LUNA system requirements

To operate LUNA Recording System, your system must meet the following requirements:

LUNA System Requirements

Installing and authorizing LUNA

To install and authorize LUNA, you’ll need to follow the six main steps below. Detailed instructions are provided later in this section.

Download and unzip LUNA, and open the LUNA .dmg.
Drag LUNA to the Applications folder.
Start LUNA from the Applications folder or Launchpad.
Log in with your Universal Audio account.
Either create and link an iLok account automatically, or link to an existing iLok account.
Complete the install.

After the install completes, LUNA starts and the Shape UAD Instrument downloads and installs automatically.

Note: When you download and install LUNA, UA Connect is also installed on your system, if it is not already installed. UA Connect allows you to install and manage UAD Spark plug-ins. For more information, click here.

About uaudio.com and iLok accounts

LUNA uses two different accounts.

Your uaudio.com account connects LUNA with the Universal Audio cloud, so you can purchase, download, and manage updates to LUNA, UAD instruments, and LUNA Extensions. You can also buy UAD plug-ins and access LUNA educational and informational resources with your uaudio.com account.
Your iLok account (iLok USB hardware and/or iLok Cloud) authorizes the LUNA app, UAD instruments, and LUNA Extensions. You can either use an existing iLok.com account, or create one automatically and link it to LUNA during the installation process.

Using an iLok hardware key or iLok Cloud

LUNA includes two authorizations for the LUNA app, and two licenses for each authorized Extension and Instrument. You can move iLok authorizations to physical iLok USB hardware keys to use your authorizations with multiple macOS systems, or you can use one iLok Cloud session.

iLok Cloud allows you to authorize LUNA, LUNA Extensions, and UAD instruments on a macOS system that is connected to the internet. iLok Cloud requires a constant connection to the internet, as the licenses are checked periodically. With iLok Cloud, you can authorize one LUNA instance at a time. If you start a second iLok Cloud session, the existing iLok Cloud session is logged out. If you need to log in to a second machine while an iLok Cloud session is running, you’ll need to use a physical iLok key with a license installed.

If your system is not continuously connected to the internet, or is only connected periodically, use a physical iLok key with a license installed. You can install a LUNA license on your physical iLok hardware key by manually dragging and dropping the LUNA license into the key from within the iLok License Manager application.

On first run, LUNA prompts you to choose a default license location (iLok Cloud, or an iLok hardware key of you have one). Choose the license location that you prefer.

Note: iLok License Manager is automatically installed the first time you start LUNA.

Installing LUNA and creating an iLok account

Note: Use this workflow when you do not have an existing iLok account and you want to automatically create an iLok account and link it to your uaudio.com account to authorize your software.

1. Download the LUNA zip file from the Universal Audio downloads page and unzip the LUNA.dmg file.
Open the LUNA.dmg file.
When prompted, drag the drag the LUNA app to the Applications folder.
Open LUNA from Applications.
When prompted “LUNA is trying to install a new helper tool,” provide your macOS account password, and click Install Helper. This allows LUNA to install iLok License Manager.
The login screen appears. Type your Universal Audio (uaudio.com) account and password and click Log In.
The Link iLok Account screen opens. Click Create to create a new iLok account.
Click Create again to confirm that you want to create a new iLok account. To read the terms of the iLok License agreement, click View Terms.
The iLok account and licenses are created and deposited, and LUNA checks for the license. This might take some time.
When you are prompted to allow access to the Microphone, click OK.
Note: You must allow LUNA to access the Microphone in order to record audio.
When you are prompted to allow LUNA to access files in your Documents folder, click OK. LUNA stores sessions and other data in this area.

LUNA now starts, and shows the Create Session screen. Note that the first time you run LUNA, LUNA downloads the UAD Instrument “Shape” in the background.

Installing LUNA and linking an existing iLok account

Note: Use this workflow when you have an existing iLok account, and you want to link it to your uaudio.com account to authorize your software.

