born 1967 in Kempten, Allgäu district, he studied ethnomusicology and completed Central Asian studies in Berlin and Ulan Bator. He is a skilled flute maker. He builds, plays and collects instruments such as theremin, morin khuur or even the Edison phonograph.

Between 1998 and 2012 Tobias collaborated with the Berlin Phonogramm-Archiv (Department for Ethnomusicology of the Ethnological Museum in Berlin). He was involved in various projects related to the conservation of the old Edison cylinder and tape recordings, as well as the production of new copies from the historical galvano (copper negative) collections, e.g. during the recently finished project Integrated Solutions for Preservation, Archiving and Conservation of Endangered Magnetic Tapes and Cylinders (ILKAR) (2009–12).