Many of them are film/tv composers or touring musicians. Kris: We love to engage with our customers. What was the reasoning for doing so and what advantages and disadvantages might come with using a plugin version of one of your modules versus the hardware counterpart? Noise Engineering was also one of the first modular companies to jump into developing plugins for non-modular users. It’s far easier to swap out the filter in a modular system than it is on a fixed-architecture synth. And with the number of amazing module companies out there, there is no shortage of different modules if you get tired of one. There’s a learning curve, but when I teach workshops, I describe it as potentially a different instrument every time you patch it, even if you don’t change the modules. Kris: Also, modular synths are infinitely versatile. We talk to a lot of artists who spend a lot of time in the box, and they almost inevitably tell us that the tactile nature of modular makes them engage with and think about their music-making process differently than other instruments. Stephen: Modular synths offer a completely different way to interact with an instrument. What would be your theory as to why there has been such a meteoric rise in popularity and why should an artist consider getting into the modular game? Modular Synthesizers have had a huge boom in the last decade. And don’t forget the Oxford comma (it’s a core value). Stephen: Don’t take ourselves too seriously. Kris: We could probably sum up our ethos as work hard, have fun, make cool things. But we often get pigeonholed into an industrial/techno sort of sound, so it’s fun to show how our products do soft and pretty too. Stephen: We both grew up listening to a lot of industrial/goth music and that certainly shapes a lot of who we are. Central to that is making things really immediate: when you plug in a module or instantiate a plugin, we want it to be obvious what to do to get started. Seriously though, we try to focus on creating products that facilitate experimentation, encourage creative expression, and ultimately redefine the possibilities of electronic music production. Kris: Mostly we are a small team of awkward nerds who really love sound and music. How would you describe the ethos of Noise Engineering? Throughout the existence of Noise Engineering, you’ve always had a signature sound and aesthetic. Below is a brief conversation with Stephen and Kris about the company and their unique approach. Check out the Freequel Bundle, which is indeed free and includes two synthesizers and a very fun distortion. In addition to a growing catalog of hardware synthesizer modules, Noise Engineering also produces a series of plugins that bring their sound to a much wider audience. Their modules have a very distinct sonic aesthetic that I was quickly drawn to, and I’m humbled to also call them very dear friends. Noise Engineering was founded in 2016 by husband and wife team Stephen McCaul and Kris Kaiser after they both quit their full time jobs to pursue a passion. This month’s Sonic Drop, Noise Engineering Modular Motifs, is a collection of melodic and bass loops created using a Noise Engineering modular synthesizer system.
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