Universal Audio’s LUNA 3.0 adds stem separation, audio-to-MIDI and a faster recording mode

Universal Audio has released LUNA 3.0, the largest update yet to its macOS and Windows DAW. The new version arrives with a clearer split between LUNA Free and the paid LUNA Studio, while adding stem separation, a new fast-capture mode called LUNA Play and a group of analysis tools that move the software further into assisted production workflows.

The headline features are unusually practical for club producers. LUNA Free can separate a stereo mix into four stems, while LUNA Studio expands that to six. The paid version also adds audio-to-MIDI conversion, lyric transcription and chord extraction, with the latter two powered by Moises. These are not background utilities hidden behind the mixer; they are designed to sit directly inside the arrangement and writing process.

Four stems for free, six in Studio

Stem separation is the most immediate addition for remixing, sampling and DJ-adjacent production. In LUNA Free, a full stereo file can be split into vocals, drums, bass and a fourth ‘other’ stem. Studio increases the separation to six tracks, giving more room to isolate elements before processing, replacing parts or converting them into MIDI.

For electronic music, that workflow is useful in several directions. A producer can pull a vocal out of a reference track, study a drum arrangement, separate a bass line before rebuilding it, or turn an isolated phrase into source material for a new part. The obvious copyright questions around sampling do not disappear simply because the software makes separation easier, but technically the process now happens inside the DAW rather than through a separate service.

Audio-to-MIDI moves the analysis into the arrangement

LUNA Studio’s audio-to-MIDI feature goes one step beyond separation. An audio performance or sample can be converted into editable MIDI, making it possible to replace a sound, double it with a virtual instrument or use the detected performance as the basis for a different arrangement. For producers who already move between sampled material and programmed parts, that can remove several export-and-import steps.

Chord Extraction works on polyphonic audio and writes the result to LUNA’s Chord Track. Lyric Transcription creates a time-aligned text view of a vocal performance. Both are powered by Moises, and both reflect a broader shift in production software: analysis features that once lived in specialist applications are being pulled into the main timeline.

LUNA Play targets the moment before a full session exists

LUNA Play is UA’s attempt to reduce setup before recording. It detects the connected instrument, sets input levels and loads a suggested UAD plug-in chain. The company describes it as closer to a voice-memo workflow than a traditional blank DAW session, but it still connects to the wider LUNA environment once the idea develops.

That matters because many DAWs have spent years adding depth while leaving the first minute of a session largely unchanged. Creating tracks, choosing inputs, setting gain and building a monitoring chain can feel routine to experienced users, but it is still friction. LUNA Play is aimed at removing exactly that layer rather than adding another editing page.

The free tier is much less restricted than the name suggests

LUNA Free keeps unlimited tracks and now adds Folder Tracks, a redesigned Piano Roll, scale-aware MIDI editing, Adaptive Grid, Clip Gain Automation, Strip Silence, Click Track Automation and four-part stem separation. It also includes eight UAD plug-ins through UAD Explore Free. There is no time limit or watermark.

LUNA Studio costs $199 as a one-off purchase. It includes 30 UAD plug-ins and instruments, LUNA’s tape and console extensions, six ARA plug-ins and the advanced smart tools. It is also included in the new UAD Spark Studio subscription, priced by Universal Audio at $19.99 per month or $149.99 per year.

The significant part of LUNA 3.0 is the way these additions connect. Stem extraction feeds audio-to-MIDI; chord analysis feeds the Chord Track; LUNA Play feeds quickly captured ideas into the full DAW. UA is betting that fewer hand-offs between specialised tools will matter more to producers than another isolated headline feature.