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Random Bezier Waves from ADDAC and Monotrail

Writer's picture: Johno WellsJohno Wells

Random Bezier Waves ADDAC Systems and Monotrail

10HP, Eurorack format

Random Bezier Waves from ADDAC and Monotrail-close-up front shot

Before we explore this fantastic creation, we need to acknowledge that Random Bezier Waves is a collaboration between Rijnder Kamerbeek, aka Monotrail, and ADDAC Systems.

Rijnder longed for a straightforward random generator with interpolation between random points, making it "something like a complex, ever-evolving LFO." Simple, right?

More with Rijnder in a moment.


Todd Barton famously said, "You’re only as good as your CV sources." How true. 

In the case of Random Bezier Waves, you get eight outs: two sets of the same 3 and two notable additions. So I think we’re off to a good start in Mr. Bartons’ eyes, at least. 


These outputs are (1) your main shape, a smooth random voltage controlled by “frequency,” (2) an inverted version of that shape, (3) a gate that fires at every random generation, and (4) the notable additions are two more outputs: one an average of channels A & B (remember this is a dual channel module), and the final output is an inverted version of that averaged version.

It's all simple, of course, but the possibilities can get your head spinning right away. 

As always, I have to get this stuff plugged into Mordax Data to look at it.




Random Bezier Waves-top closeup

The Big Deal

I have to give the big spoiler right away. You have control over the voltage offset. 

This has been something I’ve wanted since I started modular. Every CV source has its limits and we somehow have to know all their ranges. Yeah, right.

But with Random Bezier Waves, the offset control makes it super easy if you want to shift your waveform from -5 to +5.


Curves, baby.

Next to Offset, we have Curve, which adjusts our Bezier shapes in ways that are better seen on a scope or by looking at this image from the manual.




This is an excellent example of something worth learning thoroughly and enjoying its subtlety. Again, use a scope.















Rijnder Kamerbeek, aka Monotrail in his studio

Monotrail

I like Rijnder.

Obviously, his contributions on YouTube are deep, and he’s a good guy with fresh ideas and a great attitude.


Through our chat, I learned that in 2006, he finished art school and then made a living as a painter. He had exhibitions and sold through galleries. He then moved to Berlin for the massive art scene. Eventually, he moved to graphic design, started making music, and started the Monotrail music channel playing modular music. Then covid hit. He continued painting a little and started the Monorail Tech Talk channel we’ve all come to know and love. He got a positive reaction, so he decided to give it a go.

Rijnder Kamerbeek, aka Monotrail performing on his modular synthesizer

So now, after a few years of success on YouTube, he had idea he thought would be perfect for ADDAC. He sent a mockup - they liked it  - and added some  great features to make it a good collaboration.


Bucket list.

Random voltage modules didn’t do smooth random shapes, what he wanted. To have them be when he called  humanly relatable.



Random Bezier Waves-Bottom half of module

A few other things Rijnder wishlist:

He wanted to have it dual channel so you can run one faster and one slower.

It had to have offset and level control, so it was unnecessary to send it through a VCA.

He wanted inverted outputs for other variations, and it was vital for them to work well for both small and big systems.

Finally, it was meant a lot to have attenuation on everything so you don’t need 3 more modules to make it work. Boy, they nailed it there.



Final Thoughts

We’ve come to love Rijnders’ YouTube channel and his music channel, so when we saw this foray into module design, we knew it would be tasty.

And it is. ADDAC swings for the fences* with the aluminum plates and quality build every time. Don’t expect anything fancy on the trim pots—they are loosey-goosey like on every module. 

Everyone loves a dual module like this for the cross-patching and modulation stuff you can do with two sides talking to each other. There’s a lot here, and we didn’t even touch on the levels switch that has a few tricks for limiting and folding the voltage.


$350 isn’t light, but it is a dual-channel module, so if you want to split that in half…

I have to say I love the collaborations with interesting people and makers. What Ben has done with Instruo and Befaco is also fun, and I’m sure we’ll continue to see it.


Maybe there should be a Modular World module. Cause, haha that’s what I have time for. (sarcasm)


I'll leave you with this great video from Monotrail about his new module. :)



Thank you to ADDAC for sending this module and contributing to top-level reviews on new gear. ADDAC has no say in the opinion stated in this review.


*Apologies for the American baseball reference. It's especially odd from someone who couldn't care less about baseball.




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Alan Genzel
Alan Genzel
Sep 21, 2024

Great post Johno, I have one and love it.

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