This article introduces the latest sale info for Pulsar Audio products, well known for their acclaimed classic-modeled compressor plugins and more.
It also covers an overview of the products and how to activate them after purchase, so please use it as a reference.
This article is updated whenever a new sale begins.
1. Pulsar Audio Current Sale Info
Pulsar Audio is currently running the following sale.
Summer Sale: Until July 16, 2026
The following Pulsar Audio products are on sale. Prices vary, so check the current price on Plugin Boutique.
- Pulsar Audio “MP-EQ (MASSIVE)” – Manley Massive Passive emulation EQ
- Pulsar Audio “VM-COMP (Mu)” – hugely popular Manley-modeled compressor
- Pulsar Audio “8200” – EQ faithfully emulating the legendary GML 8200 with an easy-to-use GUI
- Pulsar Audio “Primavera” – spring reverb realizing 6 classic-modeled units in one plugin
- Pulsar Audio “Echorec” – model of the classic Binson echo/delay unit
- Pulsar Audio “Primavera & Echorec Bundle” – classic-modeled spring reverb & echo bundle
- Pulsar Audio “VM-COMP (Mu) + MP-EQ (MASSIVE) Bundle” – Manley-modeled compressor & EQ bundle
Smasher Free Giveaway
Pulsar Audio “Smasher” – an 1176 “all-buttons-in” FET compressor plugin is being given away free for a limited time.
Audio Plugin Deals, Plugin Boutique, and ADSR Sounds also include free buyer-exclusive bonus goodies with purchase.
2. Installation & Activation
Activating/authorizing Pulsar Audio products is done in the following 4 steps. An iLok account is required (a USB dongle is not necessary).
- Download and install the product
- Launch iLok License Manager and log in
- Enter the activation code from the “…” menu at the top right
- Activate the product
3. Pulsar Audio Plugin Lineup (Including Products on Sale)
VM-COMP (Mu)
VM-COMP is a faithful emulation of a modern yet legendary tube compressor/limiter plugin. It is modeled on the classic Manley unit.
VM-COMP is a stereo compressor that operates in Left/Right or Mid/Side mode. Designed with mixing and mastering in mind, it also adapts flexibly to tracking. You can use it for leveling or limiting, or to add analog warmth through its emulated tube signal path.
While reproducing the accurate SIFAM meter of the original unit, VM-COMP also features a more modern visualization mode for fine-tuning compression settings, displaying the waveform and gain reduction both over time and instantaneously.
VM-COMP is an enhanced version built on Mu, with the following improvements and additions:
- Visual side-chain EQ editing (curve editor)
- Extended attack/release times (faster settings than the original are possible)
- Look-ahead / Look-behind support
- Both zero-latency operation (for tracking) and oversampling (for mixing)
- Modern visualization meters and over 100 presets
1178
Pulsar 1178 is a plugin effect developed by Pulsar Audio, modeled on a classic FET compressor.
The 1176 by Universal Recording Electronics Industries (Urei) is synonymous with FET-style compression. In the heyday of tube compressors, it was released by Urei, founded by Universal Audio founder Milton Tasker “Bill” Putnam.
Released in 1980, the 1178 is the stereo version of the legendary 1176 found in studios worldwide. Based on the 1176 Rev. H (the original 1176 spans revisions A through H depending on the era of manufacture), it retains legendary punch while being less warm, more transparent, and more versatile.
It carefully reproduces the tone and compression character of that 1178 hardware, and adds a full side-chain EQ for greater control, an optional saturation stage that adds warmth and character, accurate metering, and more.
Smasher
The original 1176 compressor hardware lets you select four ratios, but studio engineers soon discovered that pressing them all in at once produces a distorted, explosive, high-compression sound. Smasher was meticulously designed to reproduce this “all buttons in” or “British” mode.
Smasher excels at raw, hard-edged sounds reminiscent of bands like Vulfpeck, The Whitefield Brothers, and The Black Keys.
W495
The Neumann W495 EQ was used to master many records from the 1970s through the 1990s. Even after this golden era, many mastering engineers still favor this EQ. The W495 has a wide range of equalization curves and, while musical, can be pushed to outrageous levels. It not only easily provides tone shaping and character to individual tracks, but also gives an entire mix a sound with presence and depth.
To take Pulsar Audio’s W495 one step further, we added the features expected of a modern plugin: an on-screen curve editor, auto-gain, per-band Mid/Side selection, comprehensive digital metering, and more. From channel EQ to mastering EQ, the Pulsar W495 is an easy-to-use, powerful tone shaper that faithfully recreates the iconic 3-band EQ.
Pulsar Vocal Studio
Pulsar Vocal Studio is an all-in-one vocal processing plugin designed to quickly and intuitively achieve professional vocal sounds. Without needing multiple plugins or complex routing, you can complete your mix processing within a single interface. Backed by Pulsar Audio’s analog modeling technology, it features over 80 ready-to-use presets, three types of saturation and compression, 11 special FX, an intuitive EQ, a de-esser, a gate, reverb & delay, and more. The presets were created in collaboration with top industry engineers and can be used as ready-to-go tools in music production and mixing.
