“There’s no reason that digital audio can’t sound as good as analogue”: Bill Putnam Jr. on reviving Universal AudioBill Putnam Jr., CEO of Universal Audio, has opened up on his early inspirations for re-launching the renowned gear brand, which was first created by his father.
Putnam Sr. originally founded Universal Audio in 1958, though it later closed in 1965. He was also an audio engineer, producer and studio designer. Before his passing in 1989, he worked with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra, and became known as ‘the father of modern recording.’

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Putnam Jr. revived UA in 1999 with his brother Jim. It has since gone on to be renowned for its plugins, pedals, and focus on the “sound and spirit of vintage analogue technology”. In an interview for a new MusicTech digital cover, Putnam Jr. shares what sets his ownership of UAD aside from his father’s.
“Dad’s thing…I love my dad. I learned so much from him, but I wanted to strike out on my own,” he begins. Of his dad’s ‘father of modern recording’ title, Putnam Jr. continues, “How can you live up to that? [Dad] had all sorts of talents that I didn’t pick up on. I’m not the audio engineer he was, I’m not a recording engineer, I don’t build recording studios like he did…But his love of technology I did pick up on. To me, technology is still magic.”
He adds, “[Jim] was very analogue and I was very digital. We kind of argued with each other, and decided to do both…The vision was: there’s no reason I felt that digital audio couldn’t sound every bit as good and vibey as analogue and have that soul and depth. So let’s have it both ways.”
Universal Audio now has a global team of over 200 employees and hundreds of products, “[UA] means more to me than I ever knew,” he states. “I don’t think I’m ever going to lose this childlike glee with new technology. I still love new stuff.”
In early October, UAD launched seven new models for its Apollo X Gen 2 lineup. You can view the brand’s full product range over at Universal Audio.
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