Imagine tuning into a late-night radio ghost, then sweeping it into noise with a voltage—this is what happens when you plug a city’s electromagnetic soul into a Eurorack frame.

Overview

The ADDAC102 VC FM Radio isn’t trying to be a synth engine or a filter with character—it’s a portal. A small, 8hp window into the FM broadcast band, repurposed as a sonic scavenger in a modular setup. Built by ADDAC System as part of their ADDAC100 Series, this is Version 2 of the module, updated to be skiff-friendly, meaning it plays nice in tighter cases without sacrificing function. It’s not analog circuitry humming with warmth; it’s digital, direct, and deliberately jarring—your local traffic report, a burst of pop, or dead air, all subject to modulation.

What makes it fascinating isn’t raw sound generation, but the unpredictability of what it captures. It turns the radio spectrum into a performance variable. You’re not just patching a tone source—you’re patching in the world. And because it’s voltage-controlled, you can automate the tuning, volume, and station seeking just like any other parameter. That’s where the magic kicks in: imagine a slow LFO warping the frequency dial across static and song fragments, or a sequencer triggering abrupt jumps between stations like a glitchy time-lapse of urban listening.

It’s not for everyone. If you want clean oscillators or stable drones, look elsewhere. But if you like the idea of your synth reacting to real-world signals—radio bleed, interference, or even the hum of nearby electronics—this module turns those accidents into tools. It’s as much conceptual art as it is audio gear, a reminder that sound isn’t just made, it’s found.

Specifications

Key Features

Digital FM radio under voltage control

At its core, the ADDAC102 is a functional FM radio built for Eurorack. But instead of just listening, you’re manipulating. The entire tuning process—normally a manual twist of a dial—becomes a patchable parameter. That means you can sweep across the band with an envelope, randomize station selection via a sample-and-hold, or lock onto a frequency drift with precision. It’s not emulating radio; it *is* radio, just one you can command like any other module.

Real-time controls with CV integration

Front-panel knobs handle Tune, Volume, Seek Up/Down, Search Up/Down, and Mute—standard radio functions, but here they’re also CV-addressable. The CV inputs accept both unipolar and bipolar voltages, so whether you’re using a 0–5V LFO or a ±8V sequencer, it responds without clipping. That flexibility makes it easy to integrate into any system, whether you’re gently fading between stations or violently jumping across the dial with gate triggers.

Stereo output with visual feedback

The module outputs stereo audio, preserving the spatial character of FM broadcasts, which can be a subtle but effective detail when sampling or layering. A dedicated LED indicates stereo lock, giving immediate visual confirmation when a station is properly tuned in. It’s a small touch, but in a dark rack, that blink of light tells you when the signal’s alive.

Collectibility & Value

Retail listings show a "New Price" of $350.44, down from an "Original Price" of $419.40, though it’s unclear if these reflect actual MSRP or specific dealer pricing. No data exists on common failures or long-term reliability, but as a digital module with firmware options (including a Japan-specific version), it may require occasional updates or careful handling in mixed-voltage systems. Owners note its niche appeal—“It’s an FM tuner in eurorack. Nothing groundbreaking there. But I find it really cool that you can change the tuning, volume and seek with CV.” That sums it up: not essential, but deeply engaging for those who like to blur the line between environment and instrument.

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