WORLD OF MUSIC ; PORTABLE KEYBOARD - Latest Portable Music Keyboards, Synthesizers and Music News

Ahead of NAMM 2025 Universal Audio has announced Luna v1.8, with some big updates to a DAW that was already free. So how much more of a bargain do you want? There’s got to be a catch, right?

Luna is Universal Audio’s free DAW, although UA doesn’t really like us using the term ‘DAW’. That’s because Luna offers a near latency-free recording environment, very much based on hardware studios of old, with a slick vintage feel and one of the most seamless recording experiences yet.

Yes, it is pushing the UA ecosphere and plugins, but the base version is free, no longer requires you to partner with UA hardware, runs third-party plugins and records unlimited tracks. To our feeble brains, then, Luna has enough qualities to call it… a DAW. An attractive and slick one at that.

There is, of course, a more fully-endowed, paid-for version of Luna should you wish to part with some cash, but the v1.8 updates apply to the free version as well so all the new goodies are yours for nowt, and these include some worthy additions.

Yes, many of these you might already find in your (very likely) much older and mature DAW, but Luna is very much the new kid on the block – a mere five years old, compared to some DAWs which have been around for decades – so we can forgive these features not arriving until now.

First up there’s Bounce in Place, allowing you to render your tracks to audio at the touch of a button. A once essential practice in the old days of slow processor speeds, this enables you to free up CPU headroom by losing active plugins.

Track presets, meanwhile, enable you to save plugin chain setups and routing configurations for easy recall and time saving. An enhanced browser – very much ‘the thing’ of many recent DAW updates – is also present and correct, with Browser Tabs enabling you to home in on sounds and plugins.

Various bug fixes and workflow enhancements have also been included in the 1.8 update, so should you be heading over to the UA website for the freebie version?

Well, that free version gets you unlimited tracks (OK, limited by your processor grunt), full analogue summing, Tape Machines recording, plus channel strips, bus and parallel compression built into the Luna mixer. Needless to say, it’s very easy to buy UA plugins to fit into the Luna environment – which UA would obviously love you to do – but the free Luna option does deliver a very pleasing and slick recording environment.

The Pro version (above) adds a bundle of over a dozen classic UA plugins to effectively recreate a vintage studio in your DAW. Think Pultec, API, Ampex… you can almost smell the reel-to-reel tape. The Pro Luna bundle usually retails for $399, but as part of the 1.8 Luna launch, you can currently get it for just $99.

Which only leaves us to insert some puns featuring the words ‘sheer lunacy!’, which thankfully we’ve resisted. Head on over to the UA website for more (information that is, not lunacy).

At the 2025 NAMM Show, Roland is making the Show debut of the JUNO-D synthesizer series, a new generation of synthesizer keyboards for gigging musicians and budding music creators.

The JUNO-D6, JUNO-D7, and JUNO-D8 models feature portable designs with “pro-grade” sounds, easy operation, and flexible connectivity.

The official JUNO-D overview:

JUNO-D models feature high-quality keyboards inherited from the FANTOM-0 series instruments. The 61-note JUNO-D6 and 76-note JUNO-D7 are equipped with synth-action keyboards, while JUNO-D8 offers a piano-style experience with 88 weighted-action keys and hammer action.

Other than the keyboards and physical specifications, all JUNO-D models offer identical features.

Every JUNO-D is designed to be easy to transport and simple to operate, either for live performancer or arranging using the built-in sequencer.

The instruments can be powered via AC or a standard USB-C mobile battery, making them ideal on-the-go solutions for stage playing, creating music content in a home studio, or performing on the street.

JUNO-D features the same ZEN-Core engine found in Roland top-tier synths. Over 3800 sounds are available, including acoustic and electric pianos, vintage and modern synths, organs, orchestral instruments, world sounds, and more.

It’s also possible to import WAV samples to recreate specific sounds. Roland Cloud also provides a library of Sound Packs and Wave Expansions, available through membership or Lifetime Key purchases.

With a free Roland account, JUNO-D owners can access a complimentary collection of ZEN-Core Sound Packs to get started. Players can take creative command with a generous selection of hands-on controls for real-time sound adjustment. Dedicated buttons offer direct access to 16 sound categories, while Dual, Split, and Super Layer functions are available to combine tones or assign different parts to the left and right hands. With Favorites, the user can quickly recall tailor-made sounds for every song on the setlist.

JUNO-D Audio Demos:

JUNO-D also provides powerful tools for developing musical ideas and playing with backing tracks.

There’s an eight-track sequencer with TR-REC step input and real-time recording options, plus eight phrase pads to trigger rhythm patterns or mute tracks to shape arrangements on the fly. Arpeggiator and chord memory functions are easily accessible to generate even more creative possibilities.

JUNO-D players can add vocals to their performances using the built-in mic input and professional effects, including compression, EQ, reverb, and noise suppression. Auto pitch and vocoder effects are also available to add the modern colors heard in current pop music.

The integrated audio/MIDI USB-C interface provides class-compliant support for a driverless connection to mobile devices and computers. Users can create and perform with their favorite music production software and infuse livestreams and music videos with pristine direct sound. Each JUNO-D model has balanced stereo audio outputs to connect with studio speakers, a stage amp, or a house PA, plus a headphone jack for quiet practice and developing musical ideas.

It is also possible to play backing tracks and songs through the JUNO-D system from a smartphone or computer via USB-C or a flash drive connected to the dedicated USB memory port.,

The Roland JUNO-D Series, JUNO-D6, JUNO-D7, and JUNO-D8 are now available for $899.99, $1,149.99, and $1,299.99 respectively. More information is available on the Roland website.

At the 2025 NAMM Show, held Jan 21–25 in Anaheim, CA, Roland is showcasing EARTH Piano, a powerful software-based musical instrument available on Roland Cloud.

EARTH Piano features multiple acoustic piano types and deep customization options, via an intuitive user interface. It’s based on detailed multi-sampling with proprietary modeling techniques.

The official intro video:

EARTH Piano includes seven distinctive instruments that can be modified to taste.

There are resonant concert grands for jazz and classical styles, polished and punchy pianos for studio tracks, and upright, felt, and toy pianos.

Players can control the temperament, stereo width, and dynamic range and tweak physical sounds like cabinet resonance, string resonance, pedal noise, and more. They can also adjust each key’s tuning, volume, and character to create the perfect tone and response for a performance or track.

EARTH Piano’s Venue effect leverages advanced convolution techniques to place a piano in nine different spaces derived from real locations, such as a spacious cathedral, a world-class concert hall, or an intimate studio or lounge setting. With a click on the visual display, the listening perspective can be changed to access a variety of aural experiences within every space. Algorithmic reverbs are also available for standard mixing applications.

EARTH Piano includes a wide selection of integrated studio-grade effects for enhancing sounds. Users can shape the overall tone with a three-band EQ and use the multi-mode compressor to create the ideal dynamic response. There are also 90 multi-effects combinations available to add subtle color or take conventional piano sounds into unexplored sonic territories.

The Roland EARTH Piano is now available with a Lifetime Key purchase or Roland Cloud Ultimate membership, which users can try for free with a 30-day all-access trial. To learn more, visit Roland.com.