What is the IGS Audio Volf Compressor designed for?

The Volf Compressor is a stereo VCA-based bus compressor built to deliver punch, glue, and clarity on mix and drum busses. It’s inspired by classic console designs but refined for modern production standards.

How does the Volf differ from the IGS S-Type or Tubecore models?

While the S-Type offers traditional SSL-style compression and the Tubecore adds tube coloration, the Volf emphasizes transparency and precision. It maintains impact while keeping your mix open and detailed.

Can the IGS Volf Compressor be used for mastering?

Yes – its low noise floor, precise controls, and smooth VCA response make it suitable for both mixing and mastering tasks when used with moderate settings or gradually introducing the compressed signal into the audiotrack by using the dry/wet-mixknob.

What features make the Volf stand out in hybrid studios?

It offers sidechain filters, switchable ratios, and a built-in stereo link, allowing seamless integration into analog-digital workflows. Engineers value it for its fast response and musical compression curve.

Does the Volf Compressor color the sound?

The Volf delivers subtle harmonic richness typical for high-end analog gear, but its design focuses on control rather than coloration – perfect if you want clean, punchy compression.

Is the IGS Volf built in Europe?

Yes, every Volf is hand-assembled and tested in Poland by IGS Audio, ensuring consistent build quality and precision component matching.

What is the Gainlab Audio Empress?

The Gainlab Audio Empress is a dual-channel passive tube equalizer for stereo and dual-mono processing. It combines passive inductor-based EQ networks, tube make-up gain, stepped controls, low, mid and high frequency sections, plus additional Shift, Bell and Tube Boost functions.

Is Gainlab Audio Empress suitable for mastering?

Yes. Empress is suitable for mastering, mix-bus processing and stereo programme material. Its stepped controls support repeatable settings, while its broad passive EQ curves, tube output stage and stereo operation make it useful for tonal finishing, low-end contouring and high-frequency enhancement.

Can Gainlab Audio Empress be used as two independent mono equalizers?

Yes. Empress provides two independent three-band equalizer channels. It can be used for stereo sources such as a mix bus, piano or drum overheads, or as two separate mono tube equalizers for vocals, instruments, tracking and mixing.

What does the Shift function do on Gainlab Audio Empress?

The Shift function offsets the frequency centres of the boost and cut controls in the low and high EQ sections. This allows more complex passive EQ curves, helping users add low-end weight or high-frequency sheen while controlling excessive energy in nearby frequency ranges.

What is Tube Boost on Gainlab Audio Empress?

Tube Boost increases drive into the Empress valve output stage, adding output level and increased harmonic density. It can be used to add warmth, richness and analogue saturation to individual tracks, stereo buses and programme material.

Can Empress boost and cut frequencies at the same time?

Yes. The low and high sections allow simultaneous boost and attenuation at the selected frequency, a classic passive EQ technique. Combined with the Shift function, this can create broad, musical curves for shaping low-frequency weight, high-frequency air and overall tonal balance.

What is the high-band Bell mode on Gainlab Audio Empress?

The high-band Bell mode changes the high-frequency boost response from a broad shelving curve to a more focused bell-shaped curve. This provides more targeted control when enhancing presence, detail or upper-mid definition.

The Gainlab Audio Empress is a dual-channel passive tube equalizer that combines classic inductor-based EQ principles with expanded modern control. Featuring stepped controls, simultaneous low and high boost/cut, a flexible mid band, Shift functions, high-band bell mode and Tube Boost, Empress delivers musical tonal shaping for tracking, mixing, mix-bus processing and mastering.

The Gainlab Audio Empress is a professional dual-channel passive tube equalizer for engineers who want the broad, musical curves and harmonic depth associated with classic passive valve EQs, but need more flexibility for contemporary recording, mixing and mastering workflows.

Inspired by classic inductor-based equaliser concepts, Empress combines passive EQ filter networks with tube make-up gain, custom transformer coupling and stepped controls. Its dual-channel architecture makes it suitable for stereo material and dual-mono processing, while the precisely stepped rotary controls support accurate recall and closely matched settings across both channels.

Each channel offers three frequency sections: low, mid and high. The low and high bands allow simultaneous boost and attenuation at the selected frequency, enabling the familiar passive-EQ technique of adding weight or air while shaping unwanted resonances and excessive energy. This makes Empress especially useful for broad low-end contouring, polished high-frequency lift, mix-bus tone shaping and mastering-grade finishing.

The low band provides six selectable frequencies from 30 Hz to 180 Hz, while the high band offers six selectable frequencies from 3 kHz to 16 kHz. The mid band covers a broad range from 200 Hz to 7 kHz, helping engineers shape presence, clarity, density, midrange focus and tonal balance on individual tracks or complete mixes.

