Nikolozi

Mela 6.0 kicks off a new chapter in the app’s evolution, starting with unifying all lane types into a universal one for greater flexibility. The updated Getting Started guide explains how key concepts have evolved—be sure to check it out, along with the Changelog, for a quick overview. This is just the beginning, with much more to come in the upcoming 6.x updates.

A few things to note. First, Mela 6 is not a separate app, and your copy of Mela 5 will automatically update to Mela 6, you don’t need to take any action. The Collections you purchased will remain unlocked. Second, Mela’s features have dramatically evolved since version 4.0, and the Introducing Mela 4 tutorial is slightly out of date. I will create a new “Introducing Mela 6” series sometime after the Mela 6.1 release, which will be especially useful for beginners.

Update: Since the release of Mela 6.0, SoundForMore created a new tutorial series starting with the basics. This is great both for the beginners as well as the experienced users as Leo covers a wide range of Mela features and modules. I created a YouTube playlist that tracks the series.

Mela 6.0 Changelog

Universal Lane

• All lane types (Audio, MIDI, Instrument) are now unified into a single universal lane with merged capabilities.
• The preset migrator automatically converts existing presets to use universal lanes.
• Lane audio and MIDI I/O settings are replaced with Signal Router modules.
• Signal Routers: Audio In, Audio Out, MIDI In, MIDI Out, MIDI-to-Poly, and Poly-to-Audio.
• These modules are part of Collection 0.

Audio In/Out Modules

• Audio In receives Audio signals from the host or an Audio bus.
• Audio Out sends Audio signals to the host or an Audio bus.

MIDI In/Out Modules

• MIDI In receives MIDI messages from the host or a MIDI bus.
• MIDI In includes a “Panic!” button to send “All Notes Off” MIDI messages downstream on all channels.
• MIDI Out sends MIDI messages to the host or a MIDI bus.
• MIDI Out a “Panic!” button to send “All Notes Off” MIDI messages on all channels to the output.

MIDI-to-Poly Module

• The module converts MIDI messages into a Poly signal, replacing any existing Audio or Poly signal with a new Poly signal.
• The module lets you set the polyphony settings for the preset.
• Instances sharing the same MIDI input synchronise voice allocation, ensuring consistent Poly-to-Poly modulation across modules.
• The Voice Priority rule is replaced with a “Release” setting, clarifying how voices are reallocated for new notes.
• Previously, this functionality was handled implicitly by the Instrument lane type before sending the Poly signal to modules.

Poly-to-Audio Module

• Collapses a Poly signal into an Audio signal by summing voices while retaining the last note-on Pitch signal.
• Modules that don’t support Poly signals automatically perform this collapse.
• The signal remains collapsed even if the collapsing module is bypassed.
• Previously, this functionality was handled implicitly by the Instrument lane type before sending the Audio signal to its output.

Module Updates

• Amp Envelope: Now mirrors the behaviour of the Envelope Generator. When no Poly signal is present, it uses MIDI signals to trigger attack and release states, shaping the Audio signal accordingly.
• Panic Module: Removed, as the functionality is now integrated into the MIDI In and MIDI Out modules.
• Voice Activity: Now displays Audio signal levels and MIDI signal’s last note and velocity when no Poly signal is present.
• Voice Activity: Now automatically resizes based on the preset polyphony.
• Modulators: The “Targets” view no longer scrolls to the bottom on appearance.

Improvements

• Getting Started: Updated to reflect the latest changes.
• Notepad: Renamed the Note Pad module to Notepad.

Fixes

• Module Help: Fixed the help popover not utilizing available space correctly.
• Preset Load: Resolved a crash that occurred under certain conditions when changing presets.
• Polyphony Settings: Fixed an issue with the Newest Release mode not initialising correctly.
• Modulators: Modules without parameters, such as Notepad, no longer appear as modulation targets.

I release updates regularly, guided by user feedback and Mela’s long-term vision. Along with the Getting Started guide, you might find the Tutorials, Changelog, and FAQ helpful. For bug reports or feature requests, visit Mela Feedback. Feel free to get in touch anytime.

Grab Mela from the App Store.