api 2500 as a mastering compressor?

[lucey]

Originally Posted by bob katz

I was able to reduce the heavyhandedness by changing a resistor on the circuit board that affected the threshold. In fact, it was going into gain reduction even with the threshold all the way off in some of the modes.

I also reduced the range of the output gain pot so it wasn't so damn sensitive and would provide me a "calibrated" gain boost from 0 through about 4 dB at full gain.

BK

Sounds like a much better mastering mousetrap Bob.

[streetbeats]

Originally Posted by macc

Shut up

put five pasties in front of you and youd forget the API

[Darius van H]

I've had the 2500 (and 5500) for a couple of weeks now.

Very very happy with it.....lot's of options, different tones, very punchy, works really well together with a vari-mu of some sort.

[cemski]

Having the API 2500 always before the AD. At least to level the end of my signal chain. Using the compression mostly to "equal" the sound. Thrust saves me time from adjusting side-chain Equalizers. What i also like is its recallability and still being able to adjust the envelope exactly to the "groove". For me it is a POP Processor, though i am working a lot on "independant" music. It is a perfect company to my Tube Compressor.

[PrinsJan]

Api 2500 on mastering duties all the time ! Together with The Phoenix

[Bob Olhsson]

A volume control ahead of the 2500 often helps a lot. It has a sweet spot you can't always get at with just its own controls.

[bob katz]

Originally Posted by Bob Olhsson

A volume control ahead of the 2500 often helps a lot. It has a sweet spot you can't always get at with just its own controls.

That's right. That's why I did a mod on my 2500, so the controls are not so dicey, especially the gain makeup. Imagine a gain makeup control with 12 or more dB of gain!

Now mine has 4 dB of gain and I put labels on the front panel for each dB.

And the threshold. The Threshold from the factory can never be OFF.


BK

[glassmaster]

Originally Posted by bob katz

And the threshold. The Threshold from the factory can never be OFF.


BK

It's a compressor - why would you want to turn off the threshold?

[lucey]

Originally Posted by glassmaster

It's a compressor - why would you want to turn off the threshold?

For the sound of the unit?

For the sound of the 'just barely' at threshold, which requires the threshold off to find that spot?

[glassmaster]

Originally Posted by lucey

For the sound of the unit?

For the sound of the 'just barely' at threshold, which requires the threshold off to find that spot?

Disengage the IN button. Audio still passes through the 2520s and xfrmrs.

[macc]

Edited for stupidity.

[lucey]

Originally Posted by glassmaster

Disengage the IN button. Audio still passes through the 2520s and xfrmrs.

On this unit yes, but doesn't solve the second point. It's touchy and the knobs are small for repeats.

[glassmaster]

Originally Posted by lucey

On this unit yes, but doesn't solve the second point. It's touchy and the knobs are small for repeats.

On the 2500 only the Threshold, fine Release, and Makeup Gain are pots, and I've never had an issue recalling settings; but I see the merit in Bob Katz's mods. Returning to Bob O's spot-on post - having a transfer console w/ switchable input and output gain is very useful for proper gain-staging.

[ray dsr]

The 2500 is one of the most versatile compressors I've ever used.

Med Knee, Med Thrust, Old Feedback Style - it's extremely flattering to anything you throw at it.

Soft Knee, Norm Thrust, New FeedForward - it can make your drum buss sound amazingly punchy using a very slow attack time.

I love it.

Great for vocals too. Send the b-vox buss to it. I wish I had three more of 'em.

Of course - I'm using it to mix, not master.

[Alécio Costa]

I was going to pick a 2500 in close future, but seems the STC8 and the Unicomp are the way to go, where one of them will marry the OCL2.

Any tips?

BTW.. I love those green buttons at my Ibis and Hedd. More green buttons would be stellar!!


It looks like I have an old stove at my control room.

Even my favorite T-Shirt is green. Just check it!

[Bang]

assuming the mix is good, I think the 2500 is too grabby for mastering...

However for a mixbuss its fantastic.. very punchy and really makes the transients very clear..

I actually think the API 2500 is much less versatile then people say... its feedforward mode is just way too aggressive for mixbuss... and on feedback mode its gorgeous, but only at 2-3db tops gain reduction... but man at that setting it is a great box.. I just love the tightness clarity and punch it adds...

[MattGray]

Originally Posted by Bang

assuming the mix is good, I think the 2500 is too grabby for mastering...

However for a mixbuss its fantastic.. very punchy and really makes the transients very clear..

I actually think the API 2500 is much less versatile then people say... its feedforward mode is just way too aggressive for mixbuss... and on feedback mode its gorgeous, but only at 2-3db tops gain reduction... but man at that setting it is a great box.. I just love the tightness clarity and punch it adds...

Maybe that's your problem, 2-3db of GR on any setting with the API 2500 sounds too much for mix buss or mastering work in my opinion. Try lower ratios, 30ms attack, meters barely moving during the louder sections of the song. Usually Med/Med/New, Hard/Med/Old or Med/Med/Old in regular use here with very light GR is enough to gel things beautifully & add some subtle punch before hitting the Vari Mu. I find it very versatile with just the right amount of tone or colour.

Matt

[Bang]

its true, even 2-3 db on the API is strong.... but overall, even when the needle is barely moving that API has some character.. on the right mastering job sure... but for the most part if I even need compression on a master, just moving the needle a bit on a vari mu at some slow settings works pretty nice.

[burnhard]

Have mine for a few months now...it's a real wow unit...use it for livesound too..it's a must have..really versatile, but easy to overdo it..as the others stated barely moving meters...mr.katz mod would be interesting what he did exactly (guess he won't share it with us...would you?)
Some said there is sweet spot gainwise...could some of you get more detailed about it?as I'm pretty new on the unit would be interested..right now I love med/med/old with variable release set to taste on mixbuss...adds really some mojo...and glues oh yeah....
Still not sure about variable release.maybe someone could explain what it does exactly...would you prefer static release?
Are you using autogain(I feel manual sounds better, but I guess I get fooled by volume haha..)

[bob katz]

Originally Posted by burnhard

Have mine for a few months now...it's a real wow unit...use it for livesound too..it's a must have..really versatile, but easy to overdo it..as the others stated barely moving meters...mr.katz mod would be interesting what he did exactly (guess he won't share it with us...would you?)

I'd love to help, but I never wrote it down! All the resistors are soldered on the top of the board and it's easy to find the VCA control voltage. For the threshold all you need is to attenuate the VCA control voltage. The output control is also a DC control voltage and you can attenuate the feed to the pot by cutting a trace on the board and inserting a resistor. Any competent technician who understands how VCAs work shoud be able to mod it.

BK

[burnhard]

Dear Mr. Katz,
You should keep at least some of your secrets....
Thanks for sharing this..though I have to admit I'm not ready to dare to modify my new unit....
Maybe you and/ or others could tell something about the sweetspot it has...is it just inputwise? I tend to use feedback mode and do some gainmakeup about 3dB and so get higher thresholds...should I lower the input then?
Cheers,
Bernhard

[bellidezzio]

Bump!

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by ray dsr

The 2500 is one of the most versatile compressors I've ever used.

Med Knee, Med Thrust, Old Feedback Style - it's extremely flattering to anything you throw at it.

Soft Knee, Norm Thrust, New FeedForward - it can make your drum buss sound amazingly punchy using a very slow attack time.

I love it.

Great for vocals too. Send the b-vox buss to it. I wish I had three more of 'em.

Of course - I'm using it to mix, not master.

interesting.

so - anyone else using the 2500 for mastering?