This article includes the following topics:

• An overview of the Control Bar
• Understanding Mixer view
• Understanding Timeline view
• Using the transport controls
• Using global controls
• Using tempo, click, and counter controls
• Using the Mixer Navigation panel
• Using Mixer modifiers
• Using Focus Browsers
• Using the Focus Channel
• Using other views
• Using workflows

LUNA is split into Mixer and Timeline views. At the top of the screen is the Control Bar, which you use in both views.

An overview of the Control Bar

At the top of the LUNA screen is the Control Bar. 

The Control Bar includes several sections that you can use to navigate and control your LUNA session.

Setting the LUNA view options

LUNA provides two main windows: Mixer and Timeline. 

Choose the view by clicking in the selector at the far left of the control bar.

Click on the Timeline view icon to switch to Timeline view. Click on the Mixer view icon to switch to Mixer view. 

To switch between LUNA views, use the key shortcut Command+= (macOS) or Ctrl+= (Windows) or choose View > Toggle Timeline/Mixer from the LUNA menus.

To open another LUNA window so you can view the Mixer and Timeline at the same time, use the key shortcut Command+Shift+= (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+= (Windows), or choose Window > New Alternate Window from the LUNA menus.

Click the Other views icon to show and hide other window views.

Understanding Mixer view

Mixer view allows you to view the track channel strips for a session, to set up inputs for tracks to record, and to mix a session. Each track in the Mixer consists of two sections: the Mixer rows and the Fader section.

Mixer rows

In the Mixer rows, you assign audio and MIDI inputs, set trim, track delay, and polarity, configure plug-ins, and assign sends, cues, buses, bus returns, and outputs. You also configure plug-ins, Tape processing, API Vision Console extensions, and Summing in the Mixer. 

Fader section

In the Fader section, you adjust audio, instrument, and bus track levels and panning, enable tracks for recording or input monitoring, solo and mute tracks, enable and record automation, invert track polarity if necessary, and monitor the levels of tracks. When a track input is enabled, you can adjust the level with the gain knob, and see the level, or the state of a Unison control, with the visual ring around the gain knob.

Input and tape controls

Plug-ins, sends, cues, and output

Understanding Timeline view

Timeline view shows you a visual layout of your audio and MIDI tracks. On the Timeline, you can record, edit, and arrange audio and MIDI clips. In the Timeline you can also view the Focus channel, which allows you to access the functions of the Mixer window on a selected track.

The playhead

In the Timeline, the tall vertical cursor that indicates where LUNA is currently playing from and recording to is called the playhead. You use the playhead to set where to play and record, make edits, add markers, tempo changes, and time signature changes, and make selections.

 

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Using the transport controls

Use the transport controls to play, record, and stop audio, and toggle loop record and playback. 

There are two Transport modes. In the default mode, the transport has a stop button, and pressing Stop or the Spacebar returns to the last playhead start location. When the Play From Stop Location option is enabled, the transport’s stop button becomes a pause button, and pressing Pause or the Spacebar stops the playhead at the current playback position. When you press play or the Spacebar again, playback continues from the current position.

• To play audio, click Play or press the Spacebar.

• To stop playback, click Stop or press the Spacebar.

• To toggle Play From Stop Location, select Transport > Play From Stop Location.

• To stop in the alternate mode from the play mode you are currently using (for example, pausing when Play From Stop Location is not enabled), press Shift+Spacebar.

• To Record audio, click Record, or press Command+Spacebar (macOS) or Ctrl+Spacebar (Windows). You can also click Record while playback is occurring, to begin recording on any record-enabled tracks. If no tracks are record-enabled, recording begins on any selected tracks.
  
  macOS note: By default, the key command to start recording on macOS, Command+Spacebar, is mapped to the macOS Spotlight search feature. You must disable or remap this feature to use this key command. To disable or remap this command, in System Preferences > Spotlight > Keyboard Shortcuts uncheck the key commands, or map them to different key commands. Refer to your macOS documentation for more information.

