Messor is a fully analog stereo feed-forward VCA compressor designed for studio, modular, and live systems. The architecture is derived from the original Cosmotronic eurorack module, with extended headroom, improved channel matching, and a revised sidechain topology optimized for wide dynamic ranges.

The internal ±12 V regulated power rail provides substantial headroom and consistent operating conditions for both line-level and modular-level sources. It reliably handles high-transient material from synthesizers, drum machines, and percussion-heavy sources without premature clipping. High-impedance inputs and balanced outputs simplify interfacing with modular systems, samplers, and balanced studio equipment.

Signal flow begins with a low-noise stereo preamplifier offering up to 18 dB of gain, followed by a pair of matched VCA control blocks. The feed-forward topology provides predictable transient behavior, accurate envelope shaping, and stable stereo imaging. A post-VCA conditioning stage adds tube-like saturation, introducing controlled harmonic content when driven into overload.

The compressor’s dynamics engine is built around a mono-summed sidechain that derives control data from the stereo signal using a precision rectifier and envelope generator. Attack and release are continuously variable, covering a practical range of roughly 3–100 ms for attack and 30 ms–2 s for release, allowing both fast transient control and slower, program-dependent behavior. The ratio control spans subtle compression through limiting and into deliberate over-compression, making the envelope section flexible enough for mix-bus smoothing, transient shaping, or more aggressive rhythmic effects.

The sidechain includes a gentle 6 dB/oct switchable high-pass or low-pass filter, for example to remove low-frequency energy to reduce pumping. The external sidechain input accepts stereo audio (summed to mono), modular-level CV/audio signals, DAW-generated envelopes, or traditional kick-ducking sources.

An analog wet/dry mix control provides true parallel compression without the need for external mixers, even at elevated signal levels. Mechanically, the design uses a rigid aluminum enclosure, and the audio path is built with high-quality op-amps, film capacitors, and thin-film resistors to maintain low distortion and high sonic accuracy.

Overall behavior aligns with professional audio engineering standards: wide dynamic range, stable stereo tracking, low modulation distortion, and musical compression across diverse program material.

This pedal is not specifically optimized for guitar or bass instrument chains, though it will still function correctly in those contexts. The compressor performs strongly in mix-bus work, sound-design dynamics shaping, modular gain management, and live electronic reinforcement.

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