Brazilian producer Acid Asian has quickly become one of the key artists on Charlotte de Witte’s KNTXT imprint, returning this fall with his fourth release for the label. His new five-track EP Let’s Go builds on the raw, high-energy sound that has earned him sets at Tomorrowland Belgium, Tomorrowland Brazil, and KNTXT showcases in São Paulo, Amsterdam, and Manchester. Each track pushes forward with relentless drive, rooted in acid lines and percussion influenced by Japanese taiko rhythms.
Supported heavily by de Witte in her own sets, the EP reflects Acid Asian’s blend of psytrance power and techno precision. From the title track’s mantra-fueled acid groove to collaborations with WAIO on “Technologic” and “Haunted House,” the release finds him sharpening a style that is both theatrical and club-ready. His ability to bring spiritual motifs into hard-hitting production gives Let’s Go its distinct identity.
In this edition of How It Was Made, Acid Asian breaks down the tools behind the EP, from classic acid synths to gritty processing. He also shares production advice on finishing tracks, building strong ideas, and focusing on one main character element in every piece of music.
Main Plugin / Synth: Roland TB-303
For this track, I used the TB-303 plugin by Roland, which emulates the original hardware synth that defined acid house, acid techno, and psytrance. You can choose between square or saw waves and shape the sound with cutoff, resonance, envelope, and decay controls. This plugin has been a core part of my productions for years, since that squelchy acid tone is what first pulled me into techno.
On “Let’s Go,” I used the preset “Distortion + Delay Saw” to build the main acid groove around the vocal hook and mantra. I processed the sound with Logic’s OverDrive for saturation, plus EQ to clean the low and high ends. I also automated the cutoff to add tension and variety. Across the track, I created three variations of the acid groove: one paired with the rolling bass and vocal, another blended with the mantra, and a final return to the original bass-and-vocal combination.
If you are new to this sound, the TB-303 plugin is worth exploring. The presets are strong starting points, but the real value is in tweaking everything until you find a character that feels unique.
Oxygen Bass
I leaned on Oxygen Bass for the psytrance-style low end. It’s a simple, intuitive plugin that lets you shape attack, decay, sustain, release, and glide, making it easy to get ideas down quickly.
For “Let’s Go,” I used the preset “Radiant C2 – C3” for both the rolling bassline and the groove that drops in under the mantra. I processed the sound with CamelCrusher for saturation, added sidechain compression, and EQ’d to cut low-end rumble. During the build-up, I automated filters to sweep frequencies open and create energy before the drop.
This plugin is perfect if you want psytrance or techno basslines without getting lost in endless tweaking. Its simplicity helps keep your workflow fast and creative.
CamelCrusher
CamelCrusher has been a longtime favorite because it combines distortion, compression, and filtering in one free plugin. It’s versatile and easy to use, which makes it great for adding weight and grit across a mix.
On “Let’s Go,” I used it mainly to saturate the drums and give the kick extra punch. I started with the “Annihilate” preset and adjusted until it felt balanced in the mix. One trick I like is lowering the monitor volume while checking levels, which makes it easier to hear if something is sticking out too much.
Despite its age and lack of updates for newer DAWs, CamelCrusher is still a powerful tool for shaping the energy of a track.
Quick Fire Tips
- Finish everything – Even if it’s not perfect, every finished track teaches you something valuable for the next one.
- Test constantly – Unsure about a plugin, sound, or sample? Try it out. Testing quickly is how you find your sound.
- Pick a main character – Every track should have one defining element, whether it’s a groove, melody, or vocal. Let the rest support it.
- Enjoy the process – Compare your work to your past projects, not to other artists. That’s how you’ll see your real progress.
The post How It Was Made: Acid Asian – Let’s Go (KNTXT) appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.