Gainlab Audio Governor

Valve-based optical compressor with Dual Slope

The Governor (GLA-OP1) is a tube-based optical compressor that, due to its Dual Slope design, uses two threshold points and offers the ability to maintain control over dynamic conditions.

Its direct predecessor can be considered the dynamic control used in the Bishop All-Tube Channel Strip, which, despite providing only a small portion of Bishop's functionality, has become a benchmark in its own right.

The Governor is capable of dual mono and stereo operation, with detailed parameterization. It allows precise control over most dynamics control operations commonly encountered in audio processing workflows.

Due to its tube-based transformer output design, it is capable of producing the tube boost effect known from the Empress Equalizer. Based on user feedback, we have made it optionally configurable with full-spectrum and high-frequency boost options.

The device now includes a side-chain filter option and is set up to receive external side-chain signals. Notably, the indicator design has been improved, providing a much more informative display than the classic VU meter solution and giving users a more accurate picture of changes in signal status.

What is a compressor with Dual Slope?

In the case of The Governor, the Dual Slope design means that after the compressor threshold point, another threshold point can be set. Beyond this point, the drive curve of the compressor becomes much steeper, and the compressor begins to operate with a much higher compression ratio. In practice, this is like applying multistage dynamic control.

The first threshold would set a smaller ratio, a softer knee compressor, while the second threshold would set a larger ratio, a harder knee compressor. All this within a single device, causing the timing of the two compression stages to interact with each other. As a result, the sound of The Governor can be shaped very flexibly and remains pleasant even with extreme settings, ranging from classic levelers to the sound of modern optical compressors and even to aggressiveness never before heard from an optical compressor.

Technical Specifications

• Valve optical compressor
• Dual slope Design
• Side-chain filter
• External side-chain reception
• Transformer output
• Comprehensive meter section
• Stereo and dual mono operation
• FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz-20Khz +/-0.5dB
• THD (1KHz): 0dBu 0.04%; +20dBu 0.32%; +23dBu 1%
• OUTPUT IMPEDANCE: <150 Ohm
• MAX OUTPUT LEVEL: +28dBu
• MAX INPUT LEVEL: +26dBu
• NOISE FLOOR: < -70 dBu Unweighted
• INPUT: 2x Balanced XLR
• SIDE CHAIN INPUT: 2x TS Jack
• OUTPUT: 2x Balanced XLR
• DIMENSIONS: 483mm x 280mm x 89mm
• WEIGHT: 5.1 Kg
• MAINS VOLTAGE: 230V AC (EU version); 110V AC (US version)