Musician and YouTuber Hainbach on ‘Breath of the Wild’ and Swiss Army Knives
Stefan Paul Goetsch, better known as Hainbach, is a German experimental composer, artist, and YouTuber who is perhaps most famous for making music with laboratory equipment and scientific instruments.
Stefan Paul Goetsch, known as Hainbach, is a German experimental composer and YouTuber who treats music production like the "Dark Souls of synthesis." He is renowned for crafting sound using laboratory equipment and gear salvaged from nuclear testing facilities.
The short version
- Released six albums in 2025, including the collaboration Gentle Hum.
- Launched a new plugin with AudioThing based on GDR train service filters.
- Created the Gauss Field Recorder app to turn phone recordings into music.
What happened
In a recent profile, Hainbach discussed his prolific output and his reliance on arcane tools, such as Nagra reel-to-reel recorders and Swiss Army Knives for repairs. Beyond music, he shared personal anecdotes about playing Breath of the Wild with his children and his "Destruction Loops" installation designed to exorcise online hate and far-right speech.
Why it matters
Hainbach represents a commitment to the tactile and the obscure in an era of automation. By dismissing AI music generators as "slop machines" for technocrats, he emphasizes the joy of mastering a craft and the unique sonic textures found in obsolete scientific hardware.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at The Verge via the links above and below.