Using MCU Control Surfaces with LUNA – Universal Audio Support Home 28/03/2025, 10:44

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LUNA
Application Using MCU Control
Manual
About the
Surfaces with LUNA
LUNA Updated 2 years ago
Manual

Download MCU Control Surface Support in LUNA

the LUNA
Manual Setting up your MCU Control Surface with LUNA

About
MCU Control Surface Mix and Transport Features
LUNA
Application Control Surface Function Keys

LUNA
Control Surface Automation Features
Concepts
Getting Control Surface Navigation Features
Started
Using Markers in LUNA with a Control Surface
with LUNA

Using Using V-Pots on a Control Surface

LUNA
Using Bus Spill on a Control Surface
Using
LUNA on Undo
Windows

Using
LUNA with
Core Audio

Working
with Tracks
Working in

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the
Timeline MCU Control Surface
Display

Importing Support in LUNA

Session
LUNA supports MCU-compatible (Mackie Control Universal-
Data
compatible) MIDI control surface devices for externally adjusting
Recording
LUNA’s functions. You can configure up to six control surfaces in
Audio
LUNA settings. When you connect multiple multi-fader control
Editing
surfaces, they present as one large fader set, so banking and
Audio and
Using the navigating through tracks works across all control surfaces.
Editing Tool
In addition, LUNA includes a special control mode for a single fader
Playing a
control surface, such as the Presonus Faderport. LUNA
Virtual
automatically recognizes the most popular single fader control
Instrument
and surfaces, and configures them in focus module mode. Focus
Recording module mode allows single fader surfaces to better integrate with
MIDI additional control surfaces. A focus module controls the most
Working recently selected (focused) track, or a bus track when a bus is
with MIDI spilled.
on
Instrument Note: This documentation describes LUNA’s functions with mixing
Tracks control surfaces that use the MCU protocol. Your MCU control
Working surface might not have all of these functions, and some functions
with Audio might be accessed with secondary/modifier keys on the control
in the surface. Consult your control surface’s documentation for
Timeline
operating instructions that are specific to the device.
Using the
Mixer
Using Insert
Plug-Ins
Focus Module overview
Using Multi- A focus module allows you to always have the track or bus you are
Output working with at your fingertips, while one or more other control
Plug-Ins in
surfaces with more channels work seamlessly alongside the focus
LUNA

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Bouncing module to provide deeper mix control capabilities. When you

and define a single-fader control surface in LUNA control surface
Freezing
settings, that control surface should be automatically configured as
Tracks
a focus module.
Sidechaining
in LUNA A focus module has the following features:
Using MCU
Functions as a separate control surface from additional
Control
Surfaces surface modules, which is isolated from channel banking and
with LUNA nudging, ensuring that the selected track always remains

Using assigned to your designated control surface.

Track
When a bus is not spilled, the focus module shows the focus
Groups
channel (the most recently selected channel). The focus
Automation
module maintains this channel, even as you bank or navigate
Working
channel-by-channel through tracks on another control
with
surface.
Sessions

Accelerated When a bus is spilled, the focus module switches to show the
Realtime bus channel, regardless of the selected channel.
Monitoring
Only one focus module can be defined at a time.
Configuring
LUNA Note: When you have enabled a focus module, and Show Main
Settings
Track is off, when you select the Main track it does not appear on
Customizing the focus module. It is assumed that when you disable Show Main
LUNA
Track, you are using a control surface that includes a dedicated
Keyboard
Main Track fader.
Shortcuts

Default
Keyboard
Shortcuts
and Menu
Reference
(macOS)
Default Setting up your MCU
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Keyboard
Shortcuts Control Surface with
and Menu
Reference LUNA
(Windows)
Connect your control surfaces to your computer, and make sure
they are recognized or configured as required. A USB control
surface typically only requires that it is connected and powered on,
while a virtual control surface might require more extensive
configuration. Refer to your control surface’s documentation for
specific details.

Notes:

For specific configuration steps and known issues for

supported control surfaces, see this article.

Any required software and device firmware for your control

surface should be installed and up to date.

To set up your control surfaces with LUNA

1 Open the LUNA Sidebar by clicking the UA diamond
logo on the left of the screen, and clicking Settings, or
choose LUNA > Preferences from the app menu.

2 Click Controllers.

3 In one of the MIDI Control Surface rows, click under

Input Device and select a connected MIDI control
surface from the drop menu.
MIDICONTROLSURFACES

ON INPUTDEVICE OUTPUT

NONE
2
Networkdaw-control(3)
3 PreSonusFP2

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4 In the same MIDI Control Surface row, click under

6

Output Device and select the same MIDI control

surface.
MIDICONTROLSURFACES

ON INPUTDEVICE OUTPUT

1 PreSonusFP2

2
NONE

Networkdaw-control(3)
3 PreSonusFP2

5 Select the box in the On column to enable the control

6

surface.

6 If the control surface is a single fader control surface,

the Focus Module box is automatically selected. if you
do not want to use the control surface to follow the
focused track, or to control a bus when the bus is
spilled, deselect this box. See Focus Module overview
for more information.

