Pulsar Audio IPA 25 - API 2500 Emulation

[jtsterays]

Available September 8th, you can request for early access though: https://pulsar.audio/ipa25-waitlist/

[bmanic]

Damn it.. this is, unfortunately, extremely good sounding. DAMN IT!

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

I wonder if those knobs are "different looking enough" that API won't come after them and force them to change. I suspect in this case they will.

I've got UAD, [edit] DMG, and Softube API channel strips [EDIT:] compressors. Even if this is really good sounding, I'm not sure I'd be tempted to even demo it unless it was Relab 176 level good. Otherwise, I've got the API strip compressor thing covered elsewhere.

[Igro]

I wonder if those knobs are "different looking enough" that API won't come after them and force them to change. I suspect in this case they will.

I've got UAD and Softube API channel strips. Even if this is really good sounding, I'm not sure I'd be tempted to even demo it unless it was Relab 176 level good. Otherwise, I've got the API strip thing covered elsewhere.

That's not a strip on the picture.
Their FET comp was too "dirty" for my needs though.

[jtsterays]

I wonder if those knobs are "different looking enough" that API won't come after them and force them to change. I suspect in this case they will.

I've got UAD and Softube API channel strips. Even if this is really good sounding, I'm not sure I'd be tempted to even demo it unless it was Relab 176 level good. Otherwise, I've got the API strip thing covered elsewhere.

It's an API2500.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Ah, I wasn't looking that closely and didn't realize that was the SC EQ. Need to stop posting on the internet first thing in the morning! Anyway, I stand corrected but the point is the same.

There's already a good UAD 2500, there's already a good one in TrackComp. How much of a jump up in quality would this need to be for it to be enticing?

And I still think API will come after them for the knobs.

[indigo76]

Not another compressor! I just got the Relab 176 which I'm very happy with and now Pulsar is doing my favorite compressor.

I'm happy with the UAD API 2500. But this one just by looking at the UI seems to bring several nice additions to the table:
- Visualizer: The LINK function can be a bit tricky to understand and it's a bit hard to wrap your head around the SC options. The visualizer seems to help with that
- M/S mode!
- "Color" options for the VCA are interesting

Does anyone know if Pulsar also models the PSU like Relab does on their 176?

[Teksonik]

I wonder if those knobs are "different looking enough" that API won't come after them and force them to change. I suspect in this case they will.

So that's why Plugin Alliance had to change the knobs on their Lindell 50 Channel Strip. I actually prefer the new ones. The old ones were a little too "chicken head" for me.

[HcDoom]

I already have UAD 2500 which is simply amazing, I tried Lindell one which is also extremelly well done. But since new Relab release, I can't satisfy for less quality anymore - companies need to step up their modelling techniques for me to get interested.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

I wonder if those knobs are "different looking enough" that API won't come after them and force them to change. I suspect in this case they will.

So that's why Plugin Alliance had to change the knobs on their Lindell 50 Channel Strip. I actually prefer the new ones. The old ones were a little too "chicken head" for me.

Yeah, API has a trademark on their unique knob design and they go after anyone that gets close to the look of them. IK had to change their knobs, I think Waves way back in the day, etc. Empirical Labs also has a trademark on their big white knob, but they're more open to licensing deals (UAD, Slate), whereas API is not. With trademark law, you have to use the trademark and defend it, or the trademark will be invalidated. So letting other companies use API-style knobs, unlicensed, without defending it could eventually lead API to lose that trademark. They obviously don't want that to happen so they are quick to issue cease and desist notices and companies end up forced to change the look.

[Teksonik]

Seems like much ado about knobs. So emulating the sound of their hardware is fine but god forbid you mimic their knobs? Grip aides don't have any use in software so there is no loss in function without them.

PA got away with using them for some time (about 3 years if the change log is correct):

L50.png

Oh well such is the nature of business I suppose. Let's hope Moog never trademarks their knobs or half the developers on the planet are in trouble.......

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Yeah, it's weird. It's very difficult to patent circuits, and so much gear out there is based on "prior art", but trademarking the look of your gear, if unique, is doable.

The question is: how close is too close?

[dionenoid]

API told me i can keep using my forum pic.

[Calagan]

So anyone compared it to the 2k5 in DMG Audio’s TrackComp ?

[bmanic]

So anyone compared it to the 2k5 in DMG Audio’s TrackComp ?

I have. They are pretty much dead on in terms of action. There are slight saturation / tonality differences and the calibration is a bit different so you can't match the exact same threshold or input levels but if you tweak them you can get them to sound almost the same.

DMG Trackcomp 2 has a bit more of a "forward" sound than IPA in it's "ipa" mode. However, what makes IPA quite special is that you have two more modes to tweak to get a completely different tonality, yet retain the compression action. This is of course not possible in Trackcomp 2.