Aircraft Designs Cascade

Discrete VCA Compressor

Add punch and musical control to your sound with our analog VCA compressor. From subtle glue on buses to aggressive transient shaping, CASCADE brings your tracks to life with smooth dynamics and rich analog character—making it perfect for mastering, live performances, and precise mix control.

Inspired by the G-Bus architecture and the classic VCA compressors of the ’70s and ’80s, CASCADE captures that vintage punch and glue while delivering refined modern control. Its fully discrete VCA cell and 100% discrete analog signal path ensure transparent dynamic control with musical THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) characteristics, preserving clarity and definition even under heavy compression.

• Unique VCA Circuitry. Engineered to minimize self-noise while delivering punchy, musical compression with the vibrant sonic character of classic 70s/80s consoles.
• Stereo/Mono Operation. Allows for both stereo processing and mono configuration with left input being normaled to right.
• Attack. Switchable attack times — how fast the compressor reacts to the signal.
• Release. Switchable release times — how fast the gain returns to normal.
• Ratio. Selects the compression ratio.
• Threshold. Defines the level at which compression begins.
• Make-Up. Restores level lost during compression, offering gain to rebalance your mix or drive the output into subtle harmonic color for an enhanced final sound.
• Balance (Dry/Wet). Parallel compression is easily dialed in via the blend control, making CASCADE an essential tool for modern mixing and mastering workflows.
• Gain Reduction. Displays the amount of gain reduction applied, giving you clear visual feedback of your compression's impact on the signal.
• Level Metering. See the levels or output signal so have more control before hitting next in the chain module.
• SC Hipass. The sidechain circuit includes a switchable high-pass filter to avoid unwanted pumping from bass-heavy content.
• Bypass. Compare processed and clean signals.
• Modular and Line-Level Compatibility. Although designed to excel with modular-level signals, Horizon is also compatible with standard line-level inputs.

Coming Soon. CASCADE will soon be available in stores, with pre-orders opening shortly. Secure your unit in advance to experience the timeless musicality of a classic design, reimagined for today.