7 If the surface is an extender module (for example, a

Behringer X-Touch Extender or an additional SSL UF8
used as an extender), click the Extender box.

Tip: If your single fader control surface is not automatically

configured as a focus module, check the focus module box. (To
have your control surface considered for addition to the supported
controllers list, you can submit feedback by clicking the feedback
button in the upper right corner of the LUNA window.)

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Reordering MCU control

surfaces
When you have two or more MIDI control surfaces defined in
LUNA, you can reorder control surfaces to change the order of
tracks on the control surfaces.

To reorder MIDI control surfaces

1 Open the LUNA Sidebar by clicking the UA diamond
logo on the left of the screen, and clicking Settings, or
choose LUNA > Preferences from the app menu.

2 Click Controllers.

3 Click the number of the MIDI control surface you want

to reorder, and drag to the new location.

The control surfaces are reordered. If you have an open session,

the tracks are reallocated between the control surfaces.

Configuring MIDI control

surface settings
You can configure settings for how the control surface works with

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LUNA. To configure these settings:

1 Open the LUNA Sidebar by clicking the UA diamond

logo on the left of the screen, and clicking Settings, or
choose LUNA > Preferences from the app menu.

2 Click Controllers.

3 Adjust the settings as described in this section. The

control surface is active when its ON button is lit.

Surface Shows Tracks From

Main Window: The control surface always registers tracks
from the main window, even if you open and switch focus to
alternate windows.

Focused Window: The control surface registers tracks from

the currently focused window, whether main or an alternate.

Bank to Selected Track

On: When you select a track, the control surface banks to
show the bank which contains the selected track.

Off: You bank the control surface manually, and selecting a

track in LUNA does not change the bank position on the
faders.

Scroll LUNA When Banking

On: When you switch banks on the control surface, this
option scrolls LUNA to show the tracks in the bank in LUNA
on both the mixer and timeline. Note that if you have large

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track heights, not all tracks in a bank might show.

Off: LUNA’s mixer and timeline windows do not adjust when

you switch banks on the control surface.

Show Main Track

On: Shows the Main track in the group of faders on the
control surface. LUNA automatically places the Main track on
the master fader for any control surface that supports it, but
you can use this setting to show the Main track fader when
you are using a control surface that doesn’t have a dedicated
master fader.

Off: Does not show the Main track on the group of faders on
the control surface. Use this when your control surface has a
dedicated master fader, and you don’t want to duplicate the
Main track fader.

Note: When you have enabled a focus module, and Show Main
Track is off, when you select the Main track it does not appear on
the focus module. It is assumed when you disable Show Main Track
that you are using a control surface that includes a dedicated Main
Track fader.

Use Surface Fader Taper

On: LUNA adheres to the markings and positions on the
control surface as closely as possible. For example, if you set
a track to -15 dB, the control surface fader will register at the
-15 dB mark on the control surface. This allows you to use the
fader throw on the control surface as it was originally
designed, instead of as it is represented in LUNA.

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Off: LUNA sets the faders to represent the physical fader

orientation in LUNA, without adhering to the markings and
numbers on the control surface. When you choose this
setting, the fader layout on the control surface adopts the
values of API Vision Console extensions on a track, or Neve
or API Summing on a bus or the main track, just as it adjusts
onscreen in LUNA.

MCU Control Surface

Mix and Transport
Features
Typical MCU-compatible control surfaces have some common mix
and transport features. These include transport functions, track-
level functions, and function keys.

Transport Functions
MCU-compatible control surfaces use standardized controls for
the system transport.

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Play/pause
Starts playback. Press the key again to stop playback.

Stop
Stops playback.

Record arm (global)

Record-arms the transport using the global record function. This
allows you to record on any record-armed tracks.

Loop
Turns loop playback on and off.

Fast forward/rewind
The fast forward and rewind keys on your transport go to the start

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of the session (return to zero) and to the end of the session.

Track functions
Per-track functions are available on your control surface.

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Name
The name of the track, abbreviated if necessary.

Note: Not all control surfaces represent the name of the track.

Pan readout
The value of the track pan setting.
Note: Not all control surfaces represent the track pan readout.

Select
Selects the track on the control surface and in LUNA. If you have a
focus module, the selected track appears on that module. If you
select multiple tracks, the last-selected track appears on the focus
module.

Solo
Solos the track.

Mute
Mutes the track.

Record Arm (track)

Record arms an audio or instrument track. On a bus or on the main
track, this spills the bus or main track.

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Volume fader
Controls the volume level of the track.

Pan
Pans the track. On a stereo track, this works like simple stereo pan
mode, and pans both left and right channels so the audio result
matches the pan knob on the control surface.

Click and Metronome

Some control surfaces implement a Click or Metronome button
which toggles the LUNA click on and off.

Control Surface Function

Keys
Function keys are an MCU standard, but not all control surfaces
include them, and some control surfaces may have a limited set of
function keys. LUNA supports the function keys F1 and F2.

F1
Toggles between timeline and mixer views.

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F2
Spills the main bus.

