People bad mouthing LUNA so far are not seeing the true potential of this software. I don't think this will overtake PRO TOOLS in tracking, or LOGIC and FRUITY LOOPS in production, but it's going to have its place in mixing. This DAW has probably the best overall sound I've heard from a DAW.
Great Points - I thought I was going crazy looking for all the basic EQs, Compressors & Tap Delays - besides BIP which i use all day in logic we need the right couch “slow down@ feature inside the fade zone - that is a MUST! ... but in the bright side my first Luna Mix sounds 🔥 THANKS WAVY
I absolutely love your energy!! The world smiles more with you in it! :) I’ve been mainly using LUNA for putting strings & MOOG on my songs with the free trials 🤓 There’s some things I dig about LUNA but way more that I can’t stand! It also crashes soooooo much on me and I have a super powerful computer. 🤦🏻♂️ Had me really stressed for a couple nights. Then I remembered I could be crippled or blind and I chilled out. ❤️
That was a really fun excursion on Luna. Thanks for warning me. I’ll stay in Logic and just keep using my UAD PCI cards and TB3 Lynx Aurora interface. Rock solid.
You nailed the big ones. But you acknowledged that they are still working on it, which is fair. My take, it's not ready for prime-time because ALL other DAWs are light years ahead in all sorts of ways. Once they start to catch up, and if they listen to the feedback, it will improve. Great vid. I hit thumbs up in the first 15 seconds!
For a v1, it's amazing. Right now I'm just tracking, AAF to Logic for editing, then AAF back to Luna for mixing. So far, I've finished 3 projects and it's been great.
Great vid, Wayne. I think Luna's target audience is those of us already using UA interfaces, and that assumes we probably already have some of the (not inexpensive) plugins. We may already have a Mac. We are used to the hardware tether. And if you can move the license from the iLok Cloud to our key, which we also probably have for other plugins, there's not much of a heavy lift. Now, yes, the external hardware (fader controller) support would be really nice. But along with the AAF export (super-simple bouncing of stems!), I think the door is left open for us to track in Luna with very low latency, then move from Luna to mix on another platform where controller compatibility varies. Also, there's a mix down function for AAC which is great. I just started using Luna and it's quirky, but remember Pro Tools 1? Neither do I - I'm not that old. As far as FREE DAWs go, it could definitely be worse.
I love the feel and sound of LUNA, but for me i need, continuous scrolling, freeze tracks for plugins, VCA's, import session data, Bounce in place and a separate MIDI window
Wow, Great video. You didn't sound like you were ranting, rather, you sound like you were just pointing out the issues that are "currently" lacking. Thank you for that. Seems that everybody in this world is ANGRY right now and ranting about even the most trivial things. Okay, so my issue is this: After I'm done tracking (using the Apollo interface, and Cubase), I do all of my editing downstairs on my laptop where I have an Octo Satellite hooked up next to my couch, and naturally, the UAD plugins function properly; but I can't even OPEN Luna with my Octo! If I track in Luna with the Apollo Quad, then, when I'm done, I don't need inputs anymore, because that part's done, and now I'm just editing. All I should need is the Octo "horsepower" for the UAD plugins, but, the app will not open without the Audio interface. Too bad, but I think, like with most great things, they're just having "growing pains", as this is their first DAW. As long as folks like you keep doing videos like this, and not ranting, I believe they will be receptive to the areas lacking. I rarely watch a video like this in its entirity. Normally, I scroll ahead to get past the "too long, wordy intros", or the "rant sections", But it was cool to watch this whole video. Again, nice job.
Man, Wavy, I bet you would be crazy successful in the comedic world... You just have a great personality and the "gift of gab." Just flappin my jaw... You rock.
Two features that they missed which are critical to my workflow.. 1. There's no way to capture the playhead during playback and recording.. You have to manually scroll. Not a big problem during playback, but if you are recording yourself playing guitar, you cannot monitor the recording.. 2. There's no way to have the mix console on it's own window which I can move to a different screen.. When editing and mixing, it's easier to use multiple monitors that keep switching between the main project page and the mixer.
I got a couple for ya Wavy. 1.There is no external side chain support still. No knocking the bass down a few dBs when the kick hits. 2. There is no options for clicks. You get the sound they provide & if you drummer wants click divisions in 1/8 notes and the guitarist wants 1/4s....sorry. You will get whatever you programmed into the signature map. 3. Say you spend all morning dialing up a full band live tracking with unison preamps. The first song they are there but when you start another session for another song, all that sound checking is for not. You get to reload all of the things you already did. You could just do the whole record in 1 session...since you are forced to.
Unfortunately I have ilok from Ptools around 22 years ago. But I've always hated it and bitched endlessly every time I spoke to anyone at Protools for adopting it. I'm so glad the public is starting to create a groundswell of hate for ilok that will hurt vendors who insist on that confusing, unpredictable, money grab method of sabotaging thieves. There are better ways for the customer. Anyone know if ilok shares profit or pays out to vendors cash for leads (the customers that vendors send) them? If not there's no bloody reason anyone should use the ilok system.
@@SeanWyseman everything you said is true and I think last week and people couldnt access their plugins. Could you imagine being on a deadline and not having access to plugins you paid for 🤣🤣
Started with Cubase on an Atari Falcon. Moved to Protools TDM, didn't own it but used it in commercial studios. moved to Digital Performer 2.6 on my then G3 Power Mac. I stayed with Digital Performer but added Logic to my arsenal along with Protools once they allowed it to work natively. Once Propellerheads introduced "Record One" which later reverted back to Reason I added that. Added Logic Pro and later added Studio 1 v3... Added Reaper for fun and like its potential and just added Luna... The DAW that consistently impresses me to this day is Digital Performer which is now on version 10.1. I use it in my studio and for live audio playback for an A-list artist. It is by far the most flexible and comprehensive DAW on the market that most people sleep on. EVERYTHING in it is customizable. No one DAW is perfect, they all have their drawbacks but out of them all, DP10 is ridiculously good. Y'all should check it out if you haven't done so already.
Man, that was an instant subscribe... never reached that button more quickly! XD you're really funny and clearly know your stuff (without being pretentious, a big plus for me!).
I don’t think they’re ever going to open up luna to be used with other interfaces. Universal audio comes with EQ’s Compressors and reverbs for free. You can use a twin and a laptop to do remote mixing with a satellite. I think the pm said they were going to add control surface support. Glad you added the feedback button to the video :) Good video man... You’re an entertaining dude.
I'm sticking with the industry standard, been with it from LE8 with my digi002 & still have my mbox 2 for portable, now at HD PT 10 (Hybrid, love the console) and 11 & 12 on iLok. I tried the Apollo Twin MKII, used it fir a month and sold it. PT Dope! London, UK .
I agree with everythign in this video as I was upset myself with expreienxijg these limitations first hand, but I guess this is why UAD restrain themselves from calling this a daw and consider the platform to be a recording system. Essentially, this is console 5.0 or something lol, because I feel as it just be beneficial to track with LUNA, and mix elsewhere; hence, why there is no mp3 bounce setting. Great video and I want to see the program progress with future updates!
1. You can't rout separate outputs from a VI to separate mixer channels. 2. You can't customize keyboard shortcuts. I am visually impaired, so I like to have as many shortcuts as I can on the number pad, even if I have to use modifier keys. Great video!
One of my main issues with LUNA is automation. When you go to automate there are no numeric values that display on the track how it does in ProTools. But overall I enjoy it. I'd rather use LUNA than update my ProTools to that damn subscription fee.
I just saw that video after 1 year and true when luna was released I didn’t like those issues that’s why I still was working on cubase But today I just love Luna and those issues was fixed Thanks mate maybe because of you UAD updated all those issues :) Peace
That's a pretty good list to start with. Thanks for covering this. I too had some issues trying to get it installed with passwords and ilok. To be honest, I almost said to hell with it right at the start. Also, I was pretty shocked when I found out that you have to buy a lot of the plugins that were demo'd as if they were included. No-one ever mentioned that at the NAMM rollout.
Awesome video really enjoy it. First problem I encounter is punching in MIDI in between measures. It clears out the whole measure instead of just punching in only at the spot where I punch in. Second is exporting separated tracks with insert effects on but pre-faded. This is very necessary to send your track for mixing because most time you don't want to render that fader level. And of course Freezing tracks. But lets give it time because I feel I have a lot of faith in this software. It looks so beautiful and smooth just not usable for me now.
Yea they did cover that. Essentially it's the same as mixing down a track and importing into your track window. It's not a major difference. but, like cubase you can render in place, one move. I wish the best for luna.
I am glad I watched this video. I just bought the Apollo Quad so I got Luna with the package. I haven't gotten into Luna besides installing the software. I am a proud Pro Tools and Logic user. My go to is Pro Tools. It's confusing with Luna which plug ins that comes the package, which ones are free and which ones are the ones that are trial. Most of them are trial. So I gotta go through all of them trial plugs. Geez, I don't even want to use em because... They Are TRIALS. So I am riding with my waves plug ins. It is a bit overwhelming opening Luna. So instead of getting into it, I have to watch videos instead of creating or mixing or mastering. I will still try it but I am sticking to my go to's.
