EMPRESS 2×3 Band Tube Equalizer
The Gainlab Audio Empress is a high-end passive equalizer designed to deliver rich, musical tone shaping with the warmth and character of classic analog gear. Inspired by legendary vintage EQ, the classic Pultec but with an extra mid eq band, the Empress offers smooth, natural curves that enhance the depth and clarity of any mix. With its tube-driven circuitry and carefully tuned frequency bands, this EQ excels at everything from subtle tonal enhancements to bold sculpting of individual tracks, busses, or full mixes. Whether in tracking, mixing, or mastering, the Gainlab Audio Empress provides the precision and sonic beauty that professionals demand.
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Gainlab Audio Empress är en high-end passiv equalizer designad för att leverera rik, musikalisk EQ med värmen och karaktären man förväntar sig från klassisk analog utrustning. Inspirerad av legendariska vintage-EQ:s, framför allt klassiska Pultec men med ett extra mid-EQ-band, erbjuder Empress mjuka, naturliga EQ kurvor som fördjupar och förtydligar varje mix. Med sin rördrivna kretsdesign erbjuder Empress en fantastisk EQ upplevelse på enskilda spår, bussar eller hela mixar. Oavsett om det gäller inspelning, mixning eller mastering kommer du imponeras av Empress.
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What would be your first though when you hear the term "passive equalizer"? At first, probably you think about the airy high frequency components, the rich subs and the widely applicable cuts and boosts wich can be used alongside each other. These types of equalisers have been around since the early 50’s, the most famous Pultec EQP-1 from Pulse Techniques was the first one that provided simultaneously passive filter circuits alongside high quality line amplifiers. The downside of the EQP-1 was the lack of ability to carry out precision frequency isolation, but it was able to change any sound in its core. Many of the modern equalizers are based on the original EQP-1 in both structure and functions that could be limiting in a modern music environment and production.
The aim in the Gainlab lab was to improve the classic concept. First, they added an additional mid frequency filter between the low and high frequency filters in order to improve the versatility of the unit in the modern days music environment. They left the option of simultaneous cutting and boosting in the low and high band, so all those tricks can be done that a user normally would expect from an equalizer. Furthermore, the shift function can be used on these bands so that the mid frequency of the simultaneous cutting and boosting can be shifted relative to each other. After extensive test bench trials, using the equalizer in real life applications, the versatilty of the unit was far beyond expectation. It proved to be suitable from recording to master colouring or can be used in any equalizer task. It is fair to say that it dominates the entire frequency range and most of the time it does sounds great in extreme conditions, hence we named it to Empress.
In summary, the Empress is a dual channel passive equalizer equipped with a tube amplifier that has three bands on each side. Thanks to the compact design it only needs 2U space in the studio but it will have a significant impact on your sound.
Field of application
- Mixing
- Mastering
- Recording
- Sound Design
- Saturator
Main properties
- 2×3 band setup
- Stepped attenuator design
- Tube based gain stage
- Military grade vacuum tubes
- Nanocrystaline alloy transformers