When I first heard that you sold your old optos, I was surprised, but now, I'm not surprised anymore! This is really an upgrade on what an opto compressor can do, and I know I can trust Gainlab to make gear that, sometimes, sounds even better than the units it's based on!
We got the unit delivered and installed. First test, really impressive. The second stage is worth every cent, and makes a major difference. The full body compression has way more punch than we expected, A wonderful unit, easy to set, with an opto valve vibe which stands out in the music we produce. Love it!
Wow. What blows me away is the level of presence and detail that this thing can draw out of all the material. Bella’s voice went from an ‘in front of me’ stereo to a three-dimensional sound I felt I was sitting inside of with a richness to the tone that was absent before. The drums had all that too but also sounded like they were switching to different ROOMS when you started tweaking! I'm almost pleased I have zero money, because otherwise, your videos would be VERY expensive viewing!😂
Wow! That second stage is a TOTAL game changer for opto's. They are my fav on bass, when they work. But Im sure this could work just about everytime! And I almost 💩 when I heard the full drum kit ran through it 🤯. I cant believe the kick and snare maintain that much body with it! Excellent video. Thanks man.
when I heard you said you like it on vocals I was let down that maybe buses and mixbus was not gonna be good lol but DAMN on a mix wow i wanted this and now i Need this!! You can use this for almost anything just like the empress i have, amazing!
It's becoming very easy to have a good understanding what gears needs to be brought when it fits the business budget to upgrade the studio with some analogue... the areas you start is very much dependant on type of projects you get... but if you are dealing with vocals a lot, this is a no brainer, if also the wallet says that to of course lol
So in addendum, I feel that the Gainlab Governor is good for second stage mastering after running the track through the first hardware mastering compressor chain. It adds this sheen without distortion very analogue-likeiMHO.
Got it in my studio since last week, love it. The only thing that should’ve been different imo is that there is a bit of a difference in the front-grey color compared to the Empress and Dictator.
I was searching for a hardware-specific vocal compressor to level out recordings and this thing looks incredible. I can see this thing working very well early on in the chain and clip gaining into it for ever more control. At what stage in your vocal chain are you finding the best results using this?
Definitely one of the best compressors for vocals (and not only) out there, my fav opto for sure. There's really not a "spot" for where to use it, I very rarely track so in mixing my main compressor is usually after filtering and maybe deessing.
@@mixbustv Thank you! If you allow one more question: Do you think the Governor is suitable for (semi-professional) mastering like Gainlab announces or would i still profit more from a Vari Mu like Dictator or Tegeler?
The Empress has less color if you just run material thru it, but it has more if you engage the tube boost. This one has a more refined color with the full tube boost and a silky color just as a box. It's really freaking good
Because with this you don't have the problem of the big transient spike making the 1st stage swing too much. so the material is kept nice and open until it recognizes the "fast" spike and picks it up with the second stage. I don't even know how they did this thing lol
The hard ratio is first in theory. The threshold of the 2nd one is always higher, that’s why if you lower the threshold too much then the 1st stops compressing.
Thank you. That would be the hot and talented girl I get to wake up to every morning www.youtube.com/@BellaKellyOfficial (that's the next song we'll release)
So the closest I`d ever get to owning such a device is the Acustica Audio GREEN 5 ULTRACOMP ITB plugin! Why? ...because of similarity of sound and because it has "painfully" fast attack and release like this tube opto compressor does!!!
Get the GOVERNOR shorturl.at/URtNa
When I first heard that you sold your old optos, I was surprised, but now, I'm not surprised anymore! This is really an upgrade on what an opto compressor can do, and I know I can trust Gainlab to make gear that, sometimes, sounds even better than the units it's based on!
We got the unit delivered and installed. First test, really impressive. The second stage is worth every cent, and makes a major difference. The full body compression has way more punch than we expected, A wonderful unit, easy to set, with an opto valve vibe which stands out in the music we produce. Love it!
Great choice, I absolutely love it, and it's making every mix now
Wow. What blows me away is the level of presence and detail that this thing can draw out of all the material. Bella’s voice went from an ‘in front of me’ stereo to a three-dimensional sound I felt I was sitting inside of with a richness to the tone that was absent before. The drums had all that too but also sounded like they were switching to different ROOMS when you started tweaking! I'm almost pleased I have zero money, because otherwise, your videos would be VERY expensive viewing!😂
That's a really good description my friend! Happy the video did it justice
Wow! That second stage is a TOTAL game changer for opto's. They are my fav on bass, when they work. But Im sure this could work just about everytime! And I almost 💩 when I heard the full drum kit ran through it 🤯. I cant believe the kick and snare maintain that much body with it! Excellent video. Thanks man.
It's really impressive right? Love this thing!
when I heard you said you like it on vocals I was let down that maybe buses and mixbus was not gonna be good lol but DAMN on a mix wow i wanted this and now i Need this!! You can use this for almost anything just like the empress i have, amazing!
