ADDAC 111B (2018)

An unassuming Eurorack expander that turns sample playback into a live, triggerable instrument—one file at a time, from A to H.

Overview

It doesn’t look like much—just a narrow, unadorned panel with eight tiny trigger inputs and a few status LEDs—but the ADDAC 111B is the quiet enabler behind one of the most musical sample playback workflows in Eurorack. It’s not a standalone module. It doesn’t make sound. But plug it into the ADDAC111 Ultra .WAV Player, and suddenly you’re no longer scrolling through files with a knob or relying on random access—you’re sequencing them like drum hits, each one fired off by a gate. That shift, from browsing to triggering, changes everything. Suddenly, your samples aren’t just audio files on an SD card; they’re percussive events, melodic stabs, or rhythmic textures slotted precisely into your patch. The 111B doesn’t add effects or processing—it’s purely functional—but its simplicity is its strength. No menus, no screens, no CV mapping required. Just eight triggers, top to bottom, each assigned to the first eight files on your card: A.wav, B.wav, C.wav, and so on. If multiple triggers arrive at once, priority goes to the highest input, so you’re never left with a hung note or a missed sample. It’s ruthlessly deterministic, which in a modular context, is a feature, not a bug.

The 111B exists because the ADDAC111, while powerful, was designed with hands-on control in mind—loop points, sample rate modulation, file skipping—all great for studio tweaking, but clunky in a live set. The 111B strips away the manual interface and hands you direct, immediate access. Want to play a reversed kick on beat two? Send a gate to input B. Need a glitchy vocal snippet every time your sequencer hits the fifth step? Route that clock divider to E. It’s the kind of module you don’t realize you need until you’ve used it, and then you wonder how you ever managed without it. It doesn’t generate sound, shape it, or filter it—it just gets out of the way and lets the samples speak on command. And because it’s built by ADDAC, a Lisbon-based outfit known for their no-nonsense, skiff-friendly designs, it’s solid, clearly labeled, and consumes minimal power. At just 4 HP, it’s a space-efficient upgrade that transforms the 111 from a sample player into a playable instrument.

Specifications

Key Features

Direct Trigger-to-File Mapping

The 111B’s entire purpose is to eliminate the gap between trigger and playback. While the ADDAC111 allows file selection via front-panel buttons or CV input, the 111B bypasses that entirely. Each of its eight inputs corresponds to a specific filename—A through H—loaded in the order specified by ADDAC’s strict naming convention. This isn’t random access or CV-based file selection; it’s one-to-one triggering, like a digital percussion module where each pad fires a different sound. That rigidity ensures predictability, which is essential in live performance. No scanning, no latency, no state confusion—just a trigger in, a sample out. The module doesn’t care if the file is a snare hit, a spoken word loop, or a reversed cymbal swell; it treats them all the same. This makes it ideal for rhythmic sequencing, but also for generative patches where different sonic events need to be called at specific times.

Priority-Based Trigger Handling

One of the smartest design choices in the 111B is its handling of simultaneous triggers. If two or more inputs receive a gate at the same time, the module defaults to the highest-numbered input (H > G > F, etc.). This prevents overlapping playback conflicts and ensures that only one sample plays at a time. While that might seem limiting—what if you want layered samples?—it’s actually a strength in a system where uncontrolled audio collisions can quickly turn a patch into chaos. The 111B assumes you’re using it for discrete, rhythmic events, not polyphonic playback. If you need layering, you’d route multiple 111B-equipped 111s or use other sample players. But for most use cases—drum racks, cue-based performance, or step-triggered textures—this behavior keeps things clean and reliable. It’s a subtle but crucial detail that reflects ADDAC’s understanding of how modular users actually work.

Minimalist, Reliable Expansion

The 111B doesn’t try to do more than it needs to. It has no knobs, no switches, no CV inputs for file selection or playback speed. It’s purely a signal router with a purpose-built function. That minimalism means fewer points of failure, lower power draw, and a smaller footprint—just 4 HP, which is critical in a crowded rack. It draws only 20mA from each rail, making it one of the least demanding modules in the ADDAC lineup. The build quality is consistent with the rest of the 111 system: solid aluminum panel, clearly labeled jacks, and a clean, functional layout. There’s no firmware to update, no menus to navigate, and no hidden modes. What you see is what you get. This makes it a favorite among users who value reliability and immediacy over feature bloat. It’s the kind of module that disappears into your system—until you need it, and then it’s indispensable.

Historical Context

The ADDAC 111B emerged in 2018 as a direct response to user feedback on the original ADDAC101 .WAV Player and its successor, the 111 Ultra. While the 101 was praised for bringing sample playback to Eurorack in a compact, analog-friendly format, it lacked real-time, performance-oriented controls. Users wanted to trigger samples like drums, not scroll through them like a playlist. ADDAC listened. The 111 introduced CV control over file selection, loop points, and sample rate, but still relied on manual navigation for immediate access. The 111B completed the vision: a dedicated expander that turned file recall into a triggerable event. This placed it in a lineage of modules that prioritize playability over complexity—akin to the Qu-Bit Nebulae’s sample triggering or the Tasty Chips GR-1’s sample slots, but far more stripped down. Unlike those units, the 111B doesn’t process or manipulate the audio—it’s purely about access. In an era where Eurorack was becoming increasingly digital and menu-driven, the 111B stood out for its analog-like immediacy. It didn’t try to be a sampler; it just made the sampler easier to play.

At the time, sample playback in modular was still a niche pursuit. Most users relied on external gear or digital synths for sample-based sounds. ADDAC’s approach—using microSD cards, FAT16 formatting, and strict filename conventions—was pragmatic, if not always user-friendly. But it worked, and it worked reliably. The 111B didn’t revolutionize sample playback, but it refined it. It was part of a broader trend toward making modular more performable, joining modules like the Make Noise Rene or the Intellijel Steppy in prioritizing live interaction over studio tweaking. And while ADDAC never disclosed the exact vintage gear that inspired their other modules (like the 712’s “famous 70s preamp”), the 111B felt like a modern solution to an old problem: how to make stored sounds feel immediate and tactile.

Collectibility & Value

The ADDAC 111B isn’t a rare module, but it’s not always easy to find on its own. Most users buy it bundled with the 111, or as part of a used rack sale. On the secondhand market, it typically sells for €80–€120, depending on condition and whether it includes the original packaging or documentation. Since it has no moving parts and minimal circuitry, failure rates are low. The most common issue is bent pins on the IDC power connector, usually from improper installation, but these are easily fixed with a pair of pliers. The module doesn’t require firmware updates, and there are no user-serviceable parts inside—just a single PCB mounted behind the panel. Because it’s an expander, not a standalone unit, it has little appeal to casual buyers. Its value is entirely functional: if you own an 111, the 111B is a logical upgrade. If you don’t, it’s useless. That limits its collector appeal, but not its utility.

When buying used, the main thing to check is compatibility. The 111B only works with the ADDAC111 Ultra .WAV Player, not the older 101. Some early 111 units may require a firmware update to support the 111B, so verify the firmware version (E0 or later) before purchasing. Also, ensure the seller includes the ribbon cable that connects the 111B to the 111—without it, the module won’t function. The SD card formatting requirements are strict (FAT16, specific filenames), so new users should be prepared to spend time prepping their cards. ADDAC provides a beta app to automate this, but it’s not officially supported. Overall, the 111B is a low-risk purchase: it either works or it doesn’t, with little room for subtle degradation. There are no capacitors to dry out, no pots to wear down, and no analog circuitry to drift. What you get is a simple, reliable interface that does exactly one thing, and does it well.

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