German software and hardware manufacturer u-he has officially launched its MELT analog filter module for the Eurorack market, ending a development cycle that began with a prototype unveiling in 2022. According to gearnews, the unit is currently in stock and shipping globally through major music product retailers, including Thomann, with a U.S. street price of $293. This release expands u-he’s physical footprint in the competitive modular synthesis sector, offering a distinct alternative to standard lowpass filters.
The MELT module functions as an analog cascade lowpass filter with selectable slopes of 12, 18, or 24 dB per octave, plus a dedicated bandpass output. Gearnews reports that the product’s primary market differentiator is an adjustable core temperature control that alters internal headroom to induce nonlinear distortion and resonance interaction. To address common performance issues, the design includes a resonance compensation switch to prevent bass roll-off at high settings.
From a system integration perspective, the manufacturer has equipped the module with three audio inputs featuring a built-in mixer and voltage-controlled amplifiers on the first input, both outputs, and an auxiliary bypass path. The unit also provides two frequency modulation inputs with attenuators, one of which includes an inverter and VCA. These features allow retailers to position the MELT as a standalone voice component, potentially reducing the need for consumers to purchase separate mixing or VCA modules.
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