Newcomer here on your channel. I’m mostly a live music guy, but I have nothing against any type of music. Man, great insight. Great sense of humor. Helpful video. Thank you!
I will say, I think Luna has the ability to be what logic and pro tools is. UA is constantly updating Luna, like constantly. Once the kinks are worked out, and new features are added, I’m all in.
UA should have hired you to develop Luna broski. Great informative video for those thinking of switching to the Dark Side. Those are all deal breakers for me personally. I’m sticking to Pro Tools.
Great video Wavy! Been using Luna as well and have been running into the same issues. Awesome DAW but definitely needs more work. I am looking forward to the future updates.
Thank you for the very clear and honest review! Really terrible that Luna has what It seems to be concept issues, like dongles, bureaucratic mobility and login, no mp3, no templates, no bundled basic plugins. Very disappointing. I was willing to try something newer and “better” but I will keep using Pro Tools.
Have you used any other DAW? Right out the box they have all the plugins you need from EQ, compressors, reverbs, gates, etc. are you telling me you can do a full mix session with the free plugins they give you?
Wayne.wav nope not at all. I can’t even do a half mix with the free ones, heck I can’t even do a full mix with the high price ones you can purchase. I just do not use there plugins much in my mixes at all. I only use them coming in on my vocal chain then the rest is waves with your trustee templates. I thought I would be switching to Luna for recording but that is not going to work.
@@waynewav with my Apollo 8 quad I get free pluings like Teletronix La2a, 2 x UA1176, Fairchild 670. Tell me a DAW that gives you high quality compressors like this. I also get 2x Pultec Pro EQs, Precision Mix Rack Collection, Realverb Pro, 2 Softube Bass Amps, Raw Distortion. U don't get everything but what u get with the Apollo 8 quad is high quality and believe me u can do a full mix session.
@@iliravdyli4109 But my brother... U are a BOSS and dropped 2 RACKS for that SERIOUS PIECE OF KIT, (jealous) so it BETTER come with the plug in PACKAGE OF LIFE!! I been looking at the twin, cause Im so ready to join the no latency nation, but it's still a $800-1000
@@waynewav yo im sorry for being waaaay off topic but i tried to hit you up another way but you never responded. im sure was busy or something, i know you have allot going on. check me out tho!!!! im trying to figure out how do i get quick time to screen record my sessions in stereo with my recording input enabled. i see you doing it but whats the secret bro, i tried everything. every time i try screen record the session, my shit keeps coming out in mono. help me out bro
I’ve produced in pro tools for 17 years. LUNA was released and I haven’t quit using it. I burned the 9 day free trial of the Neve Summing plug in, loved it but its $300. I, personally speaking, will continue to use both programs because I think it’s valuable to be well versed in different DAWs, widens your perspective on music production. LUNA is free if you own UAD hardware so why not?
Wayne has devoted considerable effort in getting to know Luna. He had his doubts about a new daw, nevertheless he got to know it. At first overhyping right after NAMM, he then came up with the cons, which is great. He listens to his fans. UA has work to do. I would be happy if my Apollo 8 Quad was reliable. But they’ve given up on phone support, so all I can do is email these people and hope. The primary solution to almost every problem is a complete re-install. Which required running de-install, but also hunting down a dozen other files that made your re-install useless if you don’t catch every...single...one of them. Maybe the new software will help. But to ask clients to continually re-install is unprofessional. Luna would be worth the money (please don’t say it’s free) only if UA interfaces work MORE RELIABLY. ✌🏾
For a V1, I think it's pretty good and the sound is sweet. The sounds available in Shape leave a lot to be desired but as it works with au plugins etc and most seasoned DAW user's will have a whole bunch they like to use it ain't as bad as being made out to be. Personally, I like it and look forward to the ride along the way.
The lack of free plugins is crazy, not being able commit or freeze a midi/ instrument track to audio should be standard in any daw by now and not being able to bounce to an mp3, let alone import them, was it for me. I do like the layout and the ideas, really like how similar to PT it is with the key commands and actually recording instruments. Thank you as always Wayne! 💯
Requiring the iLok is just annoying and as you said restrictive. I have an account,...I own not one but two pieces of your hardware. How is that not enough? You make great points -- as a Pro Tools user Luna has a ways to go. Great video man.
