Recording studios

Bill Putnam, Les Paul, Mary Ford, Tom Dowd and Bruce Swedien are noted recording pioneers.

A year after the Second World War ended, Bill Putnam founded Universal Recording Corporation in Evansville, Illinois, later moving to Chicago.

Prior to founding Universal Recording, Bill Putnam worked at the American Forces Network.

While at Universal Recording, Bill Putnam pioneered innovations, including vocal booths, multi-track recording and artificial reverberation.

In 1957, Bill Putnam sold his interest in Universal Recording Corporation and moved to California to found United Recording Corporation.

UREI and Universal Audio are some of the notable innovations that Bill Putnam pioneered at United Recording Corporation.

Les Paul and Mary Ford likewise pioneered innovations.

Tom Dowd popularized stereo sound and the eight-track recording system for commercial music.

Rotary knobs have downsides, but Tom Dowd pioneered linear channel faders on audio mixers to allow better control of multiple tracks