As part of the agreement, the Sphere L22 microphone will join UA's industry-leading line of audio recording products, including Apollo interfaces and UAD Powered Plug‑Ins. Powered by proprietary microphone modeling technology, the Sphere L22 mic system provides a wide range of highly sought-after studio mic sounds with amazing accuracy, allowing for auditioning and selection of various mic types and polar patterns, even after audio has been recorded.
Townsend Labs was founded in 2015 by thirteen‑year Avid alum and DSP architect Chris Townsend, together with Erik Papp, previously CEO of Summit Audio Inc. In July 2016, Townsend Labs introduced their world‑class patented microphone modeling system. The Sphere L22 microphone was launched August 4, 2016 with a phenomenally successful international crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, raising over $100,000 (250% of its target) in 24 hours. The high-precision, side-address, large-diaphragm condenser microphone, combined with microphone modeling software clearly made sense to the market, emulating the characteristics of the most sought-after microphones.
Universal Audio has partnered with Townsend Labs since 2017, most notably on the Ocean Way and Bill Putnam Microphone Model Collections for Sphere L22 on the award‑winning UAD and Apollo platforms. UA will continue to support all of the Sphere L22 system’s current audio platforms, including UAD, AAX DSP, AAX Native, VST, and AU.
With this agreement, Townsend Labs founders Chris Townsend and Erik Papp will join the Universal Audio team, working to develop future microphone products under the UA brand.
“The Sphere L22 microphone is the perfect platform for us,” says Bill Putnam, CEO of Universal Audio. “With UA’s expertise in modeling vintage audio gear, and Townsend’s industry‑leading mic modeling technology, we're poised to bring customers significant innovations in this fast‑growing segment of the pro audio industry.”
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