How I Make ‘Modular Techno’ With Repro1

Welcome to this guide to making a modular techno sequence in U-he’s Repro1. So what do I mean by ‘modular’? Obviously this isn’t Eurorack, but – with modular techno you have sequences and sequencers triggering all sorts of parameters for off-kilter sequences. Here I use velocity in the sequencer to move 2 other parameters to give the synths a lot of modulation movement. There’s a free download of the patch below, a step by step article guide and a video.

You can hear the beat I’m making here:

See also: Repro-1 Presets: Techno Sequences, Industrial Techno Ableton Racks, Detroit techno Chord Sequences, ABL Pro Patches, and all our other drum pattern articles. You can get all our free Ableton racks here. Also: Techno Ride Cymbal, Techno Stabs Presets For Ableton with Free Rack, Free Techno Chord Arp Ableton Rack, Dub Techno Presets For Ableton, Industrial Techno Sequence Rack, Dub Techno Chord Rackm Free Techno Chord Arp Ableton Rack.

FOLLOW US FOR FREE SAMPLES, RACKS AND TUTORIALS…

---

How I Make ‘Modular Techno’ With Repro1

The basics of this patch is that it uses Repro-1 and the built in sequencer, the sequence uses velocity to modulate 2 parameters, like you would use with a second row of a modular sequencer.

I made some presets for Repro-1 and I use one of them here, it’s called ‘StudioBrootle Techno Sequence 10’. You can get these presets for free in the Downloads section below. You can also see the settings in the images below, but I’m going to describe exactly how I made it in any case…

Step 1: Set Up the Sequence

First of all I set up the midi and sequencer. The midi is just one long note at D3 that repeats each bar. Then in Repro1 I set the sequencer length to 6 as I want a shorter than the bar sequence, for a ‘modular effect’. This is like changing the pattern length on a 303 or modular sequencer to 6 instead of the normal 16. Which is quite common in modular synths, it gives the pattern a rolling feel as it’s shorter that the normal 16 notes. You can set the midi for longer than 1 bar if you like for more of a polyrhythm effect. Also try using different sequence lengths and see how you get on, 3 and 5 are good too.

I add a couple of slides for longer notes, and change some notes to taste. I also change velocity at random. We’ll come back and tweak this later on once it is modulating something.

Step 2: Set Up the Synth Settings For a Nasty, Detuned Techno Sequence

Then I tweak the synth settings until it sounds good. Here I’m not using any of the mods, just the 2 oscillators and filters. The oscillators are fine tuned: one up and one down a bit to give it that thick detuned sound. I keep the filter low and a filter envelope to cut the sound short (we’ll modulate this envelope in a bit). I put all the effects on, I don’t use the Jaws much, just to add a little bit of distortion. I love the ResQ, which is great to shape the sound with its resonant filter bands (we’ll modulate this with the sequence and automate it for movement).

Step 3: Set Up the Modulations To Give the ‘Modular Techno’ Sequence Movement

I then set the modulations which are a big part of the sound. You need to click on the small ‘Keys’ tab on the bottom left of the screen to toggle showing the keyboard instead of the Effects section. Then in the bottom right you have the Perform section where you can assign modulations. I assign the Filter Envelope Sustain and ResQ Mid Frequency to velocity. This way I can ‘play’ them with the Sequencer velocity and then each note will have different lengths and ResQ amounts, giving the sequence a lot more movement with notes pushing through the filter at different lengths depending on velocity as well as the ResQ acid-like filter tweaking jumping about in line with modulation. You can set the amount on the knobs next to them. You can assign these to loads of different parameters, give it a go as it is great for techno sequences.

Step 4: Set Up the Sequencer to Move the Modulations And Automate Other Parameters

Once the above is set up, I go back to the sequencer and change the velocities until I get something I like. These modulations give the sequence a lot of movement and take it away from just static, same-length, repetitive 1/16th notes.

Then I start to automate the synths out to build tension and keep the sequence moving. I open up the sound with the Filter Cut Off and automate the ResQ bands for that tweaking filtering sound.

The rest of the beat is really simple with just some 909 percussion and a sub bass sequence, I go into full info in the video below…

Follow this link for more free presets for U-he’s Repro-1.

---

How I Make ‘Modular Techno’ With Repro1 – Video:

Here’s a video tutorial and run down of the rack on our Youtube channel….

Please subscribe to the youtube if you haven’t yet: youtube.com/@studiobrootle 

---

---