Universal Audio has announced an update to its free, award-winning DAW. Version 1.9 of LUNA previews new AI-powered features to make recording easier, enabling music producers to sound like the records they love.
“We believe that the best audio tools can ‘disappear,’ and feel like they are simply a part of the creative process,” says UA CEO Bill Putnam Jr. “We think the new AI powered tools in LUNA 1.9 start to make it feel like a behind the scenes music recording partner, not just a DAW. Ultimately, we always look forward to hearing what our users think.”
Upon its release in 2020, LUNA was the first DAW with authentic analog channel strips, summing, and tape extensions from Neve, API, Studer, and Ampex. When paired with Apollo audio interfaces and UA’s Accelerated Realtime Monitoring, LUNA delivered ultra fast, analog style sound and workflows for modern music production.
Now in its fifth year, LUNA continues to evolve into the most musician friendly DAW on the market, with features designed to remove technical barriers and make recording and mixing music feel as natural and inspiring as playing it.
Changes in LUNA v1.9
- Voice Control: LUNA now allows users to start and stop recordings using simple “Hey Luna” voice commands from anywhere in the room. This lets musicians stay focused on their performance without having to physically switch gears to manage their DAW.
- Instrument Detection: LUNA analyzes incoming audio, identifies instrument types, and automatically names and color codes tracks for faster session organization. This helps creators spend more time making music, not managing their session files.
- Tempo Listen: LUNA listens to performances and sets the metronome to match — letting musicians record their first take with total confidence and groove. This gives artists a more natural, inspired way to start their session.
- Tempo Detection: LUNA automatically detects the tempo of any audio loop dropped into the timeline — keeping everything perfectly locked in sync within sessions. This helps creators build ideas faster and stay in the flow.
- Tempo Extraction: LUNA can now extract a dynamic tempo map from tracks or stems — including tempo changes and natural timing variations. This makes it easy to edit and arrange while preserving the original feel.
Voice Control in LUNA (currently supported only on Apple Silicon Macs) gives solo producers command of their session from anywhere in the room. While features like Tempo Listen and Tempo Detection allow musicians to record without setting up a metronome.
LUNA v1.9 for macOS and Windows is a free update for all LUNA users, and works seamlessly with any ASIO or Core Audio interface (no UA hardware required). LUNA extensions are available via individual add-on purchase, or as a part of the LUNA Pro bundle.
More information: Universal Audio
