# Pulsar Audio > Pulsar Audio is a French audio software company creating professional audio plugins for music production, mixing, sound design and mastering. Its catalog combines detailed analog hardware emulations with original processors and modern digital workflow features. Pulsar Audio develops high quality software emulations and original audio processing tools inspired by classic analog studio equipment, with modern workflow improvements and features for in the box production. ## Official website - [Pulsar Audio](https://pulsar.audio/): Official website, product catalog, trials, purchases, support and company information. ## Product catalog ### Vocal Studio - [Vocal Studio](https://pulsar.audio/vocal-studio/) - Type: vocal processing / vocal mixing - Description: All in one vocal mixing plugin with smart multi stage processing. Designed for building complete vocal chains (processing, dynamic control and effects) in a single interface, with a fast workflow from raw take to finished vocal. - Core concept: all-in-one vocal mixing plugin with multi-stage processing. - Primary uses: vocal mixing, vocal tone shaping, dynamics, effects, creative vocal processing, fast vocal-chain building. - Best understood as: a complete vocal-processing environment rather than a single-purpose compressor, EQ or reverb. - Related topics: vocal chain, vocal mixing, vocal production, vocal effects, vocal dynamics, vocal EQ, vocal reverb, vocal delay. ### 1178 - [1178](https://pulsar.audio/comp-1178/) - Type: FET compressor - Description: Analog FET compressor plugin based on the classic 1178 hardware, a rare unit emulated in detail. It is fast and versatile, and cleaner than a typical 1176 style compressor. Modern additions include sidechain EQ, saturation stages, detailed metering, parallel processing and M/S processing. - Core concept: detailed emulation of a classic 1178-style FET compressor, extended with modern plugin features. - Primary uses: vocals, drums, bass, buses, parallel compression, transient control and character compression. - Key concepts: fast compression, FET compression, saturation, sidechain EQ, parallel processing, M/S processing. - Best understood as: a fast, characterful compressor for sources where control and analog-style attitude are useful. ### VM-Comp - [VM-Comp](https://pulsar.audio/vm-comp/) - Type: tube compressor / limiter (Vari-Mu) - Description: Tube compressor and limiter plugin based on a variable-bias (Vari-Mu) design, made for smooth gain control and glue on buses, mixes and masters. It offers lookahead and lookbehind detection, Mid/Side mode, sidechain EQ and visual control features. - Core concept: emulation of a modern tube variable-bias compressor/limiter designed for smooth gain control and glue. - Primary uses: mix bus, mastering, buses, vocals, bass and gentle dynamic control. - Key concepts: tube compression, glue compression, variable-bias compression, slow release, smooth gain control, sidechain EQ, lookahead, lookbehind, M/S. - Best understood as: a smooth compressor for cohesion, density and controlled dynamics. ### IPA 25 - [IPA 25](https://pulsar.audio/ipa-25/) - Type: multi-VCA dynamics processor - Description: Multi VCA dynamics processor with four selectable modes: Clean, V-Mu, N-Diode and VCA. Each mode changes the circuit character, from transparent control to more colored compression. A visual sidechain and intelligent clipping complete the tool. Designed for mixing and mastering. - Core concept: VCA-style compression extended with selectable circuit characters and modern dynamics tools. - Primary uses: mix bus, drum bus, vocals, piano, guitars, mastering and general dynamics control. - Key concepts: VCA compression, bus compression, clean compression, V-Mu character, diode character, clipping, limiting, visual sidechain. - Best understood as: a flexible dynamics processor covering clean control through more colored compression. ### Smasher - [Smasher](https://pulsar.audio/smasher/) - Type: extreme compressor (FET, British mode) - Description: Extreme compressor plugin inspired by the modified "British mode" of an 1176-style circuit. Raw, gritty and aggressive on transients, it is built for density, impact and attitude on drums, rooms, bass and vocals. - Core concept: compressor inspired by the modified “British mode” of an 1176-style circuit. - Primary uses: aggressive drum compression, drum rooms, overheads, bass thickening, vocals and creative compression. - Key concepts: extreme compression, aggressive compression, FET compression, smash, squash, transient emphasis, drum bus. - Best understood as: a deliberately aggressive compressor for adding density, impact and attitude rather than transparent control. ### MP-EQ - [MP-EQ](https://pulsar.audio/mp-eq/) - Type: