Mountainroad DSP: Lumina Delay Plug-In

A new delay plug-in, you say? I already have dozens of delays and have been pretty happy with my options – but sure, I’ll check it out. Mountainroad DSP may not be a familiar name, but it’s bound to be soon. Over the past few weeks, their Lumina Delay has become a staple in my mix template, regardless of music genre. It’s also turned out to be one of the few plug-ins that I use in both my stereo and Dolby Atmos sessions. In a nutshell, Lumina is a multitap delay plug-in that allows the user to determine the number of repeats (I’ve tried 256 taps!) and then apply panning, filtering, and pitch-shifting to each tap (or Delay Point). I already do all these things with my delays now, except I need a chain of three or four separate plug-ins that I have to automate separately to accomplish most of what Lumina does in one window. Did I mention it supports everything from mono through 7.1.4 channels?

Lumina’s straightforward user interface conceals the depth and sophistication of its controls. Its main GUI displays gridlines from left to right and represents the timing of each Delay Point with a dot that pulses when it’s sounding. You can simply click anywhere on the grid to add a Point and drag it around or option+drag to duplicate the Point. The Points can snap to the grid if you like, and the display allows you to create Points for up to four bars. From top to bottom, the display is divided into rows of controls representing the Points, along with controls for Volume, Pan, Hi Low (high- and low-pass filtering), and Pitch shift (± 1 octave). The controls are intuitive, with familiar right-click and modifier+click behaviors.

I’ve found Lumina incredibly useful for everything from simple slap echoes with filtering, to wild volume-ramping, pitch-shifting, and stuttering delays that fly around the mix – or the room in the 7.1.4 mode. I typically spend the last 10% of my mixing time adding ear candy with vocal effects, and Lumina significantly reduces the number of plug-ins and effort needed to create those unique effects. That said, I sometimes use two or three instances of Lumina in many of my mixes, each set to do something different.

Lumina works well in stereo, and also offers intriguing options for immersive mixing. The plug-in can be inserted directly on a track with a width up to 7.1.4, or instantiated on a mono or stereo track and set to create delay paths up to 7.1.4 channels wide to create a virtual upmix. In 7.1.4 mode, the plug-in allows panning for each Delay Point between left-right, front-back, and bottom-top, with level control for the center and LFE channels. Of course, the filter and Pitch controls are also available for each Point. Dynamic delay effects that move precisely as intended can be created without the need for automation or cryptic auto-pan plug-ins.

I really like this delay, and I’m as jaded as they come regarding new plug-ins! Lumina provides inspiration beyond the usual delay plug-in, making its $34 price tag feel like a steal. If you’re searching for a plug-in that can serve as both a reliable workhorse and a creative powerhouse, you should give Lumina a try.