# Mela – AUv3: Synth, FX, MIDI — Modular Music-Making > Modular music creation tool for synths, FX, and MIDI processing. (iPhone/iPad app by Nikolozi Meladze.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mela-auv3-synth-fx-midi/id1668299428 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Nikolozi Meladze](https://appshunter.io/developer/1612048764) - Category: Music, Education - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.80/5 from 79 App Store ratings · 45 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 18.0 · 26 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2023-05-10 - Data updated: 2026-08-28 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mela-auv3-synth-fx-midi/id1668299428/reviews.md ## What is Mela? DREAM UP AN INSTRUMENT, THEN BUILD IT Mela is a modular music-making tool that grows with you, from your first patch to deep custom designs. Create polyphonic synthesisers, unique audio effects, and complex MIDI processors. Mela runs standalone on iOS and macOS, or as an AUv3 plug-in inside your favourite DAW, including Ableton Live, AUM, Cubasis, Drambo, and Logic Pro. EVERYTHING IS A MODULE In Mela, there are no virtual cables to untangle. Instead, a patch is a tree of nested modules, where modules process their submodules in series or parallel. The layout of your patch is its signal flow. Everything moves with a drag, and a patch can stay tiny or grow into a deeply nested design. MEET THE MODULES Each module is focused yet powerful, and built-in help lets you quickly learn how it works. Here is a quick tour. • MIDI processors: arpeggiator, chord, Euclidean sequencer, groove, note echo, note modifiers, quantiser, scale, strummer, MIDI capture. • Synth building blocks: virtual-analog oscillator, FM operator, phaseshaping, noise, glide, unison, VA filter, amp envelope. • Modulators: envelope generator, envelope follower, LFO, mod sequencer, XY pad, macro control, random. • Audio effects: reverb, delay, chorus, flanger, phaser, distortion, ring mod, dynamics, EQ, pitch and frequency shifters, stereo tools. • Visualisers: level and correlation metering, oscilloscopes, MIDI logger, notepad. The full module list is at the very end. MODULATE ANY PARAMETER Every module parameter in Mela can be targeted by modulator modules with sample-accurate, polyphonic modulation. The full parameter tree is also exposed to the DAW for automation. YOUR FIRST PATCH Load Mela as an Instrument, an Audio Effect, or a MIDI Processor, then take your pick: over 200 included patches to play, pull apart, and learn from, or a blank patch and total freedom. PAY ONCE, OWN FOREVER Mela ships with 111 modules and counting, organised into collections. Collection 0 is free and has everything you need to learn how Mela works. The rest are single purchases. A patch that uses modules you do not own still plays in full. Locked modules process signals as normal, and a purchase simply unlocks their controls. SAY HELLO Wondering if Mela can do something specific? Just ask. Questions often become short demo videos, and feature requests help guide what gets added next. Say hello, ask anything, and help shape where Mela goes next. Contact: nikolozi.com/contact User Guide: nikolozi.com/mela/user-guide Tutorials: nikolozi.com/mela/tutorials Changelog: nikolozi.com/mela/changelog FAQ: nikolozi.com/mela/faq COLLECTION 0 Amp Envelope, Arpeggiator, Audio In, Audio Out, Lane, LFO, Meter, MIDI In, MIDI Lane, MIDI Meter, MIDI Out, MIDI-to-Poly, Notepad, Overlap Remover, Poly-to-Mono, Relative Pitch, Stack, Stereo Delay, Transposer, VA Filter, VA Oscillator, Volume. COLLECTION 1 Balance, Chord, Chorus, Compressor, Control Change, Distortion, DS Oscillator, Envelope Follower, Envelope Generator, Flanger, Glide, Level, MIDI Logger, MIDI Source, Noise, 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, Pitch Ramp, Quantiser, Splitter, Vel-to-Amp. COLLECTION 5 CC Modulator, Frequency Shifter, Limiter, Matrix, MIDI Echo, Mod Oscilloscope, Mod Steps, Pitch Shifter, Pitch-to-Amp, Slew, Unison, XY. ## Key features - Modular synth and effect design - Customizable MIDI processing - AUv3 plugin compatibility - Standalone app functionality - Extensive module library - Internal and host signal routing - Modulator module integration ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Collection 1 | $24.99 | one-time | | Collection 2 | $24.99 | one-time | | Collection 3 | $24.99 | one-time | | Collection 4 | $24.99 | one-time | | Collection 5 | $24.99 | one-time | ## Recent user reviews (10 of 45) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mela-auv3-synth-fx-midi/id1668299428/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Best synth on iOS? *2026-08-15* This thing is deceptively powerful. I use it as an effect chain a midi processor and a synth. It’s completely modular so ur imagination is the only limit and unlike so much of the music apps on here, the dev is actively adding to it. With so much abandonware on iOS it’s nice to have something that gets regular updates beyond just bug fixes. Dude is responsive with the community and seems eager to help