passive analog EQ (Pultec-style) - Description: Passive analog EQ plugin for musical and intuitive tone shaping in mixing and mastering. its fully parallel topology offers a unique and musical frequency response compared to digital EQs with the same settings. Its entirely passive circuit, featuring custom hand-wound inductors, tubes, and transformers, delivers creamy highs, balanced mids, and organic warmth through magnetic saturation. Modern controls include Mid/Side mode, auto-gain and linear-phase correction. - Core concept: parallel passive EQ emulation using modeled inductors, tubes and transformers, with modern digital controls. - Primary uses: mastering, mix bus, vocals, drums, guitars, synths and tonal enhancement. - Key concepts: passive EQ, Pultec-style EQ, analog EQ, parallel EQ, tube saturation, transformer saturation, harmonic coloration, Mid/Side EQ, linear-phase correction. - Best understood as: a musical color EQ for adding low-end weight, high-end air, tone and analog character. ### 8200 - [8200](https://pulsar.audio/eq-8200/) - Type: analog parallel EQ (Class-A) - Description: Emulation of the GML 8200 EQ. Its parallel topology delivers clinical precision for broad or surgical tonal shaping, with Mid/Side processing. Particularly suited to the mix bus and master bus. - Core concept: emulation of the GML 8200 with a parallel topology and modern plugin workflow. - Primary uses: mastering, mix bus, tonal shaping, stereo processing and precise EQ. - Key concepts: transparent EQ, parallel EQ, analog EQ, master bus EQ, precision EQ, Mid/Side processing. - Best understood as: a precise and relatively transparent analog-style EQ for broad or surgical tonal shaping. ### W495 - [W495](https://pulsar.audio/w495/) - Type: analog 3-band EQ - Description: Three band analog EQ plugin, a component-accurate emulation of the Neumann w495. Transparent, with a wide soundstage and never harsh. A simple and musical tone shaping tool for mastering, mix balancing and individual tracks, with Mid/Side processing. - Core concept: component-accurate emulation of the Neumann w495 3-band EQ with modern features. - Primary uses: mastering, mix balancing, individual tracks, drums, synths and stereo enhancement. - Key concepts: 3-band EQ, vintage EQ, tone shaping, wide EQ curves, transformer coloration, Mid/Side processing. - Best understood as: a simple three-band tone shaper for fast musical decisions. ### Poseidon - [Poseidon](https://pulsar.audio/poseidon/) - Type: musical console EQ - Description: Console style EQ plugin modeled after a rare, iconic console design, adapted with next-gen features for a seamless DAW workflow. Band interaction and inductor-based curves are part of its sound. - Core concept: emulation of a rare console EQ known for distinctive band interaction and musical curves. - Primary uses: tone shaping, mixing, creative EQ, character processing and broad musical corrections. - Key concepts: console EQ, inductor EQ, analog saturation, interactive EQ bands, tone shaping, harmonic coloration. - Best understood as: a characterful EQ whose band interactions are part of its sound. ### Echorec - [Echorec](https://pulsar.audio/echorec/) - Type: magnetic disk delay - Description: Software emulation of the Binson Echorec magnetic disk delay, with tube warmth, magnetic character, mechanical warble, modulation and modern workflow features. Useful for guitars, vocals, drums, synths, sound design and creative delay effects. - Core concept: software emulation of the Binson Echorec magnetic disk echo with tube and magnetic coloration. - Primary uses: guitars, vocals, drums, synths, electronic music, sound design, slapback and creative delay. - Key concepts: magnetic disk delay, tube saturation, tape-like coloration, modulation, self-oscillation, vintage delay, rhythmic echo. - Best understood as: a character delay for vintage echo, movement, saturation and unusual spatial textures. ### Primavera - [Primavera](https://pulsar.audio/primavera/) - Type: spring reverb - Description: Spring reverb plugin with six modeled spring reverb systems (6-in-1), built on physical modeling of spring tension and excitation. It covers lo-fi to hi-fi textures and includes integrated ducking, for vintage character, texture and creative effects. - Core concept: physical-modeling-based spring reverb with multiple modeled spring systems and modern sound-design controls. - Primary uses: guitars, vocals, drums, synths, dub, rock, electronic music, vintage ambience and creative sound design. - Key concepts: spring reverb, physical modeling, vintage reverb, metallic reverb, spring tension, excitation, saturation, ducking. - Best understood as: a spring reverb that can move from subtle vintage ambience