EG&G 124A - from lab instrument to analog synthesizer

Published on Nov 11, 2019 HAINBACH

"In which I demonstrate the awesome sound power that is the EG&G PARC 124A lock-in amplifier when used for #willitmusic. This research instrument is a crown jewel of making music with test equipment, as it has all the parts that make an analog synth - VCA, multimode filter, oscillator. I have covered lock-in amplifiers before, but this one truly is the best so far. It can do tiny microsounds, glassy pings, throbbing basslines and process a TR-606 into a monster. Check http://patreon.com/hainbach for the sound pack."

Also see: The Sound Of Atoms: Nuclear Instrumentation Modular, and more HAINBACH here.

Inside Hainbach's Wonderful Brain | Fundamental | haQ attaQ

video by Jakob Haq

"Fundamental for iOS and desktop, is the brain child of Hainbach and Sinan Bökesoy. But what is Fundamental and how did it come to be. To understand it we have to dive deep into the world of test equipment music, a world that Hainbach is deeply embedded in. A world where music is made with towering statues of old, obsolete, lab test instruments and cables named "Groß Tuchel" and "Klein Tuchel". -This has without a doubt been one of the most fun haQ attaQ docutorials I've ever had the pleasure of making."

The Far-Right Hates This

video upload by

"The far-right AfD party in Saxony-Anhalt in Germany tried to cancel a new music festival critical of them. This is the story of how it happened against all odds and my contribution to it.

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: http://patreon.com/hainbach MY MUSIC: http://hainbach.bandcamp.com
FASHION: http://teespring.com/de/stores/hainbach"

Related: Hate Loop Tape Destruction feat. Red Means Recording, Simon The Magpie and Noir Et Blanc Vie

Brüel & Kjaer multiplexer from ESA makes test equipment music

Published on Jan 2, 2020 HAINBACH

"In which I show the musical application of the Brüel & Kjaer 2811 Multiplexer that was used by a European Space Agency lab before.

I have been using switches in my music for a long time - the Doepfer A-151 is one of my favorite Eurorack modular synthesizer modules. In test equipment, oscilloscope switches helped in automating note or rhythm sequences. When I discovered the 2811 on my visit to @LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER I was impressed by the musical possibilities. Luckily, eBay came through and I got a unit that was in use at the ESTEC space research centre in the Netherlands before.

The multiplexer enables eight step sequencing of audio signals, which is a game changer for test equipment music. Its fun and playable and would probably be even nice to have in VST form.

Support what I do and get tons of stuff in return: http://patreon.com/hainbach
Find my music on bandcamp, spotify, etc: https://linktr.ee/hainbach101"

The Enchanting LoFi Textures Of An Optical Sound Sampler

video upload by HAINBACH

"Listen to the 'Talentmaker Takes' EP on my bandcamp: https://hainbach.bandcamp.com/album/t...

The Chilton Talentmaker is one of the first samplers, or rather loop players. Like the slightly more famous Mellotron, it allows playback of recorded instruments, but it can play them back as loops. This allows for all kind of endless playback of music, from 'German Band' and 'Polka Band' to 'Waltz Guitar', made famous through Michel Gondry's 'Eternal Sunshine Of A Spotless mind' soundtrack.

The Chilton and its close relatives, the Optigan and Orchestron, were used by Kraftwerk, David Lynch, Tom Waits, The Clash and many more."

Using a Soviet wire recorder as a ghostly space echo

HAINBACH

"In which I explore the wonderful lofi tone of the Soviet made MN61 wire recorder for music. Includes probable Cold War spy communication, a guide on splicing magnetic wire for recording and lots of musical and sound design examples.

