
Mela – AUv3: Synth, FX, MIDI 4+
Modular Music-Making
Nikolozi Meladze
-
- Free
- Offers In-App Purchases
Screenshots
Description
Mela 6.7 adds new features to Note Stack, Note Pulse, and Note Range modules, and much more.
Mela is a modular music-making tool that scales with your needs. With its intuitive interface, you can seamlessly build fully custom polyphonic synthesisers, unique audio effects, and complex MIDI processors. Mela can run as a standalone app on iOS and macOS or as an AUv3 plug-in inside your favourite DAW such as AUM, Cubasis, Drambo, Logic Pro and many more.
In Mela, presets are constructed using modules arranged on lanes, where signals flowing through the lanes are processed by the modules. Audio and MIDI signals can be sent and received to and from the host or routed between lanes using internal buses. Modulator modules can target any module parameter on any lane. Lanes and modules are easily added, removed, or rearranged, allowing you to design presets as simple or complex as needed. Mela comes with 91 modules, with new ones added with every update. The following are some examples from different categories.
- MIDI processors: arpeggiator, chord, Euclidean sequencer, note echo, note modifiers, scale, strummer.
- Synth building blocks: virtual-analog oscillator, FM operator, phaseshaping, noise, VA filter, amp envelope.
- Modulators: envelope follower, envelope generator, LFO, macro control, MIDI source, random.
- Audio effects: chorus, delay, distortion, flanger, phaser, dynamics processors, comb filter, EQ, stereo panner.
- Utilities: level and correlation metering, audio oscilloscope, MIDI capture, MIDI logger, notepad.
Mela can be loaded inside a host as one of the following plug-in types: Instrument, Audio Effect or MIDI Processor. The only difference is the number of audio and MIDI inputs and outputs. Otherwise, the features are identical, and a preset created in one type can be opened by another.
Modules are organised into collections. Collection 0 is free, allowing you to test out Mela's features. Other collections can be purchased via in-app purchases. Every Mela 6.x update will add new modules to Collection 4. You only need to purchase it once. The following is a list of all modules.
Collection 0:
Amp Envelope, Arpeggiator, Audio In, Audio Out, Group, LFO, Meter, MIDI In, MIDI Out, MIDI-to-Poly, Notepad, Overlap Remover, Poly-to-Audio, Relative Pitch, Stereo Delay, Transposer, VA Filter, VA Oscillator, Volume.
Collection 1:
Balance, Chord, Chorus, Control Change, Compressor, Distortion, DS Oscillator, Envelope Generator, Envelope Follower, Flanger, Glide, Level, MIDI Logger, MIDI Source, Mono, Noise Oscillator, Note Echo, Note Length, Note Range, Phaser, Pitch Bend, Random, Scale, Strummer, Velocity.
Collection 2:
Clipper, Comb Filter, DC Blocker, Degrader, EQ Band, Fixed Pitch, FM Operator, Macro, MIDI Capture, MIDI Channel, Oscilloscope, Pitch Ratio, Rectifier, Vibrato, Voice Activity, VPS Oscillator.
Collection 3:
All Pass, Audio-to-Mod, Band Pass, Correlation, Digital Delay, Dual Pan, Euclid, Macro Button, Mid-Side, Multiply-Add, Noise Gate, Note Chance, Note Event, Pitch Follower, Reverb, Ring Mod, Simple LFO, Stereo Pan, Stereo Tool.
Collection 4:
Crossover, Delay, Effect, Feedback, Groove, MIDI Delay, Note-to-Pitch, Note Hold, Note Pulse, Quantiser, Stack, Vel-to-Amp.
Mela's capabilities continuously improve, evolve and expand, driven by its long-term vision and user feedback. Feel free to get in touch for anything Mela-related.
Say Hello: nikolozi.com/contact
Tutorials: nikolozi.com/mela/tutorials
Changelog: nikolozi.com/mela/changelog
FAQ: nikolozi.com/mela/faq
Mela Classic vs Mela: nikolozi.com/mela/user-guide/#mela-classic-vs-mela
What’s New
Version 6.7
Parameter Presets
The Offset parameters have a special behaviour where they can be set to Triplet (~66.7 %) or Dotted (150 %). When selected, a checkmark appears next to the corresponding menu item, and the parameter value field displays the label instead of the numeric percentage. Some parameters also provide "Set to ..." menu items for quickly entering common preset values. These two concepts have now been merged into a unified system called Parameter Presets.
- Parameter presets appear above the "Enter Value" item in the parameter's context menu.
- When selected, a checkmark appears next to the preset's menu item.
- Some presets have custom names. For example, one of the Note Chance module's Chance presets is "1/3", instead of 33.3 %.
- You can type the preset name manually to set the parameter to it. For example, enter "1/3" for the Chance parameter.
- A preset name may appear in the value field, such as Triplet or Dotted, but not all parameters display preset names.
- For example, the Chance parameter displays "1/3" instead of 33.3 %, while the VA Filter's Frequency parameter displays "262 Hz" when the C3 preset is selected.
Entering Parameter Values
- You can enter values in seconds, milliseconds, hertz, kilohertz, beats, or bars, and they will be automatically converted to the parameter's supported unit.
- For example, you can enter delay time in hertz or LFO frequency in milliseconds.
- Supported unit suffixes include: "s" for seconds, "ms" for milliseconds, "Hz" for hertz, "kHz" or "k" for kilohertz, "b" for beats, and "B" for bars. For example: "0.5s", "100ms", "440Hz", "1k", "0.5b", "2.25B".
