Portfolio

The idea behind the LUNA project is changing the acoustics of an ambient processing a stereo or mid-side track. Unlike digital plugins, we developed a fully analog audio gear to do that: LUNA.

The LUNA accepts two input channel in Stereo or Mid-Side mode. An internal encoder converts the input signal to M-S while a decoder converts the output signal back to Stereo. The encoder is of course bypassed when LUNA is in M-S mode. The audio output is in stereo mode only and the Master Volume controls it. We have implemented an additional M-S output as well.

The heart of the LUNA is its Analog Ambient Processor. The LUNA takes information from the track plus two additional parameters: MONO and DEPTH. The Analog Processor implements all the informations and through a complex audio matrix it returns a processed stereo signal.

The two MONO and DEPTH are key controls on LUNA.

More in detail, the MONO manages all those signal components that have no remarkable phase difference between Left and Right.

The DEPTH control, conversely, manages all those signal components that have a remarkable phase difference between Left and Right.

The result is the creation of two layers: a foreground managed by the Mono control and a background managed by the Depth control. Those two layers can be managed independently.

The MONO pushes “in your face” – for instance the voice of the frontman – and the DEPTH extends the Left-Right – for instance the band playing.

You deal with the froreground and/or background separately and benefit of an high degree of independance. Unlike a SIDE standard control, you do not artificially stretch the whole stereo loosing the focus of every single elements.

If you are able to move the foreground back and forth and to extend the background (its L-R boundaries), you get a kind of three-dimentional sound. The foreground elements are more focused and detaild while the background elements surround the L-R sonic stage, extending it.

It’s like drawing on a paper sheet whith perspective.

For the reason explained above, we named our LUNA ‘Vari-Amb’ as it stands for VARIable AMBient.

A dedicated three-band EQ has been implemented for each MONO and DEPTH controls to offer a further flexibility to the engineer.

The management of the Inserts, an independent listening of the Mid and Side (the Cut switches) along with a true bypass – for an esay A/B comparison – integrate the LUNA features.

The MCAudioLab’s LUNA goes beyond a normal Mid-Side processor.

It is used in recording (between the preamp and the converter), as well as in mixing and mastering.

An excellent analog tool full of controls that helps the engineer to give color and get airy tracks as well as the producer to add that touch of creativity.