Get radio communications from the cold war and support what I do: http://patreon.com/hainbach"

Patching From Scratch | Ciat-Lonbarde Instruments

Published on Apr 17, 2018 HAINBACH

Support what I do by buying my music: https://hainbach.bandcamp.com/

Dream Steps | Ciat-Lonbarde, D1000, OP1, eKalimba

Published on Oct 14, 2018 HAINBACH

HAINBACH LIVE (+ ORCA visuals)
19.10. Hamburg Uebel und Gefaehrlich (with Bad Stream)
20.10. Berlin Kantine Am Berghain (with Bad Stream)
20.11. Düsseldorf Die Digitale
24.11. Leipzig (TBC)
More dates TBC.

Preparing for my live shows I always try to the make the most upbeat music possible. Usually it ends up much darker once I get on stage, as I find making "happy" music hard when improvising. But still, its good to push myself to different places.

Can you power a tape machine with USB? | myvolts REVOLT Now on Kickstarter

video by HAINBACH

"In which I perform a little stress test on the new myvolts REVOLT USB-battery replacement system. Instead of trying to use it with Pocket Operators or other small devices, I see if it will power a vintage UHER Report 4000 Monitor reliably. The results surprised me.

REVOLT KICKSTARTER: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/..."

And the press release:

Irish Company myVolts To Launch ReVolt: the Ultimate Battery Replacement System

Dublin, Ireland: myVolts Ltd. today announced the launch of a new product: ReVolt. Anything that is usually powered by batteries can now be powered by USB. Just swap out the device's batteries with the correct ReVolt adaptor and you're good to go. Deceptively easy to use - but much harder and many hours of R&D to get just right.

“Everyone - especially musicians - hates buying, using, and disposing of batteries.” says Luke Brennan, MD at myVolts

"Despite drives to recycle, 100,000,000 kilos of batteries end up in landfill each year in the EU alone. So we spent 2020 and 2021 developing ReVolt - the solution to this global problem. We think we’ve made something great, and we can’t wait to share it with the world.”

● Adaptable: Use in 1000s of devices: Pocket Operator, Korg Monotron, Game Boy, Sony Walkman, small synths, audio recording units - and thousands of other toys and gadgets.
● Flexible: Use with any USB port.
● Mobile: Power your device with a USB power bank for total power freedom.
● Global: ReVolt can be safely used anywhere in the world.
● Multi-use: Take it out of one device, use it in another.
● Non-destructive: Remove it and your device can take standard batteries again, any time.
● Economical: Buy once.
● Durable: Use 1000s of times.
● Environmentally friendly: No consumables to dispose of.
● Modular: Get add-ons from the system to power different devices.
● No cut-outs: Always know your device will have power.
● No leaks: Safely store devices with ReVolt installed.

ReVolt will go live on Kickstarter 27 May 2021, at 2pm GMT, price starting at 39.99 EUR. The first run of the product is already manufactured and ready to ship worldwide July 2021, so backers can buy with full confidence.

Kickstarter project is live for 30 days at https://bit.ly/3oPiODh (page is in preview mode prior to launch on 27th May, 2pm GMT). Hainbach has stress tested ReVolt, see YouTube video [above].

myVolts Ltd has been solving power and audio problems of musicians for well over a decade, has two previously successfully funded and shipped Kickstarter campaigns, and served tens of thousands of happy customers on Amazon, eBay and their own webshop.

Follow-up to this post.

Light Splitting | minimal ambient with test equipment, pedals and four track cassette

Published on Feb 6, 2020 HAINBACH

"In which I perform a composition on battery powered test equipment, pedals and a four track cassette recorder.

This track stems from many ideas - the first inspiration was my visit to Willem Twee studios and their beautiful setup of sine wave oscillators, with which its possible to create all kinds of amazing tone clusters. It gave me the idea of trying a minimal take on that technique. I did not feel like engaging the test equipment wall, I wanted something small, maybe even portable.

