Universal Audio make a wide range of recording products - analog, digital and software. The company was founded in 1958 by Bill Putnam Sr. who was a favourite engineer of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ray Charles and more, and many of his legendary studio and equipment designs are still in use today.

Bill’s sons, James Putnam and Bill Putnam Jr., took the company into new territory, designing digital recording tools with a vintage analog feel as well as reproducing classic analog recording equipment. Universal Audio is based in Scotts Valley, California, and classic analog gear is still hand-built there. UAD is also famous for its award-winning UAD Powered Plug-Ins platform, that emulate analog.