Download the LUNA zip file from the Universal Audio downloads page and unzip the LUNA.dmg file.
Open the LUNA.dmg file.
When prompted, drag the drag the LUNA app to the Applications folder.
Open LUNA from Applications.
When prompted “LUNA is trying to install a new helper tool,” provide your macOS account password, and click Install Helper. This allows LUNA to install iLok License Manager.
The login screen appears. Type your Universal Audio (uaudio.com) account and password and click Log In.
The Link iLok Account screen opens. Click Link Existing to link to an existing iLok account.
Type your iLok user name and click Link. The Link iLok Account screen opens.
Type your iLok password, and click Authorize. The iLok account is linked, licenses are created and deposited, and LUNA checks for the license. This might take some time.
When you are prompted to allow access to the Microphone, click OK.
Note: You must allow LUNA to access the Microphone in order to record audio.
When you are prompted to allow LUNA to access files in your Documents folder, click OK. LUNA stores sessions and other data in this area.

LUNA now opens, and shows the Create Session page. Note that the first time you run LUNA, LUNA downloads the UAD Instrument “Shape” in the background.

Login tips

If you forget your password, click Log In, and the Forgot Password link appears. Click Forgot Password to receive password reset instructions.
To stay logged in, click Remember Me.
You can skip the login screen by clicking Skip. If you skip the login, you can use LUNA and licensed Extensions and Instruments with the licenses on your iLok hardware key or licenses from the iLok Cloud. However, you cannot update software, make purchases, or download from the Manage screen until you log in.

Starting LUNA

From Launchpad or the macOS Dock, start LUNA.
Log in with your Universal Audio account information. LUNA opens, and shows the session create page.

When you are logged in, lists of your installed products and other account details appear in LUNA’s Manage panel.

Managing UAD instruments and LUNA Extensions

You can manage UAD Instruments and LUNA Extensions with the LUNA Sidebar.

To download and install UAD instruments and LUNA Extensions

Open the LUNA Sidebar by clicking the UA diamond logo on the left of the screen, and click Manage, or choose LUNA > Preferences from the app menu, and choose Manage.
If updates are available, a red dot appears to the right of the Manage button in the LUNA Sidebar. Click the Manage button to see the updates.
Click the red Update button to update LUNA System Extensions.
Click the Download button to download any available downloads.
Click the Update button to update any Instruments or Extensions that have more recent versions than what is installed.

LUNA installs and updates the instruments and Extensions. You will see a notification as each Instrument or Extension is installed or updated.

Extension and instrument options

Click the ••• options menu to the right of an Extension or Instrument to see the available options for that Extension or Instrument.

More Info - opens LUNA’s Discover panel with more information about the Instrument or Extension.
Move - Lets you choose a drive to which you can move Instrument content. Note that this drive must be an SSD, formatted with APFS. Sample content is moved to the additional drive, however the Instrument itself is stored on a local volume.
Delete - Deletes the Instrument or Extension. Items can be downloaded again whenever you have an internet connection.
Download Settings - Specifies the Volume on which local Extensions and Instruments are installed.

Tape licenses

LUNA includes a free license for Oxide LUNA Extension.

If you own the UAD Studer A800 plug-in, you will get a free license deposited for the Studer A800 Extension. If you own an Ampex ATR-102 license, you will get a free license deposited for the ATR-102 Master Tape Extension.

If you do not own the UAD Studer A800 or Ampex ATR-102 plug-ins, you can activate them as demos or purchase the LUNA Extensions. When you purchase the extensions, the UAD plug-ins are included. Go to the Manage page to activate a demo or purchase the Studer A800 LUNA Extension or the Ampex ATR-102 Master Tape Extension.

Summing licensing

LUNA Neve and API Summing Extensions are optional. You can activate a demo or purchase the Neve Summing or API Summing Extensions from within LUNA. Go to the Manage page to activate a demo or purchase Neve or API Summing.

API Vision Console Emulation licensing

API Vision Console Emulation Bundle is a separate license that includes API Vision Console Extensions and UAD plug-ins. Go to the Manage page to activate a demo or purchase API Vision Console.

UAD Instrument licensing

LUNA includes the Shape UAD Instrument, which is authorized with your LUNA application authorization. All other UAD instruments are optional. You can activate a demo or purchase UAD instruments from within LUNA, or from UA Connect. Go to the Manage page to activate a demo or purchase a UAD Instrument.

Creating a LUNA session

When you start LUNA, you see the Session panel.

