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FAQ Contents:

• What is happy hardcore?
• What is Rave?
• Who are Ravers?
• What is a DJ?
• Who are the well known DJ's?
• What is PLUR?
• What is ROAR?
• How can I make happy hardcore?
• What is Ecstacy or XTC?
• What does XTC do?

 

What is happy hardcore?
It's a mutation of early 90's British breakbeat hardcore and jungle, fused with German/Dutch 4/4 percussion and synthesizer stab patterns. Most common elements are female vocals laid over major piano chords (usually with some bass and strings in the background). Speeds range from 160 bpm up to around 200bpm.

Other names for happy hardcore include:
4-Beat, Happycore and Bouncy techno (or soft gabba)

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What is Rave?
Basically, loads of people who love the music getting together in one place, dancing all night to the music they love. In the US it is normally held underground and envolves loads of tripping and frying (not that different from the UK I 'spose!)... thanks to DJ/THC for that!

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Who are Ravers?
People who go to the above.

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What is a DJ?
Short for Disc Jockey, a happy hardcore DJ is not your average disco DJ. They beat match records so that, in theory, a continuous flow of music can be sustained throughout the duration of a rave.

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Who are the well known DJ's?

• Uk: Brisk, Dougal, Sy, Unknown, Slipmatt, Seduction, Druid, Vinylgroover,
  Ramos, Vibes, Hixxy, Dance, Demo, Clarkee, Billy Bunter, Demand
  Stu Allan, Dream, Jimmy J and Energy.
• Netherlands: Bass-D & King Matthew, Paul Elstak, Charly Lownoise & Mental Theo, The Revolution Team, Gizmo, Isaac, Panic, Waxweazle, Buzz Fuzz, Delirium, Rob, Flamman & Abraxas (the party animals) and Omar Santana.
• US: Omar Santana (also gabba, etc., even has done a trip hop tape!), Eric L.-can be e-mailed at djericl@aol.com, Kage\Paulina Taylor-can be e-mailed at kage19@idt.liberty.com, Demigod, Ron D. Core and R.A.W. (spins old school & jungle too), Delta 9 (also gabba).
• Australia: Spellbound, Nik Fish, Paul Holden, Jumpin' Jack, Akira, Chester, Peter Tribe, Daydream, Asterix, Vegas and Pee Wee.

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What is PLUR?
PLUR stands for "Peace, Love, Unity and Respect". It's an ideal that most happy hardcore ravers strive to live by whilst they are amongst fellow ravers and also hopefully in everyday life!

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What is ROAR?
ROAR stands for "Right Of Admission Reserved". This means that they don't have to let you in the club/event if they don't like the look of you - even if you have paid!!!

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How can I make happy hardcore?
Lots of late nights, a big record collection, a huge sampler, a sequencer and a truckload of Pepsi Max *GRIN*. Spend money on quality equipment and then learn how to mix music. A record label owner was quoted as saying "I've received loads of demo tapes written by some kid with an Amiga and they've gone in the bin after the first listen!"

Seriously though practise, practise, practise. Don't expect your first tune to be the next Toytown!

Starting:
1. Grab your PC
2. Find some tracker software at ftp sites
3. Find sample software at the same sites
4. Get creative
5. This should tell you whether you have enough talent/perseverance to be successful.
6. Think about upgrades:
i. Sampler
ii. Effects
iii. DAT
etc. etc. - Dave Bolton

Basically a sampler and a sequencer is needed.
A sampler takes sounds that you put in and lets you play them back at different pitches. Most samplers let you play the sound on a keyboard, so if a piano is sampled the keyboard will sound like a piano.
A sequencer lets you record tracks, for example track 1 could be a piano, track 2 could be a breakbeat, etc. It is different from a multi-track tape recorder in that it only records which notes are played (e.g. C for 1 beat then D for 2 beats then E etc.) rather than the actual sounds that come out.
There are several ways of constructing the setup, from using a program like a soundtracker, which makes the computer (normally an Amiga or PC) act like a sampler, to buying a real external sampler. - Mark White

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What is Ecstacy or XTC?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Ecstasy is MethyleneDioxy- MethAmphetamine. Other names include E, X or Adam. In it's raw form it is a brown/grey powder. Patented in 1913 by a German company called Merck. It is a hallucinogenic drug with extraordinary empathogenic qualities.

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What does XTC do?

When ingested Ecstasy triggers the release of Serotonin. A chemical in the brain that affects the way we feel. The user will then experience a change in mood. Each user would describe the feeling differently but almost universally they will mention a feeling of calm, or at peace with those around them. As well as Serotonin the brain will release Endorphins. These will also relax the user and in many cases Endorphins act as pain-killers. There will be a change in the heart rate of the user as the heartbeat increases as does the blood pressure. The main effect the drug has on people is to allow them to become more spiritually aware of the people around them, to increase one's empathy, and to make one feel 'amongst friends.' There is also a sensation known as rushing, which is similarly difficult to describe as sneezing or having an orgasm. This comes in waves all through the trip, but more often at the begining. It is a very powerful feeling of light-headedness, during which it is common to want to hold someone's hand close to you. This is also the time at which you realise how the drug got it's name.

The above information is taken from the uk.music.rave FAQ with the kind permission of Simon Patten.

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