Gainlab extends the classic passive EQ concept with Shift functions on the low and high sections. These allow the boost and cut frequencies to be offset from one another, creating more complex and useful curves than a conventional fixed-frequency passive equaliser. The result is more control over low-frequency weight, high-frequency sheen and tonal balance without losing the broad, musical behaviour that makes passive tube EQ designs so effective.

The high section also provides a Bell mode for more focused high-frequency shaping. This makes Empress suitable not only for broad shelving lift, but also for more targeted presence enhancement and corrective high-frequency work when required.

Tube Boost adds extra tube drive and harmonic density to the output stage. It increases the output level by approximately 2.5 dB while pushing the valve stage harder, providing a useful option for adding analogue energy, richness and saturation to vocals, instruments, stereo buses and programme material.

Empress can be used as a stereo equalizer for mix bus, mastering and stereo sources, or as two independent mono equalizers for tracking and mixing. It is particularly effective on vocals, acoustic instruments, drum buses, piano, guitars, bass, synthesizers and full mixes where musical tone shaping, depth and analogue character are more important than narrow surgical correction.

Balanced XLR inputs and outputs allow simple integration with professional audio interfaces, converters, patchbays, mixing consoles and analogue mastering chains. With high input and output headroom, relay-based hard bypass and durable stepped controls, Empress is designed for repeatable professional studio use.

The Gainlab Audio Empress is an excellent choice for producers, mix engineers and mastering engineers who want a sophisticated passive tube EQ with classic musical curves, modern midrange flexibility and optional tube saturation.

Key features

Dual-channel passive tube equalizer
Two independent three-band EQ channels for stereo or dual-mono use
Passive inductor-based EQ filter networks
Tube make-up gain stage
Custom input and output transformers
Stepped rotary controls for repeatable settings and stereo matching
Simultaneous boost and cut on low and high bands
Low band: 30 Hz, 60 Hz, 80 Hz, 100 Hz, 130 Hz and 180 Hz
Mid band: 200 Hz to 7 kHz
High band: 3 kHz, 4 kHz, 5 kHz, 8 kHz, 12 kHz and 16 kHz
Shift functions on low and high bands
High-band Bell mode for more focused tonal shaping
Tube Boost for increased valve drive and harmonic colour
Approximately +2.5 dB output increase with Tube Boost
Relay-based hard bypass
Balanced XLR inputs and outputs
Suitable for recording, mixing, mix-bus processing and mastering
Professional 19-inch rackmount format

Applications

Stereo mix-bus equalization and tonal finishing
Mastering EQ with stepped recallable settings
Vocal presence, air and body enhancement
Acoustic guitar, piano, strings and percussion
Drum bus weight, punch and high-frequency polish
Bass contouring and low-frequency shaping
Synthesizers, drum machines and stereo keyboards
Analogue summing and hybrid mixing workflows
Dual-mono tracking and individual instrument processing
Adding tube saturation and harmonic density with Tube Boost

Gainlab Audio Empress – Dual-Channel Passive Tube Equalizer

€2,675.00

VAT Included

Quantity

estimated delivery time 2-3 weeks

Technical specifications

Specification	Gainlab Audio Empress
Product type	Dual-channel passive tube equalizer
Channel configuration	Stereo / dual mono
EQ bands per channel	3: low, mid and high
Low band frequencies	30 Hz, 60 Hz, 80 Hz, 100 Hz, 130 Hz, 180 Hz
Mid band frequencies	200 Hz, 300 Hz, 500 Hz, 700 Hz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, 3 kHz, 4 kHz, 5 kHz, 7 kHz
High band frequencies	3 kHz, 4 kHz, 5 kHz, 8 kHz, 12 kHz, 16 kHz
Low / high processing	Simultaneous boost and attenuation
Mid processing	Boost or attenuation
Shift function	Low and high bands
High-band mode	Shelf or Bell
Tube Boost	Yes, approximately +2.5 dB output and increased tube saturation
Bypass	Relay-based hard bypass
Inputs	2 × balanced XLR
Outputs	2 × balanced XLR
Maximum input level	+23 dBu
Maximum output level	Greater than +23 dBu
Input impedance	Greater than 10 kOhms
Output impedance	Less than 65 Ohms
Frequency response	20 Hz–20 kHz, ±0.5 dB
THD+N at 0 dBu	Less than 0.08%
Noise floor	Less than −60 dBu
Signal-to-noise ratio	88 dB
Tubes	6N1P-EV, E88CC equivalent
Dimensions	483 × 280 × 89 mm
Weight	5.6 kg
Mains supply	230 V AC EU version / 110 V AC US version

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