Editing Modulate (album) (section)

==Background and production==
Bob Mould issued his fourth studio album ''[[The Last Dog and Pony Show]]'' in 1998, marking his final release for the [[record label]] [[Rykodisc]].<ref name=Morris87/> During tours in promotion for it, Mould billed it as a demise to the "punk-rocky guitar guy standing at stage left, jumping around and yelling", having spent the previous two decades playing [[alternative rock]] and [[hardcore punk]] with his prior bands [[Hüsker Dü]] and [[Sugar (American band)|Sugar]],.<ref name=PMreview/> By the end of the year, he had become tired of working with a full band in a live environment. This aspect,<ref name=PPGMervis>Mervis 2002, p. 28</ref> combined with Mould consuming club music from living in New York City, particularly in [[Chelsea, Manhattan]],<ref name=Outinterview>Rogers 2002, p. 36</ref> marked the beginning of his next album.<ref name=PPGMervis/> Writing for it initially began in early 1999,<ref name=Morris87>Morris 2002, p. 87</ref> until he spent sometime away from music, focusing on his personal life, including losing weight.<ref name=PMreview/> 

Mould worked as a consultant for the [[World Championship Wrestling]] company between late 1999 and early 2000. For some months following this position, he discovered electronic acts such as [[John Digweed]], [[Paul Van Dyk]],<ref name=Morris87/> [[Richard Morel]], [[Swayzak]]<ref name=IWreview/> and [[Nick Warren]], in addition to ''[[Version 2.0]]'' (1998) by [[Garbage (band)|Garbage]].<ref name=Morris87/> He came to the conclusion that it was not dissimilar from the music he was previously making with guitars, highlighting the building of chords and adding [[Groove (music)|grooves]] to single [[Musical note|note]]s.<ref name=Magnetinterview>{{cite web|url=https://magnetmagazine.com/2002/05/12/bob-mould-fightclub/|title=Bob Mould: Fight/Club - |work=[[Magnet (magazine)|Magnet]]|author=Wilson, Scott|date=May 12, 2002|access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref> One electronic release in particular, ''[[Xpander (EP)|Xpander]]'' (1999) by [[Sasha (DJ)|Sasha]], served as an inspiration; he subsequently purchased new [[Electronic music|electronic]] equipment for his studio. He re-learned the songwriting process, solely with [[Sampler (musical instrument)|samplers]], [[synthesizer]]s and [[Digital recording|digital recorders]].<ref name=PMreview/> He sampled [[Single (music)|seven-inch singles]] of other artists work, but abandoned this method after a couple months when it dawned on him that he was attempting it like a [[Disc jockey|DJ]] would, and would have to [[Sampling (music)|pay to release]] material like that. He started to sample guitar parts and grooves he made on his own and alter them, eventually making [[Loop (music)|loop]]s and drum sequences. Mould remarked that it was easier crafting this material than making his debut studio album ''[[Workbook (album)|Workbook]]'' (1989), where he had to "sit down and relearn the guitar", whereas for the new songs, he "pick[ed] up a different set of tools, trying to supplement my songwriting and storytelling style".<ref name=Magnetinterview/> Mould produced ''Modulate'' at Granary 6 in New York City and [[Bearsville Studios]] in [[Bearsville, New York]], with Damien Shannon serving as engineer at the latter. Mould then mixed the recordings at Granary 6 and [[The Hit Factory]], also located in New York City.<ref name=Modulatebooklet/>