ADDAC508 - Synthesizer ADDAC System - Free user manual and instructions

Product Type	Synthesizer Module (Eurorack)
Brand	ADDAC System
Model	ADDAC508 Swell Physics
Width	10 HP
Depth	4.5 cm
Power Consumption (Active)	70 mA @ +12V
Power Consumption (Passive)	40 mA @ -12V
Outputs	4 CV outputs (16-bit), 1 Average output, 2 Gate outputs
Gate Outputs Logic	+5V when condition met
CV Output Voltage Range	±5V (bipolar) or 0 to +10V (positive), adjustable via Offset and Gain
Main Controls	Swell Size, Agitation, Spread, Simulation Speed, Offset, Output Gain, CV routing switch
Operation Modes	Mode A (Scrolling), Mode B (Evolving)
Clipping Modes	Fold, Thru, Limit (selectable by fast toggle of A/B switch)
Wave Generation Algorithm	Gerstner Wave simulation
CV Inputs	1 CV input for Offset or Gain (selectable), plus independent inputs for Size, Agitation, Spread, Speed (via attenuverters)
LED Indicators	Red LEDs for bipolar state of each output; Yellow LEDs for gate states
Construction	Designed for Eurorack modular systems
Origin	Designed in Portugal
Release Date	January 2024 (Revision 1)

Frequently Asked Questions - ADDAC508 ADDAC System

What is the ADDAC508 Swell Physics module?

The ADDAC508 is a Eurorack synthesizer module that simulates a Gerstner wave model of ocean buoys. It generates 4 related CV outputs, a mix output, and 2 gate signals based on the virtual water surface.

What are the power requirements for the ADDAC508?

The module draws 70 mA on +12V and 40 mA on -12V. It is 10 HP wide and 4.5 cm deep.

How can I change the voltage range of the outputs?

Use the Offset and Output Gain controls, and the Bipolar/Positive switch. This allows setting each output to either ±5V or 0 to +10V.

What are the A and B modes used for?

Mode A (Scrolling) creates a delay-line effect where all buoys follow the same path. Mode B (Evolving) computes each buoy independently, resulting in more complex, interrelated movements.

How do I select clipping modes?

Flick the Mode A/B switch back and forth faster than half a second. There are three modes: Fold (wavefolder), Thru (forces wave to opposite end), and Limit (hard clip). The current mode is not shown but affects output.

What are the gate outputs?

Gate 1<2 outputs +5V when output 1 is less than output 2. Gate 3>4 outputs +5V when output 3 is greater than output 4. LEDs indicate their state.

Can I use external CV to control parameters?

Yes, each main parameter (Swell Size, Agitation, Spread, Simulation Speed) has a CV input with an attenuverter. Additionally, a dedicated CV input can be switched to control either Offset or Output Gain.

What is the average output?

The Average Output provides the mean voltage of all four CV outputs, useful for creating a composite modulation signal.

How should I clean and maintain the module?

Disconnect power before cleaning. Use a dry, lint-free cloth to wipe the panel. Avoid liquids or abrasive cleaners. Ensure good ventilation around the module.

How can I contact support for the ADDAC508?

For feedback, comments, or problems, email [e-mail]. The manual is available for download in PDF.

USER MANUAL ADDAC508 ADDAC System

Instruments for Sonic Expression

Est.2009

INTRODUCING

ADDAC508

SWELL

PHYSICS

USER'S GUIDE . REVO1

January.2024

ADDAC

System

From Portugal with Love!

WELCOME

Following our ADDC503 Marble Physics here is a new simulation of a physical system. This time imagine a small area in the middle of the ocean, in this area we place 4 equally spaced buoys anchored to the bottom in such a system that we can control the spacing between the buoys. Imagine we can control the elements and agitate the waters at will which in turn will make the buoys move up and down as the water surface moves.

Finally imagine the buoys would wirelessly transmit their absolute height directly to your module outputs where they would be mapped to a voltage signal.

graph TD
    A["Red Node 1"] --> B["Green Node 2"]
    B --> C["Blue Node 3"]
    C --> D["Orange Node 4"]
    E["Red Node 1"] --> F["Green Node 2"]
    F --> G["Blue Node 3"]
    G --> H["Orange Node 4"]

We use a Gerstner Wave as the motor behind the 2d wave generation. In fluid dynamics a Gerstner Wave is described as "a progressive wave of permanent form on the surface of an incompressible fluid of infinite depth". Gerstner waves are often used in computer graphics to simulate any type of water surface, if you've seen any animation film or computer game with water surfaces in it most probably it features a Gerstner wave generating it.

Tech Specs:

10HP

4.5cm deep

70mA +12V

40mA -12V

MODULE DESCRIPTION

Starting from the top [SWELL Size] controls the virtual height of the ocean swell, or more precisely the maximum amplitude between the highest crest and the lowest trough.

Big Swell Size

[AGITATION] is a peculiar macro that controls wind and secondary swells that create more complex interference waves.

MODULE DESCRIPTION

[SPREAD] sets the distance between buoys, smaller spreads make the outputs more related or closer to each other while bigger spreads will make the outputs more unrelated.

[SIMULATION SPEED] controls how fast the simulation is calculated just like a frequency control on an LFO.