I love these videos! I do agree about the basic suite of plugins thing. I was just thinking how there were no basic plugins that came with the DAW. there are tons of free AU plugins online that you can get for now, its not an excuse but its a temporary fix. Not only it being V1 its also a V1 that was released 6-8 weeks early. so a lot of stuff that seems like a no brainer might have been included. Its definitely not ready for a complete switch over. but its good to learn the program from start so when its ready it won't be so difficult to learn
I was about to mix our next record using Luna instead of Logic, but after watching this video, that would be a bit premature. Thanks for the heads-up. The last record came out great in Logic so this one will be fine...but the next next one, maybe that's a good time to track with Luna and see how it goes. Maybe track in Luna, mix stems and effects and print them in Logic, and do final mixes back in Luna to capture the tape and Neve summing?
All your comments are great, those are exactly my thoughts. Its just another DAW, but you would think prior to launching a DAW they would think about all these important details you mentioned because its all about the workflow. I always say why learn a new DAW when you are effecient with the current DAW you have we are about making music not re learning a new system that will take a minute to learn. You missed out on hardware inserts ;) at the moment Luna does not support that, I have a bunch of outboard but cant use it. Nice video dude! Happy mixing/producing
@wavywayne I am a new Apollo user about 2mo. & I have seen several red flags with UA & it is not gonna be cost effective for me. It will have it's place in my tool box but I will not be relying on it 100%. I will keep using my fl studio where I can use all 3rd party plug-ins & have my beat & vocals all in one project.
I’m a UA fanboy. I use an Apollo, a 6176 Pre and an OX amp top box, plus more plugins than I care to think about. Generally, I’m enjoying Luna, but its DAW vs store conflict is frustrating. As I said, I own lots of UAD plugins. I just wish I could find them in the huge List of plugins that comes up! I’m a loyal customer. I’ll buy stuff...Relax!
So it’s just a DAW in development... I’m only interested in getting an Apollo Twin DUO, if it comes free with the damn thing then whatever. I’ll still be using my preferred DAW.
No comp swiping! Logic nails this. And not being a ProTools user, I’m gonna have to learn all of Luna’s keyboard shortcuts (it uses PT shortcuts per Office Hours.
Just found your channel and hung around for a while. Love your energy man! My dark side is that there’s currently no way to get rid of imported/recorded audio. It stays in the project regardless if it’s used or not. It’s also copied if you ”save as” making it impossible to make a ”clean” template based on the settings you’ve made that don’t contain x gb of garbage audio files. But!! I really like LUNA and the features implemeted so far are great. I totally agree with your MVP-thinking though and miss a whoooole lot of stuff from my go to DAW (cubase). In time it will be... a great fullblown DAW, or... a great way to track old-school-style. We’ll see 😀 At the moment, to mee, it’s a semi-great way to track stuff. Btw, UAD encourage to use the feedback within LUNA. It helps ’em prioritize what the users request (very MVP-style). I feedback a lot as I go along. For example I requested functionality for templates. I miss that too 😊 Great video, agree on pretty much all you have to say!
You are not the only one to miss this: there is no mp3 option for the bounce BUT there is AAC - which is mp4 (Advanced Audio Codec). Just use that. Most people don't seem to know what AAC is, so it's an unlucky acronym choice in the bounce to audio menu.
Good stuff Wavy! I love your insight. I've been reviewing Luna as well, and it certainly needs a bit more to work for everybody. But it's a great start. Thanks for keeping it real.
Thanks... I have an Apollo twin & Run logic X. Was thinking about downloading luna because you have to run everything thru console. Im gonna wait & I don't like Iloks either. thanks again, very informative
also for a current work around To bounce within the session put the midi track out as one of the virtual channels and then create an audio track with those as the input. there is latency and you will have to line it back up but with the Tab to transient feature but its quick and easy
The most obvious thing missing is rescan plugins. Just like Maschine and MPC software they did the same thing. Not stable, random crashing, and missing basic features. UA has so much potential it’s not ready for prime time but it is it’s going to be something I don’t think pro tools or studio one will be able to compete with.
Thank you so much for your videos!!! Which microphone is that one you are using in your studio? It sounds incredible and seems very easy to use. Thank you!
Good vid! The amount of work it would take to move processing over to the CPU would likely make Luna $299. The support costs especially. Using the Apollo, that's all dealt with in the box.
