Pulsar Audio

Smasher is an unprecedented custom modification of the classic Urei 1176 compressor circuit, a unique formula that we stumbled upon while fine-tuning other algorithms. The original 1176 compressor hardware offered a selection of four ratios, but studio engineers soon discovered that pressing them all at once led to a distorted, explosive and highly compressed sound. It’s this “All buttons in” or “British” mode that Smasher was painstakingly designed to recreate.

The most faithful emulation of a modern yet legendary tube compressor/limiter – perfect glue for mixing and mastering. There are several reasons to use a variable-bias tube compressor. One is the exceptional compression transparency that this kind of compressor can achieve, even when pushed into extreme gain reduction.

The most faithful emulation of a modern yet legendary tube compressor/limiter – perfect glue for mixing and mastering. There are several reasons to use a variable-bias tube compressor. One is the exceptional compression transparency that this kind of compressor can achieve, even when pushed into extreme gain reduction.

The most faithful emulation of a modern yet legendary tube compressor/limiter – perfect glue for mixing and mastering. There are several reasons to use a variable-bias tube compressor. One is the exceptional compression transparency that this kind of compressor can achieve, even when pushed into extreme gain reduction.

An accurate emulation of the Neumann w495 3-band EQ
Neumann w495 EQ’s were used to master 90% of the vinyl records manufactured from the 1970s to the 1990s.

An accurate emulation of the Neumann w495 3-band EQ
Neumann w495 EQ’s were used to master 90% of the vinyl records manufactured from the 1970s to the 1990s.

A wild EQ modeled after a rare and mythic console turned into an easy-to-use modern tool.

A wild EQ modeled after a rare and mythic console turned into an easy-to-use modern tool.

Straightforward but extreme “British mode” compression – a faithful emulation of a uniquely modified 1176.

Straightforward but extreme “British mode” compression – a faithful emulation of a uniquely modified 1176.