Feature Requests

Build Mela Labs into a framework that can be open sourced such that users can create their own mela labs modules, or port from other open source models such as Lua or Supercollider.

Audio-to-Mod Module: It's a Mela Lab module. It's a modulator module whose modulation signal is the average of the left and right channels of the input audio. As all modulations happen at sample rates in Mela, feel free to modulate any parameter to create interesting sounds. For example, modulating a level of another oscillator will result in Amplitude Modulation (AM) synthesis. Modulating the cutoff frequency of a filter will result in FM synthesis. The module supports polyphonic modulation. Read more about Mela Lab here

Multiply-Add Module: It's a Mela Lab module. It's a modulator module whose modulation signal is equal to A×B+C where A, B and C are the values of the module parameters. Modulate some or all three parameters to create complex signals. The module supports polyphonic modulation. Read more about Mela Lab here

Overview: Introducing the Mela Lab module category. The feature will allow experimentation and trying out new ideas without worrying about making breaking changes. Modules that prove to be useful will be refined and become part of Mela. And the uninteresting ones will be removed. If you end up using the Mela Lab modules in your music, be sure to bounce the audio/MIDI produced by these modules before the end of each session. They aren't guaranteed to sound or work the same version to version. 2 news modules to get things going: Multiply-Add and Audio-to-Mod .

Some users would like to have the ability to change Mela presets by sending MIDI messages to it, eg MIDI CC or Program Change. For users that use Mela with AUM, this is possible by using AUM's functionality, but might be also useful to add this feature to Mela.

Some interesting ideas from @Samu: > The Macro module is nice, but equally nice would be a simple ‘button module' with on/off/latch mode that could control multiple modules? > A '3 Knob Macro Module’ could also be quite handy? (Think using the 3 knobs as values in a calculation and the result of the calculation is the value that gets sent to the target, the values of the 3 knobs could be added, subtracted and multiplied etc.). > This would be like a ‘modulation mixer’ enabling pretty weird modulation output. > I can’t drop the thought of passing a modulation source (LFO, StepSequencer etc.) thru a filter/decimator/shaper etc. before it reaches its destination, call it total 'Drambo Damage’ but that’s how my brain rolls. > The Note Event module is pretty nice and when you get a ‘note/gate/value sequencer’ in place things will start cooking. > (This is were the ‘modulation mixer’ could come in handy, note/gate sequencer is one source, then you add another source such as midi-note to transpose the output and a 3rd one to add a random factor to it).

At the moment the instrument and audio effect plug-ins support only 1 stereo output (Audio Out 1). Would be great to have at least 4.

When using Mela as an audio effect plug-in it has Audio Input 2 which corresponds to a side-chain input for most DAWs. Would be great if the instrument plug-in provided support for a side-chain also.

A Mela user is working on generative presets and has a requirement for LFO rates to be 24, 32, 48, or 64 bars in length. Further, he suggested that custom length would be ideal even ability to specify 24bars+1/16note. My comment: I have to think about how LFO can be generalised to support it without affecting ease of use for common cases. Also, it might make more sense to have a more customisable modulator / sequencer with a fully customisable loop length.

While discussing the possibility of adding a selectable key and scale in MIDI Scale module, the idea of module presets came up. It would make sense to add a general feature to Mela, where each module can have a mini preset browser. Some modules will even have factory presets. The user will be able to save their own for any module. This feature makes even more sense when you consider complex modules like Compressor or Stereo Delay.