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
Y. Xu
December 1, 2024
Awesome !
need to try and learn, so much character but not for beginners. never love the SSL G-Bus Glue, cause API 2500 is much easier and punchier!
Read MoreC. King
October 2, 2024
Impressed
I wasn't sure how much I would like or use this plugin, but because it sounds so good I'm loving it and using it all the time! Well done UA....
Read MoreJ. Vallander
September 19, 2024
Sounds amazing
I’ve compared it to waves API and it doesn’t even come close to how great UAD sounds
Read MoreJ. Simmons
July 30, 2024
One of the Best 2 Bus!
This plugin sounds so good on a drums! Then I tried it on my guitar, bass and vocal busses! Wheeeew! It gave it a nice glue and gelled the mixes together as a record! Don’t...
Read MoreM. Ramos Jiménez
July 14, 2024
Color Api
Me encanta por ser un compresor con un carácter bastante transparente aunque te suma un pequeño plus análogo que es muy dulce de escuchar....
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
J. ROMERO
De lujo
la mejor versión digital
Y. Xu
Awesome !
need to try and learn, so much character but not for beginners. never love the SSL G-Bus Glue, cause API 2500 is much easier and punchier!
C. King
Impressed
I wasn't sure how much I would like or use this plugin, but because it sounds so good I'm loving it and using it all the time! Well done UA.
J. Vallander
Sounds amazing
I’ve compared it to waves API and it doesn’t even come close to how great UAD sounds
J. Simmons
One of the Best 2 Bus!
This plugin sounds so good on a drums!
Then I tried it on my guitar, bass and vocal busses! Wheeeew! It gave it a nice glue and gelled the mixes together as a record! Don’t pass up this one!M. Ramos Jiménez
Color Api
Me encanta por ser un compresor con un carácter bastante transparente aunque te suma un pequeño plus análogo que es muy dulce de escuchar.
A. Dopwell
AMAZING
les recomiendo este api 2500 el mejor
E. Maxwell
Good, but no sidechain support when using with UAD-2
It's just a shame the UAD-2 version for Apollo does not support sidechain, only the native seems to have this, otherwise good compressor.
W. Krol
Fantastic and versatile.
Fantastic and versatile.
E. Toussaint
Beast.
It reacts so well when pushed. so dope.
M. Breu
Good Bus Comp
It's a good bus compressor. Plenty of room for makeup gain. The shape control is also very nice and effective.
E. Esper
API 2500 Bus Compressor
I Love this Compressor gives everything punch and kick I Keep it on my 2 Bus
T. S
Best drums gule comp！
It is a very good glue compressor, especially useful for drums buss.
C. Lauer
!,,!
Perfekt für Drum Bus, Parallel Bus, Snare und Masterbus
T. bryan
Excellence means UNIVERSAL AUDIO
UA does it again! Excellent in every way!
Y. Sobrinho
Best api emulation
It's the best api 2500 emulation for me!
B. Wright
API 2500 Bus Compressor
Has become my go-to
L. Magnolfi
Classic sound!
Feels just like the real unit! Great plug-in. Instant classic sound!
V. Stepanski
API 2500 Bus Compressor
Legendary compressor, great
R. Visbal
INCREDIBLE!!!
Drum Buss… Mix Buss… It’s just MAGIC!!!
