ADDAC 311 (2022)

Five expression pedals and five footswitches, all routed through a single 8HP module.

Overview

Your hands are busy with knobs and cables. Your eyes are on patch points and waveforms. Your feet are mostly idle, good for tapping time or nudging a sustain pedal. The ADDAC 311 Ultra Floor Control puts them to work. It is a floor station for Eurorack with five expression pedal inputs and five assignable footswitches, all feeding a compact 8HP module via a DB25 cable. Your feet can modulate filters, morph sequences, toggle effects or launch clips while your hands stay in the patch.

Launched in 2022, the 311 came out of ADDAC's long interest in bridging physical performance and modular synthesis. The company had already made expressive control with earlier pedals and interfaces, but those were limited to single inputs and basic functions. The 311 is the full answer: a complete foot-operated command center. It is not a sound generator or processor. It is a conduit that turns your pedalboard into a control surface. The floor unit is a rugged, low-profile box (32 x 15 x 6 cm, 1 kg) built for stage use, with tactile switches and clear LED indicators for each footswitch and expression channel. The module side is minimal - just 10 outputs (5 gates, 5 CVs) and the DB25 input - because ADDAC wanted to save rack space. The controls live on the floor, and the module just breaks the signals out. That suits players who are tight on HP but have plenty of pedals.

Compatibility is where the 311 gets clever. Expression pedals come in multiple wiring standards - TRS, RTS and TS - and they are not always interchangeable. Most modern pedals use TRS, and the 311 defaults to that. Channels 4 and 5 have jumper settings that reconfigure the input for RTS or TS, which helps with older or niche pedals. The system doesn't ship with any expression pedals - just the floor unit, the module, and optionally a 3-meter DB25 cable. You'll need to source your own pedals, which is a hidden cost, but it also lets you mix brands, sizes and response curves to suit your playing style.

The 311 treats control as performance. Most modular players rely on LFOs, sequencers or random voltage for modulation, which is hands-off, pre-programmed motion. The 311 is real-time, physical expression. Sweep a filter slowly with your toe. Toggle a delay on and off mid-phrase. Fade in a drone with heel-toe pressure. It is especially useful in live sets, where dynamic shifts matter more than static patches. Each footswitch can be set to gate, trigger or latching mode, so you can use them for anything from momentary effects to toggling entire signal chains on and off. The LEDs on the floor unit give instant feedback, so there is no guessing whether the switch engaged, even in low light.

Specifications

Manufacturer	ADDAC System
Production Years	2022–present
Original Price	€380 (module and floor unit)
Module Size	8HP
Module Depth	40mm
Footswitch Outputs	5 x 0 to +5V Gate/Trigger
Expression Pedal Outputs	5 x -5V to +5V CV
Pedal Inputs	5 x TRS (default), configurable for RTS and TS via jumpers
Footswitch Modes	Gate, Trigger, Latch
LED Indicators	State LED per footswitch, dual-state LED per expression channel
Connection	DB25 cable (3m or 7.5m optional)
Floor Unit Dimensions	32 x 15 x 6 cm
Floor Unit Weight	1 kg
Power Requirements	Eurorack ±12V, 100mA @ +12V, 20mA @ -12V
CV Range	-5V to +5V
Gate Voltage	+5V
Compatibility	All Eurorack systems with DB25 connectivity
Accessories	DB25 cable sold separately (3m for €30, 7.5m for €50)

Key Features

Five-Channel Expression with Real-World Flexibility

Most multi-pedal interfaces assume TRS expression pedals, and that's fair, since they are the most common. The ADDAC 311 goes further. Channels 4 and 5 have physical jumpers that reconfigure the input for RTS or TS pedals, a rare level of backward compatibility in the Eurorack world. Many older guitar expression pedals, especially from brands like Boss or Line 6, use RTS or TS wiring, and they won't work properly without this option. Modular users often repurpose gear from other domains, and the jumpers acknowledge that. Each expression input also has its own polarity and range control via the floor unit, so you can fine-tune response per pedal. That matters when you mix pedal types or want precise heel-toe sweeps without sudden jumps in voltage.

