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Tap pads or Q W E R — hold for repeat
Tap notes — hold for sustain · Load a progression to set key
Live Pads
hold to sustain bass
Space Play/Stop
1–8 Progression
←→ BPM
Q W E R Pads
Chaos Engine
hold 2s for Dougal mode
⚠ DO NOT PRESS ⚠
DOUGAL MODE ACTIVATED
HOLD TO ENGAGE · RELEASE TO ABORT
HOLD TO ENGAGE · RELEASE TO ABORT
Tempo
128
Show Timer
02:00
Ready — press Start when you are
Each block lasts 2 minutes then auto-advances
Audio Mix
🥁 Drums
135%
🎛 Bass
25%
🎵 Chords
15%
⏱ Delay
Wet
40%
Feedback
30%
Subdivision
✨ Reverb
Wet
40%
Room
Med
Decay
1.8s
16-Step Drum Sequencer
BPM
Load a progression to see the default pattern
Swing
0%
Active step
Current beat
4 rows: KICK · SNARE · CLOSED HAT · OPEN HAT
Patterns
click slot to recall · save to overwrite
Bass Synth
WAAX subtractive
Current: Acid Bass
ENGINE
Description
▸ Using Subtractive engine as fallback — sound still plays
Oscillators
OSC 1
OSC 2
Filter (LP)
Filter ADSR
Amp ADSR
Master
Filter Modulation
Shape
BPM Sync
Depth
400 Hz
Note Sequence
8 steps
Transpose
0
semitones
Standard octave (MIDI 60–69)
Active note
Accent (louder)
Glide (slide)
Playhead
Tap = note · Double-tap = accent · Long-press = glide
A chord progression is the sequence of notes your synth follows — it creates the emotional arc. Tap one to load it.
Techno & Electronic Drum Pattern Library
Authentic patterns from Detroit, Chicago, Berlin, and beyond. Each rhythm carries its own lineage — load any pattern directly into the sequencer, then layer your bass progression on top.
Engine Signal Flow
Pattern Anatomy
16-step grid = 1 bar at any BPM.
Steps 1·5·9·13 are the downbeats. Everything else is syncopation.
Four-on-floor
Kick: 1·5·9·13 — the floor thumps every beat. Works at any BPM. Foundation of all techno.
Snare placement
Snare/clap on beats 5 and 13 (2 and 4 in musical terms) = the backbeat. Moving it to 3·11 or 7·15 shifts the feel dramatically.
Hi-hat density
CH every step (×16) = driving 16th pulse. Every other step (×8) = straight 8ths. Open hats on 4·12 = classic house lift.
Bass note placement
Lock bass root to kick on beat 1. Off-beat bass (steps 3·7·11·15) creates forward momentum. Glide between adjacent notes for acid motion.
Accent + Glide (A/G in step edit):
Accent raises envelope depth and resonance on that step — the 303 "squelch" note. Glide slides pitch from the previous note. Use accent on off-beats to push them forward. Use glide between steps that are a semitone or tone apart for smooth motion.
Accent raises envelope depth and resonance on that step — the 303 "squelch" note. Glide slides pitch from the previous note. Use accent on off-beats to push them forward. Use glide between steps that are a semitone or tone apart for smooth motion.
Chord Progressions for Techno
i–bVII–bVI–bVII (Aeolian rock)
Am–G–F–G · The loop that never resolves. Keeps the floor suspended. UR territory.
Am–G–F–G · The loop that never resolves. Keeps the floor suspended. UR territory.
i–bVI–bIII–bVII (dark minor)
Am–F–C–G · More melodic tension. Each chord pulls against the minor tonic. Drexciya / Basic Channel.
Am–F–C–G · More melodic tension. Each chord pulls against the minor tonic. Drexciya / Basic Channel.
i–bVII (two-chord hypnosis)
Am–G · Simplest possible. Oscillates between tonic and leading tone. Carl Craig / minimal Detroit.
Am–G · Simplest possible. Oscillates between tonic and leading tone. Carl Craig / minimal Detroit.
One chord (no progression)
Just Am, looped forever. Pure rhythm. Bass pattern provides all the movement. Regis / Surgeon peak blocks.
Just Am, looped forever. Pure rhythm. Bass pattern provides all the movement. Regis / Surgeon peak blocks.
i–iv (tonic to subdominant)
Am–Dm · Pulls downward. Creates weight without drama. Good for comedown and late journey blocks.
Am–Dm · Pulls downward. Creates weight without drama. Good for comedown and late journey blocks.
Synth Terminology
Oscillator (VCO)
Generates the raw waveform. Saw = harmonically rich buzz. Square = hollow. Triangle = soft. Sine = pure tone.
Generates the raw waveform. Saw = harmonically rich buzz. Square = hollow. Triangle = soft. Sine = pure tone.
Filter (VCF)
Removes frequencies above (LP), below (HP), or around (BP/Notch) the cutoff. The primary tone-shaping tool.
Removes frequencies above (LP), below (HP), or around (BP/Notch) the cutoff. The primary tone-shaping tool.
Resonance (Q)
Boosts frequencies at the cutoff point. High resonance = squelch. Above self-osc threshold = filter sings on its own.