To create a new empty session

In the New Session area, type a name for the session.
Specify a tempo and time signature for the session, or accept the defaults. Note that you can change the tempo and time signature after you create the session.
To find the approximate tempo, you can tap the Tap button in time four or more times.
Click the Location bar to open a dialog where you can select the location for the session, or accept the default location. By default, sessions are saved in ~/Music/LUNA Sessions.
When you have configured the new session settings, click Create.

To create a new session from the main LUNA window, choose File > New, or use the Command+N shortcut.

To create a session from an AAF (Advanced Authoring Format) file

On the Create Session panel, type a name for the session.
Click the Start From AAF button.
From the dialog that opens, choose the AAF session to import.
Type a name for the session.
Specify a tempo for the session, or click the MIDI button, and choose a MIDI file to import.
Click the Location bar to open a dialog where you can select the location for the session, or accept the default location. By default, sessions are saved in ~/Music/LUNA Sessions.
When you have configured the new session settings, click Create.

Opening a session

When you start LUNA, the Session panel appears. Choose a file from the Recent list and click Open to open a recent existing session. To choose a session from the disk, click From Disk... and navigate to a session to open.

Undo and redo

You can undo and redo changes in an open session at any time, except during recording. You can even undo and redo changes after a session has been closed and reopened. LUNA supports 64 Undo or Redo actions per Autosave interval. To configure the Autosave interval, see Configuring the Session Autosave Interval.

To undo a change, use the menu item Edit > Undo, or press Command+Z.
To redo a change, use the menu item Edit > Redo, or press Shift+Command+Z.

Working with tracks

A LUNA session consists of tracks. A track contains audio or MIDI information, and audio and MIDI control automation information. LUNA has four track types:

On audio tracks you can record audio, and add existing audio files such as samples or loops.
On instrument tracks, you can record MIDI from external controllers or LUNA’s internal keyboard, and import or paste MIDI loops or phrases. Instrument tracks can play sound from a UAD Instrument or an Audio Unit (AU) instrument plug-in.
On bus tracks, you can sum (mix) audio sources in the session, route audio for Aux-style plug-in processing, and use the Neve and API Summing LUNA Extensions to add punch and warmth to audio sources in your session.
On the main track, you can mix all the audio, instrument, and bus tracks together to create a stereo mix. The main track is the only default track in a LUNA session.

When you create tracks, you can choose the track type, stereo or mono format, the number of tracks to add, track names, a UAD Instrument or other instrument plug-in (on an instrument track), optional Neve or API Summing (on a bus track), and optional API Vision Console Emulation extensions for all types of tracks.

When you create a new track, a channel strip is also created. The new track appears in the Tracks browser, the Timeline, and the Mixer.

Tracks in the Timeline

Tracks in the Mixer

Track controls

In LUNA, you can use many of the same track controls in multiple views.

For example, audio tracks in the Timeline have the following controls in the Track Controls area.

Audio tracks in the Mixer and focused in the Timeline have the following controls.

You can make many of the same adjustments in both views. For example, in both Timeline and the Mixer/Focus channel, you can:

Assign inputs and outputs
Adjust volume and panning
Set the track automation mode
Enable Record and Input monitoring
Solo and mute tracks
Change the track name
Change the track color

However, there are some adjustments you can only make in the Timeline or Mixer/Focus view.

In Timeline View only, you can:

Configure the Warp algorithm
Set a track to Time or Tempo mode
Edit audio and MIDI, create fades, and other editing tasks

In Mixer/Focus track view only, you can:

Configure plug-ins
Add UAD instruments
Add Audio Unit instruments
Configure the LUNA Extensions for Tape, Master Tape, API Summing, and Neve Summing
Configure API Vision Console Emulation extensions

Note: As with audio tracks, you can configure many settings for instrument tracks, buses, and the Main track in both the Timeline track controls and in the Mixer/Focus channel.

Selecting tracks

To select a track, click the track name in the Mixer, Timeline, or Tracks browser.

To select multiple contiguous tracks, Shift-click the track names on the first and last track you want to select.
To select multiple non-contiguous tracks, Command-click the track names.
To select all tracks, Option-click a track name.

Applying changes to multiple tracks with groups

LUNA includes a track grouping feature that allows you to change controls on multiple selected tracks without defining a specific Track Group. To enable or disable selection grouping, select or deselect Mixing > Selection Grouping from the LUNA menus, or press Control+G to toggle selection grouping. To enable or disable all track groups, press Shift+Command+G. To create a group, press Command+G.

The following items can be adjusted when selection grouping is enabled.

Volume
Pan
Track View
Automation Mode
Track Follows Mode
Warp Algorithm
Track input
Record Enable (only for tracks that have a unique Input assigned)
Input Enable (only for tracks that have a unique Input assigned)
Solo
Mute
Tape machine and tape settings
API and Neve Summing assignments and settings
API Vision Console Emulation Extension assignment and settings
Inserts
Send assignments and controls
Track outputs

For more information about track groups, see Using Track Groups.

Applying changes to all tracks

To adjust items on all tracks, Option+Click the setting in the track controls or mixer channel strip. For example, Option+Click the record-enable button to record-enable all tracks that have unique input assignments.

Note: When you Option+Click a control to enable or disable the setting, tracks that are hidden in the Tracks Browser are not affected.

Creating audio tracks

You use audio tracks to record audio and to place imported audio files within a LUNA session. Audio is recorded in 24-bit depth at the current audio interface hardware sample rate. LUNA can import WAV, AIFF, AAC, FLAC, ALAC, and MP3 audio that has a valid sample rate, and play it back at the correct pitch.

Creating an empty audio track

To create an empty audio track

In the Tracks Focus Browser, select Audio in the Create New Tracks dialog, or click the plus (+) next to Tracks and choose Audio.
Choose the number of tracks to create and the format (MONO or STEREO). You can optionally type a name for the track or tracks here if desired.
If you have optional API Vision Console Emulation, you can select API Vision from the Console row.
Click OK to create the tracks, or Cancel to stop track creation.

Track creation tips

You can open the New Track dialog by selecting the menu item Track > New Tracks, or typing Command+Shift+N.
You can open multiple New Tracks dialogs in the Tracks Focus Browser, allowing you to create multiple types and formats of tracks at the same time.
If you create multiple tracks, the tracks are created with the name you specify, and a number is appended and incremented for each track. For example, if you create four tracks called Vox, the tracks Vox 1, Vox 2, Vox 3, and Vox 4 are created.

Creating a new audio track from existing audio

You can create a new track or tracks from one or more existing audio files with either of these methods:

Drag the audio file(s) directly from the macOS Finder to the Tracks Focus Browser, or to the empty area below any existing tracks in the Timeline.
Drag the audio file(s) to the Tracks Focus Browser or below the Timeline to create one or more new audio tracks containing the files, located at the start of the session.

Assigning inputs

When you click on the input for a track, the Input Focus Browser opens, from which you can choose the input for the track. The list includes all available inputs in your Apollo system. Select an input from the Input Focus Browser. The type of input you select determines the options that appear. For example, a Unison-capable input track includes preamp controls.

Note: Unison insert and Record FX inserts are available only when a track is record-enabled or input-enabled.

Creating instrument tracks

You can use instrument tracks to play audio from UAD instruments, a MIDI virtual instrument or a MIDI hardware device such as a synth or sampler. On an instrument track you can:

Insert UAD instruments or any Audio Unit (AU) virtual instrument plug-in into an Instrument track.
Record MIDI data from an external MIDI device.
Import MIDI data.
Route the MIDI output from an instrument track to an external MIDI device.
Route the audio from a MIDI device back to the instrument track for monitoring.
Edit notes directly in Notes view.

Creating an empty instrument track

To create an empty instrument track

In the Tracks Focus Browser, select Instrument in the Create New Tracks dialog, or click the plus (+) next to Tracks and choose Instrument.
Select the number of tracks to create, the format (Mono or Stereo), and an optional name for the track or tracks if desired.
From the VI drop menu, choose the UAD Instrument or Audio Unit instrument plug-in. Choose None to create a MIDI track or MIDI tracks without instruments.
If you have optional API Vision Console Emulation, you can select API Vision from the Console row.
Click OK to create the tracks, or Cancel to stop track creation.

Track creation tips

You can open the New Track dialog by selecting the menu item Track > New Tracks, or typing Command+Shift+N.
You can open multiple New Tracks dialogs in the Tracks Focus Browser, allowing you to create multiple types and formats of tracks at the same time.
If you create multiple tracks, the tracks are created with the name you specify, and a number is appended and incremented for each track. For example, if you create four tracks called Synth, the tracks Synth 1, Synth 2, Synth 3, and Synth 4 are created.

Creating a new instrument track from existing MIDI

You can create a new MIDI track or tracks from one or more existing MIDI (.mid) files by dragging the file(s) directly from the macOS Finder to the Tracks Focus Browser, or to the empty area below any existing tracks in the Timeline.

Dragging MIDI files to the Tracks Focus Browser or below the Timeline creates one or more new instrument tracks containing the MIDI data, located at the start of the session. You can also drag a MIDI clip from the macOS Finder or a plug-in directly onto an existing instrument track.

Note: You will be prompted to either use the tempo from the MIDI file, or to adjust the MIDI file to the session tempo.

Using Bus tracks

You can use bus tracks to route audio through the mix system. A bus track can carry more than one signal. Use a bus to submix, or for any purpose that requires the grouping or routing of audio streams. You can create a bus track on its own, and assign sends or outputs to it, or you can select a track or tracks, and automatically assign those tracks when creating the bus.

For more information on mixing with bus sends, see Using Sends.

Use a bus:

to combine multiple signals that you want to submix or create “stems” (for example, a submix of the rhythm guitars or background vocals in a session), and to optionally add Neve Summing or API Summing.
to combine multiple signals to effect with a plug-in (for example, as a reverb bus for several vocal tracks)
for other mix purposes, such as parallel compression of drums
to route audio to separate outputs

To create a bus track from specific tracks

Select the track or tracks which you want to send or route directly to a bus. You can route audio, instrument, and other bus tracks to a bus.
Type Shift+Command+B or choose Mixing > Create Bus from the LUNA menus.
Type a name for the bus.
In the Route From Selected pulldown, select the track source for the bus. For example, if you want to route the selected track outputs directly to the bus, select Output. To use a send to route the tracks to the bus, select a send.
If you have an optional API or Neve Summing LUNA Extension, you can select it from the Summing list. You can enable or disable summing after you create the track or tracks.
If you have optional API Vision Console Emulation, you can select API 2500 from the Console list.
Click Create. The bus is created, with the routing you specified.

Note: If you assign the bus source to a send that is already in use for the selected tracks, that send assignment is overwritten with the new bus assignment. If you assign the bus source to Output, the selected tracks’ outputs are routed to the bus.

To create a bus track on its own

In the Tracks browser, click the plus (+) next to Tracks.
From the Type list, select Bus.
Select the number of tracks to create and the format (Mono or Stereo), and type a name for the bus or buses.
If you have the optional Neve or API Summing LUNA Extension, you can select it here. You can enable or disable Neve Summing or API Summing after you create the bus or buses.
If you have optional API Vision Console Emulation, you can select API 2500 from the Console row.
Click OK to create the bus or buses.

Bus inputs and bus routing overview

Once you have created a bus, you can route (send) audio to it. There are two methods for busing:

Direct busing routes audio directly to a bus. In this scenario, the bus functions as the track output, and the bus then outputs either to another bus, a pair of outputs, or the Main track. Use output busing to submix to a bus, or to create stem outputs. For example, you can route drums, instruments, and vocals all to separate buses to control levels, adjust effects, and apply Neve Summing, then either route those to the Main track or their own physical outputs.
Send busing sends audio from the track to a bus, without changing the output of the track. Send busing is useful when you want to effect the audio and mix it back in to the main mix in a controllable way. For example, you can send drums to a compressor on a bus and mix the compressed drums with the main drum tracks (parallel compression), or send instruments and vocals to 100% wet reverb bus, and mix the reverb bus in with the existing tracks.

To route audio directly to an existing bus

Select the track or tracks you want to route directly to the bus.
Click the Out in the Timeline or the Output in the Mixer or on the Focus channel. The Output Focus Browser opens.
Choose the bus to which you want to route the output of the track or tracks.

The selected track or tracks are now routed to the bus outputs.The fader and pan controls on the bus track now control overall mix characteristics of the tracks, and you can assign plug-ins and Neve Summing to the bus to affect all source tracks.

To route audio to an existing bus using a send

Select the track or tracks you want to send to the bus.
Click an available Send slot in the Mixer or on the Focus channel for a track. The Send Routing Focus Browser opens.
Select the destination bus for the send. Send destinations that you have previously created appear in the Focus Browser under Buses.
The selected track or track sends are now routed to the bus.