I started with he Brüel & Kjaer 1621 bandpass filter I got as a gift from Felix of the fabolous @Fewjar , as its small and runs on batteries. It takes a saw from the @KOMA Elektronik RH301 and filters it, creating pulses as it jumps from high-low setting. The TouelSkouarn Ar Merc'het Brao is a dual filter but I love it as an oscillator, controlled by the infra-red sensor of the RH301. One out goes into the Cooper FX Outward MK2, which creates more brassy pulses and new harmonies. I then realized that I could power this all from the Koma Elektronik Strom Mobile, which lasts for about 5-6 hours on a single 6000ma USB power bank with this setup. So I set that up instead of crawling under the desk for a free power slot.

Because the setup is small I thought of ways to get more voices, so I did what Stockhausen did - record the sounds to tape. The Fostex X28H to the top right has a cassette loop running. I recorded different pitches on three tracks and play them into the Alesis Wedge reverb to the top left.

When composing and playing it I recalled Silences by John Cage, and tried to think of leaving a broad empty canvas, with music only filling up small parts of it. I hope you enjoy it!

get this track and support what I do on http://patreon.com/hainbach"

DSI Pro 3, iPad Pro Samplr, Drumbrute Impact - Distortion Improv Jam - Tefty & Meems

Published on Apr 8, 2020 Tefty & Meems

Spotted this one on discchord.

"This jam we test out the DSI Pro 3 synth and an iPad Pro app Samplr for the first time in a gritty, more distorted jam. The Drumbrute Impact has separate outs routed to the Mackie board and having the inputs distorting in the red. Same with the Pro 3, the inputs are clipping the Mackie board."

Overview at 3:15.

Here's that Hainbach video they mention:

Using overdrive creatively: preamps, pedals, plugins, test equipment

Premiered Mar 30, 2020 HAINBACH

"In which I detail ways to overdrive signals to make synth and drum machine recordings more engaging - from subtle gain shaping with vintage mixers to all out nuclear test equipment destruction, as well pedals, plugins and modules."

Visiting Willem Twee Studios - a modern early electronic music studio

Published on Feb 10, 2020 HAINBACH

"In which I visit Willem Twee Studios, an amazing electronic music studio in the Netherlands that breathes the ideas and techniques of Schaeffer, Stockhausen, Xenakis and brings them alive for a new generations of musicians.

Built from the collection of Hans Kulk, who has been working with early electronic music tools since 1983, the studio is integrated into Willem Twee, a concert venue in 's-Hertogenbosch. Run lovingly by Rikkert Brok, Armeno Alberts and Hans, the two studios and the beautiful Tonzaal, built into a former Synagoge, breath history. You can find post-war communications technology next to early analog computers, classic Arp synthesizers and custom made tools, as well as a beautiful pipe organ and all you ever need to create tape collages. Everything is ready to be played and recorded, and kept in amazing shape.

This was an absolute highlight fro me personally and I hope to return for a longer stay some time.

Support these excursions and get stuff in return: http://patreon.com/hainbach
By my music and merch: https://linktr.ee/hainbach101"

The Prettiest Analog Synth (That Also Sounds Fantastic)

video upload by HAINBACH

"If you like the synth sounds of Boards of Canada, Plaid and other early Warp acts, and you appreciate beautiful design, the Mutuca FM by Arthur Joly [Reco-Synth] is for you. Arthur send me it a while with no strings attached, and when I finally found time to play with it, I was amazed by its sounds and decided to record a video on it. The Mutuca has a warm and rich tone, almost like it was already processed on tape. Not a synth for every situation, but basses and leads it does charmingly well.

SOUNDPACKS, MUSIC and LOVE: http://patreon.com/hainbach"

Making Music With a Swiss Power Grid Messenger

video upload by HAINBACH

"In which I use a Landis & Gyr Rundsteuerung transmitter to make music. Originally, this was meant to transmit commands over the power grid. Applications were manifold, but always custom engineered: control grid strength, set street lights, railway control or even as an alert for the fire department.

