The Secret to Natural-Sounding Live Recordings with UA Volt 2: Phase, EQ, and More

Recording Outside the Studio

What Happens When You Take a Studio Setup Into the Wild

In a new Puremix series, producer Mark Abramson teams up with the duo Honey and Blue to record "Up in the Clouds" outdoors in Columbus, Ohio.

No power outlets. No treated room. Just a MacBook Pro, a UA Volt 2, and a pair of mics working overtimeUA Volt Tracking V3. A reliable computer like a Mac is essential for mobile recording, providing the processing power and integration needed for high-quality results on the go.

The mission: capture a beautiful live take that feels honest and organic.

The Challenge of Mobile Recording

Recording outside brings real challenges: wind noise, phase between mics, two singers sharing one microphone, all powered by a laptop battery.

Having a clear plan for your equipment and setup is crucial when recording outside the studio to ensure everything runs smoothly.

A Portable Setup That Delivers

The UA Volt 2 is capable of handling the unique challenges of outdoor recording, delivering professional sound quality even in unpredictable environments.

We wanted to prove you can make something that feels big and emotional with nothing more than a Volt 2 and a good idea.

Mark Abramson

The Importance of Acoustics

Why Acoustics Matter More Than You Think

When it comes to capturing truly professional sound, the acoustics of your recording environment are just as crucial as the gear you use.

Whether you’re setting up a portable recording studio in a living room, a rehearsal space, or even outdoors, the way sound interacts with your space can make or break your final mix. Even the best audio interface, like the Universal Audio Volt series, can only do so much if your environment is working against you.

Starting with the Right Tools

A clean sound begins with smart choices:

A quality audio interface with clean preamps.
Condenser microphones that capture every nuance.
Studio-grade headphones to spot echoes or reflections early.

The Role of Instrument and Mic Placement

Instrument placement is another key factor. Positioning your mics and instruments thoughtfully can minimize phase issues and unwanted room noise, while a MIDI controller opens up a world of virtual instruments, giving you the flexibility to create and control sounds that might be impossible to capture live.

The Luna Recording System, for example, integrates seamlessly with your setup, offering features that help you shape your sound and workflow, whether you’re tracking on a laptop, iPad, or even an iPhone.

Portability Meets Creativity

Modern audio interfaces like the UA Volt 2 are bus powered and connect easily via USB-C, making it simple to set up a recording studio anywhere inspiration strikes.

This portability means you can focus on the creative process, capturing ideas on the fly without worrying about external power or bulky equipment. For musicians and producers working on a budget, the ability to purchase equipment separately or as part of a bundle adds even more flexibility to your setup.

Ultimately, achieving a professional studio sound outside of a traditional studio is all about attention to detail. By investing in the right equipment, an audio interface with clean preamps, a reliable microphone, and a solid pair of headphones, and taking the time to optimize your recording environment, you’ll be able to capture performances that truly stand out. Whether you’re recording vocals, instruments, or experimenting with virtual instruments, a well-designed acoustic setup will help you create music that’s both inspiring and ready for the world to hear.

Phase Alignment: The Invisible Fix That Changes Everything

The Hidden Problem in Every Mobile Recording

Back in the studio, Mark begins the mix by confronting the first issue every mobile engineer faces: phase alignment.

Two mics placed just a foot apart can cause time delays that blur the stereo image and smear transients.

Fixing Phase with Auto-Align

Using Sound Radix Auto-Align 2, he measured that the guitar mic was exactly 16.6 inches away from the vocal mic, translating to a 59-sample delay UA Volt Mixing V2. Auto-Align 2 offers functions like automatic phase detection and precise time shifting, making it easy to align multiple tracks for maximum clarity.

By shifting the track back those samples, the mix immediately regains focus. The low-end tightens, vocals sit naturally, and the acoustic guitar sounds more three-dimensional. Phase alignment does the job of restoring clarity and focus to the tracks, ensuring each element sits perfectly in the mix.

It’s like turning the focus ring on a camera. Suddenly the picture snaps into place.

Mark Abramson

Why Tiny Adjustments Matter

Even subtle alignment can transform outdoor recordings where reflections and cross-bleed are unavoidable.