When a send is routed to a single buses, the destination bus name is listed in the Sends mixer row.

To route audio to multiple existing buses using a send

Select the track or tracks you want to send to the bus.
Click an available Send slot in the Mixer or on the Focus channel for a track. The Send Routing Focus Browser opens.
Command-click multiple non-contiguous destination buses to route the audio to those sends. Send destinations that you have previously created appear in the Focus Browser under Buses.
The selected track or track sends are now routed to the selected buses.

When a send is routed to multiple buses, the destination in the Sends mixer row is listed as Multiple.

Control send audio

You can control the send level with the Bus level control. The fader and pan controls on the bus track now control the overall characteristics of the bus track audio, and you can assign plug-ins and Summing to the bus to affect the audio from the send.

Using Accelerated Realtime Monitoring (ARM) with bus tracks

When you use Accelerated Realtime Monitoring (ARM), you can configure two bus tracks to work in ARM mode. ARM allows you to use Realtime UAD Processing on these two buses, while monitoring and/or recording with indiscernible latency.

To set ARM Mode for a bus track, enable ARM, then click the ARM button on the bus track, and select either Aux 1 or Aux 2. When LUNA is in ARM mode, all bus tracks that do not use one of the two ARM-enabled aux buses will incur some latency when processing audio.

Using the Main track

The Main track is the master fader or stereo output bus channel for your LUNA session. All audio that is routed to Main runs through this bus, and is summed for listening and mixdown purposes. By default, all audio, instrument, and bus tracks are routed to the Main track.

You cannot delete the Main track, and you cannot create a new Main track. However, you can route audio to other outputs instead of the Main track.

The Main track is where you assign your master track Insert plug-ins. You can also enable Neve Summing on the Main track.

Uninstalling LUNA and resetting preferences

To uninstall LUNA, delete these files and folders

/Applications/LUNA.app
/Library/Application Support/Universal Audio/Plug-ins/*.lunacomponent
/Library/Application Support/Universal Audio/Plug-Ins.json
/Library/Application Support/Universal Audio/skippedplugins.txt
~/Library/Application Support/Universal Audio/workspace
~/Library/Preferences/com.uaudio.luna.plist
~/Library/Preferences/Universal Audio/LUNAprefs.json
~/Documents/Universal Audio/Presets/
*This will delete presets inside LUNA. Do not delete this folder unless you are removing LUNA permanently.
~/Music/LUNA Sessions (This will delete all your LUNA sessions!!)

To reset your LUNA preferences, delete these files and folders

~/Library/Preferences/com.uaudio.luna.plist
~/Library/Preferences/Universal Audio/LUNAprefs.json
~/Library/Application Support/Universal Audio/workspace

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Getting Started with LUNA

In this article

LUNA system requirements

Installing and authorizing LUNA

About uaudio.com and iLok accounts

Using an iLok hardware key or iLok Cloud

Installing LUNA and creating an iLok account

Installing LUNA and linking an existing iLok account

Login tips

Starting LUNA

Managing UAD instruments and LUNA Extensions

To download and install UAD instruments and LUNA Extensions

Extension and instrument options

Tape licenses

Summing licensing

API Vision Console Emulation licensing

UAD Instrument licensing

Creating a LUNA session

To create a new empty session

To create a session from an AAF (Advanced Authoring Format) file

Opening a session

Undo and redo

Working with tracks

Track controls

Selecting tracks

Applying changes to multiple tracks with groups

Applying changes to all tracks

Creating audio tracks

Creating an empty audio track

To create an empty audio track

Track creation tips

Creating a new audio track from existing audio

Assigning inputs

Creating instrument tracks

Creating an empty instrument track

To create an empty instrument track

Track creation tips

Creating a new instrument track from existing MIDI

Using Bus tracks

To create a bus track from specific tracks

To create a bus track on its own

Bus inputs and bus routing overview

To route audio directly to an existing bus

To route audio to an existing bus using a send

To route audio to multiple existing buses using a send

Control send audio

Using Accelerated Realtime Monitoring (ARM) with bus tracks

Using the Main track

Uninstalling LUNA and resetting preferences

To uninstall LUNA, delete these files and folders

To reset your LUNA preferences, delete these files and folders

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