ADDAC101 .WAV Player ()
The module has been sampling a coffee mug tap all along.
Overview
The ADDAC101 .WAV Player is a Eurorack module from ADDAC System. It brought 22kHz 16-bit mono playback to modular players who wanted more than sine waves and noise. It isn't a full-fledged sampler like the more complex offerings. It's a focused tool that loops, skips and stutters your .WAV files. Every file must be named exactly A.wav, B.wav, all the way to 9.wav, no exceptions. There's a system behind it, and once you're in rhythm with it, it sings.
Owners report it changed how they approached sound design. One user said it "changed the way I thought about my modular and started me selling all my VCOs for more players." A single well-placed sample, looped and modulated just right, can do the work of three oscillators and a filter. It's praised for being *useful*, not flashy. It's one of ADDAC's bestsellers. You could load field recordings, drum hits, spoken word, or even short melodic phrases, then manipulate them in real time with CV control over loop size, start position, playback rate, and amplitude. Swapping cards takes no reboot. You do it live.
It's not all magic. The file formatting requirements are rigid, and more than one user has vented online about the hours spent converting audio to meet them. One Mod Wiggler post puts it this way: "I'm starting to feel I should've just gotten a TipTop One after spending a few hours trying to format mediocre wav-files to no avail... To think I went modular to get away from the pc…" Fair point. You don't buy this module to escape the computer. You buy it knowing you'll be back at your DAW, resampling and renaming. When it works, it works beautifully.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | ADDAC System |
| Format | Eurorack |
| Width | 11 HP |
| Depth | 55 mm |
| CV inputs | 0-10v |
| CV outputs | 0-10v |
| Gate in threshold | 2.5v |
| Power supply compatibility | Compatible with +-12v and +-15v |
| Max current | 150mA |
| Bus Board Cable | 8 x 2 IDC (Doepfer style) connector |
| Sample format | Plays 22Khz 16bit Mono samples from an SD Card |
| File requirements | All files must be .WAV files; All files must 22.050Khz - Mono; "b.wav" must be below 500kb |
| Maximum files per card | Up to 72 files per card - minimum of 2 files! |
| SD card format | SD Cards have to be formatted in FAT16 |
| File naming convention | consecutive file names in order: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
| Firmware last update version | D7, February 5th, 2018 |
| Current Draw | 150 mA +12V, 150 mA -12V |
| Control parameters | loop size, position, playback rate, amplitude |
| Control methods | manually or through a CV input |
Key Features
Sample Playback with Surgical Control
The ADDAC101 is about control over how a sample plays. You can adjust the loop size on the fly, trimming a long recording down to a tiny rhythmic fragment. The initial position control lets you scroll through the file to find the transient or texture you want. Change the sample rate on the fly and you shift pitch, and you also change the character of the sound, adding grit or smoothing it out depending on the direction. All of this can be done manually or via CV, so it patches deeply. A loop can shrink every time a trigger hits. Playback speed can follow your sequencer's voltage.
Two Outputs, One Smart VCA
It has two audio outputs: one pre-VCA with its own pre-volume knob, and one post-VCA. The pre-out taps the raw signal before amplitude control, which suits external processors or using the envelope follower independently. The post-VCA output is the final, shaped sound for your mixer or effects chain. The built-in analog VCA is responsive and clean, and takes either manual control or CV. A switch cuts the CV input so you can return to unity gain.
Envelope Follower That Pulls Its Weight
The envelope follower generates a CV output based on the amplitude of the audio signal. It was originally described as post-VCA, though some sources suggest pre-VCA, and the exact path remains slightly ambiguous. You can use it to trigger events based on the loudness of your sample, modulate a filter cutoff, or create feedback loops where the sound controls its own processing. Dedicated level and decay controls let you shape the CV curve to match your patch.
File Access & Playback Logic
Switch between Loop and One Shot, Forward and Random. These modes define how the module behaves when triggered. The Skip / Loop switch determines whether a gate input advances to the next file or re-triggers the current one. This is where the 72-file limit comes into play. You can cycle through a library of sounds, randomize for generative textures, or lock into a single loop. Because SD cards can be swapped live, you can carry multiple sets of sounds and switch between them mid-performance. Name your files A.wav through 9.wav in exact order, because the module won't guess.
Arduino-Powered, Hackable, and Upgradable
It runs on an Arduino platform, so it's reprogrammable. A USB port, accessed via internal connection, allows firmware updates and potential customization. The last official firmware update was version D7 on February 5th, 2018, and ADDAC provides a PDF guide for upgrading the module. There's also a "Jumper Hack" on the back, shipped with the jumper ON by default, which suggests deeper tinkering is possible for those willing to open it up. A set of switches lets you disconnect the CV inputs entirely and snap back to the original, unmodulated state, which helps in a live set if you push the modulation too far.
Historical Context
The ADDAC101 .WAV Player was built to bring digital sampling to analog modular systems. It's part of the ADDAC100 Series and is the original model in a lineage that includes the ADDAC111 ULTRA .WAV PLAYER, described as a long-awaited upgrade. The ADDAC111 retains all functions of the 101 while expanding on them. Today the 101 is part of the "ADDAC Legacy Modules" line. It arrived when Eurorack was expanding beyond traditional synthesis, and modules that could import real-world sound were still rare.
Collectibility & Value
The ADDAC101 holds its value, with a current market price listed at $478 and used units averaging $409. One listing showed a drop to $200, so condition and demand vary widely. A custom-colored front panel adds $65 to the cost. It's still in use and even being sold by owners, but it has quirks. "Crashes" are mentioned occasionally, likely tied to SD card compatibility or firmware limits. The manual is hard to find. One user reported as of August 2023 that they couldn't locate it, which complicates troubleshooting. Owners still speak fondly of their "trusty old ADDAC101."
Similar items on eBay
No exact ADDAC System 101 .WAV Player listings are live right now — these searches show current ADDAC System and similar vintage synth gear on eBay:
As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.