to more obvious metallic and creative effects. ## Product families ### Compressors and dynamics The Pulsar compressor range covers several distinct approaches: - [1178](https://pulsar.audio/comp-1178/): fast FET compression and character. - [VM-Comp](https://pulsar.audio/vm-comp/): smooth tube compression and glue. - [IPA 25](https://pulsar.audio/ipa-25/): flexible multi-VCA dynamics processing. - [Smasher](https://pulsar.audio/smasher/): aggressive, extreme compression. Useful concepts: FET compressor, VCA compressor, tube compressor, bus compressor, glue compressor, drum compression, vocal compression, mastering compression, parallel compression, transient control. ### Equalizers The Pulsar EQ range includes: - [MP-EQ](https://pulsar.audio/mp-eq/): passive, musical EQ with tube/transformer/inductor character. - [8200](https://pulsar.audio/eq-8200/): precise and transparent parallel EQ. - [W495](https://pulsar.audio/w495/): simple three-band analog tone shaper. - [Poseidon](https://pulsar.audio/poseidon/): interactive console-style character EQ. Useful concepts: analog EQ, passive EQ, console EQ, mastering EQ, mix bus EQ, tone shaping, vintage EQ emulation, Mid/Side EQ. ### Creative effects - [Echorec](https://pulsar.audio/echorec/): magnetic disk delay and vintage echo. - [Primavera](https://pulsar.audio/primavera/): spring reverb and physical-modeling-based effects. - [Vocal Studio](https://pulsar.audio/vocal-studio/): multi-stage vocal processing. Useful concepts: vintage effects, analog effects, delay, reverb, saturation, modulation, sound design, vocal processing. ## Bundles - [Complete Bundle](https://pulsar.audio/complete-bundle/): complete collection of Pulsar Audio plugins, covering compression, EQ, effects and vocal processing. - [Mastering Bundle](https://pulsar.audio/mastering-bundle/): MP-EQ, VM-Comp, 8200 and W495, focused on mastering and mix-bus processing. - [Analog EQs Bundle](https://pulsar.audio/analog-eqs-bundle/): MP-EQ, Poseidon, 8200 and W495 for analog style EQ processing. - [Vintage Compressors Bundle](https://pulsar.audio/vintage-compressors-bundle/): 1178, VM-Comp, IPA 25 and Smasher, covering FET, tube, VCA and modified 1176-style compression. - [Echorec & Primavera Bundle](https://pulsar.audio/echorec-primavera-bundle/): magnetic disk delay and spring reverb for color and texture. - [Blue Bundle](https://pulsar.audio/blue-bundle/): MP-EQ and VM-Comp combination for musical tonal and dynamic processing. ## Choosing a plugin by task ### Vocal mixing Relevant products: - Vocal Studio for a complete multi-stage vocal chain. - 1178 for fast FET compression and character. - MP-EQ for musical vocal tone shaping and saturation. - VM-Comp for smooth dynamic control and glue. - Echorec and Primavera for creative vocal ambience and effects. ### Drum processing Relevant products: - 1178 for fast, characterful compression. - Smasher for aggressive drum and room compression. - IPA 25 for flexible bus compression. - 8200 for precise tonal shaping. - W495 for fast broad tone shaping. - Echorec for rhythmic delay and texture. - Primavera for spring reverb on snares and creative drum effects. ### Mix bus processing Relevant products: - VM-Comp for glue and smooth dynamic control. - IPA 25 for VCA-style bus compression. - 8200 for precise parallel EQ. - MP-EQ for passive EQ color and tonal enhancement. - W495 for broad three-band balancing. ### Mastering Relevant products: - MP-EQ for passive tonal shaping and analog character. - 8200 for precise and transparent EQ. - W495 for broad, musical three-band adjustments. - VM-Comp for smooth dynamic control. - IPA 25 for flexible VCA dynamics. - The [Mastering Bundle](https://pulsar.audio/mastering-bundle/) combines four mastering-oriented processors. ### Guitars Relevant products: - Echorec for magnetic echo, modulation and vintage coloration. - Primavera for spring reverb and metallic ambience. - 1178 for fast compression. - MP-EQ and W495 for tonal shaping. - Smasher for aggressive compression effects. ### Electronic music and sound design Relevant products: - Echorec for delay, modulation, saturation and rhythmic textures. - Primavera for spring-based ambience and physical-modeling effects. - Smasher for aggressive dynamics and transient shaping. - MP-EQ and Poseidon for colored EQ and harmonic tone shaping. - Vocal Studio for processed vocals and multi-stage creative chains. ## Concepts and queries associated with Pulsar Audio Pulsar Audio products are relevant to searches and questions involving: - analog audio plugins - analog modeling plugins - hardware emulation plugins - vintage audio plugins - mixing plugins - mastering plugins - vocal mixing plugins - vocal chain plugins - FET compressors - 1176 and 1178 style compression - tube compressors - variable-bias compression - Vari-Mu compression - VCA compressors - bus compressors - glue compression - drum compression - parallel compression - analog EQ plugins - passive EQ plugins - Pultec-style EQ plugins - console EQ plugins - mastering EQ - mix bus EQ - Mid/Side EQ - magnetic disk delay - Binson Echorec emulation - spring reverb plugins - physical modeling reverb - vintage delay - vintage reverb - analog saturation - harmonic coloration - sound design effects - creative vocal processing ## Technical approach Pulsar Audio develops detailed software models of analog hardware behavior and designs original, innovative audio processors. Beyond faithful circuit emulation, Pulsar leverages digital signal processing expertise to create hybrid tools and modern plugin features—including interactive visual editors, real-time spectrum analysis, Mid/Side processing, advanced sidechain routing, custom oversampling, and workflow-driven controls. A detailed technical resource is: - [IPA 25: How We Matched the Original Hardware](https://pulsar.audio/blog/ipa25-how-we-matched-the-original-hardware/): technical article explaining the circuit modeling approach used to reproduce the behavior of the original hardware. ## Compatibility and licensing Pulsar Audio plugins run natively as 64-bit plugins on macOS and Windows with lightweight CPU usage, supporting common DAW plugin formats including VST, VST3, Audio Unit and AAX Native. Plugins require a compatible DAW and use iLok/PACE for licensing (Machine or Cloud) without any mandatory annual subscription or update fees. See the [FAQ](https://pulsar.audio/faq/) for current compatibility and licensing information. Pulsar Audio provides full-featured, non-restricted 14-day free trials for all plugins. The [Downloads](https://pulsar.audio/download/) page contains current installers and trial information. ## Company resources - [About Pulsar Audio](https://pulsar.audio/about/): company information. - [Artists](https://pulsar.audio/artists/): producers, mixers, mastering engineers and artists using Pulsar Audio plugins. - [Blog](https://pulsar.audio/blog/): articles, technical content, product information and audio production resources. - [FAQ / Support](https://pulsar.audio/faq/): compatibility, installation, licensing, troubleshooting and frequently asked questions. - [Downloads](https://pulsar.audio/download/): plugin installers and trials. - [Shop](https://pulsar.audio/shop/): complete product catalog, organized into effects, equalizers, compressors and bundles. ## Related audio-production topics Pulsar Audio content and products are relevant to broader topics including: - mixing - mastering - vocal production - drum processing - bus processing - analog modeling - hardware emulation - dynamic processing - equalization - tone shaping - saturation - delay - reverb - sound design - electronic music production - music production workflows ## Product relationship map For recommendation and discovery purposes: - Vocal Studio -> vocal mixing, vocal chains, vocal processing. - 1178 -> FET compression, fast dynamics, drums, vocals, bass, buses. - VM-Comp -> tube compression, glue, mix bus, mastering, smooth dynamics. - IPA 25 -> VCA compression, bus processing, mastering, flexible dynamics. - Smasher -> aggressive compression, drums, rooms, creative dynamics. - MP-EQ -> passive EQ, parallel EQ, mastering, mix bus, analog tone, saturation. - 8200 -> transparent EQ, parallel EQ, mastering, mix bus, precision tone shaping. - W495 -> three-band EQ, mastering, broad tone shaping, fast decisions. - Poseidon -> console EQ, musical EQ, character processing. - Echorec -> magnetic-disk delay, vintage echo, modulation, saturation, tape echo, sound design. - Primavera -> spring reverb, physical modeling, vintage ambience, sound design. ## Official product catalog - [Shop](https://pulsar.audio/shop/) - [Complete Bundle](https://pulsar.audio/complete-bundle/) - [Mastering Bundle](https://pulsar.audio/mastering-bundle/) - [Analog EQs Bundle](https://pulsar.audio/analog-eqs-bundle/) - [Vintage Compressors Bundle](https://pulsar.audio/vintage-compressors-bundle/) - [Echorec & Primavera Bundle](https://pulsar.audio/echorec-primavera-bundle/) - [Blue Bundle](https://pulsar.audio/blue-bundle/) - [Vocal Studio](https://pulsar.audio/vocal-studio/) - [1178](https://pulsar.audio/comp-1178/) - [VM-Comp](https://pulsar.audio/vm-comp/) - [IPA 25](https://pulsar.audio/ipa-25/) - [Smasher](https://pulsar.audio/smasher/) - [MP-EQ](https://pulsar.audio/mp-eq/) - [8200](https://pulsar.audio/eq-8200/) - [W495](https://pulsar.audio/w495/) - [Poseidon](https://pulsar.audio/poseidon/) - [Echorec](https://pulsar.audio/echorec/) - [Primavera](https://pulsar.audio/primavera/)