Thursday, 5 Mar 2026

Multi-Output Drums in Luna: Complete Setup Guide

Unlock Advanced Drum Mixing in Luna

If you've struggled with processing individual drum elements in Luna, multi-output routing solves your mixing limitations. This guide transforms single-track instruments into fully customizable drum kits—essential for compression, EQ, and spatial control. After testing this with Easy Drummer 3 and BFD Player, I'll show you why this elevates Luna productions beyond stereo limitations.

Prerequisite: Luna 1.7+ (Verify via UA Connect > About Luna). Older versions lack multi-output support.

Configuring Easy Drummer 3

Step 1: Instrument Setup

  • Create a stereo instrument track
  • Select Easy Drummer 3
  • Enable the multi-output mixer (toggle icon)

Step 2: Channel Routing

  1. Open Easy Drummer’s mixer
  2. Set Multi-Channel routing
  3. Assign outputs:
    • Kicks: Output 1-2 (grouped)
    • Snare Top: Output 3-4
    • Snare Bottom: Output 5-6
    • Hi-Hats: Output 7-8
    • Toms: Output 9-10 (grouped)
    • Overheads: Output 13-14

Step 3: Create Output Tracks

  • Click the + in the multi-output mixer
  • Name each track (e.g., "Snare Top")
  • Verify channels match assignments (auto-detects next available)
  • Skip tape/console emulation unless needed

Pro Tip: Rename parent track to "Kick" post-setup—it becomes your kick channel.

Routing BFD Player (Free Alternative)

Since Luna only supports VST3 (excluding MT Power Drum Kit), use BFD Player:

  1. Create instrument track > Select BFD Player
  2. In BFD’s mixer:
    • Kick: Mono 1
    • Snare: Mono 2
    • Hi-Hat: Mono 3
    • Toms: Mono 4 (grouped)

Critical Note: Luna assigns mono tracks sequentially after stereo:

  • Mono 1 = Channel 17
  • Mono 2 = Channel 18
  • Always verify in More Settings

Advanced Workflow: Bus Grouping

Group drums for unified processing:

  1. Create a Bus Track (Track > New > Bus)
  2. Name it (e.g., "Drum Bus")
  3. Select all drum tracks in Mixer view
  4. Change output from Main to your bus
  5. Add bus compression/limiting once

Mixer Shortcuts:

  • Adjust levels via multi-output mixer or faders
  • Use shift-select for batch edits

Key Solutions to Common Roadblocks

Problem: Bleed between tracks (e.g., snare in kick mic)
Solution: This mirrors real drum recording—use gates/EQ to isolate

Problem: Outputs not registering
Fix:

  • Confirm Luna is v1.7+
  • Recheck channel assignments in the plugin
  • Restart Luna if channels freeze

Problem: VST2 plugins not working
Why: Luna exclusively uses VST3

Your Multi-Output Action Checklist

  1. Update Luna via UA Connect
  2. Assign outputs in your drum plugin’s mixer
  3. Create + name output tracks in Luna
  4. Group tracks into a bus (optional)
  5. Process individual elements with:
    • Compression on snares/kicks
    • EQ on cymbals
    • Reverb on rooms

Tool Recommendations:

  • Beginner: BFD Player (free, lightweight)
  • Professional: Easy Drummer 3 (deep customization)
  • Mixing: Luna’s built-in API Vision Channel Strip

Final Thoughts

Multi-output routing transforms Luna into a powerhouse for drum production. By isolating elements, you gain surgical control—critical for modern mixes. As you implement this, ask yourself: Which drum component needs the most processing in your current project? Share your challenges in the comments!

Experience Insight: Always group toms—they’re rarely processed individually. Overheads, however, demand precise stereo imaging.

Next Step: Explore Luna’s console emulations on bus tracks for analog-style glue compression.

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