Soundpacks, Music and Love: http://patreon.com/hainbach"

A Most Amazing Analog Filter | Bruel & Kjaer 2107

Published on Jun 25, 2019 HAINBACH

"In which you will see me being happy turning the huge knob of the Bruel & Kjaer 2107 Frequency Analyzer, an incredible vacuum tube amplifier and band pass filter from the 1960s. This was used to analyze signals and vibrations in the most demanding circumstances, but I use it as a glorious overdrive and rich overtone generator. Seriously, this thing sounds a Lagavulin Single Malt by the Atlantic in autumn."

You can find HAINBACH's Test Equipment Music FAQ and Guide here.

Mountain Down | Eurorack Modular Ambient

Published on Jun 24, 2018 HAINBACH

"Get this piece here: https://www.patreon.com/hainbach

The first track I made after screwing together my 'New Game +' modular rack. The Hermod gets notes from the OP1 and sequences everything (so damn quick). Morphagene does a sort of 'advanced shimmer', as I recorded, pitched up and mangle the original patch. Bastl Thyme is space."

The Massive Sound Of An Experimental Soviet Drum Machine

video upload by HAINBACH

This appears to be the first post to feature the RMIF ES-2-5.

"The RMIF ES-2-5 is an experimental drum machine that was made in Riga, Latvia, in the last days of the Soviet Union (1991). It was an attempt at re-creating the Roland TR-808, but was hampered by the lack of microchip technology available. RMIF abandoned the project after only a testing run of 30 units where made. One rare surviving example found its way to my studio in a sorry state. I had it restored to better then new condition, as I feel it is a piece of instrument history. And it sounds so very very heavy and melancholic.

PATRONS get sounds of the ES-2-5: http://patreon.com/hainbach"

00:00 Unboxing
01:08 First Track: With Maestro
02:30 Second Track: Solo ES-2-5
03:27 A Closer Look
05:31 Third Track: FX
06:22 The Sequencer
07:41 History Time
09:16 The Competition At The Time
09:50 Relevance Today

Synth Rorschach #67

via @auralhistories, via symmetry

184 cyclotron found by Hainbach

"In May 2019, a Berlin-based, classically-trained symphony composer with a fondness for converting old scientific gear into musical instruments posted to a discussion forum: 'Any nuclear scientists here? 184[-inch] cyclotron question.'

In a single photo, he presented a mystery: His latest find was a ’70s-era piece of equipment labeled a 'LOCK-IN AMPLIFIER' featuring analogue displays, four dials of varying sizes, and a neat blue sticker label reading '184' CLYCLOTRON, BLDG. 80, RM. 121, EXT. 5467.” Could anyone help him find the story behind it?

Stefan Paul Goetsch, who uses the name Hainbach when creating electronic music, posted the plea hoping the equipment might be traceable via the label. He had no idea that blue sticker would provide a clear connection to a major piece of scientific history..."

Fluss - Kinetic Granular Synthesizer By Bram Bos and Hainbach

video upload by HAINBACH

"It took one and half years, but now it is finally here - Fluss, my latest collaboration with Bram Bos. It is a granular playground for iOS devices - a synthesizer and a processor that is inviting to play yet can give you complex results. The kinetic interface gives you a fun and musical way to interact with it, as your gestures become the speed and depth of the modulation.

Fluss is available now in the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/nl/app/fluss-g..."

Ambient With a Spy Recorder and Ciat-Lonbarde Synthesizers

video upload by HAINBACH

"I switched up my trusty cassette dictaphones for a the "spy recoder", the Série Noir Nagra SN and the results are huge, at least to my ears. I left the window open while recording the piano with they tiny included mic, so you can hear all the little drops of rain on the balcony. The detail on this tiny reel to reel recorder, which was first commissioned by the FBI and later found use in law enforcement and film sound, is astounding. Full video on its musical application coming, enjoy the music in the meantime!

GET THIS TRACK: http://patreon.com/hainbach"