Mela 8.0: Adaptive iPhone Layout and Easier Patch Navigation

It’s that time of year again: I’m bumping Mela’s major version. The main reason is that I’m dropping support for iOS 18 and macOS 15. Mela 8.0 now requires iOS or iPadOS 26 or later, or macOS 26 or later on an Apple Silicon Mac. If you’ve downloaded Mela before, the App Store can offer the last version compatible with your device. I have no near-term plans for a new module collection and will keep improving and expanding the existing ones.

Mela 8.0 focuses on workflow and navigation, especially on smaller screens. The standalone iPhone layout makes better use of the screen by following its rounded corners and keeping controls clear of camera cutouts. It adapts to iPhone Duo whether folded or unfolded. For the best experience, use iOS 27.1 or later.

Module Selector, familiar from Stack and other container modules, is now an option for Lane and MIDI Lane, including top-level lanes. The inline layout remains the default, and you can now drag modules into and out of the selector to rearrange your patch.

Module and lane sidebar titles, Module Selector items, and the patch title now have context menus. Long-press or secondary-click to open their actions directly.

Finally, Mela users have long asked for a way to scroll lanes on iOS without accidentally changing parameters. The new translucent control on a lane’s right edge becomes more visible on touch or hover. Drag it up or down to scroll the lane horizontally. To scroll the patch vertically on iOS, swipe up or down on a lane’s left sidebar.

For the full details, check out the Changelog.

Latest Tutorial

In this video, I highlight some of what’s new in Mela 8.0. The update brings an improved iPhone layout, including full support for iPhone Duo. The new Module Selector for Lane modules provides a familiar, compact interface for navigating modules in a Lane. Finally, the new context menus and lane scrolling controls make the interface easier to navigate, especially on smaller devices.

Why should I get Mela? What’s so special about it?

Mela is a modular music-making tool that scales with your needs. Its 3 core strengths are:

1. Visual and modular. An intuitive interface makes it easy to build custom polyphonic synthesisers, unique audio effects, and complex MIDI processors.
2. Flexible. It can be a core part of your setup or a small utility for specific tasks. Run it standalone or as multiple plug-in instances on iOS and macOS.
3. Continuously evolving. New features and modules are added regularly, shaped directly by user feedback.

Artist Patches & Themes

There are dedicated pages for Artist Patches and Artist Themes. If you have created Mela patches (whether paid or free) or a theme you want to share with others let me know and I’ll happily link them there.

About Me

Hi, my name is Nikolozi Meladze. I’m the creator of Mela. I’m developing it as my primary tool for music-making and live performance. I’ve been releasing music since 2010, exploring all sub-genres of electronic music. Be sure to check out my discography.