LIVE PERFORMANCE & PRODUCTION

OF ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC

a talk with
Thor Rixon

8th July, 6pm CET. Online. €20

THE WORKSHOP

This workshop is centred around the intricacies of live electronic music performance and production in the current DJ dominated landscape of club and festival culture. We will dive into the technicalities of varying live setups, from inception, through execution, to the stage. Along the way we will touch on music production techniques such as; sound design, song structure, mixing & mastering.

THE DETAILS

This online workshop is designed for electronic music producers, performers, and enthusiasts who want to bridge the gap between in-the-box production in Ableton Live and the tactile world of external hardware. We will cover essential concepts of live electronic dance music performance, starting from beginner-friendly fundamentals and moving toward more advanced workflows using machines such as Elektron devices (Octatrack, Digitakt, etc.)

Who Is This For?

  • Beginner to intermediate producers interested in live performance

  • Artists who want to incorporate hardware into their Ableton workflow

  • DJs looking to transition into live sets

  • Musicians exploring new performance setups beyond the laptop

    • Understanding the philosophy and intention behind live electronic sets

    • Exploring different types of live setups (hybrid, fully DAW-based, hardware-only)

    • Overview of how Ableton Live integrates with external gear

    • Creating flexible, performance-ready project templates

    • Warping, arranging, and preparing stems, loops, and samples

    • Clip launching, follow actions, and dummy clips for dynamic improvisation

    • Using effects, racks, and macro controls for live manipulation

    • MIDI routing, syncing, and basic troubleshooting

    • Introduction to Elektron machines and similar drum machines/samplers

    • Connecting and syncing hardware to Ableton (via MIDI or Overbridge)

    • Building patterns and sequences on the hardware

    • Managing song structure and live transitions on hardware

    • Combining sound design, performance, and sequencing on the fly

    • Juggling between Ableton and hardware: best practices

    • Looping and resampling hardware into Ableton in real time

    • Creating improvisational moments within structured sets

    • FX routing between DAW and outboard gear

    • Building confidence with live gear

    • Troubleshooting on the fly during a performance

    • How to prepare for a gig: technical checklist and set-building philosophy

    • Crafting a narrative in your set: dynamics, tension, energy flow

MEET THOR

Rising from the South African underground, Thor Rixon has found his home in Berlin’s electronic music community, spreading his unique sound of forward-focused dance music across Europe, with releases on respected House & Techno labels such as Get Physical, Activia Benz, Laut & Luise, and his own labels Vibe Killer & Eko Worldwide.

When he takes the stage, expect energy! He launches a dance floor with an array of analog drum machines, synthesizers, and samplers. Fully improvised live sets that dive deep into intricate and textured soundscapes, which sit on a bed or rolling and pulsing rhythms. Rixon’s production style and live set have made him a growing force in the global dance music community.

His raw and infectious energy has allowed him to perform his live show on the stages of Europe & South Africa’s most notorious festivals and clubs, leaving his mark on Fusion Festival(DE), Garbicz Festival(PL), Lighthouse Festival(HR), Habitat Festival(DE), Watergate(DE), The Great Escape Festival(UK), and Carfax(SA).