Pulsar Audio IPA 25 - API 2500 Emulation

[Calagan]

Thanks bmanic for the answer.
I try to keep my plug-in folder under control, so I guess I will not bite. But I’m pretty sure the Pulsar IPA 25 is a beast. I’d love a bit more similar features with TrackComp

[nordickvr]

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.

To say the truth, hearing the result when experimenting with the P&P/IPA/DIODE and the FF/FS modes will quite probably makes me go for it.

[Ploki]

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.

agreed

ironically testing IPA has me considering getting TrackComp2 now. (3rd time demoing it)

You mean the N-Diode and VMu? I dont hear much difference unless I engage drive past 50%. (and null test will confirm it), but when drive is that high it's already fairly distorted

doesn't trackcomp also retain timing settings (and ratio where possible) when switching models?

[bmanic]

To say the truth, hearing the result when experimenting with the P&P/IPA/DIODE and the FF/FS modes will quite probably makes me go for it.

Yeah I'm going through extreme GAS withdrawal trying to resist purchasing it. I've already used up my plugin budget for this month and was planning on not buying any more plugins at all this year..

For anybody who is in the market for a good punchy compressor (both for individual tracks and bus duties) Pulsar Audio IPA25 is absolutely one of the best options currently out there. It's very flexible due to the continuously moving controls and the very flexible sidechain and stereo linking system. It would be a great work-horse / do it all compressor and the UI is very easy on the eyes and has great metering.

.. and it's got a great sounding limiter and saturation stage as well. A truly well rounded plugin. I'd even go as far and say it's one of the best out there currently for a go-to compressor. Definitely in the top 10 category.

[Ploki]

To say the truth, hearing the result when experimenting with the P&P/IPA/DIODE and the FF/FS modes will quite probably makes me go for it.

Yeah I'm going through extreme GAS withdrawal trying to resist purchasing it. I've already used up my plugin budget for this month and was planning on not buying any more plugins at all this year..

For anybody who is in the market for a good punchy compressor (both for individual tracks and bus duties) Pulsar Audio IPA25 is absolutely one of the best options currently out there. It's very flexible due to the continuously moving controls and the very flexible sidechain and stereo linking system. It would be a great work-horse / do it all compressor and the UI is very easy on the eyes and has great metering.

.. and it's got a great sounding limiter and saturation stage as well. A truly well rounded plugin. I'd even go as far and say it's one of the best out there currently for a go-to compressor. Definitely in the top 10 category.

agree re: UI / UX

Agree about most things, but i can't have it be a go-to because on the M chips it uses a lot of CPU (but half as much as 176!).
TrackComp2 in 2k5 @2x uses about twice less cpu than IPA. (also @2x)

Considering i don't have TrackComp, my plugin budget was spared by Relab, and am really gassy... IPA or TrackComp2?

[bmanic]

You mean the N-Diode and VMu? I dont hear much difference unless I engage drive past 50%. (and null test will confirm it), but when drive is that high it's already fairly distorted.

Yeah, those modes changes the tonality of it pretty much immediately. I hear it quite clearly, even if saturation is set low. I suspect it's a bit more complex of a model than a simple waveshaper shape change.. though I'm not sure. Doesn't really matter as they do sound quite different. Compression action seems to stay the same, which is interesting and very useful.. yet the amount of saturation is compression based. It really does seem like they truly modeled the VCA stage itself and don't just chuck on a waveshaper post compression.

ironically testing IPA has me considering getting TrackComp2 now. (3rd time demoing it)

doesn't trackcomp also retain timing settings (and ratio where possible) when switching models?

Yes, trackcomp does retain the settings but because the models vary so much in both input gain staging, overall timbre and program dependency and transfer funciton (ratio "curve"), it's not all that useful as the results vary so wildly.

[bmanic]

To say the truth, hearing the result when experimenting with the P&P/IPA/DIODE and the FF/FS modes will quite probably makes me go for it.

Yeah I'm going through extreme GAS withdrawal trying to resist purchasing it. I've already used up my plugin budget for this month and was planning on not buying any more plugins at all this year..

For anybody who is in the market for a good punchy compressor (both for individual tracks and bus duties) Pulsar Audio IPA25 is absolutely one of the best options currently out there. It's very flexible due to the continuously moving controls and the very flexible sidechain and stereo linking system. It would be a great work-horse / do it all compressor and the UI is very easy on the eyes and has great metering.