when u have an issue. Oh yea and it runs great, I have made some monster patches on this thing and my iPad doesn’t break a sweat. Buy it! **Developer response:** Thank you 🧡 ### 5/5 — Update!! *2026-08-12* Exellent Auv3 midi in Daw. Plz! Presets Arp for Atlanta trap, glitch flow. Plz! Midi cool!!!! ### 5/5 — So good! *2026-07-29, version 7.12* I was search in the store for a free synth to start learning and it sounds amazing. Looks great too ### 3/5 — Great synth and layout *2026-06-15* So it’s amazing….but after all the paid updates to come and see 25$ new module fi it just seemed like at this point if we bought all the paid packs they should be free by now. Not to sound rude but how many more paid updates u feel me. Not to sound harshness intended as I think it’s an innovative iOS synth. If I’m off base sorry I guess I got a lil sticker shock as it was more than the app even was. Ok banter is over , hails and maybe consider something for us ‘oh’ supporters. Peace **Developer response:** Hi there, thanks for your feedback. Unlocking module UIs via IAPs is all optional. When a new collection is created, nothing is taken away from existing features. And in fact, with new updates, often existing collections expand, and their modules improve. For more details, please watch my YouTube video titled "How to use Mela for free". You can think of it this way: all updates are free to all users. Purchasing Module Collection IAPs simply allows you to access the module UIs that are in that Collection. Existing users are always rewarded by having everything they have access to improve, and sometimes even have new modules added to the collections they already purchased. While Mela might appear a bit more expensive than the average AUv3 on the App Store, you will find it delivers much more flexibility, features and regular updates. I'm happy to discuss things further or try to address things you aren’t happy about. Don't hesitate to directly get in touch. The way to contact me can be found in the app settings or on my site. Cheers Nikolozi ### 4/5 — Good Sounding Synth *2026-06-10, version 7.9* Lots of features, no data collected, optional paid stuff. Love it. ### 3/5 — Why I like it, Why I don’t *2026-06-07, version 7.9* So I’ve been using it for quite some time. Sonically it’s fantastic. No Notes. However I can see it getting very VERY expensive once you start buying all the individual modules. I don’t mind paying for a well thought out synth, but this would get expensive to the point of madness…lol. There should be one price. If you want to charge for major updates down the line, then buy all means do so. ### 5/5 — Add note sliding *2026-05-14* When I drag my finger on the keyboard, I want to hear keys that are touched. **Developer response:** Thanks for bringing this up. This has been on my to-do list for a while. I do plan to give the virtual keyboard a big feature enhancement but before that, I should be able to bring back the finger slide feature. Tracking it here nikolozi.com/mela/feedback/virtual-musical-keyboard-no-longer-trigger-keys-under-finger-when-performing -a-horizontal-pan-gesture ### 5/5 — Great on BOTH iPad and laptop *2026-04-06* I’m a newbie and Mela has become a core instrument in my setup across both iPad and laptop (I want the same set up on both). I didn’t want to learn the well-known laptop synths (Vital, Pigments etc) because I want something good that works as a standalone and inside hosts on both iPad and laptop. Mela does: it’s quick to navigate, sonically deep, and scales from simple, musical presets to quite complex designs without ever feeling cluttered. I use it for ambient pads, evolving textures, and more rhythmic, sequenced material, and it responds beautifully to being driven by external MIDI tools and chord engines. CPU usage has been very reasonable on all my devices. If you’re building a cross‑device synth ecosystem and want something that rewards both thoughtful programming and playful experimentation, Mela is absolutely worth buying. **Developer response:** Thank you 🙏 ### 5/5 — Modular Comes to Mac and iOS *2026-04-04* The best eurorack environment on iOS. It’s cool that you can run it on your Mac for designing patches and then port them seamlessly to your iPad. I really appreciate that Nikolozi is always adding new features, including the just released sequencer. I’m already using Mela in 1 composition that I’ve performed a number of times. It just keeps getting better. :-) **Developer response:** Thank you Ned 🧡 ### 5/5 — I have no idea what I'm doing... *2026-02-28* ...but I'm having so much fun. **Developer response:** That’s the best way to explore :) Drop me an email anytime with follow-up questions. ## Frequently asked questions about Mela ### What is Mela? Mela is a modular music-making tool that allows users to build custom polyphonic synthesizers, audio effects, and MIDI processors. It can be used as a standalone application or as an AUv3 plugin within a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). ### How does Mela work? Presets in Mela are built by arranging modules on lanes. Signals flow