Waves 2500 User Manual
Waves API 2500
User Manual
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................3
1.1 WELCOME...........................................................................................................................................................3
1.2 PRODUCT OVERVIEW ..........................................................................................................................................4
1.3 CONCEPTS AND TERMINOLOGY ............................................................................................................................5
1.4 COMPONENTS .....................................................................................................................................................8
CHAPTER 2 – QUICKSTART GUIDE .......................................................................................................................9
CHAPTER 3 – CONTROLS AND INTERFACE.......................................................................................................10
3.1 COMPRESSOR SECTION.....................................................................................................................................10
3.2 TONE SECTION .................................................................................................................................................12
3.3 LINK SECTION ...................................................................................................................................................13
3.4 METER DISPLAY ................................................................................................................................................14
3.5 OUTPUT SECTION..............................................................................................................................................15
CHAPTER 4 – THE WAVESYSTEM .......................................................................................................................17
4.1 THE WAVESYSTEM TOOLBAR ............................................................................................................................17
Toolbar Functions .............................................................................................................................................17
4.2 PRESET HANDLING............................................................................................................................................17
Preset Types.....................................................................................................................................................17
Loading Presets and Setups ............................................................................................................................18
Saving Presets and Setups ..............................................................................................................................18
Deleting Presets ...............................................................................................................................................19
A/B Comparison and Copying ..........................................................................................................................19
4.3 INTERFACE CONTROLS ......................................................................................................................................19
Toggle Buttons..................................................................................................................................................19
Value Window Buttons......................................................................................................................................20
Sliders ...............................................................................................................................................................20
Hover Box .........................................................................................................................................................20
Multiple Selection of Controls ...........................................................................................................................20
TAB Functions ..................................................................................................................................................20
APPENDIX A – API 2500 CONTROLS ...................................................................................................................22
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Chapter 1 – Introduction
1.1 Welcome
Thank you for choosing Waves! In order to get the most out of your Waves processor, please take the
time to read through this manual.
In conjunction, we also suggest that you become familiar with
an extensive Answer Base, the latest Tech Specs, detailed Installation guides, new Software
Updates, and current information on Authorization and Registration.
By signing up at
products, reminders when updates are available, and information on your authorization status.
www.wavesupport.net, you will receive personalized information on your registered
www.wavesupport.net. There you will find
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1.2 Product Overview
The API 2500 is a versatile dynamics processor that lets you shape the punch and tone of mixes with
absolute accuracy. Its dual channel design lets the 2500 also function as two separate mono channels
via a single compression setting. Using auto-makeup gain, you can adjust Threshold or Ratio while
automatically maintaining a constant output level. With both Feed Back and Feed Forward compression
types, the API 2500 boasts a wide range of incredibly musical parameters which have made it a favorite
of engineers the world over
.
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1.3 Concepts and Terminology
There are 3 main parameters that set the API 2500 from other compressors: Thrust, Compression
Type, and its adjustable Knee. When used in conjunction with one another, these parameters give the
API 2500 unprecedented flexibility.
Knee
Sets the knee, the manner in which the compressor begins to reduce the gain of the signal.
• In the Hard position, gain reduction begins immediately at the set ratio.
• In the Med position, there is a slight fade-in to the set ratio.
• In the Soft position, there is an even more gradual fade-in to the set ratio.
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Thrust
Sets the Thrust, a proprietary process that inserts a High Pass Filter at the RMS detector input, limiting
compression response to lower frequencies while applying additional compression to higher
frequencies.
• In Norm mode, there is no filter and the 2500 functions like a normal compressor.
• In Med mode, there is a slight attenuation of the low frequencies and a slight boost of the high
frequencies, with a flat mid range affecting the signal into the RMS detector. This reduces
pumping caused by low frequencies and increases the RMS detectors’ sensitivity to higher
frequencies, affecting higher frequency signal peaks.
• In Loud mode, a gradual linear filter attenuates level by 15dB at 20hz and increases level by
15dB at 20khz. This decreases low frequency pumping while increasing higher frequency
compression.
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Type
Sets the Compression type, which determines the signal source being fed to the RMS detector.
• In New (Feed Forward) mode, the compressor works like newer VCA-based compressors. The
RMS detector sends a signal to the VCA that is an exact ratio of the desired compression, set
by the ratio control.
• In Old (Feed Back) mode, the RMS detector receives a signal from the VCA output, and then
feeds the VCA a signal based on the set signal ratio.
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