All I can say about this compressor is, WOW, this little beast is amazingly versatile, I'd recommend the API 2500 as a first hardware compressor purchase to a wide range of users... mastering, mixing, tracking, in almost many music styles.
After using this compressor for over 3 years now it still amazes me how adaptable it is in the mastering environment. API has given us a very unique and much loved feature with selectable "old" or "new" compression. Using the old setting engages a feedback style of compression as seen in many of the older classic compressors such as the 1176 or even the fabled Fairchild. In new mode the compression circuit utilises a feed forward design which is similar to many popular compressors of today.
Add to this their THRUST feature, Knee Adjustments, Detented Controls, Side-Chain Filter Shaping, Link Control and loads of gain and you can start to see the sonic potential of this unit.
Faulting the trademark API Sound is a difficult one... those 2520 op-amps are just so tasty on the right material.
Listed Features;
- API 2520 op-amp
- Variable threshold between -20 and +10
- Selectable Ratio, Attack and Release times
- Patented THRUST® high-pass filter before RMS detector
- Variable link between left and right channels
- Old "feed back" or new "feed forward" compression
- Soft, Medium or Hard Knee for easy to sharp compression
