Categories: IconsRecording Studio History

Bill Putnam and United Recording, Hollywood CA

Wow what a titan Bill Putnam was. Not only did the man create some of the greatest audio equipment ever made, equipment that is still coveted and used on major records some 50 years after it was introduced, he also designed and built (and worked in) some of the greatest recording studios ever made (the later of which were bankrolled by Frank Sinatra, among others). It’s almost impossible to think of a similar comparison today… it would be like if the same dude who coded the best plug-ins that you use every day also engineered the hit records that you hear on the radio and also owned the world’s top recording studio, which he designed himself, and which Thom Yorke paid for… anyway… amazing. Here’s the room he built in Hollywood in the late 1950s. Much more information is available all over the ‘net… you can start here…

Moving from wide to close-up in these pics above: the studios, the control room, the console, and the console preamps, all designed by Putnam. Okay so yr gonna move to a new town and build a new studio… might as well design all new recording equipment while you are at it. Putnam’s approach has inspired me deeply (on a much smaller scale…) with Gold Coast Recorders and the custom equipment that I’ve developed around my work in that room. Here’s to hoping we have (even a fraction of) his success…

P.S.: David Kulka of Studio Electronics has made twenty issues of the URC company newsletter available for free download on his website. The newsletters span the years 1964-1970 and they are an invaluable resource for anyone interested in ye olde recording studio lore…

chris

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View Comments

Tom Fine says:

02/27/2012 at 10:16 am

As is well documented, Bill Putnam was a very smart man, an excellent engineer and also a successful entrepreneur. These three traits, together, were nearly unique in his chosen business, and he steadily built an empire of studios and professional equipment manufacturing which was widely respected around the world.

Two of Putnam's former engineers, Bob Bushnell and Jerry Ferree, wrote a superb book, "From Downbeat To Vinyl - Bill Putnam, His Legacy To Recording." It is available at Amazon and directly from the authors:
http://www.bookstandpublishing.com/book_details/From_Downbeat_to_Vinyl
Bob Bushnell says:

09/27/2014 at 1:18 pm

Tom:
Many thanks for the neat review of our book! Wish I had met your father back when. I was friends with Bob Doherty when he was with MGM Records in NY.
- Leland Hite says:
  
  02/20/2015 at 7:15 pm
  
  Bob,
  I very much want to get in contact with you regarding you and Jerry Ferree. I worked for Bill Putnam in the summer of 1965. I do the newsletter for Valparaiso Technical Institute Alumni and would like to make contact regarding some info we plan to publish in the newsletter.
  Thanks much,
  Leland Hite (Lee Hite)
  
  VTI Alumni
  - Bob Bushnell says:
    
    05/04/2016 at 5:54 pm
    
    Lee:
    
    Came across your comments about Bill Putnam, Jerry Ferree, and myself.
    Let me know what you're looking for, and I'll pass them on to Jerry.
Jesse Klapholz says:

12/04/2015 at 6:01 pm

With all due respect to the GINATS whose shoulders I walk upon gingerly, I believe that Michael Rettinger of RCA in consultation with John Volkmann of RCA (inventor of Polycylindrical Diffusors, amongst many others), designed the studios.
- Chris McGrew says:
  
  02/02/2019 at 6:30 pm
  
  Hello!
  I’m currently running Hyde Street Studio C, and am curious to learn more about the history of this amazing room. I’m also part of a project that will replicate all three rooms at Hyde street at another location. I’d love to chat one of these days if you have time.
  
  Thanks,
  Chris McGrew
  Wally’s Hydeout
  at Hyde Street Studios