Press Release
SCOTTS VALLEY, CA • September 15, 2026 • Universal Audio Inc. (UA), a worldwide leader in audio production tools, is proud to announce LUNA 3.0, a landmark update to its award-winning DAW for macOS and Windows. Designed to make recording and music production more intuitive, LUNA 3.0 introduces a new generation of creative tools — including LUNA Play, stem separation, and audio-to-MIDI, plus lyric transcription and chord extraction powered by Moises.
“Great songs start with an idea,” says Bill Putnam Jr., CEO of Universal Audio. “And we’ve all been
there… when you hear something in your head, hit record, and suddenly the inspiration’s gone or the
tech gets in the way. This new era for LUNA makes it easier than ever to capture those ideas and
follow them wherever they take you.”
Released in 2020, LUNA was the first DAW to offer authentic analog channel strips, summing, and tape extensions from Neve, API, Studer, and Ampex. Now in its seventh year, LUNA continues to evolve as a musician-focused DAW, combining professional recording tools with smart features designed to remove the barriers between inspiration and a finished record.
What’s New in LUNA Free
• LUNA Play. Tap into a faster, simpler way to write and record songs — like a voice memo app designed just for making music, with automatic level setting and UAD plug-in presets built in.
• Folder Tracks. Easily organize tracks and route audio to folders.
• Piano Roll. Get full control over MIDI with new tools and scale-aware editing.
• Adaptive Grid. Grid value adapts to zoom level for streamlined editing.
• Clip Gain Automation. Perform detailed gain adjustments on audio clips before plug-ins.
• 4-Track Stem Separation. Separate stereo mixes into four individual stems for editing, remixing, and creative sampling.
• Record FX. Gives native users the recording workflow previously exclusive to Apollo.
• Strip Silence. Automatically detect audible regions and remove silent sections.
• Click Track Automation. Gain complete control over the metronome for advanced recording workflows.
• Mono Inputs for Stereo Tracks. Record mono sources on stereo channels without additional routing.
• Chord, Key, and Time Signature Rulers. Quickly understand and navigate the musical structure of a session.
LUNA Studio
$199 USD Included with UAD Spark Studio
Key Features
• LUNA Extensions. Mix with built-in tape and console emulations from API, Studer, and Ampex.
• Smart Tools. Create with tools including stem separation, lyric transcription, chord extraction, and audio-to-MIDI.
• UAD Instruments. Produce with expertly voiced instruments rather than relying solely on stock virtual instruments.
• UAD Plug-Ins. Access the same acclaimed plug-ins used by artists and engineers for decades.
• 6-Track Stem Separation. Separate stereo mixes into six individual stems for editing, remixing, and creative sampling.
• Audio-to-MIDI. Transform audio performances into MIDI to layer virtual instruments and build new parts.
• Lyric Transcription. Automatically transcribe vocals into a time-aligned lyric browser.
• Chord Extraction. Automatically detect chords from audio and map them to LUNA’s Chord Track.
• Celemony Tonalic Elements. Virtual session players that play along.
• Dreamtonics Synthesizer V 2 Core. Create realistic vocal melodies and harmonies.
• Topline Vocal Tune. Your vocals, perfectly in tune from the moment you press record.
Pricing and Availability
LUNA 3.0 is available starting September 15, 2026. LUNA Studio is $199 USD, and is also included in a UAD Spark Studio subscription, which bundles LUNA Studio with UA’s entire native plug-in library for $19.99/month or $149.99/year.
Learn more about LUNA:
Learn more about LUNA Free:
Learn more about LUNA Studio:
Learn more about UAD Spark Studio:
About Universal Audio Inc.
Universal Audio (UA) is a pioneer in audio and music production tools, with a rich 60-year history of craftsmanship and innovation. UA today enables millions of audio and music creators worldwide, with industry-standard Apollo and Volt recording interfaces, UAD plug-ins, UAFX pedals, advanced audio machine learning, LUNA recording suite, and UA Custom Shop hardware. UA is headquartered in Scotts Valley, California, with passionate employees worldwide — united by our goal of “Inspiring Sound for Generations.”
©2026 Universal Audio, Inc. All rights reserved. Product features, specifications, pricing, and availability are subject to change without notice. The “Universal Audio” name, UA “diamond” logo, “Apollo,” “Apollo Twin,” “UAD,” “Powered Plug-Ins,” and “LUNA Recording System” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Universal Audio Inc.
About The Author
