Trancemaster is a long-running CD compilation series, issued by the label Vision Soundcarriers, a sub-label of Eurovision Soundcarriers.

History

The series began in 1992 with 'Trancemaster Vol. 1', at a time when the genre of trance was in its infancy. As a result early volumes contained a variety of genres, including ambient house

Ambient house

Ambient house, a music genre that first emerged in the late 1980s, is a sub-genre of house music, combining elements of acid house and ambient music...

, Goa Trance

Goa trance

Goa trance is a form of electronic music that originated during the late 1980s in Goa, India.-History:The music has its roots in the popularity of Goa in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a hippie capital, and although musical developments were incorporating elements of industrial music and EBM...

 and techno

Techno

Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...

, as well as a sub-title (such as 'The Goa Gap' or 'Hardtrance Experience'), but gradually the series stabilized to become centred around the European trance sound.
The title of each volume was originally joined by a sub-title (such as 'The Goa Gap' or 'Hardtrance Experience'), but since its 24th volume each compilation has been marketed with its number in four figures (meaning Volume 24 became '2004').
The format of each volume has varied over the years. Initially each edition featured a single disc of 12" mix tracks, before double disc volumes began with 'Trancemaster 7 - The Future Watch'. Some volumes were released with a third, mixed CD. Early volumes were also released on vinyl. Typically around five volumes are released per year, with the series currently on it 74th volume..