Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Drums Week 25
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Guitar Amps
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Artist news
  • Drums
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Santana on Beck
  • Friday, I'm in Love
  • Knopfler's 4-note secret
  • 95k+ free music samples
Recommended reading
tape
Artists Richie Hawtin produces short film inspired by '90s Detroit techno scene
ARMNHMR
Djs ARMNHMR on their tools of the trade
Menendez Brothers social post
Artists Have you seen this woman? The Menendez Brothers are searching for the thief who stole their record bag from Fabric
TAKKUUK
Artists “Everyone comes back changed”: Bicep on their new collaborative project with Inuit musicians
Silva Bumpa
Tech Breakout producer Silva Bumpa on the secret to creating sub bass and UKG rhythms
disiniblud
Artists “It creates a tone that you can't find in Guitar Center”: Disiniblud on the self-built instruments behind their debut LP
Nadia Struiwigh
Artists Tresor resident Nadia Struiwigh on why she avoids tutorials and keeps things 'loose' in the studio
  1. Artists
  2. Djs

In pictures: Shadow Dancer

News
By Future Music ( Future Music ) published 3 January 2013

The Techno duo from Manchester show us their studio

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Intro

Intro

Techno twosome Shadow Dancer have been churning out golden tracks for more than 10 years. Struggles with technology and trends resulted in a brief hiatus from music, but the simplicity of FL Studio brought brothers Paul and Al Farrier back with a boomingkick, just as MySpace was at its most effective.

And it was MySpace that led the pair to their first EP release on Boysnoize Records in 2007, followed by their Future MusicAlbum of the Month gem Golden Traxe in 2009. Having remixed the likes of Chromeo, Chilly Gonzales, Zombie Nation and Fischerspooner, and with their latest EP Second City setting clubs alight, we decided it was time to tour their studio.

Page 1 of 11
Page 1 of 11
Roland Alpha Juno 2

Roland Alpha Juno 2

“This was dirt cheap. The Chord Memory function makes it an ‘instant Detroit Techno’ synth, which is reason enough to hunt one down.”

Page 2 of 11
Page 2 of 11
DSI Mopho

DSI Mopho

“Bought to replace our SH-101. It does a good 101/Pro One impression, only with added stability. We haven’t even got into the deep modulation capabilities, we just use it for bass.”

Page 3 of 11
Page 3 of 11
Roland Juno-106

Roland Juno-106

“The sound of so many records that influenced us – especially early B12 and Autechre. Limited, and slightly broken, but there’s no VSTi that authentically replicates it – yet.”

Page 4 of 11
Page 4 of 11
Novation Zero SL MKII

Novation Zero SL MKII

“This comes with a factory preset mapped to the Alpha Juno’s controls, which is all we use it for.We did use the dedicated PG300 controller, but this is actually better. And cheaper.”

Page 5 of 11
Page 5 of 11
Nord Rack 2X

Nord Rack 2X

“Possibly our favourite synth, and certainly the best-sounding VA I’ve heard. We use it for pads, bass and bleeps on everything.”

Page 6 of 11
Page 6 of 11
Akai S900

Akai S900

“We bought this in 1997, when it was already considered archaic, but it ‘unlocked’ making Electronic music for us. The filter is gorgeous. The drums on Perfect Sense are S900 – in fact the new album is pretty much all S900.”

Page 7 of 11
Page 7 of 11
Akai MPC2000XL

Akai MPC2000XL

“A replacement for all our drum machines – Tempest, Machinedrum UW, 909, 707. It’s simpler for our workflow to have everything in one box. We’ve used the MPC1000 and 3000 and, despite what everyone else says, this is our favourite.”

Page 8 of 11
Page 8 of 11
Casio CZ-1000

Casio CZ-1000

“Mostly rubbish, and very noisy. Again, this is a source for sounds we heard on Electronica and Techno back in the ’90s. Apparently, it wasonalotof Erasure tracks, too.”

Page 9 of 11
Page 9 of 11
Yamaha DX-21

Yamaha DX-21

“Cheap, awful to program, only 4-Op... but it does those Derrick May, Juan Atkins bass sounds so well. Feed it through tons of reverb and you get some great Selected Ambient Works and Angelo Badalamenti-style strings and pads!”

Page 10 of 11
Page 10 of 11
Ableton Live 8

Ableton Live 8

“By far the quickest way for us to get ideas up and running. We never use Session View, treating it much more like a linear DAW. There’s been some stability issues with version 8 but it seems they’ve ironed all that out this year.”

Page 11 of 11
Page 11 of 11
Future Music
Future Music

Future Music is the number one magazine for today's producers. Packed with technique and technology we'll help you make great new music. All-access artist interviews, in-depth gear reviews, essential production tutorials and much more. Every marvellous monthly edition features reliable reviews of the latest and greatest hardware and software technology and techniques, unparalleled advice, in-depth interviews, sensational free samples and so much more to improve the experience and outcome of your music-making.

All-access artist interviews, in-depth gear reviews, essential production tutorials and much more. image
All-access artist interviews, in-depth gear reviews, essential production tutorials and much more.
Get the latest issue now!
More Info
Read more
tape
Richie Hawtin produces short film inspired by '90s Detroit techno scene
ARMNHMR
ARMNHMR on their tools of the trade
Menendez Brothers social post
Have you seen this woman? The Menendez Brothers are searching for the thief who stole their record bag from Fabric
TAKKUUK
“Everyone comes back changed”: Bicep on their new collaborative project with Inuit musicians
Silva Bumpa
Breakout producer Silva Bumpa on the secret to creating sub bass and UKG rhythms
disiniblud
“It creates a tone that you can't find in Guitar Center”: Disiniblud on the self-built instruments behind their debut LP
Latest in Djs
Silva Bumpa
Breakout producer Silva Bumpa on the secret to creating sub bass and UKG rhythms
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 18: Gryffin performs on stage during Preakness LIVE At Preakness 149 hosted by 1/ST in the Infield at Pimlico Race Course on May 18, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images for 1/ST )
EDM DJ Gryffin on the moment he learned he’d been duped into performing with a fake Justin Bieber
Calvin Harris and Miley Cyrus
Calvin Harris shuts down talk of a feud with Miley Cyrus after teasing a new song
Silva Bumpa Feel Da Same
Why Silva Bumpa created his own R&B instrumental just to remix it into the garage-inspired Feel Da Same
Eric Prydz DJing Getty images
“I was as shocked as everyone else”: Eric Prydz reveals why he’s changed his mind about playing THE hit
Tomorrowland fire
Martin Garrix sings Metallica's praises after they helped to save his Tomorrowland set
Latest in News
Beatie Wolfe and Brian Eno
“A strange new land with a human living and feeling its way through its mysterious spaces”: Welcome to Brian Eno and Beatie Wolfe’s new album
Josh Homme
What’s on Josh Homme’s to-do list when Queens Of The Stone Age play Sheffield next week?
Pino Palladino and Miley Cyrus
How Pino Palladino turned the demo bassline in Miley Cyrus’s End of the World into something "so much better"
Paul Mccartney Smoking A Cigarette At London In England On June 19Th 1967
“We decided that our audiences would come along with us”: Paul McCartney on how the avant garde influenced the Beatles
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who perform at Parco Della Musica on July 22, 2025 in Milan, Italy
The Who are forced to postpone Philly date on final US tour due to “illness”
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score a massive $1,000 off Roland V-Drums, up to $320 off a range of Fender guitars, and so much more

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...