The Gainlab Audio GLA-TC1 Dictator Graphite Dual Pentode Vari-mu Compressor is a limited edition of the company's original compressor with a stunning black front panel.

This tube-based compressor employs a pair of military-grade 6k4p-EV pentode valves in conjunction with current design approaches that provide additional settings such as high comp and low compression modes, which change the compressor's aggressivity. In LOCOMP mode, the GLA-TC1 has a soft ratio and a smoother knee, similar to the Fairchild 670, however in HICOMP mode, the ratio is significantly higher and the knee is much more angular.

Attack and release times are separately adjustable, with attack times ranging from fastest (15ms) to slowest (60ms) and three release times ranging from fastest (200ms), fast (350ms), and slowest (60ms) (600ms).

The threshold control can be separated to provide independent compression for the left and right channels. It also has a side-chain high-pass filter with five frequencies ranging from 22 to 200Hz to help minimise the compressor's sensitivity to low frequencies.

The Gainlab Audio Dictator is a versatile compressor for tracking, mixing, and mastering. Even when no compression is active, the GainLab audio may provide precise saturation by overdriving this real variable gain compressor.