Musician and YouTuber Hainbach on Lab Gear, 'Breath of the Wild', and Swiss Army Knives

German experimental composer, artist, and YouTuber Hainbach (real name Stefan Paul Goetsch) is known for making music using laboratory equipment and scientific instruments. He describes this approach as the “Dark Souls of synthesis.” Despite relying on “hard mode” production techniques that often involve telephone line testing gear and salvaged equipment from nuclear testing facilities, Hainbach is incredibly productive – releasing six albums in 2025 alone, along with several singles and EPs. His latest album, Gentle Hum, is a collaboration with Turkish composer Başak Günak (Ah! Kosmos). It features a melancholic blend of unconventional percussion, droning analog synthesizers, processed vocals, and, as always, bubbling test equipment.

In an interview with The Verge, Hainbach shared insights into his essential tools. His most indispensable item is a Nagra reel-to-reel tape recorder, which he uses for live performances and studio work. The first app he installs on a new device is Gauss Field Recorder, an app he co-created to turn field recordings into music instantly. His favorite gadget ever is the Swiss Army knife, which has come in handy on stage for repairing his Nagra recorders. However, after losing several knives at airport security, he no longer carries one.

Hainbach's fondest gaming memories are of playing Breath of the Wild for his children during the pandemic. They were so emotionally invested that they cried at the end and made him promise to replay it – which he did, this time achieving the full ending. Later, his eldest daughter completed the game with 100% shrine completion on master mode. As for tech trends he wishes would disappear, he named AI music and sound generators, calling them “slop machines for technocrats that never felt the joy of getting good at something.” He is most proud of his Destruction Loops series, an installation piece that destroys itself over time, which he used to exorcise online hate comments, regrets, and far-right speech.

The best advice he ever received came from his wife: “Stand still.” She noticed that his early Hainbach shows featured movements learned from playing in rock and electronic bands, which did not match his music. Now he curates every movement consciously. His current obsession is passive bandpass filters; he recently traveled to East Germany to acquire a set that once belonged to the GDR railway.

When he needs to focus, Hainbach can zone in quickly – a skill he honed during mandatory government service when he had only short breaks to create music. If stuck, he takes a walk and challenges his assumptions about the project. He admits to frequently “killing his darlings” – removing beloved but unnecessary elements. The last physical media he bought was Daniela Mars' Heartweaving vinyl. He believes a good bed and mattress are worth splurging on, especially for a touring musician. His biopic tagline? “Hainbach – Cold War Confidential,” referencing his use of Soviet army wire recorders and American nuclear research equipment.