- When no unit is provided, frequency defaults to hertz and time intervals default to milliseconds.
- You can also enter a MIDI note name, which will be converted to the corresponding frequency. Use "#" for sharp and "b" for flat. For example: "C4", "D#-1", "Gb3".
- Time in beats and bars supports fractional input as well as dotted and triplet notation. For example: "4/1", "2/5", "1/4T", "1/8d", "1/3".
- By default, the host tempo is used to convert beats and bars, but you can override it using the @ symbol. For example: "1/4t@135", "1.5B@85".
- A440 tuning is used by default for notes, but you can override this as well. For example: "G4@400", "C#5@432".
Note Stack Module
- The Mono module has been generalised into the Note Stack module.
- It can now stack more than 1 note, making it useful not just for monophonic but also polyphonic synths.
- It can also be used creatively in MIDI Processor chains.
- The Play parameter sets the number of notes allowed to be played simultaneously.
- When the stack is full and a new note arrives, one of the held notes is released based on the value of the Release parameter.
- Release has five values: Old, New, High, Low and Random.
- The Wait parameter enables released notes to be brought back when space becomes available in the stack.
- The Play and Wait stack views let you visualise both the held notes and the notes waiting to be brought back.
Note Pulse Module
- The module has a new Mode parameter with three values: Once, Hold, and Loop.
- In Loop mode, the module behaves as it previously did, generating pulses at regular intervals.
- In Once mode, the module generates a single pulse immediately after each host transport restart.
- This is particularly useful for resyncing LFOs.
- In Hold mode, the module generates a note-on event when the transport starts and a note-off event when it stops. No other events are generated in between.
- This is particularly useful for auto-starting the Euclid module's sequencer.
Other Changes
- Simple LFO now retriggers on MIDI note-on events when not receiving a Poly signal.
- Previously, Simple LFO only retriggered when receiving Poly signals.
- Simple LFO behaves as if in Free mode when placed where it doesn't receive note-on events.
- Note Range Module: Added new Clamp mode. Notes outside the range are clamped to the nearest note within the range.
Ratings and Reviews
Rich sound palette, elegant UI in form and function
Nikolozi is an awesome dev, highly engaged with the user community, and he has crafted Mela into a beautiful work of art, both sonic and visual. I’ve only begun to scratch the surface of what Mela can do. With so many types of oscillators, filters, and effects to mix and match, it offers nearly infinite possibilities for sound design. Workflow is smooth and intuitive, and it encourages exploration.
As a windsynth player, I especially appreciate the range of expressive control that is possible with Mela. The MIDI Source module allows me to meticulously sculpt the response curve of breath and other continuous controller inputs, so that the most subtle nuances of performance can be captured, processed, and routed for modulation in musically useful ways. The sub-millisecond smoothing adjustment eliminates filter “zippering” and other unwanted steppy artifacts that can plague other synths when controlled by breath, while still keeping latency to a minimum, which is critical for responsive live performance.
Mela continues to grow and evolve, with new modules being added all the time, as well as enhancements and refinements to existing functionality. Well worth the price, and well worth investing time and effort to discover, experiment, and enjoy.
One of a kind.
I never written a review before, but this app and developer deserve it. As someone who’s been making noise for 10+ years I’m familiar with what’s out there….Kilohearts, FabFilter, Baby Audio, Xfer, CableGuys, etc… this dude is up there with the best.
Mela is an incredible platform that I hope never dies. It’s a lean yet infinitely deep instrument…yet it’s an audio effect and did I mention it can do MIDI as well?! Basically any situation you’re in in the studio Mela can be your friend. Niko is an incredible dev who not only cares about the capabilities, quality and aesthetic of Mela but also the FEEL while using.
I don’t know how to properly praise such an incredible experience from using the app, to giving my feedback, to getting support, getting regular updates…this isn’t an app…this is a partner in the studio. If you’re into making music, noise, bleeps, bloops, or anything in between this is a must.
Developer Response ,
Thank you Tristan, for such a lengthy praise. I appreciate it. Words like that keep me going 🧡🙏
An Synth as effect in Aum-Unbelievable!
I kept seeing “runs as an effect and as a synth”in the write-up for many synths. However, what I got a was a synth’s actual effects in the effects slot and for the Special synths that explicitly stated runs as an effect in the effects slot—There were none that even worked. I was wary when I saw this one, lo and behold it runs as an effect in the fx slot. Imagine, a synth with more parameters(Egs,Lfo’s…and I mean……)than any of the others I own in Ios,as an effect right alongside my Blackhole,Shimmer Delay and UA Needlepoint! How would you know if you created a sound from an alternte Universe, anyways.
App Privacy
The developer, Nikolozi Meladze, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy.
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- Nikolozi Meladze
- Size
- 8.4 MB
- Category
- Music
- Compatibility
-
- iPhone
- Requires iOS 18.0 or later.
- iPad
- Requires iPadOS 18.0 or later.
- Mac
- Requires macOS 15.0 or later.
- Apple Vision
- Requires visionOS 2.0 or later.
- Languages
-
English
- Age Rating
- 4+
- Copyright
- © 2017-2025 Nikolozi Meladze. All rights reserved.
- Price
- Free
- In-App Purchases
-
- Collection 3 $19.99
- Collection 1 $19.99
- Collection 4 $19.99
- Collection 2 $19.99