Smart Footswitch Logic for Live Performance

The five footswitches aren’t just simple on/off triggers. Each can be set to operate as a gate (momentary on), trigger (short pulse), or latching toggle (flip on, flip off with next press). This versatility turns the 311 into a stage-ready control hub. Need to start a sequence? Use a trigger. Want to hold a reverb tail open? Gate mode. Toggling between two filter states? Latch mode has you covered. The LEDs on the floor unit show the active state, so you never lose track mid-performance. And because the switches are spaced generously on the unit, you can stomp confidently without fear of hitting the wrong one. It’s the kind of thoughtful layout that suggests ADDAC tested this with actual boots, not just schematics.

Minimal Rack Footprint, Maximum Control

In a format where every HP counts, the 311's 8HP size is a win. All the physical controls and switches sit on the external floor unit, so the module is just the DB25 input and 10 output jacks. Other multi-pedal solutions eat up 16HP or more with onboard knobs and switches. The trade-off is that you can't tweak settings from the rack; everything is managed at the floor unit. For most users that's a feature. When you're performing, you want controls at your feet. The module's simplicity also means fewer components and fewer points of failure. With a depth of just 40mm, it fits even the shallowest skiffs or travel cases.

Historical Context

The ADDAC 311 arrived in 2022, when Eurorack was no longer just a hobbyist format but a legitimate performance platform. Artists were taking modular rigs on tour and playing festivals, and they wanted gear that could handle the physical demands of live sets. Control options hadn't kept pace. Most players still relied on a single expression pedal or MIDI foot controllers with limited CV output. The 311 filled that gap with a dedicated, all-analog solution that needed no MIDI conversion or software mapping. It wasn't the first pedal interface - ADDAC themselves had made simpler versions - but it was the first to offer five full channels with independent configurability in such a compact form.

Modular was also seeing renewed interest in tactile, physical performance. After years of digital-heavy systems and complex sequencers, players wanted something they could feel, stomp and sweep in real time. The 311 offered a way back to the gestural control of vintage synths and guitar pedals. It also reflected a trend in Eurorack design: the split between rack modules and external controllers. Other companies were exploring similar ideas with MIDI-to-CV boxes, grid controllers or wireless systems, but the 311 kept everything analog, direct and mechanically tough. It wasn't a digital hub. It was a pure signal translator, built for reliability and speed.

Competitors like Intellijel's uVCA or Mutable Instruments' Yarns offered some foot control options, but they were either limited in channel count or required MIDI integration. The 311's advantage was simplicity: no menus, no firmware, no pairing. Plug in the DB25, connect your pedals, and go. That appealed to players who wanted to avoid digital layers in their signal chain. It also found a niche among guitarists moving into modular, who were used to complex pedalboards and wanted the same foot-based control in their synth rig.

Collectibility & Value

As a 2022 release, the ADDAC 311 isn't vintage in the traditional sense, but it has already built a reputation as a modern essential for performance-oriented modular users. New units sell for €380 directly from ADDAC, with the optional 3-meter DB25 cable adding €30. On the used market, prices range from €300 to €350 depending on condition and whether the cable is included. It isn't a speculative collector's item - no limited runs or rare finishes - but it holds its value well because of its utility.

Failures are rare, but the main concern is the DB25 connection. The entire system relies on a single cable, so damage to the DB25 pins or internal wiring can knock out multiple channels at once. Technicians recommend checking continuity between the floor unit and module if signals drop out. The footswitches are rated for thousands of stomps, but heavy stage use can wear them over time. They are replaceable, but not user-serviceable without soldering. The expression pedal inputs are solid, but using non-TRS pedals without the proper jumper settings can cause erratic CV output or damage, so verify the configuration before plugging in older pedals.

When buying used, check that all LEDs respond correctly and that each footswitch engages cleanly without double-triggering. Also confirm that the DB25 cable is high-quality, since cheap multicore cables can introduce crosstalk or signal loss. ADDAC's own cables are recommended, but third-party studio DB25 cables (like those from Canare or Mogami) work fine if properly wired. The module does not include the cable by default, so make sure it's part of the sale unless you already have one.

For a live rig, the 311 is worth the investment if you're serious about hands-free control. It's not for casual patchers who rarely perform, but for touring artists or studio players who want real-time modulation, it's one of the most practical modules available. It doesn't generate sound, so use it to control filters, VCAs, sequencers or effects.