through these lanes and are processed by the modules. You can route audio and MIDI signals internally between lanes or to and from your host DAW. Modulator modules can control any parameter on any module. ### What kind of modules are available? Mela offers a wide variety of modules categorized into MIDI processors (like arpeggiators and sequencers), synth building blocks (oscillators, filters), modulators (LFOs, envelopes), audio effects (delay, distortion, EQ), and visualizers. New modules are added regularly. ### Is Mela free to use? Mela offers a free collection of modules (Collection 0) that allows you to explore its core features. Additional module collections can be purchased through one-time in-app purchases to expand your creative possibilities. ### What devices is Mela compatible with? Mela is available as a standalone app on iOS and macOS. It also functions as an AUv3 plugin, compatible with popular DAWs such as Ableton Live, AUM, Cubasis, Drambo, and Logic Pro. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 7.14 — 2026-08-25 Pitch-to-Amp - The new Pitch-to-Amp module uses the Pitch signal to control audio levels. - Range sets how much the audio level changes across the pitch range. Positive values make higher pitches louder and lower pitches quieter. Negative values do the opposite. - Center sets the pitch that keeps its original audio level. - In Poly mode, level is applied independently to each voice. - Pitch-to-Amp is a Mela Lab module and part of Collection 5. Vel-to-Amp - Replaced Curve with the Range parameter for more predictable dynamics. Patch Management - Patch Library: Added a Latest smart folder for browsing newly added factory patches grouped by Mela version. - Patch Library: Added a Copy action to patch menus, including factory patches. - Patch Renaming: Saving a patch while editing its name now uses the new name instead of the previous one. - Factory Patches: Added "Matrix Taps" to the Audio FX folder, demonstrating how the Matrix module can be used to create a feature-rich multi-tap delay. - Factory Patches: Added "Lo-Fi Keys" and "Sad FM" to the Keys folder. - Factory Patches: Added "Lethal" to the Pads folder. Other Changes - Splitter: Graduated from Mela Lab to the Signal Router category. - Phasor-based modules: Improved timing accuracy, preventing gradual drift at slow rates. - Fixed an issue where tempo-synced modules could incorrectly initialise their timing at 120 BPM after the host reset the plug-in. - Fixed MIDI-to-Poly modules sometimes displaying inconsistent polyphony settings after loading a patch. ### 7.13 — 2026-08-14 Matrix - Inspired by NFM's FM Algorithm feature, the Matrix module arranges its submodules into up to seven nodes, A to G, and routes Audio between them. - Each route has an independent level parameter, making it possible to create custom feedforward, feedback, and cross-modulation structures. - Routes towards later nodes provide feedforward, while routes towards earlier nodes provide one-sample feedback. - Node A receives the input Audio signal, and the last active node provides the Matrix output. - Nodes A to F contain one submodule each. Node G contains the seventh and all subsequent submodules, processing them in series. - Tap a node letter to show or hide its contents. - A built-in +6 dBFS hard clipper and indicator help identify excessive output caused by feedback. - Matrix can combine FM Operator modules into complex FM patches, or go beyond FM by integrating other oscillators and synthesis techniques such as ring modulation. - It can also create custom comb filters, multi-tap delays, and processing networks with cross-feedback between paths. - Matrix is a Mela Lab module and part of Collection 5. Stereo Tool - Added Mid, Side, -Mid, and -Side routing options. - In the compact selectors, M now represents Mid, while Mute is shown as a dash (–). - Added 2×Mid and 2×Side options for decoding processed mid and side components back to L/R without level loss. - Using two Stereo Tool instances makes it possible to encode audio to M/S, process the mid and side components as the left and right channels, then decode the result back to L/R. Patches & Signal Flow - Exporting a subpatch now preserves global parameters such as Ahead and polyphony. - These settings are applied when the exported patch is opened directly, but ignored when it is inserted into another patch. - This makes Lane-rooted instrument and audio effect patches simpler and more reusable: they can be opened directly as complete patches or dragged into another patch without an extra Stack wrapper. - Improved Mono and Poly signal routing, making complex patches, audio buses, and feedback connections more predictable and reliable. - Improved stability when editing patches or changing the Poly voice count, preventing stale voices and ensuring modulation follows the updated signal flow. Factory Patches - Added "FM Piano" and "FM Keys" to the Keys folder, and "FM Bass" to the Bass folder, demonstrating how the Matrix module can be used to create simple FM patches. - Added "Matrix Reverb" to the Audio FX folder, demonstrating how