In this episode, The Rack Pack visits the headquarters of Noise Engineering, where we sit down with founders Kris Kaiser and Stephen McCaul. Surrounded by the machines that have shaped some of the most distinctive sounds in Eurorack, we get a behind-the-scenes look at how it all actually comes together.

We dig into the realities of running a modular company in a rapidly shifting landscape—everything from supply chain chaos and scaling production to staying creative when the industry itself keeps evolving. Kris and Stephen open up about how they’ve navigated these challenges without losing the identity that makes Noise Engineering, well… Noise Engineering.

Of course, we also get into their design philosophy: how ideas move from strange sonic experiments to fully realized modules, what inspires their signature aesthetic, and how they balance playfulness with precision. Join us for this journey into how Noise Engineering engineers their noise!

http://noiseengineering.us

In this episode, The Rack Pack welcomes Jason Lim, founder of Instruō, for a deep dive into the ideas shaping one of modular’s most distinctive voices. We explore Jason’s design philosophy—where aesthetics, tactility, and musical intention all collide—and how that philosophy shows up in every Instruō module.

We spend time unpacking his latest project, a massive quad filter that pushes both sonic flexibility and physical presence to new extremes, and what it reveals about his approach to instrument design. Along the way, we get into the balance between features and usability, where new module ideas come from, and how Instruō "makes sounds with the things that they make to make sounds with."

Finally, we look ahead: what’s next for Instruō, where the line between utility and artistry is heading, and how Jason thinks about the future of modular in an increasingly crowded landscape.

https://www.instruomodular.com/

In this episode, The Rack welcomes Adam Harding of Boredbrain Music. We get into the origins of Boredbrain, and how the simple Patchulator blossomed into a full-blown eurorack product line. We also get into the brand-new Xcelon SL desktop mixer—why Adam decided to step outside the rack, what makes this streamlined version different, and how it fits into modern hybrid setups where modular, pedals, and DAWs all collide. Finally, we look ahead to the upcoming EMIXX event in Ashland, VA—what it is, why these smaller regional meetups matter, and how community-driven events keep the modular scene feeling human.

Boredbrain website: https://www.boredbrainmusic.com/

The EMIXX Expo: https://www.boredbrainmusic.com/event/emixx-2026-9/register