.. and it's got a great sounding limiter and saturation stage as well. A truly well rounded plugin. I'd even go as far and say it's one of the best out there currently for a go-to compressor. Definitely in the top 10 category.

agree re: UI / UX

Agree about most things, but i can't have it be a go-to because on the M chips it uses a lot of CPU (but half as much as 176!).
TrackComp2 in 2k5 @2x uses about twice less cpu than IPA. (also @2x)

Considering i don't have TrackComp, my plugin budget was spared by Relab, and am really gassy... IPA or TrackComp2?

Aww shit! I didn't even check the CPU usage. Well I totally agree then.. if it uses that much CPU then it's automatically not a good go-to. Hmm.. wonder if it goes down a lot if you disable the VCA saturation and the soft clip/limiter stages? I really do like the compression action itself very much and it is super useful to have it clean. That's one of the issues I always have with API hardware in general, the rather heavy handed tonality changes and "punch". It's always a toss up if it fits the material or not. Being able to remove all that mojo is actually a great feature!

[aMUSEd]

IPA I’ll drink to that - nice one

[Ploki]

Yeah, those modes changes the tonality of it pretty much immediately. I hear it quite clearly, even if saturation is set low. I suspect it's a bit more complex of a model than a simple waveshaper shape change.. though I'm not sure. Doesn't really matter as they do sound quite different. Compression action seems to stay the same, which is interesting and very useful.. yet the amount of saturation is compression based. It really does seem like they truly modeled the VCA stage itself and don't just chuck on a waveshaper post compression.

I tried it on a full mix just right now, slammed it for 25dB of gain reduction, high ratio, fast attack/release, and i swear it nulls down to -110dB, no matter which mode i pick, if saturation is set to 0%.
it doesn't even matter if i engage or disengage VCA.

If i enable clip/limit the difference is more pronounced with VCA Drive to 100%, but with drive to 0%, everything just nulls out if i switch modes

Aww shit! I didn't even check the CPU usage. Well I totally agree then.. if it uses that much CPU then it's automatically not a good go-to. Hmm.. wonder if it goes down a lot if you disable the VCA saturation and the soft clip/limiter stages? I really do like the compression action itself very much and it is super useful to have it clean. That's one of the issues I always have with API hardware in general, the rather heavy handed tonality changes and "punch". It's always a toss up if it fits the material or not. Being able to remove all that mojo is actually a great feature!

Tried it with VCA and clip/limit disabled and it's about the same.

disabling oversampling however, makes it much more efficient and i can run more than 4 times the instances compared to 2x oversampled. which is bizarre.
with trackcomp i get shy of 2x as many instances without oversampling, which is expected...

I have a strong mental note "never oversample Pulsar in session" due to a bug from years ago.

Offline oversampling is broken in Logic anyway, so i generally don't oversample anything by Pulsar

All that just makes me wonder if i should just finally get TrackComp instead

[bmanic]

Oh I haven't tried 0% saturation.. I usually end up at 10 to 30%, seems to be the sweetspot. Or I turn off the VCA button when I want it off. Hmm.. is 0% actually zero? That'd explain the null.

TrackComp is definitely a classic. It's a bit of a secret weapon due to it's flexibility. The only issues are the slightly wonky 1176 and LA-2A models which need a bit of careful tuning to get them to operate as you'd expect them to.

[jamcat]

I just can't get excited about new compressors anymore.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

They have blue pills for that.

[Ploki]

They have blue pills for that.

christ

[pekbro]

I like this, but I think I'm going to pass, due to the money and not really needing it.
Maybe during a sale down the road.

[UltraByte]

TrackComp is definitely a classic. It's a bit of a secret weapon due to it's flexibility. The only issues are the slightly wonky 1176 and LA-2A models which need a bit of careful tuning to get them to operate as you'd expect them to.

without derailing the thread, i know that the 1176 trackcomp model requires -30% Q bias to be inline with what one would usually expect if i remember right.
What was the tuning for the LA-2A ?

Will give IPA-25 a spin after all the praise although i usually only keep one of each plugin emulations and i already have UAD and Trackcomp. Did Pulsar sent out any additional discounts per email ? (newsletter, returning-customers or whatnot) i havent received anything this time.