one Matrix module can generate early reflections while another acts as a diffuser. - Added "Matrix Comb Filter" to the Subpatches folder, demonstrating how the Matrix module can be used to create standard comb filters. - Added "Euclid Gate" to the Audio FX folder, demonstrating Euclid and Note Event for rhythmic audio gating. - Added "Stereo Bass" to the Bass folder. Other Changes - Performance: Improved scrolling performance in large patches by pausing modulation and graph animations while scrolling or resizing the window. Resize pausing requires OS 26 or later. - Comb Filter: Fixed incorrect initial DSP cutoff values for FB Filter and HP Cutoff. - Stereo Delay: Fixed incorrect initial DSP cutoff values for Low Cut and High Cut. - Groove: Fixed Sync not initialising to its 1/8 default. - Compressor: Fixed unreliable initialisation of the Peak Gain Reduction reset trigger. ### 7.12 — 2026-07-23 Renamed Group to Lane Group already represented a lane in practice, so renaming the module to Lane greatly simplifies the core concepts. A top-level lane is now simply a Lane submodule of the root Stack. For consistency, MIDI Group was also renamed to MIDI Lane. Note that the patch migrator will not rename modules with "Group" in their title, although the module type will change to Lane. Other Changes - Added support for 16-voice polyphony. - Voice Activity: Updated the module to support 16 voices. - Collapsed lanes now remain in place, so their visual layout reflects the signal-flow order, with consecutive collapsed lanes displayed side by side. - Arpeggiator: Improved the Manual and Free modes by keeping the active note indicator visible alongside the Position slider. - Patches: Patches with a Lane as the root now open with it as a top-level Lane instead of wrapping it in another Lane. - Factory Patches: Added "Arp Improvisor" to MIDI FX and "Free Arpeggiator" to Subpatches to demonstrate Arpeggiator Free mode. - Fixed a rare crash when the Pitch Ratio module was displayed before the host started rendering audio. - Fixed a rare crash caused by hosts rendering larger audio buffers than the plug-in was configured for. ### 7.11 — 2026-07-13 Splitter - The Splitter module works like a Stack, but the submodules at odd positions, starting with the first, act as audio splitters. - A splitter processes its input and passes its output to the following submodule. - Subtracting that output from the original input leaves a residual, which is passed to the next splitter and processed in the same way. - The module's output is the sum of all processed signals and any residual remaining at the end. - The Splitter module can create many types of effects. - Using filters at odd positions creates a multi-band processor. - Stereo Tool or Mid-Side modules enable independent left/right or mid/side processing. - A Level module can act as a crossfader between two processing chains. - Modulating the Level module with an Envelope Follower makes it possible to process transients and sustain independently. - Added Splitter as an option to the Nest submenu. - Factory Patches: Added a “Haas Effect” subpatch demonstrating how easily the effect can be created using the Splitter, Stereo Tool, and Delay modules. - Splitter is a Mela Lab module and part of Collection 4. Other Changes - Arpeggiator: Modelled after Mod Steps, the Sync parameter now includes a Free mode, letting you instantly play and hold the note selected by Position, ignoring Mode, Gate, Offset, and Retrigger. - Arpeggiator: Smoothed the animation when switching to and from Manual mode. - Unison and Stack: Improved interfaces with stack item selectors now also showing signal flow indicators and the add module button, allowing modules to be quickly appended to the stack. - Unison and Stack: Modulators, Audio Out, and MIDI Out now respect the On parameter of their containing Stack or Unison module. - Frequency Shifter: The Mix parameter now defaults to 100%. - Chorus, Flanger, Phaser: Updated their layouts to match newer modules, improving their appearance and making them more compact. - Nest Submenu: Added Digital Delay as an option to quickly insert the selected module inside a Digital Delay's sublane. - Level Meter: Now correctly displays an empty meter and −inf before the host starts processing audio. - Patches: Empty Untitled and restored patches no longer show a discard confirmation when selecting another patch. - Patches: Saving a factory patch now asks for confirmation before overwriting a patch with the same name in the destination folder. - Modules: Dropping a module back into its original position no longer creates an undo action. ### 7.10 — 2026-07-01 Pitch Shifter - The Pitch Shifter module changes the pitch of the Audio signal using a classic delay-line pitch-shifting algorithm, offering Shift, Window and Spread controls. - Shift: Adjusts the pitch by up to 24 semitones in either direction. - Window: Sets the length of the overlapping segments used for pitch shifting, from 5 to 500 ms. Shorter windows respond more quickly, while longer windows generally sound smoother. - Spread: Detunes the left and right