The most accurate imitation of a modern, but at the same time legendary tube compressor/limiter – an ideal tool for mixing and mastering.
An Industry-Standard Tube Compressor
There are several reasons to use a variable-bias tube compressor. One is the exceptional compression transparency they can achieve, even with extreme gain reduction. Another—and perhaps the most common—reason is that they add cohesion or “glue” to buses, entire mixes, and master recordings.
Unfortunately, original hardware is expensive and difficult to integrate into existing workflows. Software emulators exist, but most hardware owners agree that they cannot be compared to the original unit, as they are always missing something.
Thanks to its unique topology-preserving technology, the Pulsar Mu objectively sounds like hardware in any production context, and even surpasses it in parameters such as signal-to-noise ratio.
Improving on the classic,
the Pulsar Mu is a stereo compressor that operates in Left/Right or Mid/Side modes. It’s designed for mixing and mastering, yet flexible enough for monitoring. It can be used for equalization, limiting, or simply to add a bit of analog warmth with its emulated tube circuitry.
Mu’s Main Panel:
Replicating the original unit’s precise SIFAM measurements, the Pulsar Mu also offers a more modern visualization mode for fine-tuning compression parameters, displaying the waveform and gain reduction both dynamically and in real time.
The Pulsar Mu also offers various options for the sidechain signal. A popular addition to the original unit was a high-pass filter, but the Mu goes even further, offering a more comprehensive EQ section that allows you to fine-tune the compressor’s response to the low, mid, and high frequencies with just four knobs.
Another addition is the ability to lead (predictive) or lag (historical) the sidechain signal. This allows for complete control over transients, allowing the compressor to react before or even after they occur, opening up vast creative possibilities.
What does it sound like?
Transparent yet musical.
The Pulsar Mu’s sound is impressive with its transparency and warmth. It handles transients smoothly and musically, even at extreme settings, unlike FET or VCA compressors. With the Mu, you can add dynamics while preserving the natural dynamics of the source.
Mastering
Mu’s most classic application is mastering: it adds a subtle polish and glue to sounds, gently warming up any mix. It can be used as an equalizer (with a long attack and release), as a compressor to add glue (slow attack with a fast release), or as a limiter (fast attack and fast release). Using Mu in Mid/Side mode gives you another way to enhance the stereo image or reduce an overly wide mix. The Pulsar Mu
drum bus
can quickly create the glue needed for cohesive drum bus processing while preserving transients—even with a kick drum. Depending on the chosen gain and release time, it can recreate the room ambience needed for certain musical styles, especially when used as a parallel compressor.
Acoustic Guitar:
When using an acoustic guitar with a relatively low noise reduction setting, the Pulsar Mu creates a pleasant organic groove while preserving the instrument’s transients. This subtlety is useful for livening up a dull, harsh guitar track, giving it expression and personality.
The Pulsar Mu snare drum
can add body and consistency to thin snare sounds while maintaining the transients they need to stand out in a mix. With a little extra effort, the Mu can help you restore sustain, harmonics, or even ambience.
Vocals
The Pulsar Mu works particularly well with vocals—especially with a fairly high input and a medium attack and decay. It imparts an analog-style warmth to vocals that makes them sound natural even in a dense mix.
Maor Applebaum
Recording & Mastering Engineer
Faith No More | Meatloaf | Yes
“With the Pulsar Mu, you get the glue sound you hear in a well-known variable-bias compressor, in plugin form with additional controls and a flexible sidechain.”
Neal Merrick Blackwood
Producer | Mixing Engineer | Songwriter
Johnny Cash | Cindy Lauper | Willie Nelson:
“I use the Pulsar Mu plugin in every mix. It gives the sound a real tube-like smoothness that smooths out any rough edges. Besides the dynamic control the compressor/limiter provides, I find that Pulsar Audio plugins give the sound a truly wonderful analog character and focus that I’m looking for.”
