Record label • Electronica
Raster (formerly Raster-Noton)
- 1996Founded
- ChemnitzGermany
- 6Artists
Raster-Noton came out of Rastermusic, founded in Chemnitz in 1996 by Olaf Bender and Frank Bretschneider, and Carsten Nicolai's Noton label. The two merged in 1999. After a split in 2017 the Noton name stayed with Nicolai, while Raster continues under Bender and handles the shared back catalogue.The sound is precise, minimal and often built from clicks, pulses and sine tones. Alva Noto, Ryoji Ikeda, Frank Bretschneider and Byetone are central names, with Ryuichi Sakamoto and William Basinski among its collaborators. Raster is known in the scene for its design led releases, and new records continued to appear in 2025 and 2026.
About Raster (formerly Raster-Noton)
Label facts| Founded | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Based in | Chemnitz, Germany |
| Founders | Olaf Bender, Carsten Nicolai, Frank Bretschneider |
| Sound | Electronica |
| Status | Active |
Raster-Noton came out of Rastermusic, founded in Chemnitz in 1996 by Olaf Bender and Frank Bretschneider, and Carsten Nicolai's Noton label. The two merged in 1999. After a split in 2017 the Noton name stayed with Nicolai, while Raster continues under Bender and handles the shared back catalogue.
The sound is precise, minimal and often built from clicks, pulses and sine tones. Alva Noto, Ryoji Ikeda, Frank Bretschneider and Byetone are central names, with Ryuichi Sakamoto and William Basinski among its collaborators. Raster is known in the scene for its design led releases, and new records continued to appear in 2025 and 2026.
Artists on Raster (formerly Raster-Noton)
Roster and regulars- Alva Noto
- Ryoji Ikeda
- Frank Bretschneider
- Byetone
- Franck Vigroux
- Grischa Lichtenberger
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What genre is Raster (formerly Raster-Noton)?
Raster (formerly Raster-Noton) is best known for Electronica releases. The label has been releasing music since 1996.
Who founded Raster (formerly Raster-Noton)?
Raster (formerly Raster-Noton) was founded in 1996 by Olaf Bender, Carsten Nicolai and Frank Bretschneider and is based in Chemnitz, Germany.
Who releases on Raster (formerly Raster-Noton)?
Artists closely tied to Raster (formerly Raster-Noton) include Alva Noto, Ryoji Ikeda, Frank Bretschneider, Byetone, Franck Vigroux and Grischa Lichtenberger.
Where can I buy Raster (formerly Raster-Noton) releases?
Releases are available on Beatport, on Bandcamp and through the label's own site.
Who are the biggest artists on Raster (formerly Raster-Noton)?
Ranked by chart points over the last 12 months, the top artists on Raster (formerly Raster-Noton) are Alva Noto (0 tracks), Ryoji Ikeda (0 tracks), Frank Bretschneider (0 tracks), Byetone (0 tracks) and Franck Vigroux (0 tracks).
Label information from the label's official channels (api.discogs.com, api.discogs.com, api.discogs.com). Last checked 8 Oct 2026.