API® 2500 Bus Compressor
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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.Included Versions
UAD Native
Runs on your Mac or PC without UA hardware.
Apollo Realtime & UAD‑2
Runs accelerated on Apollo interfaces and UAD‑2 hardware.UAD Native plug-ins run on both macOS 10.15 Catalina or newer and Windows 10 and 11. Go to our UA Support page for system requirements.
- Glue together your stereo mixes and subgroups with the world’s finest circuit emulation of the iconic API 2500 compressor
- Select between "Old” and "New” compression, with feedback or feed-forward sounds
- Sharpen your workflow with plug‑in‑only Mix and Headroom controls
- Punch up low frequencies with API's patented Thrust technology
- 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
TAKE A LISTEN
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
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.
“The API 2500 Bus Compressor is the only piece of analog gear that’s stayed consistent with me through the years. Now with the UAD plug-in there is finally a worthy model.”
– Vance Powell (Jack White, The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs)
“The API 2500 is my all-time favorite drum bus compressor. The Punch and sound is unmatched by any other in it's class. This is a must have in any studio.”
– Grieves
“The API 2500 plug‑in has all the same character and punch as the original hardware.”
– Adam Hawkins (Twenty One Pilots, Switchfoot, Keith Urban)Watch The Reviews
Customer Reviews
A. Sala
March 9, 2023
My dream come true
After years of using the xxxxx version... Now i have the right one! I use in tracks, buses and always have nice results...
Read MoreR. Adams
January 30, 2023
Enhancer Maximus
This does a beautiful job of enhancing the shape of your source material whether vocal or instrument or mix bus.
Read MoreJ. Tornay
January 15, 2023
Must have
One of the plugins that cannot be missing in your collection, analog flavor extremely similar to hardware and also includes the plugin in native format, double the fun
Read MoreJ. Vanderhorst
January 10, 2023
Best Bus Compressor Period
Best bus Compressor there is . And UA qaulity is unmatched
Read MoreC. Dahl
January 2, 2023
Great 2-bus compressor!
...but also on pretty much anything else. Great emulation.
Read More -
Key Features
Painstakingly modeled by Universal Audio's plugin design team, licensed and authenticated by Automated Processes, Inc.,
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
Includes artist presets from Vance Powell, Jeff Balding, Ryan Hewitt and Adam Hawkins
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Customer Reviews
API 2500 Bus Compressor
A. Sala
My dream come true
After years of using the xxxxx version... Now i have the right one! I use in tracks, buses and always have nice results...
R. Adams
Enhancer Maximus
This does a beautiful job of enhancing the shape of your source material whether vocal or instrument or mix bus.
J. Tornay
Must have
One of the plugins that cannot be missing in your collection, analog flavor extremely similar to hardware and also includes the plugin in native format, double the fun
J. Vanderhorst
Best Bus Compressor Period
Best bus Compressor there is . And UA qaulity is unmatched
S. Rogers
Great bus compressor
Absolutely fantastic.
C. Dahl
Great 2-bus compressor!
...but also on pretty much anything else. Great emulation.
a. min
Punch and Clarity
it;s magic
s. galli
Great
This is a great compressor!
L. Spilger
Punch and Clarity
Punch and clarity on my drumbus or 2bus. Recently I also got great results on a piano stereo track with it‘s piano leveler preset with my ravel!
G. Seminario
Fascinating.!!
I couldn't believe it when I got it and tried it, it's incredible, it was worth it, honestly it's incredible
A. Mujic
Great products by API & Universal Audio
I use API 2500 by Universal Audio for drum busses & master buss. Great tool to glue all things together to get rich and continuous sound. Work off every paid dollar.
Thank you UAD,
Allen RixG. Grinko
Best compressor!
Api 2500 good compressor for drums and different instruments group. Thanks!
P. Sviyazov
Modern bus
Very versatile sound! Can be anywhere in the chain, not just bus. Great on parallels!
M. Fagnoul
even subtle
Highly recommend this one. It gives the glue to your mix.
M. Memley
magic
Gives me the glue I need on my drum bus! Absolutely in love with this.
U. Audio Account
Imprescindible en tu bus de baterías
Aporta un cuerpo y una solidez a las baterías estupenda, merece la pena.
J. Coiffard
Great Bus compressor
Amazing compressor especially on the drum bus. The ability to dial in a mix percentage and remove the low and from the side chain is a big plus to creat big and impressive sound. Love it and highly recommend!
A. Viktorovich
Great of 2500
One of the most beloved compressors
D. Lee
Sounds great subtle or aggressive!
I'm a fan of this. My favorite drum bus comp!
N. Liebich
Like the hardware
I’m happy to own the HW of this… but the Plug-in is the real deal and so much more handy! Going to sell the HW!
