Raffy Racks His Brain

M5: Raffy Racks His Brain
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M5 Newsletter, 17 November 2025

Raffy Racks His Brain

Dear reader,


I sat down with staff member Raffy Landestoy to talk about his work on the ElectronicaLab audio rack.


Alex Reineke: The rack module, what's that all about?


Raffy Landestoy: We’ve added three post effect pedals - digital chorus, digital reverb, and a digital delay.


AR: Digital Reverb?


RL: Reverb gives the sound an acoustic effect and emulates playing in different rooms like a hallway or a cathedral.


AR: When did you start with the rack module?


RL: I started in September, and I noticed that the modules were outdated and didn’t do much, so I found different modules in M5 I thought were cool.


AR: What exactly is an audio rack?


RL: You essentially have one shelf with a ton of audio effects and pedals. It’s used by a lot of bands when they are on tour as a way to keep equipment organized.


AR: What is the hardest thing you’ve encountered fixing this?


RL: The digital delay. The button broke so I had to rip the whole thing open and plug it back in. I was trying to connect this thing up to debug a few issues and I found that the ground was totally unplugged.


AR: What do you hope to do with this in the future?


RL: I want to add more modules and make this easier for people to plug in their instruments and play. I want to use this to learn how to mix music.


AR: Do you have any advice for anyone who would like to do this?


RL: Have a lot of money and a lot of time. But in all seriousness you can make an audio rack with plywood and screws.


If this Q and A sparked your interest come to the ElectronicaLab meet up, hosted by Jenny Tang and Raffy Landestoy, Thursday November 20th 4:00-5:00pm. Explore every nook and cranny of the space while connecting with people who are tuned the same frequency as you!


Jenny Tang (left) and Raffy Landestoy (right)

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M5, the ECE makerspace, is located on the lower level of Marcus Hall way at the northern end of the building (suite 3)!


M5 is open 1:00-8:00 PM, 7 days per week. You can study, do a project, or hang out with your friends. M5 is closed when the University is closed (i.e. holidays and campus closures).



Yours,

Alex Reineke EE 2027 M5 staff member & editor of the M5 newsletter



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