UA Blog

Learn how Apollo Monitor Correction improves your productions, no sound treatment required. Your listening environment is one of the most important elements to achieving the perfect mix. And while your space's acoustics are important for accurate playback, room treatment can be expensive and complicated, though still worthwhile. (More on that in a future blog.) So what can you do to ensure that your mixes translate? Room correction tools are a great place to start in understanding and optimizing the shortcomings of your studio space.  Universal Audio and Sonarworks teamed up to bring DSP-based room and headphone correction to Apollo X Gen 1 and Gen 2 interfaces. By combining the standalone Sonarworks SoundID Reference app, a measurement microphone and Apollo Monitor Correction running on your interface, you can fully calibrate your listening environment for the flattest frequency response and best mix translation.  Here are some of our favorite features of Apollo Monitor Correction to help level up your mixes. Custom-Tuned Profiles Using a specially designed measurement microphone, Apollo Monitor Correction creates a detailed profile of your listening environment. </s...

How the UA 610 console defined a sound and why Bill Putnam Jr. is rebuilding it. In this video, Universal Audio visits the legendary town of Muscle Shoals, Alabama — a hallowed place where musical giants like Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and hundreds more cut timeless records. At the heart of those classic records was the Universal Audio 610 tube console. Whether it was at Fame Recording Studios or Muscle Shoals Sound, Bill Putnam Sr.'s groundbreaking modular console guaranteed these legendary sessions were captured with unmatched sonics. Watch Universal Audio CEO Bill Putnam Jr. embark on a journey of "audio archaeology," as he travels to Muscle Shoals — with a baker's dozen of vintage 610 channels previously owned by Neil Young — with the goal of rebuilding a UA 610 console and "make it a tool that will solve problems in a modern studio."   UA's Bill Putnam Jr. and Will Shanks discuss a vintage UA 610 console with Grammy-winning engineer Craig Alvin.   Along the way, Putnam Jr. digs into the history of the UA 610 in Fame's Studio B room with audio wizard Greg Pace of FunkWerkes, detailing its handmade EQ and tube preamp. Then, Putnam Jr. heads over to Noble Stead Studios in the heart of Muscle Shoals and talks to Grammy-winning engineer Craig Alvin, who was offered bongos at a garage sale — and went home with a ten-channel vintage 610 console instead! Both Pace and Alvin provide valuable insight into harnessing the magic of vintage 610 channels in a modern studio workflow. Finally, Putnam Jr., heads over to FunkWerkes where he and Pace discuss the vision for the rebuilt UA 610 and how it can seamlessly pair with Apollo interfaces and LUNA Digit...

Producers reveal the UAD plug-ins used by the world’s biggest vocalists.  There are no rules when it comes to building a plug-in chain for lead vocals. But using certain combinations of effects can get you pro sound quickly. We enlisted award-winning producers to share the vocal chains used by some of the world’s biggest artists. Looking for the best vocal chain for any style? Scroll down where we reveal the two best UAD plug-ins to buy when building your first vocal chain.   Adding UAD plug-ins to your vocal recordings gives you the same sounds used by top artists and producers.  What is a plug-in chain? A plug‑in chain is any combination of software effects added to a track in your DAW to achieve new sounds. In a recording studio, producers typically add multiple plug-ins and analog processors to tracks, depending on the genre and desired sound. For example: adding a preamp, compressor, and EQ is a classic combination for lead vocals.   Are UAD plug-ins worth it? UAD plug‑ins are authentic emulations of the same gear used on the greatest albums ever made. Just like the pros, you can add these effects to your vocals to get recordings that sound more professional.   Best UAD plug-ins for vocals. If you're building out your first setup, consider starting with legendary compressors like the  1176 Classic Limiter and Teletronix LA‑2A , and then adding in ...

Learn how to perfect your setup no matter the size with UA’s James Santiago. In this video, learn how to assemble the perfect pedalboard for your next gig or recording session. Join UA’s own guitar guru James Santiago along with Josh Fiden and John Clark from Voodoo Lab as they take you through two epic ampless rigs. Plus, they'll illuminate the often misunderstood guidelines of pedal order, gain staging, and powering your rig.  For their first setup, Santiago assembles an incredibly versatile guitar behemoth. At the heart of this setup lies two separate amp-in-a-box style pedals, the UAFX Enigmatic '82 Overdrive Special and Ruby '63 Top Boost amplifiers. These pedals supply both American and British voiced edge-of-breakup tones, laying a perfect foundation for the slew of overdrive and fuzz pedals that come before them in the chain. For studio-style space and ambience, Santiago follows up the amp emulators with a versatile array of reverb, delay, and modulation options. If keeping things simple is more your style, the second board may be for you. Still featuring two UAFX amp style pedals, this setup also contains a single overdrive pedal as well as a post-amp reverb. This time opting for a more classic model for the American-voiced platform, Santiago swaps the Enigmatic for the Dream '65 Reverb Amplifier . Perfect for gigging, this simple four pedal setup still offers plenty of sounds in a compact package.     00:00 - Introduction Meet UA’s James Santiago along wi...

Learn to add depth, space, and movement to your tracks. In this UAD Spotlight tutorial, Drew Mazurek unveils his favorite time-based effects for vocals — including delays, widening tools, modulation, and reverb. Whether you're chasing classic tape slap from the Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder , subtle pitch-shifting with the AMS DMX Digital Delay &amp; Pitch Shifter , or the vintage room sounds of  Capitol Chambers , this is your step-by-step guide for getting vocals to melt into any mix.  Watch part one of our Vocal Mixing series › Step 1: Start with a Slap Delay A go-to effect for adding space and width without washing out the vocal, a slap delay is often the first step in Drew’s time-based chain. He uses two main tools here: Ampex ATR-102: Set to 7.5 IPS with the HF repro EQ dialed down, this creates a dark, wide stereo slap with subtle movement. Cooper Time Cube MkII: For a brighter slap, Drew engages the high-pass filter to keep the vocal crisp and present. “These are great for adding width and energy, even when you want the vocal to still feel dry and upfront.”   Step 2: Widen with Subtle Modulation Widening effects can make a vocal feel bigger without crowding the mix. AMS DMX Digital Delay &amp; Pitch Shifter: With wet solo enabled, this plug-in delivers lush stereo widening without noticeable delay tails. EP-34 Tape Echo + AMS DMX: Because the EP-34 is mono, Drew pairs it with the AMS DMX or the Prec...

Get pro tips for flawless vocal mixes. In this UAD Spotlight tutorial, we show you which plug-ins to use when building a vocal chain, and give you tips for transferring files, bouncing takes, and future-proofing your sessions.  First, we walk you through a signal chain featuring favorites like the Studer A800 , Oxford Dynamic EQ , and the Neve 1084 . Then, you'll learn how to build vocal chains for different styles using classic Pultec EQs,   175B &amp; 176 Compressors , and API Vision Channel Strips . Whether you're tracking a pop banger or a stripped-back ballad, these UAD plug-in tips will elevate your vocal productions instantly. Watch part two of our Vocal Mixing series ›   Step 1: Use Pitch Correction First When building a vocal chain, tuning should always be your first move. If you use tools like Auto-Tune or Melodyne in your DAW, be sure to place them on the first insert slot to capture the raw, unprocessed vocal.   Step 2: Apply Gentle Resonance Suppression  After tuning, using a suppressor can help tame unpleasant frequencies without dulling your vocal. Remember to keep it subtle. Over-suppressed vocals can lose their natural dynamics and expression.  “Using a subtle pre-processing resonance control can set the stage for the rest of your plug-in chain,” says Drew. "While the effect is light, everything you apply ...

Learn how Mt. Bethel Church delivers album-quality live and streaming mixes. With over 35 years of combined live sound experience, the audio engineering team at Mt. Bethel Church in Marietta, Georgia knows what works — and what doesn't. And in this case, what works for FOH mixer Dave Anderson and streaming engineer Taylor Cinnamon is Apollo x16D audio interfaces running UAD plug-ins on a Dante network.  Anderson is responsible for mixing the front-of-house live sound for services of around 1,000 people, while Cinnamon handles the church's livestream duties to a similar number of people worldwide. Both engineers have made it their mission to elevate the church’s audio production to a level where every service and livestream sounds like a finished record.   Dante Networking: The Backbone of Mt. Bethel’s Audio Mt. Bethel Church's acoustics are built to project sound, making it a challenge for audio engineers.   Running a Dante networked audio system has been essential for Mt. Bethel’s complex audio setup. Dante is a digital audio networking technology that allows for the seamless transfer of high-quality audio over standard Cat6 Ethernet cables, and it’s been at the heart of Mt. Bethel’s system for the last 10 years. “We couldn’t do any of it without Dante,” says Anderson. “Hypothetically, if we had to replace our entire Dante network with XLR snakes, it could easily cost over a million dollars! We have almost no limitations with Dante.”    "Think of Dante as a virtual patchbay for routing any audio anywhere you want — without any loss in quality." Dave Anderson, front-of-house engineer, Mt. Bethel Church ...

How careful songwriting collaborations, Apollo interfaces, and UAD plug-ins fuel Grammy-winning records. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2011, Daniel Nigro has undergone a transformation few could have predicted. A lifelong guitarist, singer and restless member of Indie rock stalwarts As Tall As Lions, Nigro arrived in LA with a dream, but no clear roadmap beyond "wanting to be a songwriter."  What began as Nigro's attempt to record his solo record soon turned into something much bigger — a passion for producing and writing music with others. Hot on the heels of his 2025 "Producer of the Year" Grammy, Nigro has shaped the sound of artists like Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, Sky Ferreira, Joe Jonas, Kylie Minogue, and Caroline Polachek. All the while, Nigro has honed a signature production style — one that heavily leans into collaboration, as well as Apollo X Gen 2 audio interfaces and UAD plug-ins .   "If one part of a song feels really good, I don't care about anything else," says Daniel Nigro. "We can workshop the rest. If it takes a year, fine."   Was there a steep learning curve in making the transition from songwriter to producer? Yes, in the sense that it felt like a massive step backwards because I had to prove that I was a producer. That took about 5 years. When I worked with my old writing partner Justin Raisen ( Charli XCX , Drake ), he would always be at the computer — he was the producer. I was just a songwriter. But I watched him and picked up how to produce. I also worked a lot with Ariel ...