Universal Audio API 2500 Bus Compressor

VCA Compressor Plugin

Sale ends in:
  • 00

    Days

  • 00

    Hours

  • 00

    Mins

  • 00

    Secs

  • $299.00 80% off
  • $59.00
    USD
    Cloud

     Instant Delivery

    Products with the Instant Delivery badge can be delivered to you in seconds after you place your order.

    Cloud

    Digital Products


    Digital Products are delivered electronically either via your order status page, or via email.

    No physical product will be shipped to you!

    In most cases, the product you purchase from us is a serial number/license code/activation code to register the product with the manufacturer and download directly from them. This ensures you receive the latest version of products, and the best support when necessary.

    After purchase, your license code and relevant links will appear on your order status page, or they will be sent to you by email.

    For detailed instructions on the registration/download process, you can visit our dedicated page by clicking here: Install Instructions.

Education Proof

Products with education pricing are for students & teachers only. To prove your education status we require that you upload proof in the form of an image/PDF.

Types of proof

Student

Student ID Card, Letter of enrollment, or similar

Teacher/Lecturer

Teacher ID Card, Lecturer ID Card, Payslip, Letter from the school/college

Education proof is submitted to the manufacturer and is accepted at their discretion.

The Basics

iLok is a copy protection method used by many of our brands.

It has 3 types of activations, iLok USB, iLok Machine, and iLok Cloud.

Different brands/products will offer different iLok methods. iLok USB is always an option, but the availability of iLok Cloud and iLok Machine methods is at the discretion of the software developer.

iLok Account

For all iLok protected products, you will need an iLok account. You can create one for free here: ilok.com/#!registration

iLok License Manager

To manage your iLok licenses, there is a dedicated app called iLok License Manager. This app is used to register, activate, and move your licenses between locations.

You can download the latest installers from the iLok website: ilok.com/#!home

iLok USB Key

iLok USB

This activation is stored on an iLok 2 or 3 USB key.

It is the best option for portability, if you frequently move between multiple machines, and offline use.

iLok Machine ID

Machine ID

This activation is stored locally on your computer.

While this is a convenient way to work offline, and does not require the additional cost of an iLok USB, there is the risk of a license being lost in the case of a drive failure.

This option also requires extra care when you upgrade to a new computer, the license(s) must be deactivated on your old machine first to ensure you do not lose them.

iLok Cloud

iLok Cloud

This activation is based online, and requires a "cloud session" using the iLok License Manager.

It requires an active internet connection for the entire time you use the plugin(s).
View System Requirements
Supports Apple Silicon natively
AAX Native - Compatible with Pro Tools 11 and above
AudioUnits Format
UAD-2 Format
VST3 Format
iLok Cloud compatible, dongle optional
iLok Dongle Required
MacOS Logo
Windows Logo

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 fanatically detailed modeling of API's custom transformers and 2510 and 2520 op-amps.

Features

  • Painstakingly modeled by Universal Audio's plugin design team, licensed and authenticated by Automated Processes, Inc.
  • Glue together your stereo mixes and subgroups with the world's finest circuit emulation of the iconic API 2500 compressor
  • Beloved Paul Wolff-era API design, exclusively measured from the all-discrete, in-console version of the 2500
  • Provides the entire circuit path and control set of the API hardware including custom API op-amps and transformers
  • Signature API 2500 features include patented Thrust sidechain filtering, "New" and "Old" Compressor Types, and Variable Sidechain Link
  • Plug-in-only features include Dry/Wet parallel processing and Headroom for user-customizable operating level
  • Select between "Old" and "New" compression, with feedback or feed-forward sounds
  • Contour your mix's stereo interaction with percent-based L/R Link controls
  • Mix with artist presets from Jeff Balding (Faith Hill), Vance Powell (Jack White), Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers), and more

Included Versions

  • UAD Native - Runs on your Mac or PC without UA hardware (AAX, AU, VST3)
  • Apollo Realtime & UAD-2 - Runs accelerated on Apollo interfaces and UAD‑2 hardware (AAX, AU, VST2, and VST3)

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

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

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

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

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.

System Requirements

  • MacOS 10.15 Catalina and above
  • Officially supported up to MacOS 14 Sonoma
  • Windows 10 and above (64-bit only)
  • Intel, AMD, or Apple Silicon CPU
  • Free iLok account and iLok License Manager
  • iLok Cloud and iLok USB licensing methods are supported

Plugin Formats

  • UAD Native: AAX Native, AU, and VST3
  • Apollo & UAD-2: AAX Native, AU, VST2, and VST3

    • Crossgrade Proof

    This crossgrade is for owners of a competing DAW. To prove your DAW ownership, we require that you upload proof in the form of an image/PDF.

    Types of proof

    A copy of your purchase receipt for the original license or the most recent update/upgrade

    A screenshot of your product registration

    A photo of your package (either CD/DVD or printed manual), with the unique serial number included in the photo.

    Get a free upgrade to RX10

    This offer is valid until RX10's release.

    Eligible Products

    Purchase one of the following products:

    • RX9 Standard
    • RX9 Standard - Crossgrade from any paid iZotope product
    • RX9 Standard - Upgrade from any RX Standard, Advanced, or Post Production Suite
    • RX9 Standard - Upgrade from RX Elements/Plugin Pack
    • RX9 Advanced
    • RX9 Advanced - Crossgrade from any paid iZotope product
    • RX9 Advanced - Upgrade from RX Advanced 1-8, or Post Production Suite 1-5
    • RX9 Advanced - Upgrade from RX Standard 1-8
    • RX9 Advanced - Upgrade from RX Elements/Plugin Pack
    • RX Post Production Suite 6
    • RX Post Production Suite 6 - Upgrade from RX Post Production Suite 1-5
    • RX Post Production Suite 6 - Upgrade from RX Advanced 1-8
    • RX Post Production Suite 6 - Upgrade from RX Standard 1-8
    • RX Post Production Suite 6 - Upgrade from RX Post Production Suite 1-8

    Exclusions

    Only the upgrades and crossgrades specified above are eligible. All others listed apply to the full version of the product only. Education versions are not eligible.