Universal Audio has taken its LUNA DAW up a level with a 3.0 release the company calls its biggest software launch to date. On the menu: stem separation, audio-to-MIDI, a new recording mode called LUNA Play, and a repackaged commercial line-up built around a subscription. It is a reminder that LUNA, long tied to Apollo interface owners, now plays in the same league as the major DAWs.
A history that explains the positioning
LUNA launched in 2020 as a low-latency recording environment for UA hardware, went free to all Mac users in 2023, then arrived on Windows in 2024. Version 3.0 confirms the shift: this is no longer an interface companion but a full cross-platform DAW, free at the base level and paid once you want the in-house extensions.
The tools that define 3.0
The headline is stem separation. LUNA 3.0 can split a stereo mix into 2, 4 or 6 separate tracks to isolate elements — vocals, drums, bass, the rest — for editing, remixing or resampling. Then there is audio-to-MIDI, which turns an audio part into editable MIDI notes, and a pair of Moises-powered features: lyric transcription and chord extraction. On paper, these are the assisted-analysis building blocks LUNA was missing against the competition.
LUNA Play: catch an idea without building a session
LUNA Play is the most interesting bet in this update. Designed like a voice-memo app for music, it detects the connected instrument, sets levels and automatically suggests presets built on UAD plug-ins. The goal is to get from inspiration to a recording without touching the routing. It is a direct answer to how ideas get captured today — often on a phone — and an on-ramp into the UA ecosystem for beginners.
A repackaged offer: LUNA Studio and Spark Studio
On the commercial side, UA tidies up its range. LUNA Studio is the full version: it replaces LUNA Pro and bundles the LUNA Extensions — API console and summing emulation, Studer and Ampex tape — along with around thirty UAD plug-ins and instruments, six ARA modules and hardware insert management. It sells for about $199, or comes included in the new UAD Spark Studio subscription, which pairs LUNA Studio with UA’s entire native plug-in library for $19.99 a month or $149.99 a year.
What each tier covers
| Version | Indicative price | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| LUNA (base) | Free | Recording, stems, audio-to-MIDI, LUNA Play |
| LUNA Studio | ~$199 | API/Studer/Ampex extensions, 30 UAD plug-ins, 6 ARA, hardware inserts |
| UAD Spark Studio | ~$19.99/mo | LUNA Studio + the whole native UAD library |
My take
The real shift is that LUNA stops being a reason to buy an Apollo and becomes a DAW you choose on its own merits. Stem separation and audio-to-MIDI are not differentiators in 2026, but wired into an engine that sounds this good, they make LUNA credible for production and remixing alike. LUNA Play is the clever play here: it targets exactly the moment an idea slips away, before a session is even open. The open question is how far UA wants to push a subscription model on software long sold as free. The answer will say a lot about what comes next.
Related reading: Boris FX Samplitude 2026, our guide to mastering chain order and the first Rupert Neve Designs plugins. Product page: Universal Audio LUNA.
Frequently asked questions
Does LUNA 3.0 work without a Universal Audio interface?
Yes. Since 2023 on Mac and 2024 on Windows, LUNA runs with any audio interface. UA hardware is still needed for DSP-based UAD processing while tracking, but the DAW and its native plug-ins run on the computer.
How many stems can LUNA 3.0 separate?
Separation offers 2, 4 or 6 tracks depending on how much isolation you need. You can pull out a lone vocal or break the rhythm section down further, for editing, remixing or sampling.
What is the difference between the free version and LUNA Studio?
The base version covers recording, stems, audio-to-MIDI and LUNA Play. LUNA Studio adds the console and tape emulations, around thirty UAD plug-ins and instruments, six ARA modules and hardware insert management.
What does LUNA Play actually do?
It is a fast capture mode that recognises the connected instrument, sets levels and suggests UAD presets. It is there to record an idea immediately, without manually configuring a session.
