UA to release free Mac-based production environment with their Thunderbolt interfaces Two views of UAs Luna application, the software at the heart of this new recording environment that unites recording software, interfacing hardware, virtual instruments and processing plug-ins, and DSP.
We first received some sketchy details on UAs new Luna recording system in December, enough to write a short advance item for the News section in Sound On Sounds February print edition. But one of the things that puzzled us was that UA were reluctant to the point of inscrutability to describe their system as a DAW, which rather threw us. From the little we knew, Luna was computer-based, could record and mix multiple channels simultaneously, and could host virtual instruments and processors. Frankly, we thought, if it looks like a DAW and works like a DAW... then surely there was an existing three-letter acronym that would describe it quite nicely, beginning with D and ending with AW?
Video of Universal Audio Luna - NAMM 2020
Well, Luna is here at last, and clearly, it IS a DAW. But as Universal Audio explain in the detailed interview conducted by SOS Features Editor Sam Inglis at NAMM yesterday (linked above), there is a little more to it than that. Firstly, its designed to work solely with UAs existing Apollo and Arrow DSP-enhanced Thunderbolt audio interfaces, with the exception of the older Apollo FireWire and Apollo Twin USB. In fact, from later this Spring, Luna is going to be shipping with every single recent Apollo sold, completely free. Because the application will be completely tied to UAs own hardware, the integration between the software, hardware, the interfaces DSP and UAs existing armoury of well-regarded plug-ins promises to be extremely tight - something which isnt always the case with other DAW systems composed of software, hardware and processing from completely different manufacturers. As a further result, UA can also claim that recording with Luna is an analogue-style experience, because Luna users can now benefit from the low-latency recording approach already offered by UAs DSP-enhanced interfaces.
The Minimoog emulation - one of the first Luna instruments to be made available for the new Luna environment.
So whats in it? Luna is a full production environment which offers non-linear recording and editing with a fairly standard-looking DAW tracking window. It will record, edit and output MIDI, has built-in mixing and routing, and will host and run virtual instruments - a first for the company, which has always been highly regarded for it emulated processing plug-ins, but has never supported VIs per se. Luna, however, not only ships with emulations of analogue tape and Neve summing circuitry - so far, so 2010s - but also comes with Luna-specific instruments which run not on the UAD DSP, but natively on the host computer, although they will not be usable by third-party plug-in hosts. At launch, the so-called Luna instruments amount to Minimoog and grand piano emulations, and Shape - a multi-layered virtual instrument plug-in offering real instrument sounds based on samples, an emulated synth engine, and orchestral content from Spitfire Audio. Theres plenty more detail on the composition of the system in the linked video interview above.
Ravel, the grand piano Luna instrument announced alongside the Luna system.
Can this prove popular? Is it madness to launch a completely new DAW in 2020? Well, the biggest objection weve heard about Luna so far at NAMM 2020 and on forums since the launch (aside from the fact that theres no news on any kind of PC version - certainly at launch Luna will be Mac-only) is that established users wont want to unlearn their existing favourite DAW and start from scratch with Luna. This will undoubtedly be true for some people, but UA are clearly hoping that their attractive plug-in offerings and cleverly designed DSP interfaces will swing such users over time, now that they are all integrated into one production environment. And we think it likely that UA are also playing a long game. Offering such a versatile system for free with the interfacing hardware new users have to buy anyway is likely to be an irresistible proposition for many; we can imagine that lots of teenagers who are just getting into audio production on a computer in 2020 will be immediately attracted by the idea of obtaining a complete software production environment and instrument host free with their audio interface. And in (say) five years, those users could form a significant slice of UAs future customer base.
Of course, the success of Luna will depend on the user experience, about which its difficult to form a lasting judgement at present. We look forward to trying out the system in a few weeks!
http://www.uaudio.com
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
03/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
03/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
03/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
03/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
03/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
03/03/2026
Home Post Production has further expanded its factual, unscripted, and entertainment capabilities with the acquisition of Picture Shop Bristol, a leading post h...
