Dual-slope optical compressor

The Governor, also known as the GLA-OP1, is a tube-based optical compressor that, thanks to its dual-slope design and two thresholds, allows for advanced dynamics control. It is inspired by the dynamics section of the Bishop, which was certainly not the primary function of this channel strip, but had become very popular.

The Governor is capable of operating in dual-mono or stereo modes, always with precise parameters. It allows advanced control of most commonly encountered dynamic processing operations. Thanks to its tube transformer outputs, it can produce the tube saturation effect so popular in the Empress EQ. Based on user feedback, Gainlab has made it configurable with options for full-range or treble emphasis. The unit now includes a side-chain filter option and is ready to receive external side-chain signals. Also, the visual indicator has been emphasized, offering a much more informative display compared to the classic VU meter solution, allowing users to have a more accurate representation of signal state changes, and the two compressor thresholds can be adjusted much more intuitively as well.