Introducing the VC Relabi Generator from ADDAC System

Advanced module is both a gate/trigger and cv generator that can be used to trigger events, or act as a complex modulation source

Lisbon, Portugal, October 20, 2020 — ADDAC System announces its new ADDAC405 Relabi Generator, a gate/trigger and CV generator that can be freely used to trigger events, or act as a complex modulation source.

In 2009, John Berndt coined and defined the term Relabi in his essay “Relabi”: Patterns of Self-Erasing Pulse. In that essay, Berndt defines Relabi as "The experience of a palpably coordinated plurality of events that appears to be cyclical but simultaneously suspends identification of a uniform pattern, preventing a resolved sense of pulse. Relabi therefore seems equally pulsed and unpulsed at the same time. It is an experiential gestalt, a quality of experience, greater than the sum of its parts (it forms a sustained unity in experience, albeit of a new kind).”

He also poses the question, “Why would anyone want this Relabi experience? I maintain that much of what is exciting in musical forms involves an interplay between the setting up and denying of pulse expectations."

VC Relabi Generator: an 'experiential gestalt'
Inspired by this idea, ADDAC System developed its VC Relabi Generator module as both a gate/trigger and CV generator that can be used to trigger events, or act as a complex modulation source.

Inside the ADDAC405, four sine LFOs are internally generated: each has controls for gain, frequency and mute (off). These four LFOs are then mixed together to generate what Berndt named the “Relabi Wave”, and this “wave” then becomes a complex bipolar CV source. This ±5v bipolar “wave” can then be monitored by two dedicated LEDs on the front panel, and is also available at its own output.

Secondary LFOs functions
All secondary functions can be quickly changed by toggling the switch from the the up position (FREQ.) to the middle position (OFF) and back to the up position. To monitor this change, the trigger button LED will blink once for the Left Function and twice for the right function (INT/EXT & FREE/LOCK1).

LFO1 INT/EXT:

Left function INT sets the LFO as an INTernal LFO. In this case, the CV input will change the Frequency or Gain depending on the switch position.
Right function EXT sets the CV input to be a direct CV input into the LFOs mix. This CV input will then be mixed with the remaining active LFOs to create the “Relabi Wave”. In this setting, the Gain switch position has no effect as the CV can already be attenuated by the dedicated attenuverter.

LFO2, 3 & 4 FREE/LOCK1:

Left function FREE sets each LFO to be independent from LFO1.
Right function LOCK1 sets each LFO to be locked to the LFO1 frequency. In this case, the Frequency setting will operate as a divider/multiplier of LFO1 (1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 1/1.5, 1/1.33333.

The Relabi Wave will then be compared to two Threshold points defined by the Top and Bottom Threshold controls. Every time the Relabi Wave crosses one of these thresholds each specific Output will activate accordingly:

Output 1: Relabi Wave goes higher than Top Threshold
Output 2: Relabi Wave goes lower than Top Threshold
Output 3: Relabi Wave goes higher than Bottom Threshold
Output 4: Relabi Wave goes lower than Bottom Threshold

These four Outputs are variable length Gate outputs, and defined by the Gate Length controls. The top Threshold Led Goes On When the Relabi Wave is higher than the threshold setting, and the Bottom Threshold LED goes on when the Relabi Wave is lower than the threshold setting. The four Outputs are also converted to a Trigger and mixed down into the ALL OUTS jack.

On the ADDAC405 VC Relabi Generator, All LFO settings are saved in memory and recovered upon start- up.

Play modes

PAUSE: In Pause mode, the Trigger button and Trigger input will pause the generator and the button LED will go ON.
RESET: At every Trigger button push or Trigger input, all LFOs will reset and synchronize. This allows the user to generate repeatable patterns.
ADVANCE: At every Trigger Button push or Trigger Input, the generator will advance to the next cross point and pause, using the ALL OUTS. This allows for a very peculiar kind of trigger delay.

The ADDAC405 Relabi Generator is shipping in late November for €250, and the module will also be available as a full DIY kit. For more information, please visit the product page.

ABOUT ADDAC SYSTEM
ADDAC develops advanced instruments for sonic expression. The company started back in 2009 with an ambition to explore the potential crossover between analog synthesizers and computers. Because its first creations sparked a lot of attention, ADDAC decided to work hard and put them in customers' hands. Today our product line is focused on a new breed of hybrid synths, that make use of the best of both the digital and analog worlds. We've grown to be able to reach thousands of enthusiastic clients, friends and collaborators. Always looking into conceptualizing and developing the most exquisite instruments, we hope you're able to join and share this passion with us.

Our solutions can be found in many personal studio throughout the world, owned by musicians in several planes of stardom. We especially appreciate seeing them being used in a very wide range of musical genres.