03/03/2026
Luxembourg, 2 March 2026 -- SES S.A. fully consolidates Intelsat from 17 July 2025 and announces financial results for the year ended 31 December 2025
FY25 Pe...
03/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
03/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
03/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
03/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
03/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
03/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
03/03/2026
RT Media Sales has announced Spry Finance has renewed it's sponsorship of M...
02/03/2026
NBC Sports selected Imaginary Forces to create the main title sequence for the M...
02/03/2026
The NFL announces the launch of the NFL Draft Innovation Challenge, a new crowds...
02/03/2026
The World Teleport Association (WTA) has named Skyline Communications' DataMiner SatOps solution as a finalist for the 2026 Teleport Technology of the Year ...
02/03/2026
Ventum Tech announces a strategic partnership with Pixotope, a real-time graphic...
02/03/2026
Victory , a free, ad-supported sports streaming service, announces the launch of...
02/03/2026
Global powerhouse Delta Goodrem to represent Australia at this year's Eurovi...
02/03/2026
SBS brings together prominent voices to discuss rising social division and seek ...
02/03/2026
NITV Unveils Wednesday Night Sport Night
Media releases
A Midweek Hub for Blak Sport
Flagship NRL program Over The Black Dot moves to Wednesdays at 9:30pm
...
02/03/2026
Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates FR1-FR3 carrier aggregation, advancing 6G readiness Rohde & Schwarz and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. have reached another pivotal ...
02/03/2026
MELBOURNE, Fla., March 2, 2026 - L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) today announc...
02/03/2026
Harvey Norman tops New Zealand's biggest ad spenders as retail leads and telcos and beverages sure Auckland March 3, 2026 - Nielsen's New Zealand'...
02/03/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, and Arqit Quantum Inc. (Nasdaq: ARQQ, A...
02/03/2026
Advanced Systems Group, LLC (ASG), a technology and services provider for media creatives and content owners, has appointed Jody Boatwright as Chief Strategy Of...
02/03/2026
Lightware, an industry leader in signal management, is reinforcing its commitment to simplifying complex AV environments with the continued evolution of its TPN...
02/03/2026
ZEISS Cinema opens its doors to an exclusive screening, filmmakers Q&A and hands-on showcase of the new ZEISS Aatma lens family on Tuesday, March 10, 6:00-9:00 ...
02/03/2026
To expand the creative potential of the compact Astera QuikBeam, DoPchoice introduces the SNAPBAG Round. The new light-shaping accessory transforms the powerfu...
02/03/2026
Douglas Dubler
On a rooftop in New York City, veteran photographer Douglas Dubler watched the sun's angle shift across the urban landscape, his internal cl...
02/03/2026
ZEISS is expanding its Otus ML lens family with the introduction of the new ZEISS Otus ML 1.4/35. This manual-focus lens is designed for photographers who live ...
02/03/2026
Matthews Studio Equipment now offers the new Dinkum Systems White FlexiMount and Phone Mount Kit, a compact, highly adaptable setup for mobile content creation...
02/03/2026
Luxembourg, February 26, 2026 - SES and Africa Mobile Network (AMN) have expande...
02/03/2026
02 03 2026 - Media release Ausfilm and Screen Australia launch joint UK market initiative
Ausfilm and Screen Australia have announced Partner with Australia (...
02/03/2026
Monday 2 March 2026
Saturday Night Live UK announces writing team
L-R: Jonno Johnson; Charlie Skelton; Celya AB; Omar Badawy; Gr inne Maguire; Laura Claxton; ...
02/03/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Unveils the Trailer for 53 Sundays, the New Film by Cesc Gay
Entertainment
02 March 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
Dis...
28/02/2026
With two features seen in Formula 1 coverage, the broadcaster aims to bring view...
28/02/2026
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addresses a crowd of approximately 1,500 L3Harris employees in Camden, Arkansas, as part of his Arsenal of Freedom tour....
28/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
UA to release free Mac-based production environment with their Thunderbolt interfaces Two views of UAs Luna application, the software at the heart of this new recording environment that unites recording software, interfacing hardware, virtual instruments and processing plug-ins, and DSP.
