Universal Audio has released LUNA 3.0, marking the largest update to its DAW since the platform first launched in 2020. The update introduces a wide range of new production tools, including stem separation, audio-to-MIDI conversion, lyric transcription, chord extraction, and a new voice-memo-style capture tool called LUNA Play — with several of these features landing in the free version of the software as well.
The headline addition to LUNA Free is LUNA Play, built to make capturing musical ideas as fast as possible. It automatically detects connected instruments, sets appropriate levels, and suggests matching UAD plugin presets, while also letting users isolate individual tracks to jam along with existing songs without manually setting up a session.
Beyond LUNA Play, the free tier also picks up Folder Tracks, an updated Piano Roll with scale-aware editing, Adaptive Grid, Clip Gain Automation, four-track stem separation, Record FX, Strip Silence, Click Track Automation, mono inputs for stereo tracks, and Chord, Key, and Time Signature Rulers — all at no cost.
For deeper functionality, LUNA Studio is available as a one-time €199 purchase. It builds on the free tier with LUNA Extensions featuring tape and console emulations modeled after API, Studer, and Ampex gear, six-track stem separation, audio-to-MIDI conversion, automatic lyric transcription, and chord extraction. LUNA Studio also bundles in UAD instruments and plugins, along with Celemony Tonalic Elements, Dreamtonics Synthesizer V2 Core, and Topline Vocal Tune.
In total, LUNA Studio includes 33 UAD plugins and virtual instruments spanning nine instruments and effects, 13 channel strips and EQs, five reverbs and modulation effects, three guitar amplifiers, and three audio cleanup plugins.
Notable inclusions are the API Vision Console Channel Strip, Teletronix LA-2A and 1176 FET compressors, the Fairchild Limiter Collection, Studer A800 and Ampex ATR-102 tape emulations, and guitar amp models like the Showtime ’64 and Ruby ’63 Top Boost. Hardware Inserts also let users integrate their own analog gear directly into LUNA’s console, with the software handling routing and delay compensation automatically.
For users who want the full software library on an ongoing basis, Universal Audio is also launching UAD Spark Studio, a new subscription that bundles LUNA Studio with more than 70 native UAD plugins and virtual instruments, including titles from Neve, Ampex, and Lexicon, as well as instruments like Minimoog, PolyMAX, and Electra88. UAD Spark Studio is priced at $19.99 a month or $149.99 annually.
LUNA Free remains free, LUNA Studio is available now as a $199 one-time purchase here via Sweetwater, and UAD Spark Studio is available via subscription.