This plugin condenses the elements needed to move your mix forward quickly and reliably, allowing even beginners to aim for a professional finish. It is also designed to maintain consistent quality across any playback environment, from mobile speakers to high-end audio systems.
IPA 25
IPA 25 is a high-performance multi-VCA dynamics processor developed by Pulsar Audio. It faithfully reproduces the behavior of classic VCA compressors while packing in many modern features, making it an innovative plugin.
You can freely switch between four VCA characters (Clean, Original VCA, V-Mu, N-Diode), instantly changing tonal and dynamic nuances to match the character of the track. With real-time visual feedback, a flexible side-chain EQ, and a built-in adaptive clipper/limiter, it goes beyond a mere compressor to precisely control a track’s dynamics.
It also boasts excellent practicality, with zero-latency support and CPU-efficient design. From mastering-grade transparency to tube-like warmth and diode-specific grit, it offers the flexibility to handle any genre. Whether adjusting punch and glue in sound design, or controlling saturation and transients, IPA 25 is a professional-grade tool that takes your mix to the next level across a wide range of uses.
Primavera
Primavera is a 6-in-1 reverb plugin featuring devices used on countless hit songs across the eras. From lo-fi to hi-fi, each tank accurately emulates the electronic and mechanical behavior of the original unit. In addition, its unique spring tension and excitation controls provide a wider sound palette than typical convolution models.
Primavera is a reverb-chain plugin integrating saturation, filter, presence, and ducking controls. Real-time physical modeling lets you manipulate physical reverb parameters such as spring tension and excitation, opening up unique and creative sound-design possibilities.
8200
Pulsar 8200 faithfully emulates the legendary GML 8200 designed by George Massenburg, the inventor of the parametric EQ.
Like the original, it delivers tight, solid lows, crystalline highs, and fine control over the frequency spectrum.
Pulsar 8200 comes with a full on-screen curve editor and spectrum analyzer. This best-of-both-worlds approach lets you accurately grasp an overview of your EQ changes while emphasizing the distinctive behavior of the original unit. Its easy-to-use graphic interface speeds up your workflow.
MP-EQ (Massive)
MP-EQ is an emulation of the Manley Massive Passive EQ found in mastering studios worldwide. This unit was designed by synthesizing the finest passive equalizers of the past 70 years, and its design has several distinct characteristics that give it an absolutely unique sound.
First, the EQ with its fully parallel topology gives a completely different kind of response than a digital equalizer with the same settings. Because the tonal corrections of a parallel equalizer are not cumulative but tend to interact with one another, you can shape the frequency spectrum more intuitively and fluidly.
Also, because the original hardware’s equalizer circuit is entirely passive, it contains several inductors. These inductors were specially machined and wound by the manufacturer, and by producing magnetic saturation they achieve a creamy, non-linear, organic sound.
The new MP-EQ, renamed from Massive, offers the following enhancements and additions:
- With the renaming, a clearer positioning as a “Mastering Passive EQ (MP-EQ)”
- A more intuitive curve editor
- Added linear-phase mode (phase-aligned processing)
- Added auto-gain function
- Selection of multiple transformer characters
- Reduced weight and CPU optimization
Echorec
Pulsar Echorec is a software emulation of the iconic echo/delay unit of the same name manufactured by the Italian brand Binson in the 1960s.
The sound of this magnetic-disk delay, unlike the tape delays used at the time, contributed greatly to the audio signature of many 70s bands such as Pink Floyd and Jimmy Page.
The vintage Echorec is known for characteristics such as saturation, self-oscillation, and over-sound, and as a device that shaped the music of the 70s. On the flip side, however, it was fragile and difficult to maintain.
Pulsar Echorec faithfully emulates this legendary echo unit. It also adds many workflow improvements to the original, such as changing the motor speed (delay time) in real time and syncing to any tempo including tap tempo.
It also precisely models three units in different conditions, delivering everything from the cleanest magnetic delay to the grungiest sounds.
Poseidon
Poseidon is an EQ plugin that digitally and faithfully recreates a legendary inductor-based console EQ, adding features that meet the needs of modern music production. The original console EQ is known for being used by artists such as Queen, The Beatles, David Bowie, and The Rolling Stones, and is praised for its distinctive sound and interaction with the band.
Poseidon displays this unique EQ curve in an intuitive GUI and features modern functions such as Mid/Side processing, automatic gain compensation, and multiple saturation modes. With an extended frequency range and curve editing, it achieves both ease of use and sound quality. While preserving a classic analog sound, it is a plugin optimized for the modern DAW environment.
Pulsar Audio product lineup: