ADDAC112 VC Looper & Granular Processor Manual (PDF)
The ADDAC112’s deep looper/granular architecture unlocks an immense array of creative possibilities. Below are both module-agnostic and module-specific combination ideas to push your imagination with the ADDAC112:
a) Texture Shaping:
- Modules: [Mutable Instruments Rings/Plaits], ADDAC200PI, Make Noise QPAS
- Technique: Feed a physical modeling or formant-rich oscillator into the ADDAC112’s input. Pre-process with resonant filters, wavefolders, or phasers to produce organically shifting source material for the looper/granular engine.
b) Dynamics Control:
- Modules: [XAOC Sewastopol, WMD MSCL]
- Technique: Place a compressor or envelope follower in front to control input levels and generate envelopes for syncing granular functions (e.g., grains trigger bursts or envelope-panning).
a) Granular Scatter:
- Modules: [Make Noise Maths, Intellijel Quadrax, Mutable Instruments Marbles, ADDAC501 Complex Random]
- Technique: Patch unique CV LFOs, S&H, or random ramps into Grain Position, Size, and Pitch CVs. This generates morphing, non-repeating granular clouds. You could clock random sources to a sequencer for rhythmically-tied chaos or keep things free for wild atmospheres.
b) Evolving Looper Playback:
- Modules: Any stepped sequencer, voltage memory (e.g., Turing Machine or Make Noise Pressure Points)
- Technique: Step-sequence the Looper Pitch (V/OCT input) and/or Loop Select for evolving tape-machine pitch bends or “playlist” grooves. Automate Looper direction (fwd/rev) for call/response, tape stop, or reversing glitch effects—even sync to a rhythmic gate for ping-pong textures!
a) Granular FX Insert/Feedback:
- Modules: [4ms Dual Looping Delay, Strymon Magneto, Mutable Instruments Clouds]
- Technique: Patch the ADDAC112’s output to a delay or reverb, then bring the result back into its own input, creating a self-resampled textural feedback network. Gradually automate feedback with envelopes/LFOs on reverb/delay parameters for drones or super-complex soundscapes.
b) Real-Time Granular on External Sources:
- Modules: [Radio Music, ADDAC200 PI, any sampler or field-recording module]
- Technique: Route radio, field recordings, or conversational samples into the ADDAC112 to live “granulize” unpredictable real-world audio.
a) On-the-Fly Resampling:
- Modules: Case-integrated microphone, ADDAC800X VC Mixer, or similar
- Technique: Sing, play acoustic instruments, or patch modular jams into the input, grab key moments with the Looper (manual/CV trigger), then instantly layer, pitch, and slice the material via granular manipulation—like an experimental version of an SP-404.
b) Modular "DJ" Setups:
- Modules: Two ADDAC112, WMD Performance Mixer, or Befaco Hexmix
- Technique: Use two ADDAC112 units to capture, mangle, and blend live loops from jam sessions. Crossfade between textures or A/B sections for live set arrangements.
a) Granular Harmonics & Polyphony:
- Modules: [Expert Sleepers Disting EX/General CV, Ornament & Crime]
- Technique: Load single-note or chordal samples into multiple ADDAC112 loops. Use custom quantization scales (edit SCALES.CFG per manual) to lock grain pitches to microtonal or regular scales. Patch pitch CV from sequencers for melodic granular “chord clouds.”
a) Granular Slicing with Rhythm:
- Modules: [Pamela's New Workout, Tempi, Euclidean Circles, Clock Dividers]
- Technique: Use external clocks—via the looper’s clocked mode—to slice, record, and switch loops in razor-tight time with your main groove. Pair with CV sequencer to jump between slices for sampled breakbeats, minimalist time-warped percussion, or sliced melodic lines.
a) Manual Grain Swarms:
- Modules: [Joysticks (Intellijel Tetrapad, Soundmachines LS1), Pressure Points, Touch Controllers]
- Technique: Use hands-on sources for CV or gates to manually “scrub” loop positions, animate grain density, or modulate feedback and volumes for performative ambient or noise sets.
The OLED display can be exploited for live performance or patching feedback: - Use the waveform, input meters, and envelope shapes to visually tune and match your sources’ dynamics. - Watch colored panning and grain visualizations for real-time understanding of what the sound engine is doing, useful for live troubleshooting and improvisation.