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 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 a bundle of enhanced LUNA features, LUNA Extensions, and UAD plug-ins designed to provide an enhanced LUNA experience, and replaces LUNA Pro. LUNA Pro users can upgrade to LUNA Studio for $79.99.
The chart below shows what you get with LUNA Free, LUNA Studio, and UAD Spark Pro.
| Plug-Ins, Extensions & Functionalities Included With... | LUNA Free |
LUNA Pro |
LUNA Studio |
|---|---|---|---|
| LUNA | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| Hardware Inserts | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| ARA Plug-in Compatibility | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| ChordAXE Lite† | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Celemony Melodyne 5 Essential† | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| NoiseWorks VoiceAssist Basic† | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Steinberg WaveLab Go† | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Steinberg SpectraLayers Go† | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Celemony Tonalic Essential† | X |
X |
✔ |
| Synthesizer V Studio 2 Core† | X |
X |
✔ |
| Audio-to-MIDI | X |
X |
✔ |
| Stem Separation | ✔ |
X |
✔ |
| Lyric Transcription, powered by Moises | X |
X |
✔ |
| Chord Extraction, powered by Moises | X |
X |
✔ |
| ARP Arpeggiator* | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| Oxide Tape Recorder | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| Shape Instrument* | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| 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 |
✔ |
✔ |
| Century Tube Channel Strip | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| Galaxy Tape Echo | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| PolyMAX Synth | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| Pultec Passive EQ Collection | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Pure Plate Reverb | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| Teletronix LA-2A Leveler Collection | X |
✔ |
X |
| Teletronix LA-2A Tube Compressor | ✔ |
X |
✔ |
| 1176 FET Compressor | ✔ |
X |
✔ |
| Brigade Chorus Pedal | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Fairchild Limiter Collection | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Opal Morphing Synth | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Ravel Grand Piano | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Studio D Chorus | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| UA 610 Tube Preamp & EQ Collection | ✔ |
✔ |
X |
| UAD Ruby '63 Top Boost Amp | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| UAD Showtime '64 Tube Amp | ✔ |
X |
✔ |
| UAD Woodrow '55 Instrument Amp | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Vibe Analog Machines | ✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
| Waterfall B3 Organ | X |
✔ |
✔ |
| Waterfall Rotary Speaker | 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.
Where can I purchase LUNA Studio?
You can purchase it directly from the UAD Store by visiting the LUNA Studio product page. You can also purchase LUNA Studio from authorized retailers. Additionally, UAD Spark Studio subscriptions include LUNA Studio.
For more information on this topic, read this article.
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.