
Waves API 2500 User Manual
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 3
1.1 W
ELCOME ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
RODUCT OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.2 P
1.3 C
ONCEPTS AND TERMINOLOGY ......................................................................................................................................................... 5
1.4 C
OMPONENTS ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 8
CHAPTER 2 – QUICKSTART GUIDE ...................................................................................................................... 9
CHAPTER 3 – CONTROLS AND INTERFACE ..................................................................................................... 10
3.1 C
OMPRESSOR SECTION .................................................................................................................................................................... 10
3.2 T
ONE SECTION ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
INK SECTION ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 13
3.3 L
ETER DISPLAY ................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
3.4 M
UTPUT SECTION ................................................................................................................................................................................ 15
3.5 O
3.6 W
AVESYSTEM TOOLBAR .............................................................................................................................................. 16
APPENDIX A – API 2500 CONTROLS ................................................................................................................... 17

Waves API 2500 User Manual
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Chapter 1 – Introduction
1.1
Welcome
Thank you for choosing Waves! In order to get the most out of your new Waves plugin, please take a
moment to read this user guide.
To install software and manage your licenses, you need to have a free Waves account. Sign up at
www.waves.com. With a Waves account you can keep track of your products, renew your Waves
Update Plan, participate in bonus programs, and keep up to date with important information.
We suggest that you become familiar with the Waves Support pages: www.waves.com/support. There
are technical articles about installation, troubleshooting, specifications, and more. Plus, you’ll find
company contact information and Waves Support news.

Waves API 2500 User Manual
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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
.

Waves API 2500 User Manual
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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.

Waves API 2500 User Manual
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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.