I cannot think of another current DAW I would like to use less than LUNA. Maybe that Harrison one. Them getting rid of the hardware requirement does not make it any more attractive. The whole being a beta tester for a product where they blame you for the problems is not my idea of fun.

 

What exactly can it do better than my highly customized REAPER? Ah, yep, I see. Nope, not interested.

 

Nothing. Reaper, still a fastest way to do things in digital audio. But it's still weird and gypsy.

 

it's part of the charm

 

Robust MIDI implementation not yet offered.

 

They want you to have iLok Manager installed for the same reason you need to install UA Connect to use a "free plugin". So you can easily make poor decision impulse purchases from them later. That's probably why their installer for their HW interfaces installs EVERY plugin they sell into your iLok account just awaiting a few mouse clicks to activate. (or close to it).

 

Look as capable as Audacity, aside from the fact that Audacity isn't iLok protected and can host VST3.

 

Impressive start, Universal Audio, a year later still looks like a project stillborn

 

It's still very buggy atm but it sounds amazing!

 

I like it. I use Luna alongside Cubase and Ableton, and I also own the complete UAD bundle, so I'm definitely a UAD fan. However, I agree that Luna still has a long way to go. That said, I have fun using it. The console and tape integration is neat and reminds me of ProTools Heat, which I also really liked.

 

So, the article leads with "Analogue-inspired". Such a unique concept in digital audio that well over 50% of all audio software ever developed makes the claim. A claim that is based on the ever-present gullibility of the uneducated consumer that "analog" is somehow inherently better than "digital". This is 2024 folks, not 1980.

The UAD page makes it pretty obvious who this software is aimed at:

"Sound like your favorite records".

"Get your songs sounding like the records you love".

"sound like the records you love".

"Mix like a pro".

It gets better..

"No Engineering Degree Required". Because all of the other DAWs out there do and if you are a beginner life will be so much easier with Luna..

"Anyone can get great sound in LUNA, no audio engineering chops necessary". Wow, we're truly in Lala Land with this one.

"It Just Sounds Better". Because we say so. No honestly it does. No word of a lie. Hand on heart truth. It just does. If you can't tell the difference it's obviously your ears that aren't trained enough or you're passing your audio through standard speaker cables. Here, buy these special UAD audiophile cables at £3k a metre, you'll probably hear the difference then.

"Users and critics agree that LUNA just sounds better". Ooh, point me to their analysis. What? You don't have any links at the moment due to an administrative error. Ok, I look forward to viewing your endorsements in the future.

"Want proof?". Err, yes please.

"Experience a mix as if you were seated at a vintage console". At which point the whole user base disintegrates into a useless puddle on the control room floor due to their lack of ability to control the monster. And because we all miss the maintenance - I hope they've modelled broken preamps, scratchy intermittent pots and dodgy faders in their emulation for that truly "analog" feel.

"The DAW used by countless GRAMMY-winning musicians and mix engineers." A bold claim indeed. Who are these top-flight engineers? Nobody stepping forward? Hmm, I thought as much..

"LUNA has a sound". I would suggest that any DAW that imparts a "sound" to your digital audio is in fact damaging it. "Sound" should be a choice that the user is in control of.

"The sound of a million-dollar analog recording studio" Yeah sure. The sound of a $1m acoustically designed facility with precision audio paths and high-end monitoring. I'll have three of those thanks.

This is my favourite :
"Included artist sessions from Luis Cato, Atticus Ross, Cass McCombs, Cold War Kids, and more.*"

"*Use of artist names does not constitute official endorsement of UAD software" Now I wonder why that would be?

 

Tested it. Works fine for me. No issues. Nice integration with the UAD plugins. Maybe I'll give a spin to mix and master some tracks. Really producing I think it is still too limited for me. Especially when it comes to midi. It is very similar to Cubase in my opinion. Time will tell.

 

Exactly what happened to me with every version of BitWig
That's why i never tested it ... crashing with the most sold audio interface

 

After a Windows 10 meltdown (Microsoft slipped in some un-removable code in latest security update patching. A whole other discussion), I did a fresh install & decided to install only Reaper & LUNA. Wanted to see what improvements have been made with iLok based software such as LUNA.

Some random thoughts

• Basic workflow is mostly okay with.
• Really miss folder tracks that are mirrored in the mixer view (collapse/expand - bus or non-bus)
• Settings are still very basic with expected options missing or lacking.
• 3rd party VST3 retail plugins worked as expected.
• Side bar popping in & out while resizing the edit or mixer view a bit disorienting.
• A dedicated plugin browser that can be statically docked or opened in a floating window would be great.
• UA Connect seems to cause of startup & random crashes.
• Why are we forced to use UA Connect to use LUNA or plugins once they are activated in iLok??
• After removing LUNA & all demo plugins, free LA-2A showed as "Not Licensed"
• 4 days later. UA Connect showed as installed with no re-install option. Only uninstall. iLok showed "Active".
• Showed up in DAW next day working. UA Connect causing new issues for licensed software (Softube worked flawlessly).
• Gave up after running into road blocks every time I wanted to do basic "Pro" DAW maneuvers for mixing audio.
• MIDI ??

imho...Universal Audio would do well to refocus the time & energy spent on marketing towards improving the user experience via software features & improvements. I would gladly use LUNA even with iLok once the basics of a modern DAW are there (let alone the advacned features).

Another year of real development?

 

I've tried it, it's nothing to write home about, it's very limited in functionality at the moment, it has potential, but needs a lot of refining yet,Still don't understand why it need an ILOK license if it's supposed to be free......I'll just stick with PT for that much

 

I've tried in on Windows about year ago and uninstalled it. Still using Reaper and S1 as fully functional DAWs.
I got the LUNA Pro bundle with all extensinons on a sale for future, though. Maybe in a year or so LUNA will be much improved

 

Way more than that to be comparable with most other full DAW applications. But maybe they are just shooting for an overglorified multi-track recorder.

 

a UA daw....dont need it, dont want it, cant use it..

 

As a basic recorder it works fine. Mixing & editing are where it is weak. If as stated, UA were to devote more into development than marketing, a very useful product could be on offer.

 

No iLok would be nice but, I much prefer no UA Connect over having to use iLok.