Universal Audio

UAD API 2500 Bus Compressor

$163.00

An obsessively accurate emulation of API’s flagship compressor.

The API 2500 Bus Compressor is a permanent fixture on the stereo bus of many of the world’s top engineers and producers. Considered the best of the Paul Wolff-era API circuit designs, this famed compressor adds energy, movement, and tone to stereo mixes and subgroups unlike any other compressor.

The API 2500 Bus Compressor plug-in for UAD-2 hardware and Apollo interfaces is a spot-on emulation of this classic compressor, capturing its all-discrete signal path with Thrust® circuitry — and features a fanatically detailed modeling of API’s custom transformers and 2510 and 2520 op amps.

API 2500 5-Minute Tip

API 2500 5-Minute Tip

Learn how to use the API 2500 on drums, bass, guitars, and your entire mix.

The Only End-to-End API 2500 Emulation

The Only End-to-End API 2500 Emulation

Poring over proprietary “for-your-eyes-only” schematics made available to Universal Audio by API, our team of DSP experts analyzed two classic API 2500s — rackmount and in-console — ensuring one of UA’s tightest behavioral circuit models to date. Working together with API’s engineers, we scrutinized every facet of the plug-in against its analog counterpart, delivering the definitive representation of this iconic compressor. Early beta testing with UA artists confirmed that the plug-in ranks among the most accurate analog emulations in UA history.

Built for the 2-Bus

Built for the 2-Bus

API designed the 2500 compressor with program material firmly in mind. Its Release control includes fixed or variable options, while the Attack, Threshold, and Ratio controls offer musical tweaking throughout their range, making the API 2500 a toneful dynamics overlord for your stereo bus.

Shaping Tone and Dynamics

Shaping Tone and Dynamics

The API 2500 allows selection between three custom-voiced compression Knees — Soft, Medium, and Hard. You can shape the tone further with two compression types; “Old” for characterful peak-detection harkening back to API’s earliest, highly-coveted 525, or “New”, which features a modern feed-forward design.

Thrust Control for Unmatched Punch

Thrust Control for Unmatched Punch

Taken from their Paragon series of consoles, the API 2500’s Thrust feature puts a filter before the RMS detector, evening high and low frequency energy — so neither triggers the compressor more than the other. This gives you a tight hallmark API punch beyond any other compressor.

Enhance Energy and Motion

Enhance Energy and Motion

Most compressors only allow you to turn left/right linking on or off. The API 2500 Bus Compressor Link parameters allow for precision control of your mix’s L/R dynamic interaction. Set exactly how much dependence — or independence — you want your L/R spatial dynamics field to have, and hone your dynamic contours even further with the Shape control.

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Description

System Requirements for UAD Spark, UA Connect, and Native UAD Plug-ins

UAD Spark, UA Connect and Native UAD Plug-Ins System Requirements

  • macOS Catalina 10.15, Big Sur 11, Monterey 12, Ventura 13, or Sonoma 14
  • Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit editions)
  • Intel, AMD or Apple silicon processor
  • Internet connection to download software and authorize native UAD plug-ins
  • Free iLok account with iLok Cloud or iLok USB (2nd generation or higher)
  • Free UA Connect application for managing native UAD plug-ins
  • A supported DAW compatible with VST, AU and AAX plug-in file formats. Supported DAWs are listed in this article.

Native UAD Instruments Requirements

  • Sample-based UAD instruments require SSD storage with:
    • APFS formatting for macOS
    • NTFS formatting for Windows
  • 1 GB to 10 GB available SSD storage per plug-in (space requirement varies per UAD Instrument). A minimum of 100 GB available storage is highly recommended.
  • Individual UAD Instrument storage requirements are listed on UA Connect’s UAD Plug-Ins tab.

Notes

  • Operating systems not listed above are untested. Although untested operating systems may work, they are not supported by Universal Audio.
  • Pre-release and beta versions of operating systems are not supported.
  • Native UAD plug-ins on Apple silicon machines automatically run natively on Apple silicon in DAWs that support native Apple silicon.
  • Windows running via Bootcamp on Mac systems are not supported.

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