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| Make Noise | |
|---|---|
| Name | Make Noise |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founders | Tom Erbe, Tony Rolando |
| Headquarters | Asheville, North Carolina |
| Products | Eurorack modules, synthesizers, educational materials |
| Industry | Electronic musical instruments |
Make Noise
Make Noise is a manufacturer of electronic musical instruments and modular synthesizer modules based in Asheville, North Carolina. The company is known for producing Eurorack-format modules, standalone synthesizer instruments, and educational resources that have influenced contemporary electronic music, sound design, and experimental composition. Through product development, community engagement, and collaborations with designers, composers, and institutions, the company has played a notable role in the resurgence of modular synthesis during the 21st century.
Make Noise was founded in 2008 by Tom Erbe and Tony Rolando, emerging contemporaneously with a revival in analog synthesis championed by entities such as Moog Music, Mutable Instruments, Doepfer, Buchla, and Korg. Early trajectories placed the company within the broader networks of modular synthesis exhibition spaces like Moogfest and educational initiatives at institutions such as Berklee College of Music and New York University. The firm’s timelines intersect with movements in electronic music from scenes associated with Berlin Atonal and the Red Bull Music Academy to academic research at labs like MIT Media Lab and festivals including SXSW. Key personnel and collaborators have come from backgrounds that include work with studios attached to NPR, the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, and private design firms.
Make Noise’s release schedule and product launches were often synchronized with trade events such as NAMM Show and Superbooth Berlin, positioning the company alongside peers like Korg, Roland, and boutique manufacturers such as Intellijel and Erica Synths. Over time, the company expanded its reach through distribution partnerships and artist endorsements tied to composers and performers who have appeared at venues like Carnegie Hall and festivals including Sonar.
Make Noise produces a catalog of Eurorack-format modules and integrated instruments that reference design lineages from pioneers like Buchla and Don Buchla as well as engineering traditions exemplified by ARP Instruments and Moog. Notable modules developed in-house include complex function generators, voltage-controlled oscillators, and bespoke utilities that complement modules by manufacturers such as Mutable Instruments, Intellijel, 4ms Company, and Erica Synths. Standalone instruments and tabletop systems from the company have been exhibited alongside devices from Teenage Engineering and Elektron.
Their offerings often integrate with software ecosystems and hardware controllers that work with protocols originating from the MIDI Manufacturers Association and the Open Sound Control specification developed at CNMAT. Modules are frequently used in modular rigs that incorporate modules from Doepfer and Make Noise’s contemporaries, enabling patching strategies employed by artists who have performed at venues such as Warp Records showcases and labels like Ninja Tune.
Make Noise’s design philosophy emphasizes experimental signal flow, psychoacoustic exploration, and hands-on interaction, drawing inspiration from designers associated with Buchla and researchers at institutions like IRCAM and CCRMA. The company often prioritizes analog circuitry, discrete transistor and operational amplifier topologies, and hybrid digital control where appropriate, aligning with engineering approaches seen at Analog Devices and in publications from IEEE. Technical choices reflect an interest in observable signal manipulation and emergent behavior found in systems studied by researchers at Sonic Arts Research Centre and universities such as Stanford University.
Control interfaces and ergonomics show lineage with interfaces developed by Elektron and Teenage Engineering, while modular format adherence facilitates interoperability with standards maintained by Doepfer and the Eurorack community. The company has explored voltage control methodologies related to music research at IRCAM and control-voltage practices common in labs like STEIM.
Make Noise has collaborated with designers, artists, and institutions including independent module designers, academic labs, and boutique manufacturers. Partnerships have linked the company with community-facing organizations such as Moogfest and educational programs at Berklee College of Music and New York University. Collaborative product development and artist modules have been associated with figures in experimental music who have performed at festivals like CTM Festival and labels like Thrill Jockey.
Distribution and retail partnerships place the company within networks that include specialized retailers and distributors that also represent brands such as Intellijel, Mutable Instruments, and Doepfer. Collaborations with software developers and control-surface makers reflect engagement with ecosystems promoted by the MIDI Manufacturers Association and the Open Sound Control community.
Make Noise modules and instruments have been adopted by experimental musicians, sound designers, composers, and educators working across scenes that include contemporary classical ensembles presented by Lincoln Center and electronic music artists associated with Warp Records and Ninja Tune. The company’s instruments appear in studio setups alongside gear from Moog Music, Roland, and Korg, and are used in soundtracks, live performance, and academic research in institutions such as Goldsmiths, University of London and University of California, San Diego.
Artists who have utilized modular systems including the company’s modules have performed at venues and events like The Barbican Centre, Berlin Atonal, and Sonar, contributing to the visibility of modular synthesis in popular and experimental contexts. The firm’s educational initiatives and community workshops echo practices found in maker spaces associated with Fab Lab networks and university makerspaces.
Make Noise operates within a global boutique musical-instrument market alongside manufacturers such as Moog Music, Korg, Roland, Doepfer, and Mutable Instruments. The company’s distribution model leverages specialized retailers, international distributors, and trade-show presence at events like NAMM Show and Superbooth Berlin. Business activities intersect with licensing, collaboration agreements, and partnerships that are common among boutique builders represented by dealers who also carry products from Intellijel and Erica Synths.
Customer engagement includes workshops, demonstrations at festivals, and involvement in educational programs at institutions like Berklee College of Music and community events such as Moogfest.
Category:Electronic musical instrument manufacturers