cosmotronic/messor
Messor
Stereo VCA-based feed-forward compressor and transient shaper with internal sidechain featuring switchable HP/LP filtering, precision envelope follower, attack/release/threshold/ratio/makeup gain controls, warm tube saturation mode, bypass switch, and CV inputs for key parameters.289
Capabilities 3
- Stereo Compressorstereo-compressor
- VCA-based feed-forward stereo compressor with internal sidechain featuring switchable HP/LP filter, precision envelope follower, and controls for attack, release, threshold, ratio, and makeup gain.289
- Stereo VCAstereo-vca
- Set Make Up knob to MUTE and patch an envelope to the GAIN CV input to use as a stereo VCA. Nominal CV range 0–5V.289
- Transient Shapertransient-shaper
- Ratio can be pushed past limiting into over-compression to completely reshape transients for sound design.289
Jacks 10 — 7 in / 3 out
| Name | Signal | Voltage | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inputs (7) | |||
| J | audio | — | External sidechain input. Normalised to a mono mix of the left and right channels. Patching in breaks the normalisation and routes the external signal to the sidechain.289 |
| K | cv | 0V to 5V | Gain CV input. Modulates the makeup gain/output level. With MAKE UP knob at MUTE, turns Messor into a stereo VCA.289 |
| L | audio | — | Left audio input. Normalised to the Right input when nothing is patched into it.289 |
| M | cv | 0V to 5V | Attack CV input. Modulates the attack time; Attack knob acts as offset.289 |
| N | cv | 0V to 5V | Release CV input. Modulates the release time; Release knob acts as offset. Negative CV can push release below 5ms.289 |
| O | cv | — | Sidechain filter cutoff CV input.289 |
| P | audio | — | Right audio input.289 |
| Outputs (3) | |||
| Q | cv | — | Sidechain envelope output. Available independent of Ratio and Bypass switch settings.289 |
| R | audio | — | Left audio output.289 |
| S | audio | — | Right audio output.289 |
Parameters 9
| Name | Type | Range | Behavior |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | knob | — | 289 |
| B | knob | — | Sets the time the compressor takes to start reducing output volume; controls how much of the initial transient is preserved and how fast compression kicks in. Longer settings average out dynamics. Attack knob works as an offset for the ATK CV input.289 |
| C | knob | 5ms – 3500ms | Sets the release time of the gain reduction envelope. Longer times create an averaging effect. Very short release times can create distortion in low frequencies. Release knob works as an offset for the REL CV input. Negative CV can push release below 5ms.289 |
| D | knob | — | Sets the threshold level where compression kicks in. Signals below the threshold are ignored; signals above generate the sidechain. Lower threshold settings create more gain reduction. Module expects modular levels (-10 to 17dBv). Gain reduction envelope is visualised by orange LEDs under the knob.289 |
| E | knob | — | Applies gain to the signal after compression to match output level to input level. Acts as an offset for the GAIN CV input. Set to MUTE with envelope patched to CV input to use Messor as a stereo VCA.289 |
| F | knob | — | Sets the cutoff frequency of the internal sidechain filter (6dB/oct, switchable LP/HP). Determines which frequencies trigger gain reduction. Can be set to cut off all frequencies, disabling compression entirely.289 |
| G | switch | — | Selects the sidechain filter mode: Low-Pass or High-Pass (6dB/oct). HP mode with cutoff at 300Hz filters out low frequencies such as kick drums.289 |
| H | switch | — | Switches between Pure and Warm modes. Warm enables analog tube saturation emulation that soft-clips signal as headroom limit approaches, adding extra compression and warmth while leaving lower-level signals intact. A side effect is slightly lower output volume.289 |
| I | switch | — | Bypasses the compressor. The SC Envelope Output (Q) remains active when bypassed.289 |
Firmware history 0 versions
No firmware history recorded.
References 2
- [289]
- [290]