[OFFSET] and [OUTPUT GAIN] allow to set all 4 CV outputs to any voltage range between ±5V or 0 to +10V. There's only one CV input for these 2 functions the [CV IN] — switch allows to route the input to a preferred one.

MODULE DESCRIPTION

[BIPOLAR / POSITIVE] switch sets all outputs voltage range to either ±5V or 0 to +10V

[A / B MODE] Sets the operation mode:

A - Scrolling Mode

B - Evolving Mode

Also used to set Clipping Mode (Page 8)

[GATE 1<2] Outputs a +5V Gate On while output 1 is smaller than output 2

[GATE 3>4] Outputs a +5V Gate On while output 3 is bigger than output 4

[OUTPUTS 1 to 4] 16 bit CV outputs

[AVERAGE OUTPUT] Average of all 4 CV Outputs

[TOP LEDS] Red LEDs show the bipolar state of all outputs. Yellow LEDs show the 2 gates state.

A B MODES

MODE A - SCROLLING

Scrolling is a particular way to compute a Gerstner wave. At every step we calculate a single wave position at the left most point and push all previously generated points forward.

This makes all buoys follow the same exact path, in this mode [SPREAD] works as a delay

Here's a Mode A plot of all buoys over time

Here's the same plot with channels offsetted for better readability

graph LR
    A["1"] --> B["2"]
    B --> C["3"]
    C --> D["4"]

MODE B - EVOLVING

Evolving is the normal computation for a Gerstner wave, at all steps all points in the wave are calculated according to the settings and the points close by which also affect each other in a symbiotic relationship resulting in different paths for all buoys which are more or less related according to the settings.

Here's a Mode B plot of all buoys over time

Here's the same plot with channels offsetted for better readability

Four wavy lines with dotted patterns, each marked with a unique icon (red, green, blue, orange), no text or symbols present.

OUTPUTS - WATER SURFACE

The outputs will always reflect the state of the water surface, the controls available allow to set this surface from the stillness of a pond to the complexity of a high sea storm.

If completely still, using [SWELL SIZE] fully ccw, the outputs will all be either zero or +5v depending if in Bipolar or Positive mode. As the user increases the [SWELL SIZE] and [AGITATION] controls the surface becomes more complex.

Here are some still of the water surface ordered by increased complexity

graph TD
    A["Stage 1: Red Circle"] --> B["Stage 2: Green Circle"]
    B --> C["Stage 3: Blue Circle"]
    C --> D["Stage 4: Orange Circle"]
    D --> E["Stage 5: Blue Circle"]
    E --> F["Stage 6: Green Circle"]
    F --> G["Stage 7: Blue Circle"]
    G --> H["Stage 8: Orange Circle"]
    style A fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style B fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style C fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style D fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style E fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style F fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style G fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style H fill:#f9f,stroke:#333

CLIPPING MODES

It is possible to clip the waveform by setting the swell size higher than 12 o'clock.

To change the clipping mode flick the MODE A/B switch back and fourth faster than 1/2 a second.

The current mode is not visible but will be reflected on the outputs.

There are 3 clipping modes available:

1. Fold (default)

Like any wavefolder it folds the wave by inverting the direction when above/below the maximum/minimum range.

1. Thru

Thru forces the wave to go thru it's minimum/maximum range into the opposite end.

Abstract wavy line patterns in various colors and hues, no text or symbols present

1. Limit

Simply limits the wave to the minimum/maximum range

Abstract wavy line patterns in multiple colors and shapes, no text or symbols present

SIGNAL FLOW DIAGRAM

graph LR
    A["SIZE CV IN"] --> B["SWELL SIZE IN TAL"]
    A --> C["SIZE ATTENUVERTER"]
    D["ADITATION CV IN"] --> E["ADITATION IN TIAL"]
    D --> F["ADITATION ATTENUVERTER"]
    G["SPREAD CV IN"] --> H["SPREAD IN TIAL"]
    G --> I["SPREAD ATTENUVERTER"]
    J["SIMULATION SPEED IN TIAL"] --> K["SIMULATION SPEED IN TIAL"]
    L["SPREAD ATTENUVERTER"] --> M["SPEED ATTENUVERTER"]
    N["OFFSET IN TIAL"] --> O["OFFSET IN TIAL"]
    P["OFFSET / GAIN CV IN"] --> Q["OFFSET / GAIN SWITCH"]
    R["OUTPUT / GAIN IN TIAL"] --> S["OUTPUT / GAIN SWITCH"]
    T["POS TINE / BIPOLAR SWITCH"] --> U["POS TINE / BIPOLAR SWITCH"]
    V["MODE A / B SWITCH"] --> W["MODE A / B SWITCH"]
    X["MCU"] --> Y["OFFSET CONTROL"]
    X --> Z["GAIN CONTROL"]
    X --> AA["AVERAGE MIX"]
    Y --> AB["BAE OUTPUT 1"]
    Y --> AC["BAE OUTPUT 2"]
    Y --> AD["BAE OUTPUT 3"]
    Y --> AE["BAE OUTPUT 4"]
    Y --> AF["AVERAGE OUTPUT"]

For feedback, comments or problems please contact us at: [e-mail]