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Universal Audio Announces Luna DAW Updated With AI-Powered Tools

14 Jul, 2025 No Comment

Universal Audio has announced Luna v1.9, an update to Luna, its free DAW, that introduces a number of AI-powered assistive features including voice control, instrument detection, tempo extraction and more.

Originally launched in 2020 as low-latency recording environment for owners of UA hardware, Luna was made available free to all Mac users in 2023 before a Windows version was launched in May 2024.

Luna has a toolbox of UA’s analogue emulations baked into its mixing workflow, integrating the sound of classic channel strips, mixing consoles, and tape machines into the DAW itself.

Luna’s 1.9 update brings the vintage-inspired software squarely into the 21st-century with several AI-powered tools designed to make the recording process easier and more efficient.

First up is Voice Control, which allows users to start and stop recording by saying “Hey Luna” from anywhere in the room, a feature intended to help musicians stay in the creative flow of a performance without having to interact with their DAW. (This feature is currently only supported on Apple Silicon Macs.)

Luna 1.9 also introduces Instrument Detection, which analyzes incoming audio to identify instrument types, automatically naming and colour-coding the relevant tracks accordingly.

Also new in Luna’s latest update is Tempo Listen, which monitors incoming audio as you perform and sets the DAW’s metronome to match your playing, and Tempo Detection, which automatically detects the tempo of any audio file dropped into the timeline. Luna can also extract a dynamic tempo map from tracks or stems with tempo changes and timing variations using its Tempo Extraction feature.

“We believe that the best audio tools can ‘disappear,’ and feel like they are simply a part of the creative process,” Universal Audio CEO Bill Putnam Jr. said in a press release.

“We think the new AI-powered tools in Luna 1.9 start to make it feel like a behind-the-scenes music recording partner, not just a DAW. Ultimately, we always look forward to hearing what our users think.”

Luna 1.9 is a free update for all macOS and Windows users, and no UA hardware is required.

Find out more and download Luna on Universal Audio website.

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XTRIKE Impact-Driven Wavetable Synthesizer First Look

13 Jul, 2025 No Comment

X Audio Systems has introduced XTRIKE, a stereo polyphonic, multitimbral wavetable synthesizer.

Here’s what they have to say about it:

“XTRIKE’s dual-daisy architecture combines a magnetic bender and an expressive pad, offering a tactile, soft impact-driven interface that feels like a percussive instrument while harnessing the full power of a modern synthesizer. Beyond traditional percussive sounds, XTRIKE empowers users to craft intricate, evolving soundscapes through its advanced wavetable synthesis engine and experimental toolset.”

Features:

Synthesizer – A 4-voice polyphonic, analog-controlled wavetable synthesizer with robust processing and many effects.
Tuning – An intuitive auto-tuning and micro-tuning engine for precise pitch control and cultural exploration.
Sequencer – A dynamic 16-step sequencer for crafting complex compositions directly on the instrument.
Loop/Multi – 20 seconds of stereo sampling, looping, processing, multilayering for real-time creativity.

XTRIKE is now in pre-launch phase on Indiegogo. You can sign-up with your email to get a €200 super-early-bird discount. Details on pricing and availability are to be announced.

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VHS Home Video Flavor Box For Mac + Windows

12 Jul, 2025 No Comment

Audio Hertz VHS Home Video Flavor Box is a plugin that’s designed to recreate the the sonic fingerprint of VHS playback.

The plugin is modeled on two consumer VCRs, each with its own personality and sonic character:

1979 JVC Vidstar HR-7600U — One of the earliest home VCRs ever made. Heavy, noisy, and built like a tank. When driven, it delivers smooth distortion with a unique bass boost.
2001 Panasonic PV-V4521 — Driven hard, it produces an extremely flavorful, gritty overdrive.

The result is a plugin that brings you back to the “beautifully nostalgic, imperfect world of analog home video.”

Features:

VCR Saturation – The developers say that they pushed the inputs of consumer VCRs, to capture the unique distortion they produce when overloaded.
Built-In Limiter – Fully adjustable. Emulates VCR-style limiting to deliver squashed dynamics.
8-Band Graphic EQ – Sculpt your sound with precision. Clean up the grit, carve space, or push the VHS flavor even further.
Noise, Wow & Flutter – Dial in texture, movement and wear to match your track. Add noise or extreme wow and flutter for creative character.

An overview, via Radium Records:

VHS Home Video Flavor Box is available now with an intro price of $39 (normally $59).