Discover the Legacy of Universal Audio in Muscle Shoals

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 Digital Audio Workstation.

(0:00) Intro

Join CEO Bill Putnam Jr. as he sets out to rebuild an original UA 610 analog tube recording console.

(0:44) A Brief History of Muscle Shoals

Learn the background of the legendary recording mecca and why everybody in the world went to this tiny little town to record in two studios.

(2:00) Fame Recording Studios

Explore the space that put Muscle Shoals on the map as Bill Putnam Jr. dives into the history of the iconic studio's original 610 consoles.

(7:42) Noble Steed Studios

Grammy-winning engineer Craig Alvin details his vintage UA 610 console and how he uses it on modern hits at his studio located in the heart of Muscle Shoals.

(12:35) Planning Session at FunkWerkes

Watch Putnam Jr. and engineer Greg Pace as they discuss ways to integrate vintage UA 610 channels into a modern recording workflow using Apollo interfaces and LUNA Digital Audio Workstation.

— Darrin Fox

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