UA Blog

The Neve 88RS Channel Strip Collection for UAD-2 hardware and Apollo interfaces expertly replicates the startling depth, airiness, and clarity of Neve’s ultimate analog console. In this 5-Minute UAD Tips video, you'll learn how to bring a drum kit to life, shape vocals, and record pristine acoustic guitars.

Renowned for its versatility and ultra-musical nonlinear distortion characteristics, the Neve 33609 compressor was an instant classic upon its debut in 1985. The Neve 33609 Compressor plug-in for UAD-2 and Apollo interfaces gives your tracks the character and cohesion of the legendary hardware. In this 5-Minute UAD Tips video, you’ll learn how to apply the unmistakable sound of the Neve 33609 Compressor plug-in to your mixes.

Find that perfect something for your favorite audio nerd! Having a hard time buying gifts for the music makers in your life? Never fear, the UA 2024 Holiday Gift Guide has something for every songwriter, guitarist, novice engineer, or singer on your list.Below are some of our favorites — from pedals to plug-ins, mics to audio interfaces — so you're sure to find something special for your favorite audio geeks. For Songwriters… Album-ready sound that inspires you to keep creating — that's what everybody wants for the holidays, right? Here are our picks for songwriters looking to go from demo to hit, without any roadblocks. Volt 276 USB Recording Studio Built with timeless UA analog sound, Volt 276 USB Recording Studio gives you the sound of iconic UA tube preamps and studio compression onboard. Start capturing your ideas right out of the box with a high-quality 2-in / 2-out audio interface, award-winning DAW, and suite of UAD plug-ins and instruments including classic Teletronix LA‑2A compressors and Pultec EQs, PolyMAX Synth, Century Tube Channel Strip, Oxide Tape Recorder, and more. Shop Now UA SC-1 Standard Condenser Microphone with Hemisphere Mic Modeling Powered by the same mic modeling technology found in our award-winning UA Sphere mics, the SC-1 gives you the sounds of eight legendary large-diaphragm condenser mics. Capture professional recordings in astonishing detail with our SC-1, a classic studio condens...

Go behind the scenes and learn how UA constructed this world-class space. Studio 610, located in Universal Audio headquarters in Scotts Valley, California is an acoustic space comparable to any in the recording industry. From the landmark UA 610 modular console to the 1176 compressor, UA founder Bill Putnam's hardware ushered in the era of modern recording — full stop. What gets less attention are the physical spaces Putnam created. The rooms at Chicago's Universal Recording and Hollywood's United/Western Recorders (now EastWest) were and are temples to the art of recording. The albums recorded in these hallowed rooms are a who's-who of modern music from the 1950s to today. So when Universal Audio decided to build a state-of-the-art recording studio in their Scotts Valley, California headquarters, UA CEO Bill Putnam Jr. and his brother Scott Putnam leaned on their rich family history of state-of-the-art studio design. Studio 610: The Importance of the Number Named after the modular tube consoles designed by UA founder M.T. “Bill” Putnam, Studio 610’s name was chosen for the console’s significance in the development of Universal Audio as a company. “The 610 is an important piece of Universal Audio’s origins and of the studios Bill Putnam designed,” says UA Product Designer, Will Shanks. “It was really popular in Putnam’s L.A. studios and ended up in other places like Sound Studio in Muscle Shoals and as part of Wally Heider’s remote recording operations . Both Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra had their own personal 610 recording consoles. It just has a lot of history to it.” Studio 610: Construction Begins Scott Putnam, the eldest son of the late Bill Putnam Sr. and tale...

Get the soulful curves of Detroit's finest on your drums and masters. In this video, UA's Matt Petersen shows you how to add rich tone to any track using the Hitsville EQ Collection. This collection gives you two different flavors of Motown's hand-built EQs, including the rare mastering version complete with custom filters and mid/side control. Learn how to dial-in drums and make masters with professional shine and timeless sound using the Hitsville EQ Collection .

Add lush effects that defined an entire era of hit records. In this video, UA's Matt Petersen shows you how to thicken lead vocals, tighten up drum loops, and give synths stunning ambience with the UAD Lexicon 224 plug-in . Introduced in 1978, the 224 was the reverb that defined the sound of groundbreaking hit records. From Talking Heads' Remain In Light and U2's The Unforgettable Fire to Peter Gabriel's So and Kate Bush's Hounds of Love, the 224's lush reverb tail and spacious soundscapes make it one of the most popular digital effects units of all time.

How the newest physical modeling unlocks the sound of the greatest microphones ever made. Microphones are the unsung heroes in the recording studio. Their job is to accurately capture the essence of a performance. While traditional dynamic and condenser microphones have long been the backbone of the recording industry, the emergence of modeling microphones has ushered in a new era of sonic exploration. Here, we delve into the world of modeling microphones. With help from Universal Audio’s lead product designer Chris Nighman, we uncover how the latest physical modeling technology now makes it possible to get dozens of world-famous sounds, all from a single microphone. Microphones such as Universal Audio’s SC-1 pack emulations of world-famous microphones from Neumann, Sony, AKG, and more. Modeling Mic Basics Through analog and digital signal processing, modeling mics are designed to replicate the sonic characteristics of other microphones. By capturing the frequency and transient response, as well as key attributes such as proximity and axis, these mics can recreate the sound of a given microphone with astonishing accuracy. Modeling mics ultimately give engineers and artists access to a diverse range of sounds, all with the convenience of a single microphone. Versus traditional dynamic and condenser microphones, this opens up a range of possibilities in the studio. “When it comes to modeling versus traditional mics, I think it’s all about time and effort versus art and enjoyment,” says Chris Nighman, Sr. Product Manager of Microphones at Universal Audio. “It’s like recording to ta...

Discover tips for getting huge-sounding pro guitar recordings. In this video, Grammy-winning producer Jacquire King (Tom Waits, Kings of Leon) walks you through the guitar recording chain he used to record guitar/drum duo, Robot Monster at UA headquarters in Santa Cruz, California. Wanting to capture the spontaneous energy of a live performance, and get a wide, fat guitar sound without doubling, King ‪split the guitar's signal three ways so he can add individual processing and pan the signals for max width and tone. Watch as he shows you how he uses OX Amp Top Box to capture the tube amp API Preamp and 550A EQ and dbx Limiter/Compressor plug-ins to add girth to the "bass," and a healthy dose of UAFX pedals, including Woodrow '55 Instrument Amplifier , Starlight Echo Station , and Golden Reverberator to round out three distinct tones — all in one bad-ass take.