channels in opposite directions by up to 50 cents. Frequency Shifter - Replaced the Stereo toggle with a bipolar Spread parameter. - Shift applies to both channels, while Spread offsets them in opposite directions: left uses Shift minus Spread and right uses Shift plus Spread. - Shift and Spread are scaled independently by the selected Range, including the Cubic range. Ring Mod - Added a Spread parameter that offsets carrier frequency between stereo channels. - At 200%, the left channel runs at half the Frequency value and the right channel runs at double the value. At 50%, the scaling is reversed. - Spread provides useful presets such as -5 c and +20 c. Other values can be entered in cents and are automatically converted to percentages. Mid-Side - Replaced a single parameter with two independent controls for mid and side signals, making it easier to adjust stereo width without affecting the centre. - Both controls support values up to 200%. Other Changes - Noise Gate: Improved the DSP for smoother gating. - Parameters with semitone units now use `st` instead of `s` to avoid confusion with seconds. - Factory Patches: Added a "Feedback Delay" subpatch that makes it easy to create an audio feedback loop with a delay. - Stack has moved from Collection 4 to the free Collection 0, making it available to all users. Like Group, Stack is a fundamental building block for building patches, offering parallel processing alongside Group's serial processing. - Mod Steps: The module has graduated from Mela Lab and can now be found under the Modulator category. - MIDI Echo: The module has graduated from Mela Lab and can now be found under the MIDI Processor category. ## Apps similar to Mela | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Sunrizer synth](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunrizer-synth/id443663267) | 4.7 (183) | $12.99 | Music | | [Lorentz - AUv3 Plug-in Synth](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lorentz-auv3-plug-in-synth/id1016055431) | 4.8 (24) | $8.00 | Music | | [Mersenne - AUv3 Plug-in Synth](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mersenne-auv3-plug-in-synth/id1084197093) | 4.7 (28) | $8.00 | Music | | [Nambu - AUv3 Plug-in Synth](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nambu-auv3-plug-in-synth/id1624422460) | 4.8 (48) | $16.00 | Music | | [Lagrange - AUv3 Plug-in Synth](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lagrange-auv3-plug-in-synth/id1479000758) | 4.8 (57) | $8.00 | Music | | [AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiokit-synth-one-synthesizer/id1371050497) | 4.9 (26,818) | Free | Music | ## More apps by Nikolozi Meladze - [NFM – AUv3: FM Synth](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfm-auv3-fm-synth/id1247473972) - [Lyrics View 3](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lyrics-view-3/id1268342463) - [Mela Classic (AUv3)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mela-classic-auv3/id1612218703) All apps by Nikolozi Meladze: https://appshunter.io/developer/1612048764 ## Related topics [auv3](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/auv3) · [opl auv3 fm synth](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/opl-auv3-fm-synth) · [evolverfx auv3 audio plugin](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/evolverfx-auv3-audio-plugin) · [slowmofx](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/slowmofx) · [phaserfx auv3 plugin](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/phaserfx-auv3-plugin) · [discovery auv3 synth](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/discovery-auv3-synth) · [chordbud 2 auv3 midi sequencer](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/chordbud-2-auv3-midi-sequencer) · [warbl configuration tool](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/warbl-configuration-tool) · [analogykit](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/analogykit) · [auv3 synth](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/auv3-synth) · [sound maker synth](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/sound-maker-synth) · [octachron midi drum sequencer](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/octachron-midi-drum-sequencer) · [kebarp auv3 midi arpeggiator](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/kebarp-auv3-midi-arpeggiator) · [bb17 binaural auv3 synth](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/bb17-binaural-auv3-synth) · [euclidean auv3 sequencer](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/euclidean-auv3-sequencer) · [arpbud 2 auv3 midi arpeggiator](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/arpbud-2-auv3-midi-arpeggiator) · [analogyxs](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/analogyxs) · [analogygr](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/analogygr) · [auto bass auv3 midi generator](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/auto-bass-auv3-midi-generator) · [frenzy midi sequencer](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/frenzy-midi-sequencer) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-28.*