Hainbach Discusses ‘Breath of the Wild’ and the Versatility of Swiss Army Knives
Stefan Paul Goetsch, known in the creative world as Hainbach, is a German experimental composer, artist, and YouTuber celebrated for crafting music with laboratory gear and scientific instruments. He likens his approach to the “Dark Souls of synthesis.” Despite employing challenging production methods that often utilize telephone line testing tools and equipment salvaged from nuclear sites, Hainbach remains remarkably prolific, releasing six albums in 2025 alone, alongside several singles and EPs. His latest work, Gentle Hum, is a collaboration with Turkish composer Ah! Kosmos (Başak Günak), featuring a haunting mix of unconventional percussion, droning analog synths, processed vocals, and, naturally, bubbling test equipment.
While his award-winning composing career and numerous musical collaborations would keep anyone busy, Hainbach also thrives as a YouTuber. His channel dives into experimental music techniques, vintage gear, and modern curiosities like the Bastl Kalimba. He frequently partners with companies to translate his unique music-making setup into modern digital audio workstations.
With so many projects in the works, we were curious about what Hainbach values most and what keeps his impressive studio running smoothly.
What is your most indispensable tool?
A Nagra reel-to-reel tape recorder. I use it for live shows, studio work, and sound design. It’s a marvel of technology, the pinnacle of its era, and it still sounds incredible decades later.
What is the first app you install on a new phone or computer?
Gauss Field Recorder. I developed this app with Bram Bos to tackle a problem I faced: I had a ton of field recordings on my phone that I never used, resulting in a chaotic library of unnamed voice memos. With Gauss, I can instantly turn any recording into music and save or share the session.
How many tabs do you have open right now?
Just my two Gmail accounts and this questionnaire for now. Later, that could easily swell to over 20, especially when I’m doing research.
Which social media platform do you use the most (if any)?
I use all platforms fairly evenly, primarily for work rather than leisure.
What is your happy place online?
My Patreon. I cherish the community and the stability it provides. I wouldn’t have been able to embark on my unconventional musical journey without it.
What is your favorite gadget you’ve ever owned?
Without a doubt, the Swiss Army Knife. It’s been incredibly useful both as a kid and now as a dad. I even use it on stage to fix my Swiss Nagras, which work perfectly together. I’ve forgotten it was in my bag on flights, leading to some airport mailings. That’s why I don’t carry it around anymore, fearing I might lose it.
Which was the most disappointing?
Anything that tried to replace the Swiss Army Knife, like those ridiculous credit card-sized tools.
What game do you have the fondest memories of?
Playing Breath of the Wild with my kids during the pandemic. They were completely captivated, and we experienced both struggles and joy throughout the game. When we finished, they cried, and I promised we’d replay it, which we did, this time achieving the full ending. My oldest even completed 100 percent of the shrines on master mode, doing some wild weapon-switching mid-strike to maximize damage.
Which tech trend do you wish would go away?
AI music and sound generators. They feel like soulless machines for those who haven’t experienced the joy of mastering a craft.
What creation are you most proud of?
My series of Destruction Loops. It’s an installation piece that self-destructs over time, created to exorcise online hate comments, regrets from viewers, and far-right rhetoric.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Stand still. My wife observed one of my early live shows and noticed I was still moving like I did in rock and electronic bands. Those movements didn’t match my music at all; they were just habits. Now, every movement I make on stage is intentional.
What is your current obsession?
Passive Bandpass Filters. I’m about to head to East Germany to acquire a set that belonged to Deutsche Reichsbahn, the GDR train service. These filters often produce beautiful sounds, and I’ve built quite a collection. I recently turned one into a plug-in with an Irish company.
What do you do when you need to focus?
Not much, just a little time. I can quickly zone in, a skill I developed during my mandatory government service when I had limited time to create music during breaks.
What do you do when you’re feeling stuck?
I take a walk to reset. Once back in the studio, I challenge my assumptions about the project. Often, the issue lies with the part I built the track around, which may need to step back or disappear entirely. It might have just been a muse, not the core of the piece.
If killing darlings was a crime, I would serve multiple life sentences.
When was the last time you went somewhere without your phone?
At the spa area of a hotel in Karlsbad over the Easter Holiday.
What’s the last piece of physical media you bought?
Daniela Mars’ Heartweaving on vinyl from Bandcamp, directly from the artist. It’s astonishingly minimal and beautiful music.
What do you think is worth splurging on?
A good bed with a quality mattress and pillow. It’s crucial for long-term health, especially for someone who tours.
What would the tagline for your biopic be?
In Germany, we love to add dramatic taglines to titles, even for American films. So perhaps: Hainbach – Cold War Confidential. I use Soviet army wire recorders and American military research equipment to create music, so there’s some truth to that.
What’s the last GIF or meme you used?
I don’t think I’ve ever used a meme, though I’ve seen memes of myself. And now I have eight tabs open, by the way, including one for my new album with Ah! Kosmos that’s currently playing.