Boosts frequencies at the cutoff point. High resonance = squelch. Above self-osc threshold = filter sings on its own.
Envelope (ADSR)
Shapes how a parameter changes over time. Attack = fade in. Decay = fall to sustain. Release = fade after note off.
Shapes how a parameter changes over time. Attack = fade in. Decay = fall to sustain. Release = fade after note off.
Env Amount
How far the envelope opens the filter from its base cutoff. High = dramatic sweep per note.
How far the envelope opens the filter from its base cutoff. High = dramatic sweep per note.
LFO
Low Frequency Oscillator — below hearing range. Modulates other parameters cyclically. Rate = speed, Depth = amount.
Low Frequency Oscillator — below hearing range. Modulates other parameters cyclically. Rate = speed, Depth = amount.
Drive / Saturation
Soft-clips the signal, adding even harmonics (warmth) or odd harmonics (grit) depending on the circuit type.
Soft-clips the signal, adding even harmonics (warmth) or odd harmonics (grit) depending on the circuit type.
FM Index / Ratio
FM only. Ratio = modulator pitch relative to carrier. Index = how much the modulator warps the carrier's frequency.
FM only. Ratio = modulator pitch relative to carrier. Index = how much the modulator warps the carrier's frequency.
Karplus Decay
Feedback coefficient in the delay loop. Higher = longer ring. Controls perceived string or surface material.
Feedback coefficient in the delay loop. Higher = longer ring. Controls perceived string or surface material.
Glide / Portamento
Pitch slides from the previous note frequency. 303-style: RC time constant. Moog-style: linear rate.
Pitch slides from the previous note frequency. 303-style: RC time constant. Moog-style: linear rate.
90-Minute Live Set · Drop Workflow
Each block = 2 minutes. Energy tags: INTRO · JOURNEY · BUILDER · PEAK · COMEDOWN
Rig: TR-8 · Behringer Crave · Digitone · SP-404MKII — all clocked together
Drop Anatomy
−4 bars
Filter sweep opens. Cut drums to kick+hat only. Raise reverb send 20–30%.
−2 bars
Kill bass. Ride the silence. Let the progression hang on chords only.
Bar 1 DROP
Full kit + bass back. Hard cutoff reset (sweep from 200Hz up). Accent ON.
+4 bars
Let it breathe. No FX changes. The room catches up. Hold the pattern.
+8 bars
Add movement: open hat layer, chord voicing change, delay throw on bass.
Failure Modes + Recovery
Bass too loud after drop
Trim master vol immediately. Don't reach for EQ first — level is the problem.
Trim master vol immediately. Don't reach for EQ first — level is the problem.
Pattern sounds wrong after patch change
Hit Reset Glide. If still bad, kill bass for 4 bars, retrigger on bar 1.
Hit Reset Glide. If still bad, kill bass for 4 bars, retrigger on bar 1.
Drums and bass out of sync after tab switch
This is a transport issue. Hit Stop then Start — sequencer resets to bar 1.
This is a transport issue. Hit Stop then Start — sequencer resets to bar 1.
Crowd not responding to peak block
Drop BPM 2–3. Counter-intuitive but slowing down briefly creates tension. Then push back up over 8 bars.
Drop BPM 2–3. Counter-intuitive but slowing down briefly creates tension. Then push back up over 8 bars.
Filter self-oscillating unexpectedly
Moog/303 only. Resonance over 0.95/18. Hit bass mute, drop resonance, re-enable.
Moog/303 only. Resonance over 0.95/18. Hit bass mute, drop resonance, re-enable.
Patch Settings
No patch selected
Drum Tuning
Auto — kick body tuned to bass root
The kick drum fundamental tracks the bass sequence root note (2 octaves below). Load any progression to retune automatically.
Synth Terminology Guide
Oscillator — Generates the raw wave. Saw = bright buzz. Sine = pure tone.
Cutoff — Filter brightness. Low = dark. High = bright and cutting.
Resonance — Adds squelch at cutoff. High = classic acid sound.
Env Amt — How much the filter opens on each note hit.
Attack — How fast the note fades in. 0ms = instant pop.
Decay — Time to fall from peak to sustain level.
Sustain — Volume level while key is held.
Release — Fade-out time after key release.
Drive — Soft-clip saturation. Adds warmth and harmonics.
Glide — Slides pitch from previous note smoothly.
Cutoff — Filter brightness. Low = dark. High = bright and cutting.
Resonance — Adds squelch at cutoff. High = classic acid sound.
Env Amt — How much the filter opens on each note hit.
Attack — How fast the note fades in. 0ms = instant pop.
Decay — Time to fall from peak to sustain level.
Sustain — Volume level while key is held.
Release — Fade-out time after key release.
Drive — Soft-clip saturation. Adds warmth and harmonics.
Glide — Slides pitch from previous note smoothly.
About Lawless
Built for live hardware synth performance.
Bass: full WAAX-style subtractive synth engine.
6 synthesis paths · draggable rotary knobs.
100% offline · single HTML file · no dependencies.
Bass: full WAAX-style subtractive synth engine.
6 synthesis paths · draggable rotary knobs.
100% offline · single HTML file · no dependencies.