. His sets are not for the faint of heart and guarantee maximum mayhem.

Russian DJ and producer Nina Kraviz is known for her eclectic style, ranging from raw acid techno to hypnotic grooves. She is one of the most influential artists in the electronic music scene.

The **opening set** is the beginning of a party or club night. The DJ playing the opening set has the task of welcoming the first guests and slowly building the atmosphere before peak time begins.

German live act and producer Paul Kalkbrenner is an icon of melodic techno. Known for his epic live performances and hits like "Sky and Sand," he fills stadiums and thrills a wide audience.

British DJ and producer Paula Temple is known for her uncompromising, industrial-influenced, and often distorted techno. Her sets are intense and demanding, renowned for their raw energy and innovative sound design.

Peak time is the highest point of a party, when the energy is at its peak, the dance floor is packed, and the DJs are playing their hardest or most popular tracks. The absolute highlight of the night.

South Korean DJ and producer Peggy Gou has made a name for herself worldwide with her unique sound that blends house, disco, and techno. Her sets are full of energy and positive vibes.

The control center for the sound. Every good label has its crew, its vision – and its vinyl records, of course.

Peace, Love, Unity, Respect. An old raver code from the 90s scene. Today often used nostalgically or with a wink – but the spirit remains: partying without hate.

Melodic, atmospheric, and often with a slow build-up – **Progressive House** is known for its epic soundscapes. It's the soundtrack for long nights that unfold slowly and lead to trance-like states.

A **rave** is more than a party – it's an experience. A gathering of like-minded people who dance to electronic music, often in unconventional locations and until the early hours of the morning. It's the essence of techno culture: freedom, community, and ecstasy.

**Rave Heritage** refers to the cultural legacy of the rave movement – ​​from its roots in the 80s and 90s to the present day. It encompasses music, fashion, philosophy, and the enduring DIY mentality that has shaped and continues to shape the scene.

The successor to the legendary Love Parade in Berlin. **Rave the Planet** is a demonstration for the recognition of electronic music culture as a cultural asset and a celebration of community, supported by numerous floats and sound systems.

The special clothing and accessories worn at raves. From baggy pants and colorful tops to futuristic elements – **ravewear** is an expression of individual personality and a sense of belonging to the scene.

A scene staple for everyone who dances the night away with style, heart, and attitude. Gender-neutral, proudly worn – the rave look is a statement.

Frankfurt's legendary district. A place of concrete, bass, and bunker parties. A synonym for honest, gritty techno underground – then as now.

American DJ and producer Sara Landry is a leading figure in hard techno, known for her dark, ritualistic, and "witchy" sound. Her sets are intense experiences that captivate the crowd.

Germany's hard techno export. Hard, monotonous, uncompromising. If you want schranz, you go for it – no frills.

A **sound system** is more than just a collection of speakers. It's a self-built or assembled audio system, often operated by crews who bring their own sound to parties and free raves. It stands for independence and uncompromising bass.

Beyond good and BPM. Speedcore is acoustic terror, faster than your pulse, more intense than any Monday morning.

The quintessential German techno icon. **Sven Väth**, also known as "Papa Sven", has shaped the scene for decades with his marathon sets, his label Cocoon, and his unparalleled aura. A true pioneer and ambassador of techno.

Electronic musical instruments that produce sounds by generating and manipulating electrical signals. Synthesizers are the backbone of electronic music production and enable the characteristic sounds of techno.

An internet icon from the early 2000s. Dancing topless, with anger and dignity through Berlin – the epitome of viral raver culture.

Another Berlin techno pioneer and institution. Tresor is known for its raw, industrial style and its deep, uncompromising techno sounds, which it has celebrated since the early 90s.

This refers to the non-commercial, often subcultural side of the scene. Underground parties and labels stand for authenticity, musical experimentation, and a close-knit community, outside the mainstream.

Blasting at 200 BPM+. Uptempo is the ultimate kick-overkill for the hardcore – faster, more brutal, more uncompromising.

Although digital formats are widespread, vinyl remains the heart of many DJs and collectors. Its warm sound, tactile experience, and tradition make vinyl the ultimate discipline in DJing. True connoisseurs swear by it.

The **warm-up** is the first DJ set of the evening, which gradually builds the atmosphere. The warm-up DJ prepares the dance floor for the following headliners, often with deeper, groovier sounds.

Originally from Detroit, **Warehouse Raves** are legendary for their raw atmosphere. Abandoned warehouses are transformed into temporary temples of techno, with massive sound, strobes, and an energy that can only be found in such industrial settings.

A hard techno DJ from Spain with a god complex and a signature sound. When Zeus is on the decks, it rains kicks and ecstasy.