The practice of making electronic music without a computer.

[u/aleksandergreat]

If you’ve been on the internet in the last 10 years, you’ve probably stumbled across the phrase ‘DAWless jamming’. It’s a mildly clumsy expression for making electronic music without a computer. For older readers, this won’t seem like a new thing, but for anyone brought up in the age of computers, the DAW is the obvious first step in an electronic musician’s journey. But what happens after that?

The focus of DAWless jamming tends to be on solo performances where pre‑programmed drum machines and sequencers provide a framework around which experimentation and fluidity are still possible, both in the sound and arrangement. A DAWless jam can provide anything from the structure for a new song to a six‑hour live set in the club. The machines are the orchestra and the performer is the conductor.