LUNA is now compatible with ARA-enabled VST3 plug-ins. This article gives a brief overview of ARA compatibility with LUNA.
What is ARA and what are ARA-enabled plug-ins?
An ARA-enabled plug-in is an audio plug-in that uses Audio Random Access (ARA) technology, allowing it to communicate seamlessly and instantly with a host Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).
Unlike traditional plug-ins that can only process audio in real time, ARA plug-ins have direct access to the project's audio data, enabling features like instant pitch correction, timing alignment, and other manipulations without rendering or playback loops.
Which ARA plug-ins are compatible with LUNA?
Most major ARA plug-ins are compatible with LUNA 2.0.4. If you have any issues when using an ARA plug-in with LUNA, please let us know by submitting some feedback.
Does LUNA Pro come with any ARA plug-ins?
Yes, LUNA Pro comes with the following ARA plug-ins:
- ARTonic ChordAXE Lite
- Celemony Melodyne 5 Essential
- NoiseWorks VoiceAssist Basic
- Steinberg SpectraLayers Go
- Steinberg WaveLab Go
How do I use ARA plug-ins in LUNA?
To load an ARA plug-in in LUNA, follow the steps below:
- Create a new track or navigate to an already existing track.
- Click the WARP button.
- Navigate to the ARA sub-menu.
- Select the desired ARA plug-in you want to load.
Note: Some ARA plug-ins, such as Melodyne, can also be loaded as Insert plug-ins. This method differs from the ARA platform and instead loads the product as a VST or AU plug-in.
For more information on how to use ARA plug-ins, read this article.
Are there any limitations to using ARA-enabled plug-ins in LUNA?
Yes, when using ARA-enabled plug-ins, some constraints and workflows exist. These are listed below:
- As is true in all DAWs that support ARA, ARA plug-ins cannot co-exist with traditional algorithmic Time Compression Expansion (TCE) warping. This means that you cannot simultaneously use Polyphonic / Monophonic / Varispeed warpings, LUNA Poly, or LUNA Razor Blade and any ARA plug-in. This also prevents Clip Pitch and ARA functionality from coexisting.
- Two ARA plug-ins cannot co-exist on the same track. For example, this means you cannot use Melodyne and VocAlign at the same time and keep the data dynamic.
- Clip Gain and Fades can co-exist with ARA.