Lunacy Audio Nova is a place to build and sell your own AI-powered music plugins

Lunacy Audio Nova is a place to build and sell your own AI-powered music plugins. TechEntertainmentNewsLunacy Audio Nova is a place to build and sell your own AI-powered music plug-insIt’s a development platform, a storefront, and a plug-in for your DAW.

What happened

Lunacy, purveyor of fine VST plugins like Cube, a synth that you control by moving a ball around a 3D space, has just launched Nova, a platform where creators can build custom music tools using AI and sell them to others. At first, there will be a handful of instruments available, built either by Lunacy […] Lunacy is developing Nova out in the open, posting developer diaries and actively seeking customer input, in an attempt to avoid some of the same pitfalls and win over wary musicians.

But eventually, the company will launch Nova Builder, which will let anyone build their own plug-ins or remix existing ones. Lunacy envisions Nova as a tinkerers’ paradise. The interface of the Nova plug-in for browsing and loading Nova plug-ins inside your DAW. Screenshot: Terrence O’Brien / The VergePart OfAll the latest in AI ‘music’see all updates Terrence O'Brien is the Verge’s weekend editor. At first, there will be a handful of instruments available, built either by Lunacy or a small selection of partner developers.

The wider picture

What makes Nova different is that plug-ins aren’t built using code in a text editor. It’s not unlike Polyend’s Endless, except instead of vibe-coding a guitar pedal, you’re creating music software anyone can use on their computer. Nova instruments don’t require dedicated hardware. Heck, they don’t even require a digital audio workstation (DAW) and can run directly in a browser. So there’s also a Nova host plug-in that runs in your DAW of choice.

It lets you browse and load any Nova plug-in from your library and swap between them quickly. The tools are never fixed; they are always evolving. ”So far, though, the response from the music-making community to AI has been rather tepid. Terrence O'BrienAppsEntertainmentMusicNewsTechMore in: All the latest in AI ‘music’UMG is suing DistroKid for alleged deceptive trade practices and “blatant copyright infringement. ”Stevie BonifieldSep 15Roland is getting into generative AI music with Melody FlipTerrence O'BrienSep 4Suno yanks ad showing supposed endorsement from Mary J.

What has been reported

It’s a development platform, a storefront, and a plug-in for your DAW. by Terrence O'BrienSep 17, 2026, 2:00 PM UTCIf you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. He’s covered the tech industry for over 18 years and knows a thing or two about synths. There are 10 plug-ins available initially, covering everything from crunchy chiptunes to warbly vintage synths and evil ambient drones. None of them do anything particularly unique, but they all sound pretty solid.

The lo-fi Drift Cassette synth and Silhouettes are my two favorites right off the bat. The former gets you nostalgic ’80s tones, while the latter is all about sci-fi soundscapes. They all have pretty simple interfaces reminiscent of Native Instruments’ Play series, with bright colors and a handful of controls. Instead, they’re assembled using premade effects blocks and AI prompts.

What happens next

Cofounder and CEO Casey Kolb said in a press release that, “Say someone makes a step sequencer and shares it. You open it and wish you could add a custom shimmer reverb to the end of the signal chain. You can add that, then you can share your new version with a friend, and that friend expands it further. Tools like Endless have been met with, at best, cautious curiosity, and at worst, outright hostility.

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