ADDAC 300 (2010s–2020s)

A small two-channel voltage regulator that makes no sound itself. It can make any other module in your rack scream, stutter, or dissolve into lo-fi static with a twist of a knob.

Overview

It doesn't oscillate, filter, or sequence. It has no waveform, no envelope, no patch points for audio. Even so, the ADDAC 300 might be one of the most sonically transformative modules in Eurorack. Instead of generating sound, it starves it. The ADDAC 300 is a dual power starvation module. It reduces the ±12V rail voltage supplied to other modules, forcing them to run outside their design specs. The results run from subtle saturation to full circuit meltdown. It isn't an effect in the traditional sense. It's more like sabotage with a bypass switch. A pristine analog delay turns into a warbling cassette mess. A clean VCF chokes and splutters like a misfiring engine. A digital oscillator becomes a glitchy, stuttering version of itself. The results aren't always musical, but they're always interesting.

Starving a chip of power was one of the first tricks in the DIY circuit-bending book. The ADDAC 300 brings that chaotic energy into the modular world in a safe, reversible, and patchable form. It's a compositional tool, not just a novelty. Artists chasing degraded textures, lo-fi artifacts, or unstable timbres have found it indispensable. Because it's dual-channel, you can apply different levels of starvation to two separate modules at once, so two destabilized circuits play off each other. It's not for every patch, but when something needs to sound like it's falling apart on purpose, this is the module for it.

Specifications

Key Features

Dual Independent Starvation Channels

The ADDAC 300 gives you two completely separate power regulation paths, each with its own voltage control pot and bypass switch. You can starve a filter on one channel and a delay on the other, with a different level of instability on each. The controls are simple - just a knob per rail per channel. Turning the knob reduces the voltage supplied to the connected module, and because analog circuits behave unpredictably under low power, the results are rarely linear. A filter might start resonating erratically, a VCA might gate unpredictably, or a digital module might start skipping steps. The bypass switches are essential for A/B comparisons between full power and creative failure in real time.

Trimmed for Control, Not Chaos

The knobs give you real-time control over voltage reduction. The module also has internal trimmers that set a minimum voltage plateau. This matters because many modules shut down completely somewhere between 3V and 10V, and without a floor you'd lose all functionality too quickly. Set the trimmer and the module still gets enough power to operate at the lowest knob setting - just not well. That turns the pot into a "degradation dial" rather than an on/off switch, so you can explore the full range of unstable behavior without killing the signal entirely.

Built for the Bends

The ADDAC 300 doesn't try to sound vintage. It makes other modules sound vintage, or broken, or like they've been left in a damp basement for 30 years. It works best with analog processors. Filters, delays, mixers, and preamps all respond well to power starvation, often producing harmonically rich distortion, warbling modulation, and unpredictable gating. Digital modules can be even more extreme, with clock instability, bit reduction, and glitching as voltage drops. It isn't only for noise and chaos, though. Subtle starvation can add warmth and compression to a clean signal path, similar to running gear on slightly underpowered wall warts, a trick some engineers used on vintage synths to soften their output. The ADDAC 300 makes that technique repeatable, patchable, and reversible.

Historical Context

The ADDAC 300 emerged during the mid-2010s Eurorack boom, when modular synthesis was shifting from boutique curiosity to mainstream tool for electronic musicians. Racks were filling with pristine digital oscillators and clean VCAs, and a counter-movement began pushing for more organic, unstable, and unpredictable sounds. Circuit bending, once the domain of garage tinkerers with soldering irons, started influencing commercial module design. The ADDAC 300 offered a safe, non-destructive way to apply one of the most basic bending techniques, power starvation, without modifying a single circuit. It wasn't the first module to experiment with alternative power manipulation, but it was among the first to make it accessible, reliable, and musically useful.

Collectibility & Value

The ADDAC 300 has settled into a stable niche in the used market, typically selling between €60 and €90 depending on condition and region. It's not a rare module, but it's not disposable either - its unique function keeps demand steady among experimental modular users. It doesn't process audio directly, so there's little wear on the panel or jacks, and the internal circuit is simple and sturdy. Failures are uncommon, though the IDC connectors on the back should be inspected for bent pins, especially if the module has been frequently removed from a bus board. The most common issue is misconfiguration. Users accidentally starve modules that draw more than 75 mA per rail, which can lead to instability or damage. The ADDAC300A variant is rated for up to 75 mA, and exceeding that is not advised. When buying used, make sure the bypass switches click cleanly and the pots turn smoothly without crackling. No recalibration or maintenance is typically needed, which makes it a low-risk purchase.

eBay Listings

ADDAC System ADDAC300 Rev.02 Power Starvation EURORACK - NEW

$189

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