Mela – AUv3: Synth, FX, MIDI
iOS Universel / Musique
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 95 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, Noise Oscillator, Note Echo, Note Length, Note Range, Note Stack, 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 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, Gain, Gain Computer, Groove, MIDI Delay, Note Hold, Note Pulse, Note-to-Pitch, Phase Distortion, 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
Quoi de neuf dans la dernière version ?
Pitch Distortion
- The Phase Distortion module uses the classic phase distortion technique to reshape any waveform.
- It splits the waveform cycle into two parts, stretching the first while compressing the second.
- As it is not an oscillator, it relies on the Pitch signal and note-on events (Note signal in Poly mode and MIDI in Mono mode) to determine the waveform's start point and cycle length.
- This enables many creative possibilities.
- The Pitch signal can be transposed down an octave to distort a waveform an octave higher.
- An unrelated Pitch signal can be used to apply phase distortion to a drum loop for unique rhythmic textures.
- The Phase Graph visualises the waveform's phase after distortion.
- Dragging it horizontally or vertically adjusts the Skew or Tilt parameter correspondingly.
- The Curve parameter smoothes the phase rate change at the cycle split point, with higher values producing a mellower sound and reducing aliasing.
Pitch Oscilloscope
- The Pitch Oscilloscope module visualises audio waveforms, making it ideal for viewing signals from oscillators and other processors.
- It uses the Pitch signal and note-on events (Note signal in Poly mode and MIDI in Mono mode) to lock onto the waveform.
- A mismatch between the signal and waveform prevents proper tracking.
- In Poly mode, it displays the waveform of the last triggered Voice.
- It's currently a Mela Lab module and might be integrated into the existing Oscilloscope module in the future.
- Pitch Oscilloscope is added to Collection 2 so that users who have the Oscilloscope unlocked will also have this module unlocked.
Rectifier Module
- Rectifier's new Gate parameter sets the threshold level above which the signal remains unchanged, while everything below it is set to 0.
- The Rectify parameter range has been extended to support negative values, which allows modification of the positive portion of the signal.
- Rectify parameter now includes a "Full-Wave" preset alongside "Half-Wave".
- Drag gesture on the graph now adjusts the Gate and Rectify parameters.
- The processing order: Gate Clipping → Asymmetric Gain → DC Offset.
Oscillators
- The Level parameter of the DS, VA, VPS and Noise Oscillators, as well as the FM Operator, now defaults to 0.
- With this change, the Level parameter must be adjusted before the oscillator produces audible output.
- The oscillators no longer display a flat line when the Level parameter is set to 0.
- DS, VA, and VPS Oscillators now also support the Phase parameter in Mono mode.
- This means the phase of these oscillators will reset on MIDI note-on events when no Poly signal is present.
Core Concepts
- User Guide: The Core Concepts chapter has been significantly improved with unified signal definitions and a detailed explanation of signal flow.
- Poly-to-Mono: With the Core Concepts now defining Mono and Poly signal processing modes, the Poly-to-Audio module has been renamed to Poly-to-Mono for consistency.
- Signal I/O: A single arrow indicates a Mono signal, while a double arrow indicates a Poly signal.
- Note-to-Pitch: The module has been moved from the Pitch Processor category to Signal Router.
Factory Presets
- Added "RM Side-Chain" preset, which uses a very useful side-chaining technique for drums and bass and demonstrates the updated Rectify module.
- Added "Custom Dynamics", "De-Esser", "FB Compressor" and "Upward Expander" presets that utilise the Gain Computer and Gain modules.
- Added "Classic PD & Beyond", showcasing the new Phase Distortion and Pitch Oscilloscope modules.
- Added "Soft Drift" to the Keys group.
- Added "HH Enhance" to the Audio FX group.
Other Changes
- Parameter Values: Increased spacing between the value and unit to improve readability.
- Latency: Reduced the maximum allowed latency from 5 seconds to 1 second.
- Audio Output: Fixed an issue in the standalone version where audio stopped outputting when changing the Mac's default audio output device.
