Universal Audio (UA) has announced an asset purchase agreement with Townsend Labs, with the company’s Sphere L22 microphone system joining the UA product line.
Comprised of a dual-channel microphone and a companion plugin, and utilizing proprietary modeling technology, the Sphere L22 is designed to provide a range of studio mic sounds with high accuracy, allowing for auditioning and selection of various mic types and polar patterns, even after audio has been recorded.
UA has partnered with Townsend Labs since 2017, most notably on the Ocean Way and Bill Putnam Microphone Model Collections for Sphere L22 on the UAD and Apollo platforms. UA will continue to support all of the Sphere L22’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 UA 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.”