I'm impressed by how clean and smooth the audio signals are pushed through this device is! The LED is three lights-Pennywise mesmerizingly hypnotic!
I would be pressed to find the same smoothness when compressing this much on anything else
Just added it to my wishlist 💪🏼
great review….truly want one now 👍
Their brand aesthetic is bad ass, and the sound is too.
Agree!
Gainlab is taking over . I love everything they make.
Indeed!
I could definitely hear the variations in your voice while you are talking into the Governer…
Amazing compressor.
Yeah, this comp, I like a lot
The on off demos I can hear and it adds sweetening
It's becoming very easy to have a good understanding what gears needs to be brought when it fits the business budget to upgrade the studio with some analogue... the areas you start is very much dependant on type of projects you get... but if you are dealing with vocals a lot, this is a no brainer, if also the wallet says that to of course lol
😂
Gainlab definitely came out swinging. That GLA-OC1 is sweet.
So in addendum,
I feel that the Gainlab Governor is good for second stage mastering after running the track through the first hardware mastering compressor chain. It adds this sheen without distortion very analogue-likeiMHO.
Oh this is fun in mastering no doubt. I'm actually repatching things to have it in that rig as well
That thing is perfect for acoustic guitars and vocals even piano
Got it in my studio since last week, love it. The only thing that should’ve been different imo is that there is a bit of a difference in the front-grey color compared to the Empress and Dictator.
My Dictator is Graphite and my empress is on a different rack 😅😅 I didn't notice that
Wow! That meters are bussin!
I was thinking about getting a LA3A but after hearing all these demos...IDK. 🔥
At this time no other opto comp can touch this.. new, vintage, whatever. This is it
I was searching for a hardware-specific vocal compressor to level out recordings and this thing looks incredible. I can see this thing working very well early on in the chain and clip gaining into it for ever more control. At what stage in your vocal chain are you finding the best results using this?
Definitely one of the best compressors for vocals (and not only) out there, my fav opto for sure. There's really not a "spot" for where to use it, I very rarely track so in mixing my main compressor is usually after filtering and maybe deessing.
Insane. Wow
Hey David, since you have both this and the dictator which one would you use for vocals and which one for mixbus ?
Governor vocals, it's absolutely beautiful. Dictator for 2Bus (but it can be great on vocals too)
@@mixbustv I thought you were going to say " I would buy another governor to use on both mixbus and vocals"
Does anyone know of any alternatives to this as a vst plugin please, for those of us that cant afford hardware please 😔
Waiting for your Carnaby EQ E2 video
Hey!
Thank you for the review.
For a Boom Bap Rap only Studio would you suggest this unit or something like the GAP-3A (In combination with a FET)?
Oh man.. this is THE best opto compressor on the market. Period. Don't even think about that comparison. You'll thank me later
@@mixbustv Thank you!
If you allow one more question: Do you think the Governor is suitable for (semi-professional) mastering like Gainlab announces or would i still profit more from a Vari Mu like Dictator or Tegeler?
How does the color compare to the empress, in terms of box tone?
The Empress has less color if you just run material thru it, but it has more if you engage the tube boost. This one has a more refined color with the full tube boost and a silky color just as a box. It's really freaking good
@@mixbustv Do you think it would too much of the same having both units?
Sounds great, why not put the hard ratio first though? Like in a 1176/la2a configuration
Because with this you don't have the problem of the big transient spike making the 1st stage swing too much. so the material is kept nice and open until it recognizes the "fast" spike and picks it up with the second stage. I don't even know how they did this thing lol
The hard ratio is first in theory. The threshold of the 2nd one is always higher, that’s why if you lower the threshold too much then the 1st stops compressing.
omFg…@ 21:17 that’s kråzÿ !!! 🤘❤️🤘
Thank you.
Were the vocal material raw or was it already compressed while tracking ?
Only the first vocal was compressed on the way in, all the others weren't
What’s the song featured in the full mix 2? It’s so good!
Thank you. That would be the hot and talented girl I get to wake up to every morning www.youtube.com/@BellaKellyOfficial
(that's the next song we'll release)
great, only 3k
That thing has so many personalities
CL-1B killer ?
I will take HALF of this over the 1B any day. Like for real.
So the closest I`d ever get to owning such a device is the Acustica Audio GREEN 5 ULTRACOMP ITB plugin!
Why? ...because of similarity of sound and because it has "painfully" fast attack and release like this tube opto compressor does!!!
I'm not sure you heard this right... This comp has an extremely fast attack and release at the fastest settings, we're talking microseconds
@@mixbustv Maybe I need to redact my statement. Thanks for making me watch your video again and that I demo GREEN 5 ULTRACOMP again.
I don't need it. I don't need it. I don't need it!
Adds thickness like nothing I've heard
Would you say thicker than la2a on vocals
🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