It shares the technique of creating a high-energy collage from abstract, synthetic noises, including samples, bleeps and squelches: it rarely uses instruments that have not been processed by effects.
Similarly, quantized drum-machine kit and percussion sounds are favored over naturalistic human breakbeats.
However, it usually adheres to drum and bass norms in other regards, especially in terms of musical structure, with the emphasis on the "drop".
[10] One of the first incarnations of the techstep sound is DJ Trace's remix of T-Power's "Mutant Jazz" which appeared on S.O.U.R.
This remix, co-produced by Ed Rush and Nico, features the trademark stepping beats and distorted Reese bassline which would become symbolic of the techstep genre.