API 2500 is a compressor plugin from Waves that emulates the API bus compressor. It is available in VST2, AU and AAX formats for Windows and macOS.
API 2500 is a Waves plugin modeled in close collaboration with API, the company behind the bus compressor it emulates. It is built around choice: you can switch between vintage feedback and modern feedforward designs, pick from three knee curves, and set attack times from 0.03 ms to 30 ms. A dedicated Mix control makes parallel compression straightforward, and an infinity:1 ratio lets the same unit work as a limiter.
The plugin's Thrust option is designed to shape bass with more punch and weight. Variable L/R linking, from 50% to 100%, lets you decide how much the two channels move together, which matters when you want a stereo mix to stay cohesive without collapsing its width.
The stereo linkage can also be tied to frequency ranges, so low-end energy can be controlled separately from the rest of the mix.
Release is either fixed or variable, up to 3 seconds. The three knee curves give you a choice between firm clamping and gentle compression. The Mix control blends the compressed signal with the dry signal for parallel processing on drum buses or full mixes.
Feedback mode suits the classic character of the original hardware, while feedforward gives a more modern response. Choosing between them is the main decision when you set the plugin up.
Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.
| Developer | Waves |
|---|---|
| Type | Plugin |
| Category | Compressor |
| Formats | VST2, AU, AAX |
| Operating systems | Windows, macOS |
API 2500 is available in VST2, AU and AAX formats. It runs on Windows and macOS.
API 2500 is a plugin, so it needs a compatible host application that supports VST2, AU or AAX. The system requirements list macOS Monterey 12 through Sequoia 15 for Mac and Windows 10 or later for PC.
Yes. An additional infinity:1 ratio provides limiting as well as compression.