• When LUNA is in Loop Playback mode, the current selection loops continually (depending on how you make the selection and the Link Edit/Play Selections setting). See Loop Playback and Recording for more information. When LUNA is in Loop Record mode, LUNA records multiple “takes” of audio or MIDI data on record-enabled tracks, until you stop playback or toggle out of Record.

• To return to the start of the session, click Return to Zero or press Return. 

• To move to the end of the session, click Go to end.

 

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Using global controls

LUNA provides global controls for record and input enable, clearing clip overload (OL) indicators, enabling and disabling mutes and solos, and enabling and disabling ARM mode. Global controls allow you to switch in and out of modes and clear clips globally.

Global controls in both views

LUNA global controls are located at the top of the control bar in both mixer and timeline views.

Global controls in the mixer fader bank

A subset of global controls for enabling and disabling ARM mode, enabling and disabling solo, and clearing clip overload (OL) indicators appear to the left of the track faders in the mixer.

Global controls explained

The following global controls are available. The global controls in the mixer fader bank have the same functions as the global controls at the top of the mixer and timeline view.

• Record enable/disable — Lit when any tracks are record enabled. Click this to toggle record enable (one or more tracks must be record enabled first for this to function). Note that if no tracks are record-enabled, recording begins on any selected tracks when you press Record.

• Input enable/disable — Lit when any tracks are input enabled. Click this to toggle input enable (one or more tracks must be input enabled first for this to function).

• Clip overload (OL) indicator — Indicates clipping that is occurring somewhere in the session. This indicator lights when clipping is occurring visually (on a track in the session), and also lights when clipping occurs out of immediate visibility (for example, on an input, output, cue, or send). Click the indicator to clear clips.
  Note: The Clip Hold preference, if set in LUNA preferences, automatically clears clips after a set duration.

• Solo enable/disable — Lit when one or more tracks are soloed. Click this to toggle soloed tracks (one or more tracks must be soloed first for this to function).

• Mute enable/disable — Lit when one or more tracks are muted. Click this to toggle muted tracks (one or more tracks must be muted first for this to function).

• ARM enable/disable — Lit when ARM mode is enabled. Click to toggle ARM mode globally.

 

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Using tempo, click, and counter controls

The Tempo, click and counter controls allow you to set and change the session tempo, listen to a click and set the click volume, set a count in before recording starts, see the current playhead location, and navigate to other locations quickly.

Setting a tempo

When you change the session tempo, elements in the LUNA session that are tempo-based adjust to the new tempo. Instrument tracks are adjusted, and audio clips that are set to Track Follows Tempo mode are stretched or compressed to fit the new tempo. Audio clips that are time-based are not stretched or compressed, but LUNA keeps the start of each clip at the same relative point in the Timeline.

To set the overall tempo of the session:

• Hover over the Tempo control. The cursor changes to a double arrow. Click and drag up or down to adjust the tempo by 1 BPM increments. To adjust by .1 BPM increments, hold Shift while you click and drag. Release the cursor to set the Tempo. You can click and drag to change tempo while the session is playing to hear your changes in real time.
  
  

  

   

• To type the new tempo, click to select the Tempo in the control bar, type a new tempo, and press Return.

To set the tempo by tapping, add tempo changes, make tempo changes over time, and automate tempo changes, see Setting the tempo and making tempo changes.

Listening to a click in playback and record

To listen to a click during playback or record:

1. Click on the metronome icon to enable the click, or press the K key, or 7 on the Numeric Keypad. 
2. Set the click level by dragging the volume up and down, or click and type a dB value for the volume, then press Return. 

To choose to hear the click during playback or record:

1. Click at the top of the click ruler to open Click options.

   

    

2. Under Click During, select whether to enable the click during Play, Record, or both.
   
   

   

 

 

To send the click to a cue mix:

1. Click at the top of the click ruler to open Click options.

   

2. Under Send To, click the Outputs button to see the Cue Outputs popover. Configure cue sends as necessary.

3. Under Send To, click the Cues button to configure the click send levels.

4. Enable or disable the click globally with the Power button in the popover. Assign the click to the cues using the On buttons and the level faders.

   
   

    

5. Click the Cues and Outputs buttons again or press Esc to close the Click Outputs and Click popovers.

To set a click sound:

1. Click at the top of the click ruler to open Click options.
   
2. Under Sound, click the sound button to see the available click sounds.
   
3. Select a click sound.

Tip: Press Play and enable the click to audition sounds in the list.

Using Count In

You can use Count In to play 1, 2, or 4 bars of clicks before recording starts. There is no session playback during Count In. Count In bars only play when the Record button is enabled in the transport.

To enable or disable Count In:

1. Click the Count In icon (a 1, 2, or 4 next to the metronome), or press Shift+K or 8 on the Numeric Keypad to toggle Count In on or off

2. To set the number of bars of Count In, click at the top of the click ruler to open Click options. Under Count In Bars, click the number of bars of Count In.

 

Setting the counter units

You can set the counter to show bars and beats, minutes and seconds, or samples. Note that the session time display also follows the units you set.

1. Click the word Counter in the Control Bar. A popover menu appears.

2. Select bars and beats, minutes and seconds, or samples.

 

Navigating with the counter

You can navigate by entering a time value in the counter. For example, you can enter 12 to go to 12|1|00 in Bars and Beats mode, or you can enter 10 in Minutes and Seconds mode to go to :10 in the session.

 

Using the Mixer Navigation panel

In Mixer view, select View > Section > Mixer Navigation to show the Mixer Navigation panel. Mixer Navigation enables you to navigate between sections of the mixer, expand or close mixer rows, switch all rows between small and large views, and show or hide all slots. 

By default, all mixer rows are open, and only slots that are in use plus one empty slot row are displayed.

To use the Mixer Navigation panel:

• Click a section in the Mixer Navigation area to scroll that section to the top of the visible area. Mixer rows that are visible are illuminated in the Mixer Navigation section.
• To hide a row, deselect the button next to the row name. 

• To show only one row, Command+Click (macOS) or Ctrl+Click (Windows) the row name.

• To expand all mixer rows, click Open. To Close all mixer rows, click Close.
• To show large view icons and elements in all mixer rows, click Large. To show small view icons and elements, click Small. 
• To show all possible mixer slots for any open rows, click Fixed Slots. Click Fixed slots again to only show the slots that are in use.

Using the focus channel navigation panel

Just like the mixer, the focus channel can be configured to show only certain items. Focus channel navigation enables you to navigate between sections of the focus channel, expand or close focus channel rows, switch all rows between small and large views, and show or hide all slots. 

By default, all focus channel rows are open, and only slots that are in use plus one empty slot row are displayed.

To use the focus channel navigation panel:

• Right-click or Ctrl-click at the top of the focus channel and select Navigation...
  The focus channel Navigation panel opens as a popover.
• Click a section in the focus channel navigation area to scroll that section to the top of the visible area. Focus Channel rows that are visible are illuminated in the focus channel navigation section.
• To hide a row, deselect the button next to the row name. 

• To show only one row, Command+Click (macOS) or Ctrl+Click (Windows) the row name.

• To expand all focus channel rows, click Open. To Close all mixer rows, click Close.
• To show large view icons and elements in all focus channel rows, click Large. To show small view icons and elements, click Small. 
• To show all possible focus channel slots for any open rows, click Fixed Slots. Click Fixed slots again to only show the slots that are in use.

Using Mixer modifiers

Mixer modifiers add several controls to the LUNA mixer that make common workflow tasks much faster and easier to accomplish. With mixer modifiers, you can easily copy and paste inserts or extensions, remove inserts or extensions, and power extensions or inserts on and off. When you click a mixer modifier button, the control latches. 

Modifiers Timeout

When an option is latched, it is automatically unlatched (times out) after the Modifiers Timeout period to prevent inadvertent modifications.

The Modifiers Timeout is a preference set in the Settings > Options panel. The default Modifiers Timeout period is six seconds/flashes.

To power off items in the Mixer:

1. In the Mixer view, click the Power button on the Modifiers panel. Power modifier icons appear on all items in the Mixer that can be powered off, including sends, cues, Tape and Neve Summing Extensions, UAD Instruments, and plug-ins. 

2. Click individual power modifiers, or swipe horizontally across multiple modifiers, to toggle power on or off for items in the Mixer.

To remove items in the Mixer:

1. In the Mixer view, click the Remove button on the Modifiers panel. Remove modifier icons appear on all items that can be removed in the Mixer, including inputs, sends, UAD Instruments, Tape and Neve Summing LUNA Extensions, and plug-ins. 

2. Click individual remove modifiers, or swipe horizontally across multiple modifiers, to remove items from the Mixer.

To copy and paste items in the Mixer:

1. In the Mixer view, click the Copy button on the Modifiers panel, or press Command+C (macOS) or Ctrl+C (Windows). Copy modifier icons appear on all items that can be copied and pasted in the Mixer, including inputs, outputs, sends, cues, UAD Instruments, Tape and Neve Summing LUNA Extensions, and plug-ins.

2. Click the individual copy modifier for the item you want to copy. After a modifier is copied, the copy modifier turns to a red Paste modifier. Destinations to which the copied item can be pasted are highlighted. 

3. Click individual paste modifiers, or swipe across multiple modifiers to paste multiple items. 

To set a control to the default:

1. In the Mixer view, click the Set Default button on the Modifiers panel. The Set Default button blinks.

2. Click any control to return the control to its default value. 

For example, the headroom and trim controls on the Neve Summing Extension, or the fader for a track can be returned to their default settings by clicking with the Set Default modifier latched. Tape Saturation knobs and controls on the Studer A800 Extension tape deck can also be returned to default settings by clicking with the Set Default modifier enabled. 

Using Focus Browsers

From the Other Views popover, click Tracks, then Focus to show the Focus Browser.

You can also show the Focus Browser from the LUNA menus by choosing View > Section > Browser.

In its default view, the Focus Browser shows a list of tracks in a session. 

You can create, duplicate, and delete tracks, show and hide tracks, change a track’s color or name, select tracks, and search for tracks. Each track in the track browser includes a color square, the track name, a track type icon, and a show/hide circle. All changes are reflected in Timeline and Mixer view.

• To search for a track by name, click in the search bar and begin typing. To focus a track that you have located with Search, press Return. Use the arrow keys to cycle through tracks. When you are using the Focus Browser to choose other settings or options (for example, when inserting a plug-in or choosing a plug-in preset), you can cycle through and audition changes with the arrow keys.

• To show or hide a track, click the circle to the right of the track type icon. Note that hiding a track does not mute it. 

• To rename a track, double-click the track name, type the new name, and press Return. You can type an optional comment in the Comment field.

• To change the color of a track, click the color square to the left of the track name, choose a color, and click Done. You can leave the color palette open to quickly recolor additional tracks. 

• To select a track, click the track row. To select multiple contiguous tracks, Shift+Click the first and last track you want to select. To select multiple discontiguous tracks, Command+Click (macOS) or Ctrl+Click (Windows) the tracks. To select all tracks, Option+Click (macOS) or Alt+Click (Windows) a track.

• To reorder tracks, drag and drop the tracks. The track order is mirrored between Mixer and Timeline views.

• Right-click or Ctrl-click to open the context menu and delete or duplicate a selected track or tracks. Select Duplicate to duplicate the track or tracks with content (plug-ins, audio clips, MIDI clips, send and routing assignments, and track versions). Select Duplicate Without Content to duplicate the track or tracks without content (audio clips, MIDI clips, or track versions).
  Note: When you duplicate a bus with content, the send routing to the bus is copied. To duplicate a bus without the send routing, use Duplicate Without Content.

• When you make a selection on any track, you can switch that selection to any other track by clicking the track in the track browser. To extend the selection to multiple contiguous tracks, Shift+Click the first and last track you want to select. To extend the selection to multiple discontiguous tracks, Command+Click the tracks. To extend the selection to all tracks, Option+Click (macOS) or Alt-Click (Windows) a track.

Focus Browsers appear to the left of the screen so you can select and work with:

• Inputs

• Utility row items

• Tracks

• Audio and instrument track SHOW options

• Instruments

• Insert plug-ins

• API Vision Console LUNA Extension

• Plug-in presets

• Tape machine emulations

• Sends
• Cues

• Outputs

Some Focus Browsers allow more choices. For example, when you click a Send on a track, the browser allows you the option to apply the choices to the selected track or all tracks. 

Using the Focus Channel

From the Other Views popover, click Focus to show the Focus Channel.

You can also show the Focus Channel from the LUNA menus by choosing View > Section > Focus Channel.

The Focus Channel allows you to use a channel’s Mixer channel strip without leaving Timeline view. The selected track, or the first selected track in a group selection, is shown in the Focus channel, when the Focus Channel is enabled. 

Using other views

Click the Other views icon to show and hide the other views in the Timeline and Mixer. Besides the Focus Browser and Focus Channel, other views include:

• System info (Info)

• The monitor section (Mon)

Viewing System Info

Click Info to show System Info at the bottom of the LUNA window. You can show System Info from the LUNA menus by choosing View > Section > Info.

System Info shows the following:

• Audio Device (Apollo, Core Audio, or ASIO). Note that you can choose the audio device from this menu

• Current hardware sample rate

• Clock source

• Buffer size (32–2048 samples). Note that you can choose the buffer size from this menu

• Render (the amount of CPU used for all native processing)

• Render IO (the amount of CPU used by plug-ins on Instrument tracks in ARM mode)

• Memory (the amount of memory used by LUNA)

• DSP usage (in Apollo mode, the amount of system DSP used by UAD-2 plug-ins in LUNA and Console)

• Task (when the system is importing audio, opening a session, converting bit rates, calculating overviews, or other tasks)

The system info section is displayed at the bottom of the LUNA window.

Viewing the Monitor Section

Click Mon to show the Monitor strip at the right of the LUNA window. You can show the Monitor strip from the LUNA menus by choosing View > Section > Monitor. The Monitor strip shows the audio meters for the session, and allows you to configure control room settings, cues, ALT speakers, Bass Management settings, Apollo Monitor Correction for headphones and monitor speakers, or to set level, mute, or send a mono mix to the Monitor outputs.

The monitor section also allows you to easily bypass inserts, Extensions, or all processing. 

Note: Some Monitor features are available only in Apollo mode.

See Using Monitor, Control Room, and Talkback for more information.

For more information on bass management with Apollo X, see Apollo X Bass Management.

For more information on Apollo Monitor Correction, see Apollo Monitor Correction by Sonarworks®.

Using workflows

Workflows provide common editing, arranging, and navigation commands on a toolbar that you can open under the main LUNA control bar.

The Record workflow

Click the Record workflow icon to enable the Record workflow. The Record Workflow allows you to use the following commands:

The MIDI workflow

Click the MIDI workflow icon to enable the MIDI workflow. The MIDI Workflow allows you to use the following commands:

The Edit workflow

Click the Edit workflow icon to enable the Edit workflow. The Edit Workflow allows you to use the following commands:

The Mix workflow

Click the Mix workflow icon to enable the Mix workflow. The Mix Workflow allows you to use the following commands: