The Gainlab GLA-MP1 Bishop All Tube Channel unit gives you everything you would expect from a regular high-quality channel strip, and more! The heart of the unit based on the mic preamp consisting of three vacuum tubes. There are inputs for the mic and instrument on the front while selectable mic and line inputs are located on the back panel. Along with phase, polarity and phantom power switches there is a special drive pot which can be used for coloring the instrument input. A large stepped gain selector knob is separated in two selectable scales for the ultimate flexibility with up to +60 dB gain.
The preamp section uses three valves with a stepped gain control with two selectable scales offering up to 60 dB of gain. Microphone, line-level, and instrument inputs with the addition of a Drive control for instruments which uses a discrete circuit to apply some color to the signal. Phantom power can be engaged by a front panel switch. There are additional switches for pad and polarity functions.
The optical compressor section employs Gainlab's "double slope" design. The 2nd Slope parameter placed next to the unit’s Threshold control provides increased versatility when compared to other LA-2A-inspired designs. A pair of gain reduction meters indicate the amount of compression being applied by each section of the compressor.
The Character selector switch allows you to toggle between Hard, Medium, and Soft settings. Five fixed release times along with an Auto function are provided by a Timing control. An 80 or 120 Hz selectabl high-pass filter can be engaged. The Dynamic Air Band switch promises to deliver a unique character to a signal’s high-frequency content.
In terms of performance, the Bishop has a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz (±1 dB) and THD+N <0.3% (measured at 0 dBu). The unit comes in a 2U rack-mount chassis weighing in a 11.4 lb.
 
APPLICATIONS:
Tracking
Recording
Sound Design
Saturator
 
FEATURES:
All tube preamp section
Full balanced signal path
Dual Slope Optical Compressor
Mic, Instrument and Line input
HPF at 120 Hz, 80 Hz
48V phantom power
Phase switch – Pad switch
Instrument drive
Dual ring stepped gain selector
Low gain mode +40 dB
High gain mode +60 dB
Output VU meter
Character selector
Timing selector
Threshold control
Dynamic Air band
2nd slope control
Dual GR LED bar