Richie Hawtin: deconstructing the dancefloor with Traktor

From his early days in the Detroit techno scene to his status as a global icon, Richie Hawtin has always viewed DJing as a deconstructive and additive art form. In our latest video, Hawtin breaks down his current performance setup, showing how he layers Traktor, analog mixing, and live production to create unique storytelling for every crowd.

Video studio credit: Made in LX
Photographer: Matias Garcia

Beyond the decks: live sequencing

To truly find your own sound, Hawtin suggests looking beyond standard DJ hardware. His setup includes a Launchpad running Bitwig for live percussion and melodic sequencing.

• Synced melodies: A step sequencer allows you to create new melodies in real time. Traktor sends the key of the current track to Bitwig, ensuring every new element stays in tune.
• The “Third Hand”: He even uses a MIDI effects pedal to control software parameters with his foot, freeing up his hands for more complex transitions.

Transparency and the dancefloor

For Hawtin, technology should always serve the community. He uses a background program to post his tracklist to a Telegram channel in real time, supporting the producers whose music makes his sets possible.

Find your flow

The goal of all this technology is to help you reach a state of muscle memory and intuition. When your setup becomes second nature, you can stop thinking about the gear and start reacting to the crowd’s energy. By being true to your own taste and staying open to the possibilities of your equipment, you can create the infectious feedback loop that makes dancefloor culture so special.

Experience the power of Traktor

Whether you’re looking to layer complex loops or remix tracks on the fly with AI-powered stems, Traktor is designed to give you total creative freedom. Discover how Traktor Pro 4 can transform your performances and help you build your own unique sound.

Discover Traktor Pro 4

Interested in using Beatport Streaming in your DJ sets? Unlock a free copy of Traktor Play when you sign up for a 30-day free trial of Beatport Streaming Advanced or Professional.

Richie’s track list:

• Chris Rubbra – “Linear’
• DBFB – “Catalyst”
• TWO/THREE – “Feel The Groove”
• Marc Houle – “blahla 135bpm sept25”
• Reece Pritchard – “Sahara (Original mix)”
• Toni Alvarez – “Get Funky”
• DJ Dextro & Cardao – “Time To Go”
• Luca Maniaci – “Hyperion”
• Luca Accardi – “Encke”
• Marc Houle – “fuckup 133 bpm Sept 25“