A 2021 AES study on multi-mic phase coherence notes that correcting just 1 ms of delay can recover up to 80 % of perceived clarity: exactly what Mark demonstrates in this mix.

Dynamic EQ: Controlling What Happens Only When It Happens

Why Tiny Adjustments Matter

With phase under control, Mark focuses on resonances that appear only on certain notes.

Instead of carving static EQ notches, he relies on FabFilter Pro-Q 4’s dynamic bands, a perfect example of his philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of practice in applying dynamic EQ techniques and refining results through real-world use:

Never deal with a temporary problem using a permanent solution.

Mark Abramson

Experimentation with EQ settings is key here, as trying different approaches can reveal the most musical and transparent solutions.

The “AirPods Zone” and Musical Transparency

This approach keeps vocals smooth around the 2.5–3.5 kHz range, (what Mark calls the AirPods zone) without dulling the mix.

Combined with light compression from a 1176 Blue Stripe and a Fairchild 660, the result feels lively, not over-processed.

Adding Character and Color

Mark also shapes the tone using Pultec EQP-1A and MEQ-5, gently boosting around 10 kHz for air while carving 500 Hz to leave space for Stephanie’s vocal. These analog-modeled plugins add harmonic color that’s essential when mixing clean outdoor takes.

All of these processes are performed within a DAW; while Mark uses Luna, many producers prefer alternatives like Ableton or Logic Pro for their versatility in music production and audio editing.

Making Space: Subtle Width and Depth

Creating a Studio Feel Outdoors

To rebuild dimension around the outdoor recording, Mark used three classic tools:

UAD Precision Delay for a tight 95–104 ms stereo slap.
Pure Plate Reverb for subtle ambience.
Studio D Chorus for gentle modulation and glue.

The Emotional Impact of Space

Not realistic, but emotionally right.

Mark Abramson

These effects don’t exaggerate width; they recreate the depth your ears expect from a polished studio recording.

They make the mix believable, not artificial.

Why the UA Volt 2 Audio Interface Is Perfect for Mobile Recording

Designed for Portability

Throughout both sessions, the UA Volt 2 remained the hero.

Its bus-powered design kept the rig portable, and the built-in Vintage preamp mode added the harmonic richness of a UA 610 tube circuit, just press the Vintage button to activate this classic sound.

Competing in a crowded audio interface market, the Volt 2 stands out with its unique features and value for mobile music engineers and recording engineers. The Volt 2 also offers versatile connectivity options, including RCA outputs for connecting to external speakers or audio equipment. Choosing the Volt 2 can help users save money compared to other interfaces with similar features.

No external power, no compromise.

The Volt’s vintage circuit gives us that UA 610 vibe right from the box, perfect for live takes.

Mark Abramson

A Compact System That Feels Analog

Paired with Luna and its Neve Summing Console extension, the workflow feels analog but stays 100 % portable. The entire session runs on laptop power, just make sure you have sufficient storage for your recording sessions, as handling large audio files and sample libraries is essential for smooth production. This proves professional sound doesn’t require a control room.

From Woods to Waveform: Lessons for Every Engineer

Key Takeaways from Mark’s Session

For engineers setting up mobile studios, it's wise to seek advice on choosing the right recording gear and equipment to optimize your workflow.

Check phase before mixing. Even tiny mic offsets can change everything.
Use dynamic EQ for transient problems. Don’t carve frequencies that only misbehave sometimes.
Add depth, not distance. Small delays and plate reverbs can create believable space without exaggeration.
Trust portable gear. Tools like the UA Volt 2 and Luna are built for real-world creativity. There's something memorable and inspiring about creating a song in unconventional environments, whether you're traveling or outside the traditional studio.
Reference on headphones. Pair this approach with Fab Dupont’s Mixing with Headphones to ensure translation anywhere.

We're excited about the expanding possibilities of mobile recording, which open up new ways to practice, collaborate, and reach audiences beyond the studio.

Learn the Full Process on Puremix Pro

Inside the exclusive Puremix series, Mark Abramson breaks down every step, from recording in the woods to refining phase, EQ, and mix bus tone with the Volt 2.
It’s a masterclass in making professional music anywhere.

🎥 Watch the complete series on Puremix Pro
👉 https://www.puremix.com