June 15, 2021 I Acquisition
Universal Audio Announces Asset Purchase Agreement with Townsend Labs
Universal Audio, a manufacturer of professional audio recording hardware and software, has announced an asset purchase agreement with Townsend Labs, the company behind the Sphere L22 microphone system.
As part of the agreement, the Sphere L22 microphone will join UA’s 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.
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 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 UA team, working to develop future microphone products under the UA brand.
“The Sphere L22 microphone is the perfect platform for us,” said 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.”
