Universal Audio

Review: Universal Audio’s Apollo Twin

There are many products on the market, like the Apollo, that will give you studio-quality audio, but finding that same quality in a small package is a bit more difficult. With the [Apollo Twin, Universal Audio hit on a great balance between power and portability.

Universal Audio’s Teletronix LA-2A Classic Leveler Collection

I spent a few hours today beginning to mix drums on a new project. I’ve always loved the Teletronix LA-2A, so today I used it in a number of situations, including the Mixbus. It sounded incredible. Universal Audio has the best emulations of the original hardware units because they make the hardware units. What it does is so subtle, but very pleasing.

History of UA’s 1176 Compressor

That same year, Bill Putnam is making the transition from the old standard vacuum tubes to new solid-state technology with his Universal Audio-brand preamps and compressors. The legendary engineer and equipment manufacturer had previously redesigned his original 108 tube microphone preamp (taken from his UA/United Recording consoles in Chicago and Hollywood), into the new 1108 — utilizing the recently invented Field Effect Transistor (FET). Subsequently, he redesigned his successful 175/176 tube compressor (based on the popular variable-Mu design) using FETs, and thus was born the 1176.

Bill Putnam was an absolute genius.