Since November 9, 2023, LUNA has been available for free to all macOS users and has been available for free to all Windows users since May 21, 2024. Below is a list of the most frequently asked questions on this topic, as well as the LUNA Studio bundle.
How do I get LUNA Studio?
LUNA Studio is included in all UAD Spark Studio subscriptions.
Upgrade pricing is available for existing LUNA Pro customers. The upgrade from LUNA Pro to LUNA Studio is currently set to $79. To upgrade from LUNA Pro to LUNA Studio, go to the LUNA Studio product page and select Upgrade, then add it to your cart. Users who previously purchased LUNA Pro on or after June 1, 2026 can purchase the Upgrade for $2.99.
If you are a new user, the LUNA Studio full license can be purchased for $199.
How do I get and install LUNA Free?
Navigate to this page and sign up to get the UAD Explore FREE bundle, which includes a free license for LUNA. LUNA is installed and authorized via UA Connect. For LUNA's system requirements, read this article.
Is the free LUNA version in UAD Explore FREE the full version of LUNA? What is included with it?
Yes! The free license for LUNA offers all of the same basic DAW functionality as LUNA Studio, except for the additional features listed in the table below.
The following LUNA extensions and features are also included:
- ARP Arpeggiator
- Oxide Tape Extension
- Shape Toolkit Instruments
- Unlimited tracks
- ARA Support
- Instrument detection
- Smart Tempo tools
- Multi-output plug-in support
For more information on how to use LUNA, read the manual and additional documentation here. For more information about LUNA Studio, read this article.
What other requirements are there?
To download and install LUNA, the following requirements are necessary:
- A free Universal Audio account, which you can create in UA Connect.
- A free iLok account, which can be created when you log into UA Connect, if you don't already have one. You can also manually create one here.
- UA Connect and iLok License Manager must be installed on your computer. When you install UA Connect, it will also install iLok License Manager automatically.
How do I activate my LUNA license?
To authorize your LUNA license, install and launch UA Connect, then log in to your UA account. Visit the LUNA tab of UA Connect to redeem, authorize, and install LUNA.
LUNA licenses can also be activated in iLok License Manager. LUNA supports license activation on a host computer or iLok USB, with up to three (3) simultaneous locations.
I've authorized my LUNA license to three locations already. What if I buy a new computer and need to re-authorize LUNA on that fourth location?
If you've used all three licenses already, you can deauthorize a previously authorized computer in iLok License Manager to make a license available again. You are then free to activate your LUNA license on another machine.
If you don't have access to the computer your LUNA license was previously authorized on, request a machine reset by following the steps in this iLok article.
What is LUNA Studio?
LUNA Studio is the full version of Universal Audio's DAW for macOS and Windows, with premium UAD plug-ins, instruments, and Extensions built in. It is the new name for LUNA Pro and includes everything that came with it. LUNA Studio is available on its own or as part of the UAD Spark Studio subscription.
I already own LUNA Pro. What does the LUNA Studio release mean for me?
There's only one LUNA app, and as a LUNA Pro owner, you get the latest version. Your LUNA Pro plug-ins and extensions stay intact, and your free update to LUNA 3.0 adds tons of new features on top of it. You're not locked into an old version. You'll receive every future update with free features and bug fixes.
New free features:
- LUNA Play
- 4-Track Stem Separation
- Folder Tracks
- Piano Roll
- Adaptive Grid
- Mono Inputs for Stereo Tracks
- Strip Silence
- Clip Gain Automation
- Record FX
- Click Track Automation and Export
- Chord, Key, and Time Signature Rulers
LUNA Studio is a paid upgrade that unlocks an additional feature set within LUNA, adding new smart features, UAD Topline Vocal Tune, and additional ARA plug-ins. As a LUNA Pro customer, you're eligible for a special upgrade price on LUNA Studio.
LUNA Studio exclusive features:
- Audio-to-MIDI
- 6-Track Stem Separation
- Lyric Transcription, Powered by Moises
- Chord Extraction, Powered by Moises
- Plug-Ins
- UAD Topline Vocal Tune
- Celemony Tonalic essential
- Dreamtronics Synthesizer V Studio 2 Core
What is the difference between LUNA Free and LUNA Studio?
LUNA Free and LUNA Studio are the same DAW, and LUNA Studio adds more smart tools and the professional mixing layer on top.
LUNA Free gives you unlimited tracks, no watermark, no time limit, the piano roll, LUNA Play, Oxide Tape, eight UAD plug-ins, and 4-track stem separation.
LUNA Studio adds LUNA Extensions with tape and console emulations from API, Studer, and Ampex, 30 UAD plug-ins and instruments, six ARA plug-ins, hardware inserts, and advanced smart features including Audio to MIDI, 6-Track Stem Separation, Lyric Transcription, and Chord Extraction.
The chart below shows what you get with LUNA Free vs. LUNA Studio.
| Plug-Ins, Extensions & Functionalities Included With... | LUNA Free |
LUNA Pro |
LUNA Studio |
|---|---|---|---|
| LUNA - Unlimited Tracks | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| ARA Plug-in Compatibility | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| Stem Separation | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| ARP Arpeggiator* | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| Oxide Tape Recorder | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| Shape Instrument* | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| Century Tube Channel Strip | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| PolyMAX Synth | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| Pure Plate Reverb | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| Teletronix LA-2A Tube Compressor | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| 1176 FET Compressor | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| UA 610 Tube Preamp & EQ Collection | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| UAD Showtime '64 Tube Amp | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| Vibe Analog Machines | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| Hardware Inserts | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| ChordAXE Lite† | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Celemony Melodyne 5 Essential† | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| NoiseWorks VoiceAssist Basic† | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Steinberg WaveLab Go† | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Steinberg SpectraLayers Go† | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Studer A800 Tape Recorder | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| API Preamp | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| LUNA API Vision Console Emulation* | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| API Vision Channel Strip Collection | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| API 2500 Bus Compressor | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| API Summing* | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Galaxy Tape Echo | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Pultec Passive EQ Collection | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Brigade Chorus Pedal | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Fairchild Limiter Collection | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Opal Morphing Synth | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Ravel Grand Piano | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Studio D Chorus | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| UAD Ruby '63 Top Boost Amp | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| UAD Woodrow '55 Instrument Amp | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Waterfall B3 Organ | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Waterfall Rotary Speaker | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Celemony Tonalic essential† | X |
X |
✔ |
| Synthesizer V Studio 2 Core† | X |
X |
✔ |
| Audio-to-MIDI | X |
X |
✔ |
| Lyric Transcription, powered by Moises | X |
X |
✔ |
| Chord Extraction, powered by Moises | X |
X |
✔ |
| Topline Vocal Tune | X | X | ✔ |
Note: Products and features marked with an asterisk (*) can only be used in LUNA. Products marked with a dagger (†) are third-party products included with LUNA Studio.
I already own some of the products in LUNA Studio; can I get a discount?
There are no discounts available at this time if you already own products included in the bundle.