Control Surface
Automation Features
The following control surface track automation features are
available in LUNA. To change the automation mode with a control
surface, a track must be selected. The automation mode of a
selected track is displayed on the control surface.

Note: Write mode is not supported in LUNA.

Read
Toggles between automation Read and automation Off mode.

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Touch
Toggles automation Touch mode.

Latch
Toggles automation Latch mode.

Trim
Toggles Trim automation mode while Read, Latch, or Touch are
enabled.

Control Surface
Navigation Features
MCU-compatible control surfaces include several features for
navigating, resizing and zooming tracks in the timeline view.

Bank, next/previous track,

and channel functions
Most control surfaces have banking and/or nudging features that
shift the faders on the control surface to the left or right by eight or

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by one. Other control surfaces have a combination of banking and

channel selection features that can shift the faders on the control
surface to the left or right by eight, but can also select the next or
previous track.

Banking and nudging typically occurs without changing the track

selection, and simply changes which faders the control surface
shows. However, control surfaces that use channel selection to
nudge cause the track selection to change, and can shift the
control surface faders as the track selection is moved out of the
fader area.

Different banking, channel navigation, and channel selection

buttons are shown below.

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Next and previous tracks

and next and previous
markers
Some surfaces have a 4-way arrow key pad for navigation.

The up and down arrows move the track selection one track
to the left or right.

The right and left arrows move to the next or previous

marker.

Scroll functions
Some control surfaces implement scrolling features with arrow
keys, knobs, or a jog wheel. Typically, these controls allow you to
navigate forward and backward one bar at a time. Scrolling
functions might be labeled Jog, Scroll, or Next/Previous.

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Zoom and resize functions

Some control surfaces implement timeline zoom and track height
controls. For example, with the DAW Control app as shown below,
the arrow buttons flash red when zoom functions are active.

Zoom in
Zooms timeline data larger horizontally.

Zoom out
Zooms timeline data smaller horizontally.

Reduce all track heights

Makes all tracks smaller vertically.

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Increase all track heights

Makes all tracks larger vertically.

Using Markers in LUNA

with a Control Surface
If your control surface includes a Marker button, you can use this to
add a marker. You can also navigate between markers.

Place a marker
Press the Marker key on your control surface. This opens the
marker browser, and you can optionally type a name for the marker
and choose a color, then click Apply to add the marker.

Navigate between markers

You can navigate between markers in different ways, depending
on your control surface. On control surfaces that have arrow keys,
use the right and left arrow keys to navigate between markers. On
others, you may have to press the Section button, then use a
control such as a jog wheel or knob to navigate between markers.

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Using V-Pots on a
Control Surface
If your MCU control surface has V-Pots, LUNA supports additional
features on that surface.

Single Sends and CUEs V-

Pot Mode
Press and hold the designated SENDS or CUES V-Pot assign
buttons, then press down on the encoder to cause all V-Pots to
display a given send or cue.

Expanded Sends and Cues

V-Pot Mode
MCU surfaces with V-Pots can show expanded controls for a
selected track's sends and cues.

Press the designated send or cue mode button on your MCU

surface to cycle through send and cue overview and detail pages,
which allow control of the parameters on a selected track.

Flip Faders
If your MCU controller has a Flip function, press Flip to swap the

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LUNA controls displayed on the V-Pots with those on the faders.

Using Bus Spill on a

Control Surface
You can spill a bus by pressing the Record Arm button on a bus
track. Bus track spill is dependent on your bus and track layout in
LUNA, the number of faders and control surfaces in your control
surface layout, and the number of tracks spilled.

Bus spill: no focus module

When you spill a bus and you do not have a focus module
configured, the bus track appears fixed at the right or left of one
control surface, and the spilled tracks appear to the other side on
the same or multiple control surfaces, with empty faders in
between (if your bus spills less tracks than the control surface can
represent). The bus fader remains fixed in that location, even if you
navigate through tracks or banks on the control surface, so it is
always available to adjust. The bus position is determined by the
order of the bus in relation to its source tracks in LUNA.

In the example below, using DAW Control on iPadOS, the bus spills
tracks to the right of the bus control track.

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Bus spill (no focus module)

Bus spill: with focus module

When you have a defined focus module in LUNA settings, and you
spill a bus, that module automatically takes control of the fader for
the spilled bus. The bus fader is locked on the focus module, while
the rest of the tracks appear on your other control surface or
control surfaces. This allows you to mix the bus with a single fader,
while the other modules are spilled onto one or more other control
surfaces.

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Bus spill (with focus module)

When you “unspill” the bus, by disabling Record Arm on the focus
module, the focus module again controls the focused track.

Controlling Extensions
and plug-ins
Many control surfaces can control Extensions Extensions and plug-
ins in LUNA.

For information on controlling Extensions and plug-ins with your

MCU device, see the specific article for your control surface:

Behringer

DAW Control

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iCon Pro Audio

ONE Control Plus

Presonus FaderPort

SSL UF8

V-Control

Undo
If your control surface has an Undo button, it controls LUNA’s undo
function.

Note: LUNA does not support Redo from a control surface.

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