Comparison

VOLBotClient vs Mela

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

VOLBotClient

This application serves as a remote control for a server-based application. It allows users to access and manage the server's functions through a client interface. Full functionality requires the companion server application.

Highlights
  • Remote control functionality
  • Client interface for server access
  • Companion server application required
  • Music control capabilities
Features
Read full description

This is the client app of the VOLBot application. The VOLBot acts as a server and remote control for this app, only with the VOLBot app you can access and control the VOLBot client.

About

Mela

Create complex synthesizers, audio effects, and MIDI processors with a modular music-making tool. Design instruments from simple patches to intricate custom setups, with a vast library of modules and extensive modulation capabilities.

Highlights
  • Modular instrument design
  • Polyphonic synthesis
  • Audio effect creation
  • MIDI processing
  • AUv3 plugin support
  • Extensive module library
  • Sample-accurate modulation
Features
Read full description

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 250 included patches to play, pull apart, and learn from, or a blank patch and total freedom. PAY ONCE, OWN FOREVER Mela ships with 116 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. Learn more about Mela at nikolozi.com/mela. 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, One Pole, Phase Distortion, Pitch Ramp, Quantiser, Splitter, Vel-to-Amp. COLLECTION 5 CC Modulator, Frequency Offset, Frequency Shifter, Limiter, Macro-8, Matrix, MIDI Echo, Mod Oscilloscope, Mod Steps, Pitch Reader, Pitch Shifter, Pitch-to-Amp, Slew, Time Scrub, Unison, XY.

Screenshots

Mela4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Mela at 4.8 against VOLBotClient's 4.3. Mela also leads on ratings volume (81 vs 4) and device support (3 vs 1). VOLBotClient's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Mela sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. VOLBotClient asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Mela holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mela has 81 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VOLBotClient ships an update fortnightly, Mela every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
VOLBotClient versus Mela: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVOLBotClientMela
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (4 ratings)4.8 (81 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—85.4% of reviews
Number of ratings481 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS9.3 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSonicPlanet Audio Video Teknolojileri Anonim Sti.Nikolozi Meladze

Customer experience

VOLBotClient

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Mela

All ratings80 ratings
Positive96.3%
Neutral2.5%
Negative1.3%
Written reviews48 reviews
Positive85.4%
Neutral6.3%
Negative8.3%

In-app purchases

None

VOLBotClient

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Mela

One-time5
  • Collection 1$24.99
  • Collection 2$24.99
  • Collection 3$24.99
Show 2 more
  • Collection 4$24.99
  • Collection 5$24.99

Questions

Is VOLBotClient free?
VOLBotClient is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Mela free?
Mela is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, VOLBotClient or Mela?
Mela is rated higher. VOLBotClient averages 4.3 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Mela averages 4.8 from 81 ratings.
Do VOLBotClient or Mela have ads?
Neither VOLBotClient nor Mela shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VOLBotClient or Mela?
VOLBotClient ships an update fortnightly, and Mela every 2 weeks. Most recently, VOLBotClient was updated on November 3, 2026 and Mela on November 3, 2026.

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