UNIVERSAL AUDIO LUNA

Universal Audio make some of the best plugins and interfaces in the world, but does that world need another DAW? Enter the Lunaverse…

Releasing a new DAW is a big deal at the best of times, and doing it during a global pandemic is either crazy or genius.

So, what’s the story? Luna is a Mac-only app (OS X 10.14 and later) for use with Apollo and Arrow Thunderbolt interfaces and combines typical audio and MIDI DAW functionality with the near zero latency workflow and rich sound you’d get from an analogue desk and tape recorder. It’s free for Apollo and Arrow users and has various paid-for extensions including Neve console bus emulation, Studer tape emulation and a bunch of instruments from Spitfire Audio and Universal Audio themselves.

The core free application is no slouch, and includes a basic tape emulation (Oxide), a 4-part sample and synthesis instrument with 8GB library (Shape) and a well-featured MIDI arpeggiator (Arp). What’s more, Luna runs both UAD-2 and AU plugins, allowing you to balance not only the DSP and CPU usage, but also your plugin spend.

COMPUTER MUSIC Basics

Luna has a very familiar workspace feel, switching between Timeline or Mixer views. Tracks can be audio, MIDI instrument or bus, and editing of audio or MIDI clips is done by zooming into the timeline rather than via additional edit windows. This is augmented by four task-specific Workflow toolbars (Record, MIDI, Edit and Mix). Standard clip features (cut, paste, copy, clip gain and so on) are joined by adjustable pitch (+/-24 semitones), audio warping and playlists (Versions) for audio clips. Meanwhile MIDI clips include a CC section and Fold option to hide unused notes. In addition to regular non-linear editing, clips can also be shuffle edited using the shift modifier. Understandably, there are a plethora of ways to zoom in and out of the screen, and the ‘E’ key performs a handy zoom toggle function.

The main mixer workspace is split into two parts. The top part includes rows for inputs, cues, sends, inserts and outputs, as well as tape and console processing (more below). The bottom is the fader section and options here include pan, solo, mute, track naming, track colour, record enable, input monitor, automation and Spill, a feature that lets you quickly view just the tracks that feed your currently selected bus.

Integrated

Luna has deep integration with the Apollo and Arrow hardware and manages all audio buffering automatically. It also incorporates and expands on the functionality of UA’s Console monitoring system, so once you’ve plugged up your input you can work solely inside Luna. Options include adjusting gain, using Unison preamps, setting up cues and applying up to four UAD plugins prior to recording. To record and monitor all this with near zero latency, Luna uses a new system called Accelerated Realtime Monitoring (ARM). This is handled by your interface’s DSP and works for any inputs and up to two stereo auxiliaries. How many channels