Universal Audio has today announced the LUNA Recording System. Its a tight integration between Universal Audio Apollo thunderbolt hardware and new software to give users a near-zero latency recording, mixing and production experience with an analogue-style workflow. To summarise, a Universal Audio DAW.
Universal Audio LUNA
LUNA has been created to be a fully-featured music creation, recording, and analogue-style production system created from over 60 years of Universal Audio analogue audio experience and expertise.
LUNA is a four-part recording solution consisting of a UA Thunderbolt-equipped Apollo or Arrow interface, the LUNA Application, LUNA Extensions, and brand new LUNA Instruments and will be a FREE to download solution available during the spring of 2020. The first release will be macOS only and we hope the PC will follow soon after, this is to be confirmed.
Why Use LUNA
One of the key features of the LUNA Recording System is its deep integration with the Apollo and Arrow range of UA Thunderbolt interfaces. The older Firewire and USB interfaces will not be supported.
Then there is built-in Neve Summing, Multitrack Tape Emulation, and all-new LUNA Instruments. UA’s first exploration into instruments.
Unlike the more traditional DAW software applications, Universal Audio’s new LUNA, with its tight hardware-software integration, allows for quick and easy routing and tracking through DSP-powered UAD plug-ins with next to zero latency via a new Accelerated Real-time Monitoring feature. This Accelerated Real-time Monitoring could well be an alternative to expensive DSP-assisted recording systems like Avid’s HDX.
The Classic Neve Console Sound
The LUNA Recording System includes an emulation of the Neve 1272 summing amplifier circuitry from the classic Neve 80 Series consoles, allowing you to transform a clean, surgical mix into a classic-sounding recording filled with energy and what some might call soul.
Bring Your Music To Life
LUNA's audio transport features integrated Multitrack Tape emulation using the included "Oxide" LUNA Extension, which provides tape type tones that engineers the world over have called warm and glued.
You can also dive in further and try the Studer A800 Tape Recorder Extension, which is sold separately.
Three New LUNA Instruments
From the launch at NAMM 2020, three new LUNA instruments will be available.
Moog Minimoog: Developed in partnership with Moog Music, the Moog Minimoog is an inspiring and accurate emulation of the epitome the 1971 Moog synthesizer. Sold separately.
RavelTM Grand Piano: A breathtaking model of a Steinway Model B grand piano based on UA's proprietary sampling, physical modelling, and new Ultra-Resonance technology which provides all the sonic nuance of this studio classic. Sold separately.
Shape: A complete and free toolbox of instruments including vintage keyboards, drums, percussion, guitars, basses and orchestral instruments, courtesy of Universal Audio, Spitfire Audio, Orange Tree Samples, Loops de la Creme, and more.
Check out the livestream replay @ -11:05
It’s Not What You Say, It’s What You Don’t Say.
This is clearly a major investment in time, money and resources for Universal Audio and it could pay off for them if the new LUNA platform can prove itself and hold it’s own with regards to features and functionally, it is to all intents and purposes a DAW by any other name.
However, there are a great many questions which are not answered in the initial information we have been given and we are going to do our best to find out more in the coming days at the NAMM show and once we get our hands on the LUNA software. Watch this space for more coming from the show floor at NAMM 2020.
You can find out more about the new LUNA Recording System from the Universal Audio website.
James has worked for studio equipment suppliers and installers as well as companies like Sibelius and later Avid. James or Jivey is officially the team’s gear junkie. If it makes a noise and you can play it or record it, he’s interested.