Universal Audio (UA) has just announced a significant shift in their software availability, announcing their LUNA Digital Audio Workstation now accessible for free to all Mac users, a departure from its previous exclusivity to UA Apollo interface owners. We have the details.

UA say that LUNA, which debuted in mid-2020 and has been regularly updated with new features, is distinguished by its built-in analog console summing and tape machine emulations, aiming to deliver a classic studio equipment sound. Connor Sexton, Product Manager at Universal Audio, expressed enthusiasm for making LUNA widely available, suggesting that it will allow musicians to achieve professional-quality sound from the outset.

Key features of the now freely available LUNA include unlimited track count, native LUNA extensions for mixing and creating, efficient quantization with proprietary algorithms, and compatibility with major control surfaces and Audio Units plug-ins. This could potentially streamline the music production process for Mac users.

For those seeking additional functionality, UA is offering the LUNA Pro Bundle, priced at $399. This package includes a suite of UAD Plug-ins and LUNA Extensions, developed in collaboration with leading audio brands. The Pro Bundle features iconic tools such as the Ampex ATR-102 Master Tape Machine and the API 2500 Bus Compressor, among others.

To encourage users to explore these expanded capabilities, UA is providing a 30-day free trial of the essential LUNA Extensions and UAD Plug-ins with each download. This trial may cater to professionals looking to integrate UA's celebrated processing tools into their workflow.

The LUNA software and extensions require MacOS 10.15 Catalina or newer, setting a baseline for system compatibility. With this initiative, Universal Audio aims to inspire a broader base of audio and music creators by making professional tools more accessible.

For detailed information, Mac users can visit the UA website to learn more about LUNA and download the workstation. Additional press materials and images are also available online through the provided links.

Universal Audio's move to offer LUNA for free reflects a growing trend in the music production industry to make high-level tools available to a wider audience. Whether this will substantially change the landscape for Mac-based music producers remains to be seen, but the potential for high-quality music production has certainly become more attainable.