Mela FAQ

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

Mela is a modular music-making tool that scales with your needs. Expanding on this, its 3 core strengths are:

1. Mela is Visual and Modular. With its intuitive interface, you can seamlessly build fully custom polyphonic synthesisers, unique audio effects, and complex MIDI processors.
2. Mela Scales. It can be a core part of your system or a small utility to let you perform niche tasks. Mela can run as a standalone app or multiple plug-in instances in a host on macOS and iOS.
3. Mela has Great Support. Its capabilities continuously improve, evolve and expand. A new version of Mela comes out every few weeks with new features and modules designed around user feedback.

Will Mela support earlier versions of iOS or macOS?

Mela supports current versions of iOS and macOS.

As an independent developer, I have to focus my time carefully. Mela exists as three plug-in types (Instrument, Audio Effect, and MIDI Processor) and needs to work reliably across different hosts and devices. Supporting older operating systems would significantly increase testing and maintenance time.

Mela also makes use of modern OS features, which helps keep performance and usability strong. Focusing on current systems allows me to spend more time building new modules and responding to feature requests.

Can I open presets created by older versions of Mela?

Mela Classic can open presets created using Mela v3 or earlier.
Modern Mela can open presets created using Mela v4 or later.

Can I open a preset even if I don’t own all the modules the preset uses?

Yes. Purchasing a module collection unlocks the module interface. Presets will still generate and process audio even if some modules are locked.

I purchased the Mela 4 app, but most modules seem to be locked in the latest version of Mela.

This usually means your purchase information has not synced correctly.

Tap Restore Purchases inside the app and it should resolve the issue.

I bought Collection X, but its modules still appear locked.

Occasionally, your device or plug-in host may not receive updated purchase information.

Tap Restore Purchases inside the app to refresh everything.

Collection 5 doesn’t have as many modules as the other module collections.

Collection 5 will continue to grow with future updates. When you purchase a collection, all modules added to it later are included at no extra cost.

For example, Collection 3 started with 6 modules and has since grown to 19. All collections expand over time.

I’m a YouTube/Instagram artist or influencer, and I would like to showcase Mela in my videos.

That’s great to hear. Send me links to your pages and a bit about your audience. I’m happy to explore possible ways we can collaborate, including access to module collections where appropriate. Don’t forget to tag me so I can easily find your posts.

I would like to report a bug or make a feature request.

Visit the Mela Feedback page and create a post, or email me directly.

I would like to create a specific type of synth, audio, or MIDI effect.

Email me with full details and I’ll see if I can create a preset for you.

I would like to get a refund.

Refunds are handled directly by Apple. You can request one via Apple’s Report a Problem page and follow the instructions described here.

Module collections are too expensive.

You don’t have to purchase everything at once.

Collection 0 is free and already includes powerful modules such as Arpeggiator, VA Oscillator, VA Filter, LFO, and Stereo Delay.

Adding Collection 1 brings your total to over 46 modules when combined with Collection 0. That’s more than enough to build custom polyphonic synthesisers, unique audio effects, and complex MIDI processors.

Locked modules still process and generate sound, so you can use all factory presets and presets shared by others, even if they include modules you don’t own. Purchasing simply unlocks the module interfaces so you can adjust their parameters directly.

Add collections when you feel limited and want more direct control.

If cost is a genuine barrier, feel free to get in touch and I can provide App Store discount codes.

Module collections are too cheap.

If you’d like to support Mela’s development, you can purchase additional collections, share Mela with others, or leave a review on the App Store.

The Mela app icon kind of looks like a fox’s face.

Thanks for noticing. “Mela” means fox in Georgian. The logo is the area under the cos(πx) curve in the [0, 2] range.