They deleted the reviews about people bitching about the fact the Neve Summing wasn't free, if those very people took their heads out of their asses they would of known from the start it wasn't free. So i totally understand why UA deleted these reviews :)
@@louderthanlove4 still no reason to delete them, let them demonstrate their own stupidity in that case, i am sure that they've also deleted good criticism
Was getting into Luna. Been using it for the last couple weeks. Today, after laying down the first track, Luna crashed because it couldn’t reach ilock. That’s it. I’m done. So glad I didn’t spend on uad plugins. The plugins sound great. I dig Luna... but I can’t invest in software that might crash on me. Ableton live have never... as in not once... crashed on me in over 10 years of using it.
This is a dope and accurate video bruv I just got Luna and it won’t even allow me to get passed verifying my interface when my Apollo is plugged in🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️ so I’m already getting a bad taste about Luna
I use Cubase 10 and can’t see why to move to Luna. Got Apollo interfaces and DSP but neither getting a damn I-fuggin-lok nor being connected to internet for opening a session. Great video, man! Thank U.
Love my UA interfaces but I’m just gonna stick with Logic//Pro Tools. It’s just that simple! This was a good full review of Luna v.1 looking forward to seeing UA improve its DAW for use by music professionals
Good video, great points. I have to say, as professional producer with a software programing background, I'm not sure you understand what it would take to run UAD plugins natively. There are reasons they offer the best analog modeling out there, and yes much of that has got to do with how the software (aka plugins) work in conjunction with the hardware. With the topic of latency in particular, you can't do it in the same way natively. Yes I understand (like myself) you can run your native plugins without latency until you start maxing out your cpu. You start getting into the topic of "jitter" though. Jitter is extremely difficult to detect. It just starts to happen when you're using up over eighty percent of your cpu, and really effects the clarity and punch of your mixes. Running plugins on the UAD hardware greatly reduces the chances of jitter. Finally, UAD plugins pretty much always sound most authentic to the hardware they are emulating when compared to their competitors. This has got to do with the process they go through in order to achieve this. There's typically way more going on under the hood of a UAD plugin, and as a result they are MUCH MORE DEMANDING on CPU. An API channel made my UAD takes up almost three times the processing power as a waves. This is not due to poor programing, it's because the AUD plugin is actually doing a lot more to the audio than the Waves counterpart. All that said, I'm not saying UAD's system is better. It's better in some ways just like waves (for example) is better in some ways. I F-ing hate what jitter does to my mixes, which is why I'm heavily invested in the UAD platform. Luna isn't there yet for me, but I'll make the switch as soon as they come out with a version that includes some lacking essentials, like a better comping system for example.
Thanks for the insight. No included plug ins is a deal breaker for me. I get that the interface comes with free plugins, BUT that is not nearly enough. PT comes with a good array of plugins to get you up and running out of the box. I can mix plenty of sessions with stock plugins alone with PT because most of my bases would be covered. I'll have to hold out and wait for it to develop a little more.
not only are your vids dope but the clarity and picture quality is dope. what are you recording your audio with? I have studio one professional, logic x and luna but I have never done a video
You made some great points, but as you said this is relatively new software. My guess is that they will eventually get those bugs figured out and add a lot more of the free features. Obviously this is a platform for selling all of their plug-ins, but I must say I am currently enjoying Luna minus all of the bugs/issues. Thanks man, good video!
One thing you didn't mention, that is probably related to the crashing issue, is that Activity Monitors shows it's super GPU heavy. Fans on med/full blast with the DAW sitting idle. And i have a new 16" macbook pro with 8GB vram.
I love logic except for drum editing. It’s a pain in the ass in logic to edit drums. I usually export to pro tools to do drum edits then import back to logic to mix. This is the only issue I have with logic. I feel like for anyone starting out it’s absolutely the best bang for the buck. The stock instrument library and stock plugins are very good.
@@dominicsinicrope2795 It might just be the case for EDM producers, but Logic doesn't really have a good Drum Machine. It has Ultrabeat which is an outdated ugly synth and a layout for that in the newer versions called Drum Machine Designer. Also if you want to automate a parameter you have to scroll through them unlike in Ableton or Studio One.
The other problem I encounter as a beat maker that is a complete Deal breaker for me. Is MIDI TIME CLOCK! They do not sync midi time clock output so, My MPC which needs to know when to play so my beats can be recorded... Still works great with Ableton and PT. When I can afford the Summing and Tape extensions, Ill probably output and mix in there. Luna is the go to DAW for recording guitar and stuff though.
Funny, great style and more importantly you can tell you know your stuff as your intro music and voice sound well mixed and all. I had to subscribe, but mainly because of the dark side of the luna thing 🌑
